Managing Water, Protecting Heritage: Bureau of Reclamation Undertakings in the American West

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Managing Water, Protecting Heritage: Bureau of Reclamation Undertakings in the American West" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Cultural resources program staff of the Bureau of Reclamation are dedicated to the agency’s mission of managing, developing, and protecting water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner. As the largest wholesaler of water and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the U.S., Reclamation has built, acquired, or otherwise become responsible for numerous historic properties in its 123-year history. These include buildings and structures such as dams, canals, and powerplants; it also includes archaeological sites, both precontact and historic, on the lands acquired or withdrawn for project purposes. Management of these properties includes investigations into a diverse range of issues related to archaeology, history, architecture, engineering, museum property, and culture. Reclamation has a robust cultural resources program to manage these resources according to the dictates of federal laws such as the NHPA, ARPA, and NAGPRA. Staying in compliance with these laws includes maintaining working relationships with Tribes and other stakeholders for successful collaboration. This session highlights projects and experiences conducted or overseen by Reclamation, reflecting important issues in the American West.