New Growth Centers—A Role for the Bureau of Reclamation?

Faced with a probable decline in its historic role of developing irrigation in the West, a new role is hypothesized for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This role is in planning for other types of economic growth that will draw additional population to the West and cause the growth there of new population centers. The causes of a probable decline in subsidized irrigation, the rationale for encouraging future population growth to occur in the West rather than in the East, the means of such growth, and the types of impacts that would have to be analyzed are considered. This new planning role for the Bureau is seen as one way of utilizing the Bureau's capability.