The National Research Council of the National Academies (NAS) this week released a draft report for the Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) entitled, “Managing Construction and Infrastructure in the 21st Century Bureau of Reclamation”.  As Reclamation's focus changes in a new century, it faces a host of new challenges.  This report provides the NAS Committee's assessment of those challenges and offers recommendations about how Reclamation can best address them. 

The attached Family Farm Alliance Issue Alert (“NAS Report Issue Alert”) provides the Alliance’s initial perspective and additional background on this effort. As you may recall, the Alliance earlier this year developed a case study report for NAS Committee members to consider as they prepared their assessment. I am pleased to report that many of the observations noted by the NAS Committee are similar to findings and recommendations developed in the Alliance Report.  

Copies of the executive summary of the NAS Committee report and the full report (“ReclamRpt 2”) are attached in PDF format. As noted, this draft is subject to further editorial review.  The Family Farm Alliance report entitled “The Bureau of Reclamation’s Capability to Fulfill Its Core Mission: The Customer’s Perspective (June 2005)” can be downloaded from the Alliance website: www.familyfarmalliance.org.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 541-850-9007. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

 

Dan Keppen

Executive Director

Family Farm Alliance