Reclamation awards $4.2M for science and technology innovations

DENVER - The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an award of $4.2 million for 31 new science and technology research projects. The projects garnered an additional $11.2 million in matching cost-share funds. Projects were wide ranging from ways to safely eliminate invasive mussels in reservoirs to utilizing robotic crawlers to inspect buried or encased metallic pipe minimizing risks to staff.

Reclamation's Science and Technology Research Program is a bureau-wide, competitive research and development program seeking innovative solutions that can be applied widely across the agency. Reclamation employees are invited to propose research projects and may partner with internal or external entities. The program has contributed many of the tools and capabilities Reclamation and western water managers use today.

"To tackle the complex challenges of managing water and generating power in the West, we must leverage our internal expertise and experience," said Research and Development Program Manager, Ken Nowak. "Collaborating with our dedicated managers, experts, and partners enables us to identify critical tools and development opportunities to secure a sustainable future."

The request for proposals invited research in five areas: water infrastructure, power and energy, environmental issues for water delivery and management, water operations and planning, and developing water supplies.

In addition to these newly funded proposals, Reclamation will fund 127 multi-year projects totaling $5.29 million in Science and Technology Program funding.

To view descriptions of all the projects receiving funding please visit the Science and Technology Program website.

The Science and Technology Program seeks to develop cost-effective solutions for the technical and scientific challenges that affect Reclamation's mission. It also seeks to build and strengthen scientific and engineering capacity for Reclamation, communicate solutions to Reclamation offices, other water and power management officials, and the public to build partnerships with other water and power management agencies and stakeholders.