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Bureau of Reclamation: Unauthorized Recreation Facilities at Two Reclamation Projects

RCED-93-115 Published: Sep 16, 1993. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 1993.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the appropriateness of the Bureau of Reclamation's expenditures for the Drainage and Minor Construction (D&MC) Program, focusing on whether: (1) some facilities constructed at federal water projects are recreational instead of minimum public health and safety facilities; (2) Reclamation has exceeded the authorized funds for constructing recreation facilities at these projects; and (3) Reclamation has entered into required cost-sharing agreements.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior For existing recreation facilities at the Boise Project, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of Reclamation to enter into agreements with nonfederal entities to: (1) recoup federal construction expenditures in excess of $100,000 per reservoir as well as past operating and maintenance costs; and (2) share the future costs to operate and maintain the facilities.
Closed – Implemented
Reclamation has not located nonfederal entities to recoup past expenses; however, it has taken action to share future costs. Reclamation issued directives for implementing cost-sharing for recreation facilities under title 28 of Public Law 89-72 (as amended by Public Law 102-575). Idaho authorized its State Parks Department to share with Reclamation any deficits from operating and maintaining recreation facilities at Cascade Reservoir and agreed to provide state funding beginning in 1997. Also, Reclamation issued a request for bids for a concessioner to manage and operate recreation facilities at Black Canyon Reservoir.
Department of the Interior For existing recreation facilities at the Minidoka Project's Lake Walcott, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of Reclamation to enter into agreements with nonfederal entities to: (1) recoup federal construction expenditures in excess of the $760,000 authorized by Congress as well as past operating and maintenance costs; and (2) share the future costs to operate and maintain the facilities.
Closed – Implemented
Reclamation has not located nonfederal entities to recoup past expenses; however, it has taken action to share future costs. Reclamation issued directives for implementing cost-sharing for recreation facilities under title 28 of Public Law 89-72 (as amended by Public Law 102-575). Reclamation and Idaho signed an agreement to equally share operation and maintenance deficits at Lake Walcott for the next 20 years.
Department of the Interior If Reclamation cannot find nonfederal entities willing to share construction and operating and maintenance costs at one or both projects, then the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of Reclamation to either: (1) obtain specific authorization from Congress to continue operating and maintaining the facilities at the expense of U.S. taxpayers; or (2) stop funding the facilities' operation and maintenance.
Closed – Implemented
Reclamation has not located nonfederal entities to recoup past expenses; however, it has taken action to share future costs. Reclamation issued directives for implementing cost-sharing for recreation facilities under title 28 of Public Law 89-72 (as amended by Public Law 102-575). For the Boise Project, Idaho is sharing costs of operating and maintaining recreation facilities at Cascade Reservoir and a concessioner is operating and managing recreation facilities at Black Canyon Reservoir. For the Minidoka Project, Reclamation and Idaho signed an agreement to equally share operation and maintenance deficits at Lake Walcott for the next 20 years.
Department of the Interior For recreation facilities that are either under construction or planned at the Boise and Minidoka projects, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Commissioner of Reclamation to cease further construction or contracting for construction until Reclamation has either: (1) entered into agreements with nonfederal entities to share construction and operating and maintenance costs; or (2) received specific authorization from Congress to construct, operate, and maintain the facilities at U.S. taxpayer expense.
Closed – Implemented
In January 1994, Reclamation suspended construction activities at these projects.

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Topics

Construction costsCost sharing (finance)Federal facilitiesMaintenance costsPublic landsRecreation areasReprogramming of appropriated fundsSafetyRecreationConstruction