Procedures Needed To Ensure That Irrigation Operation and Maintenance Costs Are Recovered at a Jointly Managed Facility

Highlights

GAO reviewed operations at the Harlan County, Nebraska, Dam and Reservoir to determine whether all reimbursable operating and maintenance costs are being recovered by the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to establish procedures specifying how future Harlan County Dam and Reservoir irrigation operating and maintenance costs are to be recovered. Corps procedures should require that reimbursable operating and maintenance cost information be provided to the Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau procedures should require that the cost information provided by the Corps be included in Harlan County facility irrigator charges.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Department of the Interior	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to establish procedures specifying how future Harlan County Dam and Reservoir irrigation operating and maintenance costs are to be recovered. Corps procedures should require that reimbursable operating and maintenance cost information be provided to the Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau procedures should require that the cost information provided by the Corps be included in Harlan County facility irrigator charges.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to seek, to the extent permitted under executed Harlan County Dam and Reservoir water sales contracts, payments from irrigators for past unrecovered irrigation operating and maintenance costs.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Department of the Interior	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to seek, to the extent permitted under executed Harlan County Dam and Reservoir water sales contracts, payments from irrigators for past unrecovered irrigation operating and maintenance costs.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to determine the extent to which situations similar to those at the Harlan County facility exist at other Corps-operated and Bureau of Reclamation-marketed water facilities and adopt procedures to provide for the reimbursement of irrigation operating and maintenance costs at such facilities.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Department of the Interior	The Secretary of the Army should require the Chief, Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Interior should require the Commissioner of Reclamation to determine the extent to which situations similar to those at the Harlan County facility exist at other Corps-operated and Bureau of Reclamation-marketed water facilities and adopt procedures to provide for the reimbursement of irrigation operating and maintenance costs at such facilities.	Closed – Implemented Please call 202/512-6100 for information.

See All 6 Recommendations

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Office of Public Affairs

Chuck Young

Managing Director

youngc1@gao.gov

(202) 512-4800

Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Collection proceduresDamsDebt collectionInteragency relationsIrrigationMaintenance costsWater resources developmentWater supply managementWater storageIrrigation project