The Reclamation Act of 1902

The Reclamation Act of 1902 is a U.S. law that funded large-scale irrigation projects to make arid land in the Western states productive for agriculture. It established the Bureau of Reclamation to manage water resources, allowing water from rivers and reservoirs to be diverted to farms and communities. The goal was to promote settlement, boost agriculture, and support economic development in dry regions. The act also introduced a system where those benefiting from the projects paid for part of their costs, helping sustain ongoing water infrastructure and resource management efforts.