The Newlands Reclamation Act: A Historical Law

The Newlands Reclamation Act, also known as the National Reclamation Act, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17, 1902. The act, which was co-authored by Representative Francis G. Newlands of Nevada, Frederick H. Newell of the US Geological Survey, and George H. Maxwell, head of the National Reclamation Association, aimed to irrigate arid lands in 16 states in the American West to make them suitable for agriculture and encourage family settlement.

The Act's irrigation projects

The Newlands Reclamation Act, also known as the U.S. Reclamation Act, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17, 1902. The Act authorised the federal government to commission water diversion, retention, and transmission projects in arid lands, particularly in the far west.

The Acts' Irrigation Projects

The Act funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of 17 states in the American West. Initially, the Act covered 16 western states, as delineated by the 100th meridian, excluding Texas, which was added in 1906. The Act set aside money from the sales of semi-arid public lands for the construction and maintenance of irrigation projects. The newly irrigated land would then be sold, and the money would be put into a revolving fund to support further projects.

The Act required that water users repay the construction costs from which they received benefits. However, many of the loans made to farmers, funded by the sales of federal lands, were never repaid. In 1926, Congress passed the Omnibus Adjustment Act to extend the terms of repayment from ten annual instalments to 40 annual payments.

The Act led to the eventual damming of nearly every major western river. The Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona was one of the first projects authorised by the Reclamation Service following the passage of the Act. Construction began in 1903 and was dedicated by Roosevelt in 1911.

• Arizona: Salt River, 182,000
• Arizona-California: Yuma, 158,000
• California: Orland, 20,000
• Colorado: Grand Valley, 53,000; Uncompahgre Valley, 140,000
• Idaho: Boise, 207,000; Minidoka, 120,500
• Kansas: Garden City, 10,677
• Montana: Blackfeet, 122,500; Flathead, 152,000; Fort Peck, 152,000; Huntley, 32,405; Milk River, 219,557; Sun River, 174,046
• Montana-North Dakota: Lower Yellowstone, 60,116
• Nebraska-Wyoming: North Platte, 129,270
• Nevada: Truckee-Carson, 206,000
• New Mexico: Carlsbad, 20,261; Hondo, 10,000; Rio Grande, 155,000
• North Dakota: North Dakota Pumping, 26,314
• Oregon: Umatilla, 36,300
• Oregon-California: Klamath, 70,000
• South Dakota: Belle Fourche, 100,000
• Utah: Strawberry Valley, 50,000
• Washington: Okanogan, 10,999; Sunnyside, 102,824; Tieton (Teton), 34,071
• Wyoming: Shoshone, 164,122

Bureau of Reclamation statistics show that their dams on waterways throughout the West provide irrigation for 10 million acres (40,000 km2) of farmland, producing 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.

The Act's funding

The Acts' Funding

The Newlands Reclamation Act, also known as the National Reclamation Act, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17, 1902. The Act was co-authored by Democratic Congressional Representative Francis G. Newlands of Nevada, Frederick H. Newell of the U.S. Geological Survey, and George H. Maxwell, head of the National Reclamation Association.

The Act funded irrigation projects for arid lands in 16 (later 17) states in the American West. The funding came from several sources, including the sale of semi-arid and surplus public lands, with the newly irrigated land being sold to put money into a revolving "reclamation fund" to support further projects. The Act also required water users to repay construction costs, with these payments and proceeds from land sales going into the Reclamation Fund.

However, many of the loans made to farmers were never repaid, and the high construction costs proved too great a sum for farmers to repay. As a result, Congress responded by extending repayment periods and decreasing repayment obligations. In June 1910, Congress advanced $20 million from general treasury funds for the projects, and from then on, appropriations for individual projects drew funding from both the Reclamation Fund and the general treasury fund. Additional funding sources included receipts from the Mineral Leasing Act, proceeds from the lease and sale of products from withdrawn lands, and money from the sale of surplus lands.

The Reclamation Act had a significant impact on the West, leading to the damming of nearly every major western river and transforming arid lands into some of the nation's most productive agricultural areas. The Bureau of Reclamation statistics show that their dams provide irrigation for 10 million acres of farmland, producing 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.

The Act's impact on the West

The Newlands Reclamation Act, also known as the U.S. Reclamation Act, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17, 1902. The Act had a significant impact on the West, as it authorized the federal government to commission water diversion, retention, and transmission projects in arid lands, particularly in the far west.

The West's Need for Water

The West, particularly the Dakota Territory, was known for its scarcity of water. In his letters home, Roosevelt wrote about the lack of water on the prairie and the brackish nature of the water that was available. This likely influenced his support for the Newlands Reclamation Act.

Impact on Western Agriculture

The Act provided irrigation to the West through a series of dams on waterways, allowing for the cultivation of land that was previously too arid for farming. The West became one of the premier agricultural areas in the world, providing 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.

Impact on Western Settlement

The Act encouraged Western settlement by providing access to water for farming families. Roosevelt believed that the land should be usable and settled, and that water in Western rivers was wasted if it was not being used to help people.

Specific Projects

The Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona was one of the first projects authorized by the Reclamation Service following the passage of the Act. Construction began in 1903 and Roosevelt dedicated the dam on March 8, 1911.

Another project is the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District, which provides irrigation water from the Yellowstone River to residents along the North Dakota-Montana border.

Environmental Impact

The Newlands Reclamation Act led to the damming of nearly every major western river. While this provided much-needed water to the West, it also had unintended adverse environmental impacts. One study found that dam construction was a major factor in the degradation of aquatic habitats, with many species of freshwater mussels, crayfish, fish, and dragonflies becoming extinct, imperiled, or vulnerable.

The Act's legislative history

The Newlands Reclamation Act, also known as the National Reclamation Act, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 17, 1902. The Act was co-authored by Democratic Congressional Representative Francis G. Newlands of Nevada, Frederick H. Newell of the US Geological Survey, and George H. Maxwell, head of the National Reclamation Association.

During this period, demand for water from expanding western farms began to exceed the supply from intermittent precipitation, and farmers sought alternative sources of water. When their private and state-sponsored irrigation programs failed due to inadequate funding and technical expertise, they pressed the federal government for aid. Both Republican and Democratic candidates believed they could convince Congress to support irrigation programs and campaigned on pro-irrigation platforms.

In 1900, the irrigation movement demonstrated its strength when pro-irrigation planks were included in both Democratic and Republican platforms. However, there was opposition from Eastern and Midwestern members of Congress. Despite this, the Act passed when western legislators filibustered and delayed votes on eastern rivers and harbors projects.

The Act's passage was also due in large part to the support and leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt believed that the land should be usable and settled by farming families and that the water in western rivers was wasted if not being used to help people. He also supported the reclamation movement because of his personal experience in the West and his belief in "homemaking". Roosevelt played a crucial role in the Act's passage, and it has been forever associated with his leadership.

On January 21, 1902, Newlands and Hansbrough introduced their nationalist bill, HR 9676 and S 3057, in both houses of Congress. The Senate debated the bill for several hours on March 1, with Eastern and Midwestern senators questioning the feasibility of irrigation. On March 1, 1902, the Senate unanimously passed Newlands' bill by a voice vote.

To save his signature legislative effort, Newlands turned to President Roosevelt, who convened two legislative strategy meetings on the bill. Roosevelt and Newlands counted Democratic and Republican votes in the House, and Roosevelt appealed to House Republican leadership to allow the bill to come to a vote. On June 13, 1902, Roosevelt sent a powerful message to the House leadership, asking them to step aside for the reclamation bill.

The Newlands Act was a revolution in reclamation, nationalizing irrigation and granting the Secretary of the Interior vast power over all aspects of irrigation projects. It funded irrigation projects through a revolving fund from the sale of public lands and disregarded state boundaries, overrode state governments, and bypassed the legislative appropriations process. The Act covered 15 states initially, with Texas being added in 1906.

The Act's legacy

The Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902, also known as the National Reclamation Act, was a significant piece of legislation in the history of the American West. The Act's legacy can be seen in the transformation of the region into one of the world's premier agricultural areas and the development of large-scale irrigation projects that provided water for millions of acres of farmland.

The Act's passage was a response to the challenges posed by the arid climate of the American West, which required settlers to rely on irrigation for agriculture. The federal government's involvement in funding and coordinating irrigation projects was a pivotal step in harnessing the region's intermittent precipitation and converting arid lands into productive farmland. This encouraged individual families to settle in the West, as President Theodore Roosevelt envisioned, by ensuring a steady water supply for farming.

The establishment of the Reclamation Service, later renamed the Bureau of Reclamation, was a key mechanism created by the Act to oversee the construction of monumental water projects. The Bureau's expertise in water development led to the damming of nearly every major western river, except the Yellowstone, and the creation of over 600 dams. These projects provided irrigation for 10 million acres of farmland, contributing significantly to the nation's agricultural output.

The Act also had a broader impact on the region's development, with the Bureau of Reclamation's dams supporting 58 power plants that produce 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This energy has fueled the growth of large population centers in the Far West.

However, the Act has also faced criticism and challenges. One of the notable issues was the farmers' inability to repay the construction costs, which led to extended repayment periods and amendments to the Act. Additionally, the environmental impact of dam construction and the degradation of aquatic habitats have prompted a shift in focus from dam-building to the operation and maintenance of existing facilities.

In conclusion, the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902 left a lasting legacy on the American West, shaping its agriculture, energy infrastructure, and population growth. The Act's implementation and subsequent modifications reflect the ongoing efforts to balance development with environmental considerations in the region.

Frequently asked questions