Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed a directive Tuesday that could allow local irrigation districts and other Bureau of Reclamation customers more say in managing their federally funded projects. … Burgum asserted his Secretarial Order 3446 could benefit water and power users throughout the 17 Western states served by the bureau. … A dam-raising project in California’s San Joaquin Valley will exemplify how the new system might work, according to an Interior Department news release. Burgum’s order directs the Bureau of Reclamation to work with local water and power partners to modify certain contracts and establish new contract terms.

Other dam and infrastructure news:

• The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.): Water storage options floated for Mendocino County’s Potter Valley as Pacific Gas and Electric advances dam removal
• Mid Valley Times (Reedley, Calif.): Costa, Fong partner on water infrastructure funding
• Marin Independent Journal (Calif.): MMWD orders study of flooding in Nicasio
• The Sentinel (Hanford, Calif.): Plan would raise Pine Flat Dam 12 feet​
• Colorado Public Radio: Uranium discovered in newly built Colorado dam pauses $600 million project