Which act led to the establishment of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was established as a result of the Reclamation Act of 1902. This act aimed to promote the construction of irrigation works to reclaim arid and semiarid lands in the western United States, including California. By providing federal funding for the construction of dams, canals, and other irrigation infrastructure, the act facilitated the growth of agriculture in these regions, transforming them into productive farmland. It recognized the necessity of managing water resources effectively to sustain farming and development in areas that otherwise would have been unsuitable for agriculture due to lack of water. This foundation established the Bureau as the primary federal agency for overseeing water management and reclamation projects in the West, which continues to play a crucial role in addressing California's water issues today.