Interior Secretarial Order Gives Local Water Districts Greater Control
Family Farm Alliance Praises Major Reform 

The Department of the Interior has taken a historic step to shift more responsibility—and more authority—to local irrigation districts and water contractors across the West. Secretarial Order (SO) 3446, issued late last month by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (pictured above), directs the Bureau of Reclamation to streamline its construction and contracting processes and allow qualified local partners to manage significant portions of federally funded water and power projects.

For the Family Farm Alliance, which is explicitly named in the SO, the order represents one of the most consequential federal water-management reforms in years.

“This is a watershed moment for local water users,” said Samantha Barncastle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “For decades, districts have said they can deliver projects faster, cheaper, and with greater accountability. SO 3446 finally gives us a framework to prove it.”

CLICK HERE to download the PDF Version of the December 2025 edition of the “Monthly Briefing”, where you can read more about this, and these other important issues to Western water users, from a perspective that you won’t find anywhere else:

• Trump Administration’s “Fast and Furious” Rulemaking Push Continues
• Congress Reopens Government as Water and Forestry Bills Move Forward
• February Deadline Looms as Colorado River Hydrology Tightens
• Western Water Supply Outlook: Early Winter Storms Bring Hope—But Risk Remains
• Alliance E.D. Engages Pacific NW Water Leaders in Dual Conferences
• Arizona Advances Four Major Water Import Projects
• A Big “Thank You” to our New and Supporting Members!
• Donor Support

Please do not hesitate to contact samantha@familyfarmalliance.org if you have any difficulties downloading the December 2025 Special Conference Edition of the “Monthly Briefing”.