Our Mission
The mission of the Branch of Water Resources is to administer the Water Resources programs for the purpose of managing, conserving, and utilizing Reservation water resources. The mission is also to provide the necessary technical research, studies, and other information for Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives to serve as informed and prudent managers of adjudicated, decreed, or otherwise appurtenant water that affects Tribal or Indian trust lands including public domain allotments.
Water Resources Technician Training Program — 2027 Cycle Update
Bureau of Indian Affairs | Division of Water and Power | Branch of Water Resources
We received strong interest from sites across Indian Country and are grateful to all who submitted applications.
We are currently in the process of finalizing position descriptions for the approved host sites. Once position descriptions are complete, individual placement opportunities will be posted and open for applications through our program partner, Conservation Legacy — Stewards Individual Placements. Interested candidates are encouraged to check back regularly for updated postings.
Placements are expected to begin in early 2027, with position lengths ranging from 21 to 26 weeks depending on the site.
2027 WRTT Approved Host Sites:
- Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery Complex — Whiteriver, Arizona
- Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge — Sequim, Washington
- Grand Canyon National Park — Flagstaff, Arizona
- Makah National Fish Hatchery — Neah Bay, Washington
- Neosho National Fish Hatchery — Neosho, Missouri
- Northern Alaska Fish and Wildlife Field Office — Fairbanks, Alaska
- Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula Fisheries Complex — Lacey, Washington
- Red Lake Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Department — Red Lake, Minnesota
- Seney National Wildlife Refuge — Seney, Michigan
- Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Resource Protection Department — Sitka, Alaska
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office — Tishomingo, Oklahoma
- Stockbridge-Munsee Community Utilities Office and Wastewater Treatment Plant — Bowler, Wisconsin
Position descriptions and application links will be posted as they become available. To learn more about the WRTT Program and Conservation Legacy's Stewards Individual Placements program, please visit stewardslegacy.org/watercorps.
Who We Serve
The Branch of Water Resources (WR) funds and administers water resource programs for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). WR assists in managing the following programs: the Water Rights Negotiation/Litigation Program; the Water Management, Planning, and Pre-Development Program; Attorney Fees and Litigation Support Program; Tribal Priority Allocations (TPA) for Water Resources; and Indian Land and Water Settlement Claims.
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About the Branch of Water Resources
As part of the central office Division of Water and Power, the Branch of Water Resources provides policy, oversight, and support to BIA regional offices, local BIA agencies, and Tribes.
Water resources technical assistance and coordination is provided to Tribes by water resource personnel at BIA regional offices and local BIA agencies. When contacting your local BIA office or agency for support, water resource personnel may also be organized under the local Division of Natural Resources departments.
