Newlands Reclamation Act Law and Legal Definition
The Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902 is a U.S federal statute. This Act is commonly known as the Reclamation Act. The Act provides fund for irrigation projects. The fund is provided to arid lands of Western America. This Act aims to provide financial backing to farmers who are unable to carry out their irrigation due to financial constraints.
Funding for the construction and maintenance of the irrigation project is through the sales of semi arid public lands.
To carry out the object of the Act, the U.S. Reclamation Service is established by the Secretary of the Interior. The reclamation service is set as part of the U.S Geographical Survey. From 1907, the service is set as a separate organization within the Department of Interiors. This service is later renamed as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.