|  What It Is
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| Policy is composed of the overall values we use to determine
courses of action within Reclamation. |
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| Succcess: 
Develop a single, overall policy and treat each issue
and case using that policy. This will ensure a fair approach
for all publics. |
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The decision process turns administrative
policy into working policy, implementation
guidance, and actions.
Policy determines the parameters and ground rules for making
decisions. The more we understand public policy, the more we
can ensure that the decisions made in individual processes are
in line with that overall policy. Policies (held by Reclamation,
partners' , etc.) state the priorities
that decisionmakers will use to decide which problems need to
be addressed. Policies state preferences regarding how solutions
will be decided upon and implemented. Implementation guidance
goes hand in hand with policy to explain how to follow policy
for various activities and decision processes. For example,
administrative policy states a commitment to dam safety, and
implementation guidance provides specific details on how to
ensure dams are safe.
Reclamation's policy represents the public interest or public
will as expressed by the three branches of
government :
Policy can often be a moving target as administrations and
Congress change in response to input
from the people they represent. Policy letters and call letters
for budget formulation are good indicators of these changes.
Make your process flexible enough
to accommodate these changes.
Use professional judgment in determining how to comply with
changing policies and how to accommodate the corresponding changes
in funding. Fundamental issues, such as anadromous fish survival,
water supplies, and dam safety, will still need to be addressed
under any policy. However, different priorities, aspects, and
approaches may need to be incorporated into your existing processes.
Policymakers should be well versed in political
realities. You may need to provide data about physical, fiscal,
economic, and social realities to the policymaker to help him
or her set workable policy. Understanding the complex technical
aspects of Reclamation helps to project policy implications.
If you view a particular policy as counterproductive, you may
need to informally talk with the policymaker, explain your rationale,
and suggest other policies that would better fit his or her
overall goals.
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| If a policy changes
, tell people that it has changed and explain why it changed.
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Hip Pocket Concepts
Roles
Responsibilities