Reclamation’s Rope Access Team balances high angle work with precision and skill

Shasta County, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation's Rope Access Team can often be found suspended hundreds of feet above the ground, scaling the face of a dam or entering a confined space. The Team performs inspections and hands-on work in some of the agency's most difficult-to-reach places.

The elite group is made up of highly trained specialists who thrive in challenging environments and are not afraid of heights, according to Montegomery Brewer, Rope Access Team Lead. Their work ranges from concrete and rockslope- inspections to coatings assessments and scaling operations.

"At Reclamation there are always inspections needed and some of the areas are challenging to access," Brewer said. "Our team is able to readily access locations exactly when we need to allow for efficiency and timeliness."

While the Team's primary mission is inspection, members frequently take on repair and maintenance tasks as well, including installing bird-netting or removing vegetation from dam faces and other structures.

For many rope access veterans, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is watching new members develop their skills. "That first time somebody swings their leg over the ledge and realizes they're 600 feet in the air-the look on their face is half panic and half pure excitement," Brewer said. "Very few people in the world get to do something like this."

The team has completed high profile work at sites such as Hoover, Shasta and Grand Coulee dams, but not every assignment is glamorous. Some sites are remote, spaces are tight, and the team must conduct work in harsh conditions, requiring a mindset that embraces endurance and outdoor challenges. "It takes a special kind of person," Brewer said. "Somebody who enjoys being outdoors, doesn't mind inclement weather and can persevere."

Safety remains the team's core priority. With members relying on one another's equipment, training and judgment, the group operates with a tight bond.

"Our lives are literally in each other's hands," Brewer said. "We follow every safety protocol, every time, and carry those standards from the classroom to the field." Despite the high stakes nature of the work, the team maintains a close, supportive culture built through extensive travel and shared experiences.

"We get to see a lot of cool places and do a lot of cool things," Brewer said. "It's a tight-knit group, and that's what makes this work so special."

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.