BARRETT NAMED ACTING RECLAMATION COMMISSIONER, July 23, 1985

DBP4RTMBNT of tbe INTBRIDR

news release

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Cheryl Riedmiller (202) 343-4662 For Release July 23, 1985

BARRETT NAMED ACTING RECLAMATION COMMISSIONER

Clifford I. Barrett, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been named Acting Commissioner of Reclamation, Secretary of the Interior Don Hodel announced today. Barrett's appointment to succeed current Acting Commissioner Robert A.

Olson will become effective August 1, 1985.

"We are extremely fortunate to have a person with such a solid reputation as an engineer and as an administrator to assume the duties of Acting

Commissioner," Hodel said. "Cliff Barrett's long association with Reclamation and nis 29 years of experience in water resources development make him a proven choice to act in this position."

Robert N. Broadbent, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science and a former Commissioner of Reclamation, said he is pleased with Barrett's selection as Acting Commissioner.

As Acting Commissioner of Reclamation, Barrett 'Nill be the top official of the federal government's principal dam-building, water supply, and hydroelectric power agency for the 17 Western States. He will exercise management authority over a total agency staff of approximately 8,500 located in seven operating

regions in tbe West; an Engiu.e~ring aod Research Center in Denver, Colorado;

and agency headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Prior to his selection as the new Acting Commissioner, Barrett served as Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Director, a position he has held since September of 1981. The Upper Colorado Region includes the Colorado River Basin above Lee Ferry and parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

From August 1976 until assuming the Regional Director's post, Barrett served as the Bureau's Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Operations in Washington, D.C. As Assistant Commissioner, Barrett was responsible for the supervision and coordination of the agency's water operations, power manage-ment functions, and planning activities.

(more)

Barrett's career with the Bureau of Reclamation began in 1956 as an engineer in the Office of Design and Construction in Denver, Colorado, following grad-uation from the University of Denver ·in 1954 and a 2-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army. His career has included a number of assignments in Denver; Sacramento, California; and Washington, D.C.

In recent years, Barrett has held several elected positions in water-related organizations. In 1Y79, he was elected chairman of the Executive Committee of the United States Committee on Irrigation, Drainage, and Flood Control. At the September 1981 World Congress of the International Commission on

Irrigation and Urainage, he was elected a vice president of that Commission • ea so serves on oar o rec ors

.

Barrett holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Denver and is a registered professional engineer. He has also done graduate work in business administration at Sacramento State College. In 1975, he was selected to participate in the Department of the Interior Fellows Program and is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. In 1978, he was granted the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award.

Barrett is married to the former Lee Chesley of Westcliffe, Colorado. The couple has three children and five grandchildren.

-DOI-2

INT 2759-85