Reclamation History

In 1957, Higginson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Utah State University. His career in water management began as an engineer for water rights in the Utah State Engineer's Office from 1958 to 1965. He left Utah to direct Idaho's Department of Water Resources from 1965 to 1977. After Higginson's confirmation as Commissioner in 1977, the Bureau of Reclamation changed its name to the Water and Power Resources Service (WPRS). Other controversies of his term included defending President Jimmy Carter's "hit list" of Western water projects and initiation of policy that eventually became the Reclamation Reform Act.