News Release Archive

Reclamation's Upper Columbia Area Manager Retires

Media Contact: Jonne Hower, (208) 378-5101, jhower@pn.usbr.gov
Roberta Ries, rries@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: August 25, 2004

J. Eric Glover, manager of the Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Columbia Area Office, Yakima, Washington, recently ended a 30 +–year career with the Federal government, retiring in early August.

Glover began working in Reclamation's Yakima office in 2001, providing direction to Reclamation staff located throughout central Washington and western Montana.

"During Eric's assignment in Yakima, a major portion of the Yakima water rights adjudication was concluded," noted PN Regional Director Bill McDonald. "We will sorely miss his collaborative and creative approach to management and problem-solving," he added.

During Glover's tenure, the water rights of the Sunnyside Division of the Yakima Project were settled through mediation with Department of Ecology, the Department of the Interior, and the Yakama Nation. The State of Washington began adjudicating water rights in the Yakima River basin in 1977 and litigation of the Division water rights could have extended the litigation for years.

Prior to managing Reclamation's office in Yakima, Glover managed a similar office in Portland, Oregon, providing direction to a multi-disciplinary staff as water management issues became increasingly contentious. During this assignment, Glover was instrumental in the formation of central Oregon's Deschutes Resources Conservancy.

"This unique and collaborative approach provided Reclamation with an opportunity to participate in locally-based solutions to water resources," noted McDonald. "The DRC has continued to evolve, recently receiving a grant from the Secretary of the Interior to help develop a water bank."

Since joining Reclamation in 1973, Glover worked in variety of positions. Notably he served as interim manager for Reclamation's office in Klamath Falls during the summer of 2001, a time of competing demands from irrigators and managers of endangered fish for scarce water. His service there was recognized by a Meritorious Service Award from the Secretary of the Interior.

Deputy Area Manager Bill Gray will serve as the Acting Area Manager until the position is filled. He will be responsible for the overall management of Reclamation's program and activities in the Columbia and Yakima river basins in Washington as well as most western Montana-related issues.

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