News Release Archive

Reclamation Names New Area Manager for Utah and Southwest Wyoming

Media Contact: Lisa Iams, (801) 524-3673, liams@usbr.gov

For Release: September 15, 2010

The Bureau of Reclamation has named a new manager for the Provo Area Office. Curtis A. Pledger will assume responsibilities for Reclamation's activities in Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and parts of Idaho and Nevada, according to Upper Colorado Regional Director Larry Walkoviak.

"Curt will bring an exhaustive background and understanding of Utah's water management challenges and hands-on experience in construction management," said Walkoviak. In making the announcement, the regional director went on to say, "Curt has demonstrated strength in working with Reclamation's many diverse stakeholders and customers coupled with unparalleled engineering and construction expertise. He will be an excellent area manager." Pledger, since 2008, has served as the deputy area manager for the Provo Area Office. He began his career with Reclamation in 1980, working in the now-closed Bonneville Construction Office on the Central Utah Project. He has also worked in Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Office and the Western Area Power Administration (Department of Energy) Area Office, both located in Salt Lake City. He was the field engineer responsible for the dam safety modifications to Fontenelle Dam in Wyoming and he has previously served as the field engineering division manager in the Provo Area Office.

Walkoviak said that Pledger has played a significant role in virtually all of the major water development projects in Utah over the last 20 years including: Syar Tunnel; Sixth Water Aqueduct; Diamond Fork Pipeline; Upper Diamond Fork Project and nine safety of dams modification projects. He succeeds Bruce Barrett, who retired last July, as area manager.

Pledger and his wife reside in Mapleton, UT, and are the parents of four children including a son who is following in his father's footsteps as a material engineering technician at Reclamation's Four Corners Construction Office in Durango, Colo. He holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Utah and is a registered professional engineer in Utah.

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