News Release Archive

Reclamation Employee Receives National Recognition for Management of Recreation Facilities Visited by Millions

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916 978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: June 16, 2011

The American Recreation Coalition today recognized a Bureau of Reclamation recreation resources manager with the prestigious Legends Award during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Interior headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The award was presented to Peggi S. Brooks, the Chief of the Recreation Resources Division for the Mid-Pacific Region's Central California Area Office.

The award, which was presented during America's Great Outdoors Week, June 11-17, honors outstanding federal employees for significantly enhancing the nation's outdoor recreation resources, facilities and experiences.

"I am honored to be recognized by this award," said Ms. Brooks. "I have the privilege of working with good people and maintaining long-standing partnerships to provide the public great recreation experiences. To me, this means maintaining and improving top-notch recreational services and programs of all kinds, from special events and educational outreach to resources management, and facility operations and maintenance."

The Legends Award is the highest honor bestowed by the American Recreation Coalition, a Washington-based non-profit organization formed in 1979 to enhance and protect outdoor recreational opportunities and resources across the nation.

"This award reflects the respect Peggi has earned in her field and the place she has attained on behalf of Reclamation in America's recreational sector," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor. "Her many achievements also have significantly advanced implementation of the President's America's Great Outdoors Initiative."

The America's Great Outdoors initiative was launched to develop a 21st Century conservation and recreation agenda for America. The premise of the initiative is that lasting conservation solutions should rise from the American people - that the protection of our natural heritage is a non-partisan objective to be shared by all Americans. The initiative turns to communities for local, grassroots conservation initiative and calls for reworking inefficient policies and making the federal government a better partner with states, tribes, and local communities. Among the goals of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative are conserving and restoring parks and wildlife areas, restoring important river corridors, and helping young Americans connect with our natural heritage.

In selecting Ms. Brooks for the award, the American Recreation Coalition reviewed her achievements as Chief of the Recreation Resources Division for the Central California Area Office. Ms. Brooks is responsible for operations at facilities that encompass more than 60,000 acres of land and water, visited by about 6 million people annually. She directly manages recreation programs operated by concessionaires and Reclamation staff at Lake Berryessa and New Melones Lake. Ms. Brooks also administers managing partner agreements with the California State Department of Parks and Recreation for recreation at Folsom Lake, Lake Natoma and the Auburn Project Lands.

Ms. Brooks' achievements include a leadership role in awarding complex new concession contracts at Lake Berryessa. She also initiated participation in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act program at New Melones Lake, where 80 percent of visitor receipts are used for onsite improvements. New Melones Lake is the only Reclamation facility participating in this program. In addition, she has worked with local, state and federal representatives and partners over a period of nine years to obtain about $20 million to upgrade aging infrastructure and has assisted with development of agency-wide policies to improve public safety and use of public lands. 

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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. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.