News Release Archive

Warren Frizell Named Reclamation Engineer of the Year

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: February 23, 2012

Warren Frizell is Reclamation’s Engineer of the Year. Frizell is a research hydraulic engineer in the Technical Service Center and has made dramatic contributions to hydraulic engineering research and design problems affecting Reclamation facilities.

"Reclamation engineers solve complex issues to ensure that water is delivered and hydropower is generated in an environmentally and economically sound manner," Commissioner Michael Connor said when making the announcement. "Warren's work has directly improved the safety and reliability of many of Reclamation's facilities that ensures water demands will be met now and into the future in the western United States."

Frizell's specialized experience includes physical scale modeling and field testing of high head gates and valves, hydroturbines and all manner of hydraulic structures experiencing high-speed, high-energy flow. During the last three years he has been extensively involved in the hydraulic analyses and design work related to the new auxiliary spillway and stilling basin for the Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project in California. His expertise is also sought by other agencies for their spillway and dam safety projects.

He joined Reclamation in 1976 as a student trainee and was hired as a hydraulic engineer in 1980 for the Hydraulics Branch of the Engineering and Research Center - now part of Technical Service Center - when he graduated college. He became a hydraulic research engineer in 1987. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1980 and the University of Minnesota with a master of science in civil engineering in 1987.

Reclamation also recognized other engineers who were named as their respective regional engineer of the year.

Pacific Northwest Region: Michael Strombach

Mid-Pacific Region: Jeffrey D. Rieker

Lower Colorado Region: Theresa Saumier

Upper Colorado Region: Robert C. Brummond

Great Plains Region: Douglas L. Davis

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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.