News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation Announces Brent Esplin as Deputy Regional Director for the Upper Colorado Region

Media Contact: Shara Hillier, (801) 524-3660, shillier@usbr.gov
Chris Watt, cwatt@usbr.gov

For Release: September 30, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced Brent Esplin as the new Deputy Regional Director for the Upper Colorado Region. As Deputy Regional Director, Esplin will oversee a variety of water and hydropower programs throughout Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. He begins his new assignment October 4, 2015.

“I am excited that I get to continue my service with Reclamation in the Colorado River Basin,” said Esplin. “I have enjoyed working in Reclamation regions throughout the West, but I am very happy to be coming home to serve in the Upper Colorado Region where I grew up. I am looking forward to the great opportunities ahead.”

Esplin most recently served as the Area Manager of the Montana Area Office in Billings, Montana, in Reclamation’s Great Plains Region. In that role, he worked on issues related to endangered species, production of hydropower, safety of dam modifications, construction of rural water projects, and municipal and irrigation water supply.

“Brent brings a wealth of Reclamation experience in management of historic and contemporary water supply issues,” said Regional Director Brent Rhees. “We are looking forward to adding Brent’s strong background to our team as we meet the unique challenges of the Upper Colorado Region.”

Esplin’s service experience in Reclamation also includes assignments as Deputy Area Manager in the Phoenix Area Office, Arizona, Lower Colorado Region; Deputy Area Manager of the Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, McCook, Nebraska, Great Plains Region; and as a civil engineer in the Montana Area Office, also in the Great Plains Region. He has served many years working with endangered species, implementation of Indian water right settlements, contemporary water supply issues for the Central Arizona and Salt River Projects, as well as issues related to Republican River Interstate Compact.

Esplin is a native of Smithfield, Utah, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Utah State University.

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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.