News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces the Selection of Federico Barajas as Deputy Regional Director for the Mid-Pacific Region

Media Contact: Shane Hunt, 916-978-5100, 06/02/2016 19:12

For Release: June 02, 2016

New Deputy Regional Director Federico BarajasSACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region announced today that Federico Barajas has been selected as the Deputy Regional Director.

“Federico has successfully held several key positions in the Region,” stated Regional Director David Murillo. “His exceptional leadership skills will be invaluable to the Region in accomplishing our commitments to manage water delivery, water conservation, flood control, power generation and protecting natural and cultural resources.”

When Barajas assumes his new responsibilities on Monday, June 6, he will join the Regional Director’s Office as one of two deputies; Pablo Arroyave has served as the Deputy Regional Director since 2009. Both positions assist the Regional Director in managing the Mid-Pacific Region, which is headquartered in Sacramento and responsible for 11 key water projects throughout the northern two-thirds of California, most of western Nevada and part of southern Oregon. The Region includes California’s Central Valley Project, one of the largest and best-known multi-purpose water projects in the nation.

Barajas’ former position was Area Manager for Reclamation’s Northern California Area Office, managing the programs and facilities within the Shasta and Trinity Divisions of the Central Valley Project, along with the Orland Project and the Trinity River Restoration Program. These divisions include thirteen dams with a combined storage capacity of nearly 9 million acre-feet and six powerplants with a combined nameplate capacity of over 1,200 megawatts.

Prior to becoming the Northern California Area Manager, Barajas was the Deputy Area Manager for the Central California Area Office, and earlier was the Deputy Area Manager for the Bay Delta Conservation Program in the Region’s Bay-Delta Office.

Barajas began his Reclamation career in the Mid-Pacific Region in 1991 as a Project Manager in the Planning Division, managing and directing multiple long-term water resources projects throughout the Region for more than 10 years. His positions since that time have included Manager for the San Luis Drainage Collaborative Resolution Program, Regional Liaison for Reclamation’s Commissioner's Office, Special Assistant to the Regional Director and Special Assistant to the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Water & Science.

During his tenure with Reclamation, Barajas has provided program direction and management oversight for a number of complex projects in connection with sensitive water resource issues.

Barajas is a graduate of the Reclamation’s Leadership Development Program and the California Agricultural Leadership Program.

# # #

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.