News Release Archive

New Directors Named For Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region

Media Contact: Bob Walsh, 702.293.8421, rwalsh@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: March 10, 2004

Robert Johnson, Regional Director for the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region, today announced the selections of Lorri Gray and Jayne Harkins to Regional directorships.

Gray, who has been the assistant regional director since April 2000, moves to deputy regional director. Harkins, area manager for the Boulder Canyon Operations Office for the past two years, will be the Region's assistant regional director.

"Lorri and Jayne bring tremendous expertise to these jobs," Johnson said. "That expertise will be invaluable as we address future water resource management issues in the Lower Colorado Region."

Gray will manage the Region's financial and security programs and Regional environmental programs such as the Multi-Species Conservation Program and Salton Sea activities as well as other programs.

During her 21 years of service in the Lower Colorado Region, Gray has held several management positions, and also represented the Region on the Commissioner of Reclamation's staff in Washington, D.C. She has worked on key regulations affecting management of the lower Colorado River, including a water banking rule that allows Colorado River water to be moved between Arizona, California and Nevada, and the Interim Surplus Criteria, which are used to help determine whether and how much surplus Colorado River water will be available to these states each year. Trained in facilitation and mediation, she has coordinated and collaborated with numerous federal, non-federal, and non-government organizations on Colorado River issues. Gray has received numerous awards during her career, including the Superior Service Award, one of the Department of the Interior's highest for career employees. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Harkins, a 20-year Reclamation employee, will oversee programs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Region's water and power programs, Native American activities and other programs.

A geologic engineer, Harkins helped develop the water banking rule and Interim Surplus Guidelines, and was a key member of the federal team involved in implementation of California's Quantification Settlement Agreement. She directed the Region's lower Colorado River water and power operations, and has worked closely with other federal and state agencies and various Colorado River stakeholders on issues related to management and use of the river.

A University of North Dakota graduate, Harkins is a registered professional engineer in California and Nevada. She is also a graduate of the Office of Personnel Management's Women's Executive Leadership Program.

Harkins also has received numerous awards during her career, including the Department of the Interior's Superior Service Award.

The Lower Colorado Region manages Reclamation projects and activities in southern Nevada, southern California, Arizona, a small portion of southern Utah, and a portion of western New Mexico. The Region alos manages the lower Colorado River on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior.

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