[env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns

[Byron]

Norton Lauds Service of John Keys as Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation 

News Release, the Department of the Interior - 3/17/06

Contact: Tina Kreisher/Shane Wolfe (DOI), 202-208-6416, Kip White (Bureau of
Reclamation), 202-513-0684 

 

WASHINGTON-Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the resignation
of John W. Keys III, from his position as Commissioner of the Bureau of
Reclamation. Norton lauded Keys' service to the nation and his success in
handling water issues associated with the worst five years of drought in the
past five centuries. After serving nearly 40 years with the Bureau, Keys
intends to spend time with his family. His resignation is effective April
15. 

 

"As Commissioner, John led the way in developing the Water 2025 Initiative
that is helping to avoid future water crises in the West," Secretary Norton
said. "He and the rest of the Interior water team were crucial in resolving
a nearly 75-year dispute when California water users reached agreement with
the federal government and six other states on a multi-decade agreement for
sharing and using water in the Colorado River. 

 

"He is a consensus builder who spent a long career with the Bureau of
Reclamation and then agreed to join my team to lead the Bureau as
Commissioner," Norton said. "He will be missed." 

 

Among Keys' accomplishments is development of the Lower Colorado River
Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a coordinated, comprehensive,
long-term multi-agency effort to conserve and work toward the recovery of
endangered species and protect and maintain wildlife habitat on the Lower
Colorado River. 

 

"I love the Bureau of Reclamation," Keys said. "I believe in what we do. I
am proud of our part in the water development and management that has made
it possible for us to live in the arid West. I believe that the Bureau and
our Department are ready for the water challenges of the 21st century. It is
a bittersweet time to leave Reclamation again." 

 

In addition, in his letter to Secretary Norton, Keys thanked her for the
privilege of serving in the job and wrote: "Secretary Norton, I leave the
Bureau of Reclamation in good hands and with a strong course. Reclamation
employees are among the best, with a pervasive can-do attitude and true
commitment to Reclamation's purpose and mission." 

 

Keys spent 34 years as a career employee with the Bureau, first as a civil
and hydraulic engineer and later as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director

 

 

Byron Leydecker

Chair, Friends of Trinity River

Advisor, California Trout, Inc

PO Box 2327

Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327

415 383 4810 ph

415 383 9562 fx

bwl3 at comcast.net

bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org

http://www.fotr.org

http:www.caltrout.org 

 

 

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