News Release Archive

New Columbia-Cascades Area Office Reflects Reclamation Consolidation in Pacific Northwest

Media Contact: Diana Cross, (503) 872-2795, dcross@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: January 29, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation announced today its decision to consolidate and realign the Lower Columbia Area Office based in Portland, Ore., with the Upper Columbia Area Office based in Yakima, Wash. Effective February 1, 2009, the two offices will merge into a single Area Office, to be called the Columbia-Cascades Area Office, headquartered in Yakima, with major field offices in Yakima and Ephrata, Wash., and Bend and Hermiston, Ore.

The consolidation effort will result in the elimination of eight full time and two temporary positions in Portland when the Portland office closes its doors, scheduled for June 30, 2009. The Bend Field Office is expected to gain two new positions as a result of the merger.

"Because of the impact on the affected Portland employees, this was a very difficult decision to make," said Tim Personius, Acting Regional Director. "However, the decision is necessary to achieve more efficient operation of Reclamation programs in Oregon and Washington in light of current budget realities."

In addition to Washington state, northern Idaho and western Montana, the new Columbia-Cascades Area Office will take over management of Reclamation projects in central and western Oregon, while the Snake River Area Office in Boise, Idaho will continue to oversee Reclamation projects in eastern Oregon, central and southern Idaho, and western Wyoming, and the Klamath Area Office in Klamath Falls, Oregon, will continue to oversee the Klamath Project in southern Oregon and northern California. The office merger is not expected to impact services provided to irrigation districts and other Reclamation customers in Oregon or Washington.

In the Pacific Northwest, Reclamation delivers water to irrigate about 3 million acres of cropland with an annual crop value of about $2.2 billion. Annual power production averages 23.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity from ten powerplants. Since 1995, Reclamation dams in the Pacific Northwest have prevented more than $1.1 billion in potential flood damages.

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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.