News Release Archive

Robert Pike Named Bureau of Reclamation's Chief of Dam Safety

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: January 07, 2019

Robert PikeWASHINGTON - Robert Pike, P.E., has been selected as the Bureau of Reclamation's Chief of Dam Safety. Pike will oversee the Dam Safety Program, which evaluates safety deficiencies and implements proactive solutions at dams across Reclamation.

"Reclamation and its partners work to ensure that its dams do not present unreasonable risks to people, property, or the environment," Security, Safety and Law Enforcement Director Karen Knight said. "Bob will use his extensive experience to work with our local, regional and national partners to manage risk at each of our facilities."

The Dam Safety Program is composed of two components, The Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams and Initiating Safety of Dams Corrective Actions Program. The Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams program is responsible for performing site evaluations and to identify dams that pose an increased risk to the public and to complete the related analyses needed to expedite corrective action decisions and safeguard the public and associated resources. The Initiating Safety of Dams Corrective Actions program focuses on evaluating and implementing actions to resolve safety concerns at Reclamation dams.

Pike joined Reclamation more than 30 years ago after graduating from Montana State University when he started as a rotation engineer working on a rehabilitation and betterment project in Riverton, Wyoming. He also served as an engineer in the Great Plains Regional Office Water Rights and Reservoir Operations as well as the Great Plains Region Dam Safety Coordinator before moving to Denver in 2011 where he served as the Great Plains Region Program Manager in the Dam Safety Office.

He was named the deputy chief of the Dam Safety Office in 2014. Pike is a Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado. He is a member of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, United States Society on Dams, and the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technology Innovation.

To learn more about Reclamation's Dam Safety Program, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/ssle/damsafety/index.html.

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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.