Pat Mulroy for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner

Now that I have gotten Peter Gleick on the radar screen for White House Water Advisor, it's time to move on to something or someone  else.

The big question: Could I top that suggestion?

How about Pat Mulroy for Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation?

You mean the putative "800-pound gorilla of Western water?" Yes, that's the one.

You're no doubt thinking that I have taken leave of my senses, but I have not. I can't even claim it's my idea.

I am at the excellent AWRA meeting in New Orleans, and her name came up in a discussion with colleagues. We were actually talking about Gleick as water advisor when someone mentioned that Mulroy, who heads the Southern Nevada Water Authority, was being mentioned as a candidate for the Commissioner of Reclamation.

I think it's a great idea. Recall that Reclamation works only in the 17 Western states. Who knows more about the nuts and bolts of Western water that Mulroy? Perhaps there are some, but I can't think of them at the moment.

She has been relentless in acquiring water to fuel Southern Nevada's growth. For that reason, I suspect she would not have overwhelming support from a lot of people and organizations. Her plan to acquire water by pumping rural ground water has rankled many, and conjures up memories of an 'Owens Valley water grab' for some. But the fact is, her job is to get water for the Las Vegas area and she does her job extremely well.

Mulroy is the consummate hydrotechnocrat/hydrobureaucrat. If her bosses say "Go get more water for Las Vegas!", then that's what she does and puts everything into that task. As a result, many demonize her, including yours truly on some occasions. But if her bosses say, "Figure out Western water!", then that's what she will do and she will do it as few others can.

Her fellow Western water managers might be glad to see her leave the SNWA, although they might be afraid she would push even harder to renegotiate the Colorado River Compact. I don't believe that's an issue. I suspect she's actually now in a better position to do that. And what if she did?  

But she is smart, tough, articulate, and daily forgets more about Western water than I will ever know. As one of my colleagues said, "I'll take an alpha female with cojones." That's Spanish for "moxie."

And couldn't Reclamation use someone like that instead of the SOS?    

She's got my vote. If you agree, contact your Senators and Congressman/woman.

So who's your candidate?

"No pressure, no diamonds." -- Mary Case

Comments

[Michael]

Dear DG, groundwaterhegemony, and David.

Thanks to you all for commenting.

DG:
Appreciate your concurrence - thanks. You're right, CO and CA will not be happy campers.

Groundwaterhegemony:
David Tuthill is a good guy and certainly a possibility. I agree on your assessment of his stance on SRP SW-GW interactions. It would be nice to have a BuRec Commissioner who knew something about GW-SW. No SOS here!

David:

You did not disappoint me; I was waiting for such a comment. But the BuRec is not going away any time soon; its constituency is still too strong. I would like to see a strong Commissioner attempt to re-orient the BuRec.

Besides, if you wanted to sunset it, who better to do it than Pat Mulroy?

[David Zetland]

Michael, really.

If anything, I'd shut BurRec down -- it's not like building pipes and dams has made anything BETTER. (Federal projects are the WORST.) Put Mulroy in charge of EPA -- they need her energy to get the environment back in shape.

[groundwaterhegemony]

I just heard the "SOS" speak tonight at the Western States Water Concil. He is retiring in January 2009. I vote for the groundwater wise David Tuthill, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Idaho Department of Water Resources as the new BOR commissioner because of his bold stance on the politically touchy topic of groundwater - surface water interaction and water rights on the Snake River Plain. The current BOR commissioner indicated that a steeley-eyed negotiator will be needed for the next term of the administration. He has passed the first test on tough negotiations.

[delbert grady]

You're right. She knows her stuff. She does understand the dynamics of the situation on the Colorado River. That's a big plus.

I can hear the grumbling now in California and Colorado.

dg