Mcdonald, J. William
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ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS J. WILLIAM MCDONALD Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë STATUS OF INTERVIEWS: OPEN FOR RESEARCH Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Interviews Conducted and Edited by: Brit Allan Storey Senior Historian Bureau of Reclamation Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Interviews conducted–1993 and 2011 Interview edited and published–2014 Oral History Program Bureau of Reclamation Denver, Colorado SUGGESTED CITATION: MCDONALD, J. WILLIAM. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW. Transcript of tape- recorded Bureau of Reclamation Oral History Interviews conducted by Brit Allan Story, Senior Historian, Bureau of Reclamation, from1993 to 2011, in Denver, Colorado. Edited by Brit Allan Storey, further edited and desktop published by Andrew H. Gahan. Repository for the record copy of the interview transcript is the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland, or in the regional office in the Denver, Colorado, area. Record copies of this transcript are printed on 20 lb., 100% cotton, archival quality paper. All other copies are printed on normal duplicating paper. i Table of Contents Table of Contents.. i Statement of Donation. iv Editorial Convention. vi Introduction. vii Oral History Interviews. 1 Early Life. 1 Getting Into Resource Management.. 2 Colorado Water Conservation Board.. 3 Colorado Water Conservation Board's Relationship with Reclamation. 5 Promoting Water Projects in Colorado. 6 Carter's "Hit List".. 8 Projects of Interest to the Water Conservation Board. 8 A Transition in Ways People Thought About Water Projects.. 10 Partisan Politics Seldom an Issue in Making Colorado Water Policy. 12 Water Board's Demographic Make-Up. 13 The Board's Political Routine. 14 Environmental Impact Issues. 17 West Slope/Front Range Rivalry. 19 Big East Slope/West Slope Issues. 21 Conservation. 24 Coming to Reclamation. 24 Perspectives Coming into Reclamation. 25 1988 Reorganization and Managing Water Resources. 26 Difficulties in Making the Transition. 30 The Transition from State Work to Reclamation.. 32 Significant Issues Related to the '88 Reorganization. 33 "There Were Unresolved Issues About How ACRM Ought to Function". 35 Commissioner Dennis Underwood. 36 Executive Management Committee Activities. 37 Commissioner Daniel Beard. 39 Results of Beard's Devolving Reclamation. 41 Area Offices. 42 Sunsetting the Reclamation Instructions. 43 Commissioner's Program and Organizational Review Team (CPORT). 45 Technical Service Center. 46 Supplying TSC with the Right Expertise.. 48 "It Didn't Surprise Me that Dan Beard Wanted to Move Me". 48 Ed Osann was There to Push the Environmental Agenda. 50 Central Valley Project Contracts. 51 The Role of the Solicitor's Office in Contract Negotiations. 52 Oral History of J. William McDonald ii Who Bears the Risk in the Case of Water Shortages?. 53 It's a Question of Water Rights Ownership. 54 Water Spreading.. 57 Other Work Within the Regional Solicitor's Office.. 58 Coming Back to Reclamation. 61 Special Assistant to the Commissioner. 62 Commissioner Eluid Martinez.. 63 Issues Facing the Pacific Northwest Region. 65 Water Rights Adjudication on the Snake River.. 66 Repayment Contracts. 67 Yakima River Water Rights Adjudication.. 68 The EMC Nut.. 71 Pumping Water Supplies from Lake Roosevelt.. 73 Renewed Interest in Expanding the Columbia Basin Project. 75 Mitigating Tribal Claims. 76 Black Rock Project. 78 Snake River Adjudication and Nez Perce Claims. 81 Renewed Interest in Teton Dam.. 82 Reclamation's Perspectives on Nez Perce Claims. 83 Native American Water Rights in the Pacific Northwest. 85 Reclamation's Responsibilities to Indian Settlements. 87 High Lift Pumpers. 88 Uncontracted Water. 89 Idaho Groundwater Issues. 90 Fish Farms. 92 Federal Columbia River Power System. 92 Acting Commissioner. 95 Collateral Duties. 97 Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission. 98 Budget Review Committee. 99 Managing for Excellence. 100 Commissioner's Blueprint for Reform. 102 The Time Involved Performing Collateral Duties. 103 Regional Director's Workload. 104 Facilities Security.. 108 Road Closures..