MP-15-056

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release On: April 23, 2015

Therese O’Rourke Bradford Selected as the New Area Manager for the Klamath Basin Area Office in Klamath Falls, Oregon

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region announced today that Therese O’Rourke Bradford has been selected as the Area Manager for the Klamath Basin Area Office. Brian Person, acting Area Manager, is currently in the position and will retire in June 2015. Ms. O’Rourke Bradford will begin in early June.

“Therese has an exceptional breadth and depth of experience,” stated Regional Director David Murillo. “Her leadership will assist the Region accomplish our commitments to manage water delivery, protect natural and cultural resources, and increase water conservation.

O’Rourke Bradford currently works as a Regulatory Branch Chief for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Carlsbad, California. Previously she worked as an Assistant Field Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a District Ranger for the U.S. Forest Service in Dillon, Colorado, and as a Senior Program Manager for the Nature Conservancy in southern California. 

Addressing conflicts between land use and endangered species issues has been a cornerstone of her career.  As the Regulatory Branch Chief, she has focused on creating mitigation opportunities for wetlands restoration that assists both developers and endangered species. While with the Fish and Wildlife Service, she was a primary architect for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, which protects species and habitats while allowing for streamed permitting for local land use and development.

“I’m looking forward to working with the excellent team in the Klamath Falls office and working with all members of the community to address the water issues now and into the future,” said O’Rourke Bradford.

O’Rourke Bradford has a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Forestry and Master’s degree from George Mason University in Environmental Science and Policy. She is married to Darren Bradford and has a daughter, Maggie, who is a freshman at Oregon State University.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov.