http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2004/02/13/news/top_stories/top3.txt

Bureau adds KF public relations post

Published Feb. 13, 2004

By DYLAN DARLING

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation office has hired a public relations officer for Klamath Falls, a place that in recent years has gained both the national spotlight and the attention of the top level of the Bush administration.

She is Rae Olsen of Helena, Mont., a former PR executive at Montana PPL, the former Montana Power Co. She is to start in March.

"The Klamath Basin has a very high visibility regionally and nationally," said Jeff McCracken, Bureau spokesman out of Sacramento. "Putting someone there who can tell the story of the Basin on the behalf of the government - that's a good idea."

McCracken has handled most of the public relations duties when the nation's eye is on the Basin. He's frequently quoted in stories about the controversies over water.

He said he zips up from Sacramento in times of crisis, such as the near shutoff of water last summer, significant events, such as the start of irrigation season, and official visits from higher-ups from Washington, D.C.

"It's hard to do that kind of work when you are not there," he said.

Christine Karas, the office's deputy manager, said Olsen was picked from a group of 20 candidates selected by the Bureau's personnel office.

Karas said Olsen has worked as a private public relations consultant and has experience dealing with natural resource issues and working with state and public utilities.

Olsen will plan tours, answer media questions and get the public involved with the Conservation Implementation Plan, a plan which Karas is working on in hopes of guiding restoration in the Basin.

"I think we have more than enough work to keep her busy," Karas said.

McCracken said other Bureau area offices have public relations officers, but most of them work at offices that have big dams that people want to see. He said there are officers at Shasta Dam, Grand Coulee Dam and Hoover Dam.

Although the Klamath Reclamation Project's dam is only about 10 feet tall, the project's issues are big.

"This reaches the highest levels in Washington," McCracken said.

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