Irrigation association honors Columbia River office director

Office of Columbia River Director Tom Tebb, cis flanked by Scott Revell, incoming president of the Washington State Water Resources Association and outgoing WSWRA president Craig Simpson.

Tom Tebb, director of Ecology's Office of Columbia River, received special recognition during the Washington State Water Resources Association (WSWRA) annual conference at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane on Dec. 6, 2018.

“Tom Tebb's professionalism and long-term dedication to ensuring the continued availability of water supply in Eastern Washington is greatly appreciated by the WSWRA membership, " said Craig Simpson, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District manager and WSWRA past president, in presenting the Distinguished Service Award.

The plaque's inscription states that it is given, “In recognition of your outstanding contributions to the irrigation and water resources community."

Tom has over 30 years of environmental and engineering experience in both the private and public sectors. He previously served as Central Regional Director, and has been a manager in five programs during his tenure with Ecology. They include Nuclear Waste, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance, Water Quality, Water Resources, and Office of Columbia River.

Authorized by the Legislature in 2006, the Office of Columbia River pursues water supply solutions in the Columbia River Basin for both instream and out-of-stream benefits. The program has overseen a huge project to improve water deliveries to irrigators in the Odessa Subarea on the Columbia Plateau. Construction of siphons and widening canals will mean that farmers will have options beyond pumping groundwater from a rapidly declining aquifer. The program also supports water efficiencies and habitat enhancements in the Yakima River Basin.

WSWRA is the coordinating agency for over 100 irrigation districts in Washington. Irrigation districts deliver water to over 1.2 million acres of irrigated agriculture in the state.