[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT D. CLARK

                                 ______


                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, March 2, 1995
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
selfless community leader and constituent, Mr. Robert Clark. For 25 
years, Mr. Clark served as general manager of the Glenn-Colusa 
Irrigation District [GCID]. He was also secretary to the district's 
board of directors.
  His job was a difficult one, and he carried it out with incredible 
success and professionalism. Water is an extremely important resource, 
especially to the farmers and ranchers in agricultural-rich California. 
Back home, my constituents depend on this all-important resource for 
their livelihood and for the lives of a country that depends on the 
nourishment from their agricultural product.
  Mr. Clark was responsible for ensuring water delivery to 
approximately 175,000 acres of land. He was in charge of mitigating all 
of the problems associated with water delivery, and let me tell you 
from firsthand experience the headaches are, indeed, many. I have 
worked with Mr. Clark and the GCID board of directors on difficult and 
ongoing issues such as salmon protection, riffle restoration, and 
dredging.
  In this time of intense struggle for balance among environmental 
protection and water and land use, Mr. Clark was a rational and calm 
voice. His constant demeanor was remarkable considering that he 
supervised water deliveries to over 20,000 acres in three national 
wildlife refuges. On his watch, GCID irrigated up to 140,000 acres in 
fertile agricultural land.
  Among his most notable accomplishments, was a $20 million 
rehabilitation program for the district's main canal system, including 
the construction early last decade of a new pump station. That effort 
added capacity and increased the security of the water distribution 
system.
  Mr. Clark also accomplished the refinement of hydraulic measurement 
within the district, which led to the implementation of more equitable 
water distribution to water users.
  In addition to his work at GCID, Mr. Clark has participated in 
professional water resource activities, worked as an international 
consultant in the irrigation field and served as a director of the 
Water Education Foundation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Mr. 
Clark for his many years of service to the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation 
District. Personally, I will miss him very much. I wish him much 
happiness and continued success in all his future endeavors.


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