[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 150 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2152-E2153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING ROBERT W. GROSS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2000

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, today I offer my sincere congratulations to 
Robert W. Gross, Ph.D., E.W.E., on his retirement from the Board of 
Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. For sixteen years, 
Bob Gross has provided distinguished service to the Santa Clara Valley 
Water District and the residents of Santa Clara County. His hard-work 
and commitment to the job helped to produce numerous successes for the 
District and the County. I am honored to have been able to work with 
him over the years. He will, indeed, be missed.
  Bob began his public service as an advisor to the United States Army 
Corps of Engineers, San Francisco Division. Working in the flood 
control division for ten years, Bob tackled a myriad of flood control 
issues that face the Bay-Delta region, garnering a reputation for 
thoroughness and energetic diligence. In addition to his service in the 
Corps of Engineers, Bob also served a community advisor to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, helping to establish the San Francisco Bay 
National Wildlife Refuge which consists of more than 25,000 acres of 
protected waters and wildlife habitat. Bob also served as an advisor to 
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the important Central Valley Project.
  Building on these experiences Bob brought his knowledge and skills to 
Santa Clara, where he ran for, and won, five elections to the Santa 
Clara Valley Water District's Board of Directors. Representing District 
3--a district that encompasses one fifth of the entire population of 
Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley--Bob worked hard to meet the 
water supply and flood protection needs of the County's residents. As a 
member of the Board of Directors, Bob was responsible for helping shape 
the direction that the District has taken with respect to water policy 
over the past sixteen years. He was directly involved in many notable 
and important actions and issues, including the following: MTBE 
contamination, groundwater recharge. wastewater recycling, and CALFED. 
Bob served as the District's representative to the South Bay Recycling 
Project where he worked closely with the City of San Jose and the 
Bureau of Reclamation, and he also served as the District's 
representative to the City of San Jose on nonpoint wetland mitigation 
issues.
  During his tenure, Bob provided valuable service by reviewing and 
analyzing state water laws and regulations. As the District 
representative to the WaterReuse Association of California, Bob served 
as the Board's liaison and represented the interests of the District. 
Bob also represented the WaterReuse Association in a number of 
capacities, including most notably as the State Chairperson for the 
Potable Committee and a member of the Education Subcommittee. As a 
member of the Potable Subcommittee, he participated in the preparation 
of a news media presentation on the safe use of potable water and 
helped write a public information recycling brochure as a member of the 
Education Subcommittee. In addition, through his work with the 
Education Subcommittee, Bob worked closely with the California 
Department of Fish and Game to create an aquatic and environmental 
education program for disadvantaged youth. He also represented the 
WaterReuse Association at numerous conferences and seminars and served 
as a co-chair for a technical symposium on planned surface water 
augmentation using advanced treated recycled water and health 
standards. In 1995, in light of this work and for his outstanding 
service to the WaterReuse Association, he was awarded a certificate of 
recognition for personal contributions.

[[Page E2153]]

  In addition to his work with the WaterReuse Association, Bob was also 
active with many other associations and organizations, including the 
following: the Association of California Water Agencies, California 
Groundwater Association, National Groundwater Protection Council, 
National Water Resources Association, American Water Works Association, 
the California Water Education Foundation, ALERT--the California Flood 
Control Association, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, 
American Desalting Association, Water Environment Federation, 
California Water Pollution Control Association, and the California 
WaterReuse Association. Bob's personal contributions to these 
organizations was also noteworthy. In recognition of his hard-work, Bob 
was nominated in 1996 for the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clark Prize 
sponsored by the National Water Research Institute. To be nominated by 
his peers for this award is a true honor to the contributions and 
dedication of Bob Gross.
  Although, Bob achieved significant successes through his work and 
involvement with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the WaterReuse 
Association, the Corps of Engineers, and numerous other organizations, 
he also compiled an impressive record of personal and academic studies, 
projects, and papers on water issues. After earning a Bachelor of 
Science degree from San Jose State University, a Master of Sciences 
degree in aquaculture from Nova College International Campus, and a 
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Water Engineering from Nova 
College Europe, Bob served as an advisor for fifteen years to the Board 
of Fellows at the University of Santa Clara, and was an adjunct faculty 
member at Fareslston and Nova College. Bob has conducted studies on the 
impact of human pollution on water supplies and wildlife habitat, and 
he issued a summary paper on the ecological engineering multipurpose 
facility. On water purification issues, Bob wrote summary papers on 
recycling wastewater for potable use in San Jose, the reorganization of 
Santa Clara Valley Water District, and finally on a merger of all water 
producing agencies.
  And, in addition to all of his many years of hard work, service and 
commitment to water issues, Bob has also been honored in other areas as 
well. Perhaps most notably, Bob was the recipient of the Commendation 
Ribbon with Pendant from the Secretary of the Army for Meritorious 
Service in Korea. Bob has also long been a supporter of the Boy Scouts 
of America, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and District 
Chairperson. In recognition of his tremendous accomplishments and 
service to the Boy Scouts of America, Bob was awarded the Silver Beaver 
Award, one of Scouting's highest honors.
  Bob Gross has posted an exceptional record of achievement and 
success. He has served his country and his community tirelessly for 
many years. It is, Mr. Speaker, truly a privilege to recognize Robert 
Gross for the outstanding contributions that he has made to the Santa 
Clara Valley Water District and the people of Santa Clara County. I am 
grateful for his service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved 
retirement.

                          ____________________