[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JIMMY SMITH FOR HIS SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH COAST 
               INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Jimmy Smith, chairman of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water 
Management Plan (NCIRWMP) Policy Review Panel for 7 years, honoring his 
dedication to, and his achievements toward, healthy North Coast 
communities and ecosystems.
  Mr. Smith has become known for his inclusiveness, diplomacy, and 
transparent leadership style through his work on the Policy Review 
Panel. He played a critical role in shepherding the North Coast through 
its first project prioritization process, helping the panel make 
difficult policy decisions to reduce the NCIRWMP's priority funding 
list from $50 to $25 million.
  Mr. Smith led the panel through the unanimous adoption by the 
region's seven county Boards of Supervisors of the first and second 
phases of NCIRWMP. His leadership was instrumental in securing more 
than 70 signatories to the NCIRWMP Memorandum of Mutual Understanding.
  Mr. Smith hosted the NCIRWMP's first Integrated Regional Water 
Management Conference, bringing more than 250 attendees to the North 
Coast region, representing over 50 entities comprised of local 
governments, tribes, legislators, agencies, watershed groups, providing 
a greater awareness of water management issues, watershed functions and 
future policy and funding opportunities.
  Mr. Smith's oversight of the NCIRWMP top ranked proposals has brought 
more than $41 million to the North Coast. He worked for months on 
behalf of the entire North Coast community during the 2008 California 
``bond freeze'' to minimize economic impact on disadvantaged 
communities and to ensure that the North Coast's priority 
infrastructure and environmental projects were able to move forward.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize my 
friend Jimmy Smith for his dedication and contributions to the North 
Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and dedication to our 
community.

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