[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 35 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                    RECOGNIZING GALE WILLIAM FRASER

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 27 years Gale 
Fraser has devoted to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District 
and his work as general manager and chief engineer for the past 22 
years.
  Southern Nevada is known for its dry heat and arid environment, but 
our rare and intense thunderstorms can create dangerous flash floods. 
These flash floods can cause millions of dollars in property damage and 
take lives in a matter of seconds. The demand to address this issue 
grew as the Las Vegas Valley experienced unprecedented development and 
population growth for more than three decades. The latest statistics 
show that more than 2 million people currently live in Clark County, 
and at one point in the 1990s, more than 5,000 people were relocating 
to the area every month of the year.
  In an effort to address the risks associated with flood waters and 
accommodate the demands of a growing population, the Nevada Legislature 
authorized the creation of a flood control district in Clark County in 
1985. The Army Corps of Engineers completed a feasibility report in 
1992 on the flood control improvements necessary for the Las Vegas Wash 
and Tributaries, otherwise known as the Tropicana and Flamingo Washes. 
This massive project included debris basins, detention basins, miles of 
primary channels, and a network of lateral collector channels. Few 
could have shouldered such a daunting project, but Gale rose to the 
challenge.
  The support and expertise that Gale Fraser and the regional flood 
control district brought to the Tropicana and Flamingo Washes projects 
was critical to it being authorized by Congress in the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1992. The first Federal appropriations to initiate 
the construction of the project became available through the Energy and 
Water Resources Development appropriations bill in October 1993. These 
important steps and strong partnerships contributed to the completion 
of the Project Cooperation Agreement, which was fully executed in 
February 1995.
  The Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the Clark County 
Public Works Department were the local sponsors of the Tropicana and 
Flamingo Washes. Gale, as the head of the Regional Flood Control 
District, was instrumental in shepherding this project through the 
process, which has brought safety, security, and peace of mind to the 
residents of the Las Vegas Valley. Gale's impressive leadership has 
persisted. He further developed plans to improve Clark County's water 
infrastructure to manage destructive flood waters. To date, under 
Gale's leadership, 90 detention basins and approximately 590 miles of 
channels and underground storm drains have been constructed in Clark 
County.
  On behalf of a grateful community, I thank Mr. Fraser for his years 
of dedicated service to Clark County and his work to ensure responsible 
flood management and public safety in southern Nevada.
  Gale has also been an active member of the National Association of 
Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies and served as the president of 
the organization from August 2008 to August 2010. This organization 
includes many flood control districts and public works agencies across 
the country that are charged with working with Federal partners, such 
as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help develop 
and implement public policies regarding storm water quality and flood 
plain management.
  Although Mr. Fraser will be missed, his legacy will continue to 
benefit Nevadans and our visitors for generations to come. I 
congratulate Gale Fraser on his retirement and wish him the best in his 
future endeavors.

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