The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO THOMAS N. CLARK” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1464 on Aug. 1, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO THOMAS N. CLARK
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HON. KEVIN McCARTHY
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, August 1, 2011
Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas N. Clark, former General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency and respected water expert in our community, who passed away on July 23, 2011, after battling cancer.
While Tom rose to the height of California water politics as General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency, KCWA, he was proud of his Oildale beginnings and never let anyone forget that. After graduating from North High School in 1963, he served for two years in the United States Army and married his sweetheart, Karen. Tom and Karen moved back to Bakersfield in 1970, and he quickly earned degrees from Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield. Tom then received a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he received a Master's Degree in water supply and pollution.
Back in Bakersfield, Tom began his career with KCWA in 1974. During this time, he honed his understanding and knowledge of California water contract law, as well as the ins and outs of Kern County and California water policy. He left KCWA in 1978 and went to work for the late local farmer and entrepreneur George Nickel, where he learned a great deal about Kern River water rights. He later returned to KCWA and became General Manager in 1990, serving in this capacity for 14 years.
As General Manager, Tom was at the center of California water politics, fighting tirelessly for Kern County residents and farmers to ensure our local communities received the water they needed and were entitled to. Recognized as a skilled and shrewd negotiator, Tom could wade through complex water problems to achieve collaborative, win-win solutions, all the while improving water supply reliability for Kern County.
One of Tom's greatest achievements and lasting legacies was the Monterey Agreement, which he helped negotiate with the California Department of Water Resources and other State Water Project contractors. This averted an agricultural disaster in Kern County by preventing tens of thousands of acres of farmland from being fallowed because of lack of water. He also was at the table and worked on the historic 1994 Bay Delta Accord, which provided an agreement among water agencies and environmentalists, leading to the CalFed Record of Decision by the United States Department of the Interior.
To provide more water reliability and supply stability, Tom was the driving force behind the Pioneer Project, a 2,253-acre groundwater recharge and water banking project located in Kern County, which KCWA operates to this day. This project was deservedly renamed the ``Thomas N. Clark Recharge and Banking Project'' in 2010. His leadership over the years helped KCWA navigate through ``wet'' and ``dry'' years, and the benefits of that leadership are still seen throughout the community and at all levels of government.
Tom is survived by his wife, Karen, his children, Krista and Jeff, and his grandchild, Henry. I will miss Tom's great sense of humor and barbequing, but I know he will be fondly remembered as a strong leader who was a passionate advocate for Kern County water and respected by many.
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