Peñasco native to head U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Estevan R. López, former director of New Mexico’s Interstate Stream Commission, as the new head of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. As commissioner, López will oversee a 112-year old agency responsible for dams, hydroelectric power plants, reservoirs and canals it built in 17 states to foster development. The agency is the largest wholesale supplier of water in the nation. López, a Peñasco, N.M. native, directed the Interstate Stream Commission under the administrations of both Gov. Susana Martinez and former Gov. Bill Richardson. López worked as the Santa Fe County manager and director of the county’s land use and utilities departments before becoming the Interstate Stream Commission director in 2003. He earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry and petroleum engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Pres. Barack Obama nominated López to head the Bureau of Reclamation in March. López has served as the principal deputy commissioner of the agency since October...more