J. William (Bill) McDonald
Pacific Northwest Regional Director

Bill began his career in water resources management in 1972 with the Army Corps of Engineers' civil works program. He then spent 14 years with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, serving 11 years as the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which is the state's water resources planning and policy agency. During his tenure, he represented Colorado on several interstate organizations and compact commissions, including two years as the chairman of the Western States Water Council.

In 1990, Bill was appointed as the Assistant Commissioner for Resources Management in the Bureau of Reclamation. In that capacity, he was responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of agency-wide planning, environmental compliance, operation and maintenance, and cost recovery policies and program guidelines.

Between 1994 and 1999, Bill served in other capacities in Reclamation, including as a special assistant to the Commissioner. In 1999, he was appointed the Regional Director for Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region. The Region encompasses the Columbia River Basin and coastal watersheds in Oregon and Washington.

During the transition from the Clinton to the Bush Administrations, Bill served for six months as the Acting Commissioner of Reclamation.

Bill has an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Colorado College, an M.S. degree in natural resources management from the University of Michigan, and a J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1971.

Bill and his wife have eight children, six of whom are adopted and of various racial heritages.

Click on photo for High Resolution downloadable photo.