Unsung heroes
November 3, 2014
We love it when hard-working public servants get the recognition they deserve.
Portland Water Bureau employee Dan Weidinger is the Ranger who patrols the Bull Run Watershed and protects our water supply. In today’s Oregonian, Andrew Theen profiles Ranger Weidinger, our “lone ranger.”
The Bull Run Watershed is Portland’s main source of drinking water. The watershed includes the Bull Run Lake and our two reservoirs, in addition to the Bull Run River and a number of tributaries and other feeders. The two reservoirs hold nearly 14 billion gallons of usable water, and serve nearly a quarter of all Oregonians.
Dan and his wife, Sacha, live in the watershed. He is the only full-time ranger responsible for the nearly 150 square-mile watershed.
Hopefully he won’t be solo for long. The Water Bureau has requested, as part of the Fall BMP – the Budget Monitoring Process, which allows the City to make mid-year budget adjustments – to add a second full-time ranger.
As Commissioner in charge of the bureau, I am grateful for the exemplary service of Dan and others at PWB working every day to keep our water safe, manage our complex system, and provide helpful, accurate service to our customers.
Dan isn’t our only employee in the news. Kathy Koch, our Director of Customer Service and Billing, was recently recognized by her peers with the Management & Leadership Division Exceptional Service Award, a national honor acknowledging Kathy’s outstanding work on the customer care side of our business.
Our hats are off to both Dan and Kathy, who share a remarkable commitment to our water system and to the people we serve.