COLUMBIA BASIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE PROMOTES LEADERSHIP

The Columbia Basin Development League announced that Sara Higgins has been promoted to Executive Director. Vicky Scharlau, who served as Executive Director will continue in an advisory role. Higgins, who has served as Assistant Director since 2011 has 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and governance.  The Columbia Basin Development League was formed in 1964 to represent interests of stakeholders in the Columbia Basin, and advocates at the city, county, state and federal levels for continued development and support of the Columbia Basin Project--the largest Reclamation project in the United States. Higgins is a Class 42 graduate of AgForestry.  She has a BA in Liberal Studies from Seattle University and is a life-long resident of Eastern Washington.

Completion of the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program is a current focus for the League. Other issues include reinvestment in aging infrastructure, availability of adequately funded government programs used by the Project’s three irrigation districts, Project completion, and stakeholder awareness and engagement in challenges and solutions.