Richard Van Klaveren Retires

Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Richard Van Klaveren has retired after more than 20 years of experience in agricultural and civil engineering. Before his selection as State Conservationist in July 2004, he served as Regional Conservationist, Northern Plains Region, Lincoln, Nebraska. He also served for five years as Director, Engineering Division, NRCS National Headquarters (NHQ), Washington, DC. In that position, Van Klaveren provided national leadership and direction for planning and coordinating engineering program activities in relationship to the agency's natural resource program.

Prior to his NHQ position, Van Klaveren served as Regional Conservation Engineer for the West Region in Sacramento, California, from 1995-1996; headed the Engineering Staff in Portland, Oregon., from 1990-1995; National Irrigation Engineer in NHQ from 1989-1990; State Conservation Engineer in Montana from 1987-1989; and NRCS/Agricultural Research Service Liaison Special Assignment at Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, from 1984-1987.

Among his many accomplishments, Van Klaveren developed and implemented the National Engineering Design Center for NRCS and is a leading authority on water resource issues.

He is a native of Spokane, Washington, and received a bachelor's and master's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, and a doctor's degree in Engineering Science from Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-4772.