Quiet fixture supports Ephrata, agriculture, child safety
Quiet fixture supports Ephrata, agriculture, child safety
Bureau of Reclamation manager enjoys his part in farming
EPHRATA — John Moody is a quiet fixture in Ephrata. His gentle smile and friendly "hello" aren't the kind that draw a crowd, but his unassuming presence is welcomed by people throughout the Basin. Most of the community seems to know his name, face and job title, but fewer know what exactly he does and why he does it.
John works for the Bureau of Reclamation as the manager of the Irrigation Operations and Technical Services Division. His little wing of the Bureau building in Ephrata handles an enormous amount of responsibility. They direct the water operations for the Columbia Basin Water Project, covering the canal systems from Banks Lake down to the local watermasters. They oversee the federal facilities in 17 irrigation districts across three states, from Central Washington to Western Montana; three of these comprise the Columbia Basin Water Project. They oversee six high-hazard dams, and provide maintenance and care for three of those. They also oversee any construction or actions by other entities, such as county and city jurisdictions, that may impact these federal facilities. During the irrigation season, his office runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The job description is extensive, but the heart behind it is bigger still. "This job will culminate my career with the Bureau of Reclamation," John says. "It's been a job I've enjoyed, simply because, early on when I started with the Bureau, I wanted to be in operational maintenance." He specifically mentions the pleasure of being involved in the implementation of successful programs. "I've had the opportunity to plan systems that were built in Arizona, and actually oversee the construction and transfer of the operation of those systems to individual irrigation districts."
The love of this type of work goes back much farther. John's grandfather was the project engineer at the St. Ignatius irrigation district in Montana. His father had grown up there, and John also eventually ended up there as the irrigation manager for eight years. He worked for five years before that as a farm manager of a large operation in Arizona, and says if there were any other job on his radar screen, it would be that. "I think I would have liked to have stayed in farming. I'm still involved by making sure the water gets to the farmers, and have been for 17 years," he says. "If I can't farm, this is the next best thing."
John transferred from St. Ignatius in the 1990s, landing in Grant County. "The Basin is a great location. It's the headquarters for the Columbia Basin Project, and the largest share of the work is right here."
In that time, he's seen many changes in the area. "There has been an increase in orchards. The processors have increased, both in the varieties they process and in newer processors coming in. We see a lot of interest in the revitalization of Soap Lake; that's been fun to watch."
John emphasizes the unique physical environment of our region of the state, and says that the Columbia Basin Water Project has helped bring awareness to it, sparking promotion of the region by other groups. "There's the tourism drive through the Coulee Corridor and participation there; it's brought a lot of communities together, as well as given me the opportunity to get to know individuals out in the community that participate. We've seen that go from an idea, a concept of a scenic by-way, to it becoming a national scenic by-way. The wetlands areas of the Basin are also better promoted; people know they're here now. It's a playground for the west side."
John tries to make connections with people on a personal level, but his job also requires him to be active in the community. One of the ways he does this is through involvement in numerous community organizations. He lists the Ephrata Rotary Club and the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival first, saying everyone should take the time to visit the festival.
Two other passions involve children. The first is the Otto Otter Safety Program, which teaches third graders in every Basin school about water safety with regard to canals and ditches. The other is Catch a Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.), a program that offers an annual fishing excursion to the Potholes Reservoir for special needs children. He speaks with conviction about both of these programs.
The biggest conviction in John's life is his love for Jesus. "He is my source of strength. He's given me stability — that's the easiest way to say it," he says. "He's the Rock; he's the foundation." His Savior is also the one person he most wants to meet; "by the grace of God, I'm planning to meet Jesus face to face," he beams, offering a humble laugh.
This particular passion is the motivation for three more activities in his life. The first is a weekly, men's prayer breakfast and Bible study. The second involves his wife of nearly 42 years, Sharon; they are both active in the activities of the Alabaster Box, a Christian bookstore in Ephrata. John does the imprinting on customers' Bibles. The third activity related to his religious convictions is his involvement with the KNLW repeater committee, supporting KMBI's oversight of the repeater and offering programming guidance.
John connects his beliefs to his work. "The resources here are the land, the water, and the people. The land that is tillable receives the water resource, and the people out there on the farms make it all go together." Without personal contact with other people, nothing would receive the necessities for growth and for life. He also sees that with a system more than fifty years old, "stewardship is important."
He says no one can do it alone. "Strength doesn't come with a single strand, but with the interweaving of many strands. That's why the relationships of many people in many organizations create strength in accomplishing a goal; there is more strength in a group, and more opportunity for better perception and perspective."
John exemplifies that strength. Walking through the farmer's market or down the sidewalk, he is greeted with numerous cries of "Hey, John!" and "Good morning, Mr. Moody!" He's made personal contact with his community a priority, and it shows in the warm reception he receives from it.
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