Tracy Streeter
Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment contains the interviews of individuals who were involved with the development and implementation of state energy and environmental policy from the 1970s through the early decades of the 2000s. The interviews elicit insights about the policy-making process, the assignment of priorities, and the give-and-take involved in reaching final policy decisions. Of special interest are instances in which Kansas developed singular solutions and means for implementing them. To explore this collection and others, visit the Kansas Oral History Project home page: https://ksoralhistory.org/
A native Kansan, Tracy Streeter grew up on a diversified family farm in Brown County, Kansas and graduated from Horton High School. He earned undergraduate degrees from Highland Community College and Missouri Western State University and a graduate degree from the University of Kansas. Streeter served eight years on the Valley Falls Board of Education and is a private pilot. During his 33 years of service to the State of Kansas, Streeter held key positions related to Kansas water resource management, including serving 14 years as Director of the Kansas Water Office under Governors Sebelius, Parkinson, Brownback, and Colyer. He also served 10 years as Executive Director of the State Conservation Commission. While at the Water Office, Streeter oversaw the implementation of the Kansas Water Plan, served as Chairman of the Governor's Drought Response Team, and in 2013, was appointed to co-lead the development of a 50-Year Water Vision for Kansas. He also served as an ex-officio member of the Kansas Water Authority and as the Kansas representative to the 17-state Western States Water Council. During his service as Director, Streeter also led the Natural Resources Subcabinet, working to increase efficiencies and inter-agency cooperation statewide. Streeter left state service in December 2018 and now works for Burns & McDonnell Engineering assisting communities and industry with water planning and water supply solutions throughout Kansas and across the country.
In this 2021 oral history interview, Tracy Streeter reflects on his 14 years as Director of the Kansas Water Office under four governors. As recalled here, the early years of the 21st Century saw the efforts of the Kansas Water Office move from planning and policy-making to implementation. Streeter discusses issues involving water reservoirs that have become an integral part of water management in the state. He also reflects on the number of state agencies involved in development and implementation of water policy in Kansas and the dynamics of the Natural Resources Sub-cabinet under Governor Sebelius as well as changes that occurred when the policy planning time horizon was increased dramatically through the water visioning process initiated by Governor Brownback.
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