About Us
The Colorado River Board of California was established in 1937 to protect California’s rights and interests in the resources provided by the Colorado River and to represent California in discussions and negotiations regarding the Colorado River and its management. California’s Water Code, sections 12500-12560, provides the legal authorization for the Board.
Seven counties in Southern California receive water and hydroelectric energy from the Colorado River. Colorado River water is used for drinking water by over 19 million people in Southern California and irrigates over 600,000 acres of agricultural lands that produce fruits, vegetables, and other crops that help feed our nation’s families.
For the past 75 years the Colorado River Board of California has been charged with:
— Maintaining or increasing the quantity of California’s Colorado River water resources.
— Representing California in discussions among the Colorado River Basin States, Indian Tribes, the federal government and others in implementing joint cooperative programs to protect California’s use of Colorado River water and to address environmental and endangered species issues.
— Addressing issues relating to the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty through cooperative efforts with the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission and other states.
The Colorado River Board of California consists of eight members that are appointed by the Governor, including two members of the public, and the Directors of the California Department of Water Resources and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Members represent the Palo Verde Irrigation District, the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coachella Valley Water District, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the San Diego County Water Authority.
Current Board Members and Alternates
Coachella Valley Water District
Peter Nelson
Castulo Estrada
85-995 Avenue 52
Coachella, CA 92236
(760) 398-2651
Fax (760) 398-3711
https://cvwd.org
Imperial Irrigation District
John B. Hamby, Chairman
Gina Dockstader
333 E. Barioni Blvd.
Imperial, CA 92251
(760) 339-9477
Fax (760) 339-9392
https://www.iid.com
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
David Pettijohn
Delon Kwan
111 North Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90051
(800) 342-5397
Fax (213) 367-3212
https://www.ladwp.com
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Gloria Cordero
Michael Camacho
700 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 217-6000
Fax (213) 217-6650
https://www.mwdh2o.com
Palo Verde Irrigation District
Dana Bart Fisher, Jr.
Brad Robinson
180 W. 14th Avenue
Blythe, CA 92225
(760) 922-3144
Fax (760) 922-8294
https://www.pvid.org
San Diego County Water Authority
Jim Madaffer, Vice Chairman
Eric Heidemann
4677 Overland Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 522-6600
Fax (858) 522-6568
https://www.sdcwa.org
Public Members
Jordan D. Joaquin
President, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe
Frank Ruiz
California Department of Water Resources
Karla Nemeth, Director
1416 Ninth Street, 11th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-5791
Fax (916) 653-4684
https://water.ca.gov
Jeanine Jones, Designee
Interstate Resources Manager
1416 Ninth Street, 11th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-5791
Fax (916) 653-4684
https://water.ca.gov
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Charlton H. Bonham, Director
1416 Ninth Street, 12th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653-445-0411
Fax (916) 653-7387
https://wildlife.ca.gov
Christopher G. Hayes, Designee
Deputy Regional Manager
David Vigil, Alternate Designee
Senior Environmental Scientist
Eastern Sierra and Inland Desert Region
17041 South Lovekin Blvd.
P.O. Box 2160
Blythe, CA 92226
(760) 922-9189
Fax (760) 922-5638
https://wildlife.ca.gov
Board Counsel
California Attorney General’s Office
Eric M. Katz, Supervising Deputy Attorney General
Dylan Redor, Deputy Attorney General
300 South Spring Street, Suite 1702
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1230
(213) 897-2000
Fax (213) 897-2802
Board Executive Staff
Jessica Neuwerth, Acting Executive Director
770 Fairmont Ave., Suite 100
Glendale, CA 91203-1068
(818) 254-3200 ext. 308
Fax (818) 543-4685
The legal authorization for the Colorado River Board is provided in California’s Water Code, Division 6, Part 5 (sections 12500-12560).