Colorado River Board of California Seeks Executive Director to Advocate for State’s Water Rights

Contact:
Yuanyuan Myint
(818) 254-3207
ymyint@crb.ca.gov

A crucial Leadership Role in Safeguarding California’s Water Rights and Shaping Sustainable Management of Colorado River

September 20, 2024 – The Colorado River Board of California is actively recruiting for the position of Executive Director, a critical leadership role essential for the representation and protection of California’s interests in managing the Colorado River – a vital resource for the state’s water and power supply that faces growing demands.

For nearly 90 years, the Colorado River Board has played a pivotal role in negotiations and discussions with the Colorado River Basin States, federal agencies, and international partners. In an era marked by shifting climate patterns and competing demands on water resources, the Executive Director will be pivotal in guiding the Board’s mission to safeguard California’s water rights and ensure the sustainable management of Colorado River resources.

Collaborating closely with the Chair of the Colorado River Board of California, the Executive Director will oversee the Board’s operations, develop strategic recommendations, and advocate for California’s interests in discussions related to water management, environmental sustainability, and federal regulations. Specific duties include:

• Leading the Colorado River Board staff in studying and managing the Colorado River.
• Preparing comprehensive reports and presentations for legislative and public hearings.
• Analyzing regulations and making recommendations on water conservation and utilization.
• Representing California’s interests in meetings with stakeholders, including other states and Native American Tribes.

“Finding a visionary leader for this position is critical for the future of California’s water management,” said JB Hamby, Chairman of the Colorado River Board of California and California’s Colorado River Commissioner. “The Executive Director will be at the forefront of advocating for our state’s interests, ensuring that we not only protect our resources but also collaborate effectively with our partners to address the challenges ahead.”

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting their resume and cover letter electronically to Yuanyuan Myint at ymyint@crb.ca.gov by October 15, 2024.

For more information, go to https://crb.ca.gov/executive-director-recruitment/.

[Download a copy of this press release]

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Since 1937, the Colorado River Board of California has protected the interests and rights of the State of California, its agencies, and citizens in the water and power resources of the Colorado River.

CRB Celebrates Retirement of Executive Director Chris Harris

At its August 14 meeting, the Colorado River Board celebrated the career and retirement of CRB Executive Director Chris Harris. Chris will be retiring at the end of August after more than 24 years with the Board and a 40-year career in the Colorado River Basin.

Chris joined the Colorado River Board as Environmental Program Manager in 2000, after 14 years with the Arizona Department of Water Resources. During his time with the Board, Chris served as Deputy Director, Acting Executive Director, and, since 2017, Executive Director. Among Chris’s many contributions to the Colorado River Basin, he was instrumental to the completion of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program in 2005, a unique fifty-year federal/non-federal partnership to conserve endangered species and create habitat along the Lower Colorado River. Chris also spearheaded California’s plan to create 400,000 acre-feet of conserved water annually from 2023-2026, which was a foundational to the Lower Basin Plan finalized this April.

At the August meeting, the Board named Deputy Director Jessica Neuwerth as the Acting Executive Director while the Board begins its search for a new Executive Director.

Colorado River Board Elects New Officers

January 11, 2022

At its January 11th meeting, the Colorado River Board of California elected JB Hamby, representing Imperial Irrigation District, to serve as Board Chairman and Jim Madaffer, representing San Diego County Water Authority, to serve as Board Vice Chairman. As Chairman, Hamby serves as California’s Colorado River Commissioner.

“This is a historic time of reckoning on the Colorado River where growing demand over the decades exceeds a shrinking supply due to chronic drought and aridification,” Hamby said. “Protecting California’s stake on the Colorado River is vital to our future in Southern California. I look forward to working closely with the board’s member agencies — both agricultural and urban — to develop solutions that respect the Law of the River for the benefit of all Californians.”

Board members also congratulated outgoing Chairman Peter Nelson and Vice Chairman David Pettijohn on their tenure and service to the Board and the State of California.