CVCWA NEWS FLASH: Central Valley RWB Announces a New Executive Officer
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has selected Patrick Pulupa as its next executive officer. Starting March 1, Pulupa will work alongside Pamela Creedon, the Central Valley Water Board’s current executive officer, during a three-month transition period until her retirement on June 1.
“Our Board unanimously chose an outstanding candidate to fill the position of executive officer to carry forward the important work of protecting and improving water quality in the Central Valley Water Region,” said Central Valley Water Board Chair Karl Longley.
Pulupa, the Central Valley Water Board’s legal counsel since 2007, has provided legal advice and representation to the Central Valley Water Board in all matters associated with water quality regulation. Pulupa’s comprehensive background in the Water Board’s 20 core programs will serve him and the board well in addressing a myriad of Central Valley water quality issues.
In addition, Pulupa has extensive experience in the Board’s new programs. These include the CV-SALTs program, a region-wide salt and nitrate management plan; an oil fields regulatory program; a cannabis regulatory program; agricultural regulatory programs and drinking water quality. These programs affect stakeholders throughout the region and beyond.
Pulupa has strong working relationships with the wide variety of stakeholders that are affected by the Board’s regulatory decisions and will continue to foster the trust and collaboration that are an integral part of the Board’s work.
Of the state’s nine regional water boards, the Central Valley Water Board has the largest jurisdictional area, covering approximately 40 percent of the state. Thirty-eight of California’s 58 counties are either completely or partially within the Central Valley Water Board’s boundaries. Surface water sources under the Central Valley Water Board’s jurisdiction supply drinking water to more than 23 million people, and irrigation water for more than three million acres of farmland. Groundwater regulated by the Central Valley Water Board accounts for almost 50 percent of the private and public drinking-water supply in the Central Valley.
The Central Valley Water Board has a staff of 262 employees located in three offices and an annual operating budget of more than $38 million. Executive, management, technical, scientist and administrative staff for the Central Valley Water Board are located in three offices: Sacramento, Redding and Fresno. The executive officer is located in the Sacramento branch and works with five assistant executive officers located in each of the three offices to manage staff.
