Sandra L. Kerl has been named the new general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority after serving as acting general manager since March and as deputy general manager for the Water Authority since 2009.

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on Thursday, Nov. 21, approved a contract with Sandra L. Kerl to be the new general manager of the region’s wholesale water agency, following a months-long national search. The Board approved the contract in open session during its regular monthly meeting at Water Authority headquarters.

Kerl fills the position vacated by longtime General Manager Maureen Stapleton, who retired in March. Kerl has served as the agency’s acting general manager since Stapleton’s departure, working closely with the Board to lead a staff of approximately 250 employees at offices in Kearny Mesa, Escondido, the Imperial Valley and Sacramento.

“Sandy brings an ideal mix of leadership,

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Members of the Salton Sea Authority issue a resolution honoring outgoing Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy Bruce Wilcox, (center), honoring him for his years of service dedicated to the Salton Sea, for both his time with the Imperial Irrigation District and with California Natural Resources Agency, during a recent meeting held at the IID chambers in El Centro.

During its Oct. 24 board meeting, the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) passed a resolution honoring out-going Assistant Secretary of Salton Sea Policy Bruce Wilcox for a career devoted to trying to better the Salton Sea. The resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote of the SSA Board of Directors. Wilcox, who was present for the resolution, was appointed to serve as assistant secretary within the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in 2015 under the Gov. Brown administration. It was a new post within CNRA, created in the wake of Gov. Brown’s

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A recent photo of Lake Mead shows the reservoir’s reduced levels, although good hydrology in 2019 did increase levels enough to prevent a shortage declaration. The most recent figures by the Bureau of Reclamation place Lake Mead at level 1,089 feet, fourteen feet above the trigger for a shortage declaration and mandatory reductions. However, even at 1,089 feet, the first ever contributions to the river — affecting Arizona, Nevada and Mexico — under the Drought Contingency Plan will be implemented as part of 2020 river operations.

It has been well documented that the Colorado River has experienced a positive year hydrologically thanks to record snowfalls in 2019. Through the weather patterns this year, the impacts of drought on the river eased enough so that a shortage declaration was avoided for 2020 and is expected to be avoided in 2021 and possibly beyond. The good news clearly was reason for a

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