The Regional Water Quality Control Board has turned to a veteran of the agency for it’s new leader.
John Robertson was named executive officer on Friday, March 17, the board announced.
“Last Friday,” RWQCB Chairman Dr. Jean-Pierre Wolff said, “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 of the Central Coast Region. Mr. Robertson has been serving this board in a variety of leadership roles for the last 18 years, and he has proven he can achieve important environmental outcomes without compromising the underlying good working relationships with stakeholders from all sides.”
Dr. Wolfe added, “He has a great grasp of the important issues that confront this region and we are fortunate to have a candidate like him from within our organization.”
He went on to commend the interim executive, Lisa McCann, who filled in for several months after former EO Ken Harris left for a job with another State agency.
“I also want to commend Lisa McCann on her excellent work and leadership as our interim executive officer during this period of transition.” Dr. Wolff said.
Robertson said, “I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to work with our richly talented staff and our dedicated and engaged board. We have immense water quality challenges in front of us, and I look forward to working with stakeholders in protecting and restoring our valued resources throughout the Central Coast.”
Robertson has worked for State water boards for more than 22 years, starting as an associate engineering geologist. He has a background in surface and groundwater quality issues. He was working as a section manager of the Groundwater Protection Division and was responsible “for oversight associated with active oilfields, landfills, industrial cleanup sites, waste discharges from agricultural facilities, enforcement, environmental justice issues, and the groundwater assessment and protection program (GAP),” reads a news release on his promotion.
He has a bachelor’s degree from U.C. Davis and is a licensed geologist. He will oversee the Region 9, which stretches from Southern San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, along the Coast to Northern Venture County, including all of San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
The water board’s main responsibility is ensuring water quality, whether it is underground or on the surface in lakes, rivers, creeks and marshes, as well as wastewater discharges and reuses, among others.
In recent years it has expanded its scope into regulation of agricultural runoff and irrigation usage, and urban storm runoff management. It possesses sweeping enforcement powers, and planning and review responsibilities for water management plans developed under state mandates for cities and counties, and including private developments, as well.
It is the first-level enforcement agency for the State’s Clean Water Act (the Porter-Cologne Act) and the Federal Clean Water Act, operating under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency and ultimately, is part of the California Resources Agency. Its board members are political appointees.
