LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors made another key department head appointment, this time selecting the new director of Water Resources.
Pawan Upadhyay, PhD, will take over the position on July 1, the county of Lake reported.
“I am excited to get started, and grateful for the support of the Board of Supervisors,” said Upadhyay. “Clear Lake is Lake County’s defining feature, and it must be thoughtfully managed. Further, few communities present similar opportunities to deepen our collective understanding of how water resources contribute and respond to broader ecological trends. This is a special opportunity, and I look forward to contributing as Water Resources director.”
Dr. Upadhyay most recently served as Water Resources director for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes in Owyhee, Nevada.
There, he managed a $10 million annual budget and supervised 24 staff, while providing executive-level oversight of water resources, including management of irrigation water data, water supply assessment and projection of future water demand.
Prior to that leadership position, Upadhyay held research, data modeling and geographic information systems-focused roles with the University of Kansas, Mississippi State University and Iowa State University.
The county said multi-disciplinary scholarly works to which he has contributed have become influential, garnering hundreds of citations.
“We trust that Dr. Upadhyay has the ability to bring the data-driven leadership necessary to assess and respond to our water needs and challenges in Lake County,” said Bruno Sabatier, chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors. “With the depth of his expertise in water related issues, including water quality, we are grateful he has chosen Lake County as his next step in his career joining a team with tremendous strengths and passions for everything water.”
Upadhyay succeeds Scott De Leon, who has concurrently served as Public Works and Water Resources director, and is retiring following nearly 23 total years of county service, including 14 years in director-level roles.
Last month, the board hired Glen March for the Public Works director job, as Lake County News has reported.
Supervisors appoint Upadhyay as new Water Resources director
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On