Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee Members

Julie Lee - Chair

Julie Lee, of Auburn, has served as undersecretary of the California Government Operations Agency, where she also served as chair of the California Building Standards Commission. She has also served in several positions in the Office of Governor Jerry Brown, including director of operations, reorganizational specialist, and project manager of the Governor’s reorganization plan at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. She has also held positions at the California Department of Transportation, Department of Personnel Administration, California Highway Patrol, and Department of Corrections.

She was appointed to the Council by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, and the Council elected her chair in April 2024. Her current term expires on February 3, 2026.

Meghan Hertel - Director, California Department of Fish & Wildlife

Meghan Hertel is a dynamic conservation leader with a deep commitment to science-based wildlife stewardship and the conservation of California’s nature. She brings a forward-looking vision and a track record of delivering impactful, large-scale conservation initiatives that advance the state’s biodiversity goals. As Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, she leads a team of more than 3,300 dedicated to stewarding California’s fish, wildlife and habitats—driving conservation forward while supporting communities and balancing ecological health with the needs of a dynamic state. Meghan joined the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in February 2026 after serving as Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency for two years. In that role, she led statewide efforts to conserve biodiversity and improve habitat through implementation of California’s 30x30 strategy. Her work also supported key initiatives such as Cutting Green Tape and the advancement of large-scale habitat restoration projects across diverse landscapes. Prior to her service at CNRA, Meghan was the North American Director for Land Life, a technology-driven nature restoration company. She also spent more than a decade with Audubon California, where she held multiple leadership roles, including Director of Land and Water Conservation. There, she led statewide programs focused on inland water systems and working lands, building partnerships and strategies that balanced ecological health with community and economic needs. Meghan holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy from Clark University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida.

Karen Ross - Secretary, California Department of Food & Agriculture

Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on January 12, 2011, by then-Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Ross has deep leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California. Before joining CDFA, Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in 2009. Prior to that appointment, she served as president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996-2009, and as vice-president of the Agricultural Council of California from 1989-1996. Before moving to California, Ross served as the director of government relations for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association and as a field representative for U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky.

Thomas Gibson - Director, California Department of Water Resources

Thomas Gibson was appointed Director of the California Department of Water Resources by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 29, 2026. He was sworn in on July 6, 2026. Gibson oversees the Department and its nearly 4,000 employees with the mission to manage and protect California’s water resources and support the reliability of California’s electrical grid. In cooperation with other agencies, DWR manages California’s water resources to benefit the state’s people and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments. Prior to his appointment as Director, Gibson served as Lead Deputy Director since being appointed by Governor Newsom in March 2024. Prior to that appointment, he served as DWR General Counsel, having been appointed to that position in June 2021. Gibson was previously Undersecretary, Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Water, and General Counsel for the California Natural Resources Agency from 2014-2020 as well as General Counsel for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2009-2014. Prior to joining the State, he was a Partner at the law firm of Best, Best & Krieger LLP and an Associate at the law firms of Hyman, Phelps & McNamara P.C. and Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard. Gibson earned a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College.

Yana Garcia - Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency

Yana Garcia was appointed California Secretary for Environmental Protection by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2022. As Secretary, Yana oversees the state’s efforts to fight climate change, protect air and water quality, regulate pesticides and toxic substances, achieve the state’s recycling and waste reduction goals, and advance environmental justice. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, she advises the Governor on environmental policy. Yana is nationally recognized as a groundbreaking environmental leader who has worked hard to uplift the voices of those from disadvantaged communities. Prior to her appointment, Garcia served as Special Assistant Attorney General advising California Attorney General Rob Bonta on the California Department of Justice’s legal and policy matters pertaining to the environment, land law and natural resources including climate, transportation, energy, and housing. She was Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, Tribal Affairs and Border Relations at CalEPA from 2019 to 2021 and had been CalEPA’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs from 2017 to 2019. During her tenure at CalEPA, Garcia led three Environmental Justice Task Force Initiatives in the communities of Pomona, Imperial County and Stockton. She also led the program that delivered more than $1 million in Environmental Justice Small Grants to 28 organizations to combat pollution, improve health outcomes and increase public engagement in some of California’s most pollution-burdened communities. Garcia holds a degree in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

Wade Crowfoot - Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency

Wade Crowfoot was the chief executive officer of the Water Foundation from 2016 to 2018. He was deputy cabinet secretary and senior advisor to Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2013 to 2016. Crowfoot also served as deputy director for Brown’s Office of Planning and Research from 2011 to 2013. He was the West Coast political director at the Environmental Defense Fund from 2009 to 2011 and a senior environmental advisor to former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom from 2004 to 2007.

Central Valley Flood Protection Board - VACANT

Diane Burgis - Chair, Delta Protection Commission

Diane Burgis, of Oakley, serves on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, representing the 230,000 residents of District 3. Her district includes a majority of Contra Costa County’s Delta region, and the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley in East Contra Costa County. Prior to being elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors in 2016, she served as a trustee on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board and as a member of the Oakley City Council. Supervisor Burgis was named the California State Assembly’s 2012 Woman of the Year for District 15 for her work as Executive Director of Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, and she received the Contra Costa County Commission on Women’s 2016 Women Empowering the Environment Award. She serves on the Council in her role as chair of the Delta Protection Commission.

Jennifer Quan - Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries (West Coast)

Jennifer Quan assumed the role of Regional Administrator on April 23, 2023. Previously, Ms. Quan worked as an advisor to the Chair, Senator Maria Cantwell, on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. There, she worked with the Chair to develop and pass legislation on NOAA’s ocean, climate, weather, and atmospheric research and services. Notably, she worked on NOAA’s climate resilience provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, during her tenure, she assisted in leading the passage of 13 bills into law, including the historic reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act. Prior to working for the U.S. Senate, she worked for the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, supervising the south Puget Sound Branch of the Oregon/Washington Coastal Office. Before joining NOAA, she spent 10 years at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ms. Quan is a fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute. She holds a Master’s in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science from Evergreen State College.

Campbell Ingram - Executive Officer, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Campbell became the first Executive Officer of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy in March of 2011. The Conservancy is tasked with being a lead agency for ecosystem restoration in the Delta and supporting efforts that advance environmental protection and the economic well-being of Delta residents. Previously, Campbell was an Associate Director of The Nature Conservancy’s California Water Program where he participated in the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan effort as a Steering Committee member. Campbell previously worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where he was responsible for implementing several CVPIA restoration programs and the CALFED Environmental Water Program; and prior to that was employed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation working directly for the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program.

E. Joaquin Esquivel - Chair, State Water Resources Control Board

E. Joaquin Esquivel was appointed to the State Water Resources Control Board by Governor Jerry Brown in March 2017 and designated by Governor Gavin Newsom as Chair in February 2019. Previously, he served as assistant secretary for federal water policy at the California Natural Resources Agency in the Governor’s Washington, D.C., office, where he facilitated the development of policy priorities between the agency, the Governor’s Office, the California Congressional delegation, and federal stakeholder agencies. He worked for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer of California for more than eight years prior to his recent appointment, most recently as her legislative assistant covering agriculture, Native American, water, oceans, and nutrition portfolios, in addition to serving as the director of information and technology. He was born and raised in California’s Coachella Valley. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Josephine Axt - Chief of Planning, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Josephine Axt has served in her current capacity with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2015. Prior to coming to the regional office, she served as chief of planning at the Los Angeles District. She oversees a division with technical expertise in plan formulation, environmental compliance, economics, watershed planning, and flood risk management. Her Planning and Policy Division’s role includes reviewing subordinate District products, guiding project development, and conducting quality assurance. While Chief of Planning Division at the Los Angeles District, Axt oversaw a group of about 50 people in the formulation and evaluation of alternatives in the major mission areas of flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration. She worked closely with non-federal sponsors to manage flood risk, improve navigation, and restore ecosystems throughout southern California, southern Nevada, southeastern Utah, and Arizona.

Adam Nickels - Acting Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (California Great Basin Region)

U.S. Department of the Interior - VACANT

Tomás Torres - Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Pacific Southwest Region)

Tomás Torres serves as Director of the Water Division at the EPA in San Francisco. The Water Division, in collaboration with states, tribes, and its many stakeholders, is responsible for safeguarding drinking water in the Pacific Southwest and for restoring watersheds, oceans, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health and support economic and recreational activities. Torres is responsible for overseeing effective implementation of national water laws and for oversight and funding of state and tribal water protection programs in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the outer Pacific Islands. He has more than 25 years of environmental management experience in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Water Division in October of 2015, Torres served as Director of EPA’s San Diego Border Office, where he oversaw the development and implementation of environmental protection programs along the U.S.-Mexico border. He has held various leadership positions in EPA’s Land and Superfund programs and has worked in the private sector developing industrial capacity in the areas of air emissions reduction, pollution prevention, and health risk assessment. Torres is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Donald (Donnie) Ratcliff - Acting Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Pacific Southwest)

Donald (Donnie) Ratcliff is currently the acting Assistant Regional Director for Fish and Aquatic Conservation in the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Southwest Region. His permanent position since 2021 has been Project Leader of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office where he oversees regulatory, conservation and recovery efforts along with important science and modeling programs to support listed species and habitat management throughout the Bay-Delta Estuary. Ratcliff has over 25 years of experience in fisheries and aquatic habitat management throughout California and Nevada. Since 2009, he has worked on various fisheries management, water operations, habitat restoration, fish passage and diversion screening efforts in the Central Valley. He holds an undergraduate degree in Freshwater Fisheries from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) and MS in Aquatic Ecology from Utah State University.

Darrin Thome - Acting Southwest Regional Director, U.S. Geological Survey

Darrin Thome is a federal manager with experience spanning over three decades in ecological research, resource management, and scientific leadership. Currently serving as acting Regional Director for the United States Geological Survey’s Southwest Region, Darrin oversees ten science centers and manages strategic initiatives across Arizona, Nevada, and California, focusing on science coordination, workforce development, and partnership engagement. Previously, Darrin held key roles at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private industry, where he led multidisciplinary teams, negotiated complex conservation agreements, and developed innovative approaches to wildlife research and resource policy.

Larry Goldzband - Executive Director, San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission

Larry Goldzband joined BCDC as Executive Director in August 2012. Prior his appointment, Goldzband was a Coro Foundation Fellow, worked for members of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, was Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for former Governor Pete Wilson, and was director of the California Department of Conservation. In the private sector, he managed Pacific Gas and Electric Company's charitable contributions program for over 10 years and was the executive director of the PG&E Corporation Foundation. In the nonprofit sector, Goldzband was the policy director for Efficiency First California prior to starting at BCDC. In addition, Goldzband twice served as a BCDC Commissioner for a total of almost ten years. He received his undergraduate degree from Pomona College and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.