OEC joins our partners in applauding Governor Tina Kotek’s nomination of Ivan Gall for the role of Director at the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD). The exhaustive, nationwide search for this position took nearly a year. We appreciate that Gov. Kotek chose a candidate so deeply familiar with the intricacies of Oregon water.
Gall has been working at OWRD for a quarter-century. In his time there, he headed the department’s field services division, as well as its groundwater section. Gall brings technical expertise, on-the-ground knowledge, and extensive experience in groundwater management. Because Oregon’s water policies and regulations are so complex, we need someone steeped in our state’s laws to lead OWRD. Galls’ well-rounded background makes him uniquely qualified to head the department. His prior roles within OWRD place him in a position to embrace innovative approaches to water management. The drastic impacts of climate change are threatening Oregon’s water supply, and we need someone to embrace new ways of doing things — now more than ever before. Big decisions and challenges are on the horizon for Oregon groundwater. We’re confident that Gall will bring the leadership necessary to tackle them head on.
Read the full press release from the Oregon Water Partnership here. OWP partner organizations include:
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