Machado Named New Director of Delta Protection Commission

The Delta Protection Commission has announced the appointment of former state Sen. Michael Machado as its new executive director.

Machado, of Linden, will assume the post on Sept. 20 following the retirement of Linda Fiack, who has served as executive director since 2005.

Elected to the Assembly in 1994 and the Senate in 2000, Machado served on water committees in both houses and co-authored numerous water-related measures, including Proposition 13, the $1.97 billion water bond approved by voters in March 2000.

The commission is charged with preserving, protecting and enhancing the agricultural, habitat and recreational resources of the Delta. It is currently preparing an economic sustainability plan for the Delta that will include information and recommendations to be used in future planning efforts, including the Delta Stewardship Council’s policies regarding the socioeconomic sustainability of the Delta. The plan is due by July 2011.