ACWA 2024 Legislative Symposium Speakers Apr 3, 2024 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES ACWA appreciates the 2024 Legislative Symposium speakers for sharing their time, expertise and insights on these topics. 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM Groundwater: SGMA Implementation and Legislative Action Moderator Lauren Layne Chair ACWA State Legislative Committee Biography Lauren Layne is a Shareholder at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC in Fresno where she chairs the firm’s Business Department and leads the firm’s Water Law and Public Agency practice groups. Her law practice focuses on general water and environmental law, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, and includes various business transactional matters in the areas of water rights, water quality, public agency law, agribusiness, and real property. She also assists clients with land acquisitions and eminent domain proceedings. In addition to representing private farming clients, she serves as general counsel to various irrigation and water districts, flood control districts, and a number of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. Lauren attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she majored in Soil Science, chaired the National Agricultural Ambassador Conference, and competed on the Livestock Judging Team. Post Cal Poly, Lauren earned her J.D., with distinction, from McGeorge School of Law. Lauren is a native of Porterville and has an agricultural background that includes farming, growing citrus and olives, and raising sheep. She was very involved in both 4-H and FFA, is a past 4-H Leader, and received her American FFA Degree. She is currently serving as the President to the Cal Poly Alumni Association Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Cal Poly College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences. Lauren also serves as the immediate Pas President of the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association. She is the Chair of the Association of California Water Agencies (“ACWA”) State Legislative Committee and serves on the ACWA Legal Affairs Committee. Lauren is co-chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Ag Law Section, and is a member of the Fresno County Women Lawyers and Fresno County Farm Bureau. Panelist Pablo Garza Chief Consultant Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee Biography Pablo Garza is the chief consultant for the Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife in the State Assembly. In this role, he oversees the analysis of legislation in the committee’s jurisdiction, works to identify relevant policy issues for further investigation through informational/oversight hearings, and advises the committee chair on policy issues related to the committee’s jurisdiction. He has more than 17 years’ experience working in and around the California State Legislature. Prior to becoming the chief consultant, he advocated on natural resource and water policy issues on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as political director for its California Ecosystems Program and before that, as the associate director, state policy & external affairs for the Nature Conservancy (TNC). His work for EDF and TNC involved outreach to elected officials, government agencies, and community groups to build coalitions, influence public policy decisions, and further the conservation goals of each organization. He holds a BA in English from the University of California, Davis and an MA in Latin American studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Panelist Paul Gosselin Deputy Director Department of Water Resources Biography Paul Gosselin joined Department of Water Resources (DWR)as the Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management in July 2021. In this capacity, Paul oversees DWR’s groundwater management activities statewide, including the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act(SGMA).Paul joined DWR after serving 13 years as Butte County’s Director of Water and Resource Conservation. Paul managed Butte County’s State Water Project Table A allocation, was chair of the Butte County Drought Task Force and oversaw the development of three Groundwater Sustainability Plans in three subbasins. Prior to Butte County, Paul was Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. From 1989to 1993,he was the Director of Regulatory Services for the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture. Paul received a Bachelors degree in biochemistry and a Masters degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts Panelist Kristin Sicke General Manager Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District Biography Kristin Sicke is a civil engineer who specializes in water resources engineering. She is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of California and haseightyears ofexperience in planning, developing, and managing the conjunctive use of the Yolo County FloodControl and Water Conservation District’s surface and groundwater resources. Additionally,Kristin has over four years of experience in project management in the California Department ofWater Resources’ water supply and flood management grant planning and implementationprograms; and over a year of experience in utility management focusing on wastewater andcollection system master planning.Kristincurrently serves as the General Manager at the Yolo County Flood Control and WaterConservation Districtandthe Executive Officer of theYolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency. 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life Moderator Julia Bishop Hall Legislative Relations Manager ACWA Biography Julia Hall is the Legislative Relations Manager for ACWA and works on a variety of issues including water management, wastewater and water recycling, wildfire, and local government. Prior to joining ACWA, Julia served as the Deputy Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the California Gambling Control Commission, and held several leadership positions within the Legislative Affairs office at the Department of Consumer Affairs. Early in her career, Julia worked in the private sector as a legislative history researcher. Julia has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Sacramento State. Julia lives in Sacramento with her husband and daughter and enjoys hiking and camping in her free time. Panelist Chelsea Haines Regulatory Relations Manager ACWA Biography Chelsea Haines joined the Association of California Agencies (ACWA) in 2017 and currently serves as the Regulatory Relations Manager. In this capacity, she oversees a team that engages with the state on its development and implementation of water policies on behalf of ACWA’s 470 public water agency members. Prior to ACWA, Chelsea served as a legislative analyst at the State Water Resources Control Board from 2012 – 2017. Chelsea holds a master’s degree in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a bachelor’s degrees from Sonoma State University in Environmental Studies and Planning. In her free time, Chelsea teaches yoga at Sacramento State University, and in several parks in Sacramento through Yoga Moves Us. Panelist Eric Oppenheimer Executive Director State Water Resources Control Board Biography Eric Oppenheimer was appointed as Executive Director of the State Water Board in January2024, where he is responsible for overall leadership and management of the agency. From 2016to 2024 he served as a Chief Deputy Director where his responsibilities included water rights, Bay-Delta planning, groundwater management, water conservation, and administration. An environmental scientist by training, Oppenheimer’s career began with water quality protection roles in planning and regulatory programs with the Lahontan and Central Valley regional waterboards, interspersed with positions at the Department of Water Resources and the California Coastal Commission. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Keene State College and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Ecology from Sierra Nevada College. Panelist Sonja Petek Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst California Legislative Analyst’s Office Biography Sonja Petek is a Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the Legislative Analyst’s Office(LAO),which provides nonpartisan fiscal and policy advice to the state Legislature. Sonja joined the LAO in 2016.She currently covers water systems, water quality, flood control, Delta-related programs, coastal programs, and wildlife and conservation. Prior to the LAO, Sonja was a Research Associate at the Public Policy Institute of California. Sonja holds a Master of Public Policy degree from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University. 4:05 PM – 4:50 PM Fireside Chat with Senator Ashby Moderator Kris Anderson Sr. Legislative Advocate ACWA Biography Kristopher Anderson joined ACWA in September 2018 and currently serves as a Senior State Relations Advocate. His portfolio includes water rights, state and federal endangered species acts, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Propositions 218 and 26, and groundwater. Prior to joining ACWA, Kristopher attended the University of California, Davis, School of Law. While in law school, he completed internships with the Office of the California Attorney General and the Office of Senator Bill Dodd. Kristopher is admitted to practice law in the State of California. Kristopher earned a Juris Doctor degree in May 2018 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. Guest of Honor Senator Angelique Ashby D-Sacramento, Senate District 8 Biography
