Zone 7 Water Agency Announces New Board Leadership by Zone 7 Water Agency Jul 19, 2024 Member Submitted News LIVERMORE – The Zone 7 Water Agency Board of Directors unanimously elected Vice-President Dennis Gambs to serve as president during its annual board reorganization at the regular board meeting in July. As president, Gambs will oversee the appointment of committees and have the primary responsibility for interpreting the policies, programs, and needs of the Agency to the public. A dedicated Livermore resident, a highly experienced civil engineer, and a former water resources manager at Zone 7 Water Agency, Gambs has been a valued member of the Zone 7 Board of Directors since 2018, with a current term extending until June 30, 2026. Gambs brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a 34-year tenure working at Zone 7. A graduate of UC Berkeley and San Jose State University, Gambs has also been an active member and past president of the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley since 1999, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to community service and social causes. “The past several years have tested us with extreme droughts and unprecedented floods, yet our agency has ensured exceptional water quality and reliable services. Amid climate change uncertainties, our focus remains on ensuring water supply and flood protection resilience. Critical projects like Delta Conveyance, Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion, and Sites Reservoir are pivotal for securing future water needs. We are committed to building on our strengths and meeting challenges with determination,” said Gambs. “As Board President, I am honored to guide Zone 7’s direction forward.” The board also elected Director Dawn Benson to serve as vice-president. Newly elected to the Board is Catherine Brown, who fills a short-term seat which was vacated by former Director Olivia Sanwong, who resigned from the Board to take a position on the East Bay Regional Parks District’s Board of Directors in early 2023. That seat was filled by the temporary appointment of Kathy Narum until elections could be held to fill the remainder of the term. A longtime Pleasanton resident for over 20 years, Brown is a retired Environmental Scientist with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years at the US Environmental Protection Agency. Brown managed environmental cleanup at five Superfund Sites, including addressing PFAS contamination, showcasing her expertise and dedication to environmental protection and public health. She will serve through June 2026. Three directors were also sworn in for their four-year terms at the meeting: Sandy Figuers, and Laurene Green were re-elected to their seats for an additional term, and 2023 appointee Kathy Narum, was elected for her first term. Zone 7 Water Agency supplies treated drinking water to retailers serving over 260,000 people in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and, through special agreement with the Dublin San Ramon Services District, to the Dougherty Valley area. It also supplies untreated water for irrigation of 3,500 acres, primarily South Livermore Valley vineyards. Zone 7 Water Agency owns and maintains 37 miles of local flood-protection channels, about a third of all the Valley’s channels and creeks. Zone 7 Water Agency is overseen by a seven-member Board of Directors. Its board members are elected by the Tri-Valley community to four-year terms. The board provides strategic guidance and planning for Zone 7’s policies, programs, and finances, and represents the public in an open and transparent process. Community input and participation in board meetings is welcome. The public is encouraged to comment on both agendized items and items not on the agenda. Comments may be submitted through various platforms including mail, email, phone, and via Zoom. For more information on Zone 7’s board and committees, please visit https://www.zone7water.com/board-directors ### About Zone 7 Water Zone 7 Water Agency is one of the 10 active zones of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The District was established by the State Legislature in October 1949 to solve problems of flooding, drainage, channel erosion and water supply and conservation in Alameda County. In 1957, by popular vote, Zone 7 became a special district governed by a seven-member board of directors. Along with flood protection, Zone 7 supplies water to all of eastern Alameda County and a population of over a quarter million residents. Treated water is sold wholesale to local retailers, including the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the California Water Service Company. Zone 7 also distributes untreated water to local agriculture operations and golf courses. Photo Courtesy Zone 7 Water Agency: Headshot of Board President Dennis Gambs
