Zone 7 Water Agency Announces New Board Leadership
LIVERMORE, Calif. (July 18, 2024) – 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
Photo Courtesy Zone 7 Water Agency: Headshot of Board President Dennis Gambs