Water Resources Agency GM to Step Down

David E. Chardavoyne has resigned as General Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency effective December 31, 2018. The Agency’s Board of Supervisors and Board of Directors along with Chardavoyne’s concurrence, elected not to renew his contract during the week of October 14, 2018. The parties expressed a desire for a new direction for the Agency as it moves forward with strategic planning, projects in cooperation with the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, completion of the Interlake Tunnel project, and future work to meet the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s and California Division of Safety of Dams’ compliance projects at Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento. Chardavoyne has worked for the Water Resources Agency for 7 years. Mr. Chardavoyne expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead the Agency and play a role in its many accomplishments. Board of Supervisors Chair Luis Alejo has worked with Mr. Chardavoyne since serving in the California State Assembly, noting that “David understands the importance of water to the Salinas Valley and the challenge associated with getting water projects completed.” Mark Gonzalez, Chair of the Board of Directors agreed, and said “as General Manager of the Water Resources Agency, David’s knowledge and easy-going personality was appreciated in light of so many challenges.” For his part, Mr. Chardavoyne commented that “while the Agency faced many obstacles, he was proud of the staff and their many shared successes. The unsung daily work of the Agency addressing flood control, water quality, and water sustainability is just as important as the big projects.”
Notable accomplishments during Mr. Chardavoyne’s tenure, include:
(1) An agreement with California-American Water that concluded the Agency’s involvement
in the Regional Desalination Project; (2) Agreements to distribute Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project return water to
Castroville Community Services District and the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project; (3) A purchase power agreement with the Northern California Authority Agency for generated
power, raising the Agency’s revenue from 3.5 cents/kwh to 7.5 cents/kwh; (4) Performance of an audit of Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency’s handling of Agency funds, resulting in better accounting for bond reserve funds and a reduction of accounts receivable from $500,000 to zero; (5) Successful negotiation of the Amended and Restated Water Recycling Agreement which included resolution of longstanding disputes over water quantities and paved the way for water to Pure Water Monterey and additional water for CSIP; and (6) Leadership of the effort to refinance Salinas Valley Water Project Bonds for a net present
value savings of $5.1 million.
The Agency will immediately initiate recruitment of interim management services, as well as a permanent General Manager.