Concord – Following an extensive recruitment process, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) has selected T. Ravazzini Consulting and its principal, Taryn Ravazzini, as its first Executive Director. Ravazzini has more than 18 years of experience managing water resources planning and policy implementation in California. The Board unanimously approved her contract at its regular meeting on September 14, 2022.
“Taryn is the ideal leader to guide the expansion of Los Vaqueros to provide water supply reliability for the region and environmental benefits in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta (Delta) and San Joaquin Valley. She brings extensive experience managing complex policies, planning, and investment to address California water challenges,” said Board President Angela Ramirez Holmes. “The JPA is launching a new period of investment and construction and Taryn is the right person to lead this project across the finish line.”
Since 2013, Ravazzini has worked for the State of California in executive roles overseeing coordination and collaborative problem-solving for the Delta, water storage investment, water quality, water rights, and sustainable groundwater management. She served as the Acting Executive Officer of the California Water Commission, managing the final approval of regulations to award $2.7 billion for water storage projects. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Director of Statewide Groundwater Management at the California Department of Water Resources.
“It is an honor to be selected for this leadership opportunity and to work with the dedicated professionals and member agencies of the JPA committed to finding local solutions to today’s water challenges. The expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir is exactly the type of multi-benefit regional water supply and ecosystem enhancing project that California needs. I am looking forward to applying my extensive skill set and experience in furtherance of this impressive collaborative endeavor,” Ravazzini said.
Ravazzini earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at San Diego and her law degree from the Golden Gate University School of Law. Prior to her work for the State of California, Ravazzini held various positions in law, governmental relations, and public affairs.
Ravazzini assumed the role of Executive Director on September 14, 2022.
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) provides governance and administration for the Phase 2 Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project (Project).
The JPA was formed in October 2021 to govern the Project. The Project will increase Bay Area and Central Valley water supply reliability, develop water supplies for wildlife refuges, and improve water quality while protecting Delta fisheries and providing additional Delta ecosystem benefits. When completed, it will increase the Los Vaqueros Reservoir capacity from 160,000 acre-feet to 275,000 acre-feet and add new and modified conveyance facilities to provide environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality, and recreational benefits.
The Project has been approved for $477 million from California Proposition 1 funds and $50 million from federal appropriations to date. The remainder of project costs will be covered by additional federal funding and JPA Member contributions. Construction is expected to begin in 2023, pending necessary reviews and approvals, and would continue through 2030.
