California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Dorene D’Adamo has been reconfirmed as a member of the State Water Resources Control Board by the California Senate following her reappointment in February by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Her new term will expire in January 2022. D’Adamo was originally appointed by Gov. Brown in March 2013 and confirmed by the Senate in January 2014.
D’Adamo has an extensive resume of legal, water and policy related positions in addition to having served as a visiting instructor at California State University, Stanislaus from 1992 to 1998. Prior to her appointment to the State Water Board, D’Adamo had served as senior policy advisor for Congressman Jim Costa (D-16th District-Fresno) in 2013. She was senior policy advisor for Congressman Dennis Cardoza (retired, D-18th District) from 2003 to 2012 and was legal counsel for Congressman Gary Condit (retired, D-18th District) from 1994 to 2003.
D’Adamo’s legal career includes serving as an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Perry and Wildman in Modesto from 1992 to 1994. She was a policy consultant at D’Adamo Consulting from 1991 to 1992 and legislative director for Congressman Gary Condit from 1990 to 1991. D’Adamo was assistant legislative director at the California Youth Authority (now known as the Division of Juvenile Justice) from 1988 to 1990 and legal counsel at the Assembly Committee on Public Safety from 1986 to 1988. She was legislative director for the Assembly assistant majority leader from 1985 to 1986.
A member of the California Air Resources Board from 1999 to 2013, D‘Adamo has also served at the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley since 2007. D’Adamo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Davis and her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
“It is an honor to be reappointed by Governor Brown and reconfirmed by the Senate,” D’Adamo said. “This is a crucial period as our state meets the challenges presented by climate change, including more frequent and longer lasting droughts. This calls for improved water use efficiency, sustainable management of groundwater, and balancing agricultural, urban, and environmental uses of water. Expanded water supply opportunities, targeted environmental flows, and habitat projects are essential components to balanced solutions.”
As part of the five-member State Water Board, D’Adamo and her fellow board members are responsible for protecting all water quality and water supplies in California. The board is also responsible for the allocation of surface water supplies for agricultural, public trust, and urban purposes throughout the state.
D’Adamo position on the State Water Board fills the role of a board member qualified in water quality issues and also serves as the member with experience in irrigated agriculture. She lives in Stanislaus County, and in her various capacities for members of Congress in the San Joaquin Valley over 20 years she worked primarily on environmental, water and agricultural legislative policy. Her family currently farms in Merced County.
Upon her Senate confirmation D’Angelo also said, “I am also committed to providing all Californians access to safe drinking water supplies. More than 300,000 Californians are currently being supplied with contaminated drinking water that fails to meet health standards. We must use all of our authorities to meet the basic human right to safe and affordable drinking water.”
