District board names Norma Camacho interim CEO

March 10, 2016

Before: Streambed and bank erosion on earthen and concrete segments of Regnart Creek upstream of Antoinette Drive in Cupertino.

SAN JOSE—The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors named Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer Norma Camacho as the interim CEO Tuesday, pending the outcome of a nationwide search for a permanent CEO.

“Ms. Camacho has the experience and know-how that we need to steer this ship while we search for a permanent replacement,” said Board Chair Barbara Keegan. “We believe that the day-to-day operation of this organization is in good hands.”

Camacho, a 4-year veteran of the water district, steps into the role vacated by Beau Goldie, who retired in January. Per the board’s plan, Chief Operating Officer Jim Fiedler served as acting CEO for a month following Goldie’s departure, and the position then rotated to Camacho.

Camacho has headed up the Watersheds division for her entire time at the district. As the chief, she has had a staff of about 200 employees and has overseen flood protection and stream stewardship activities. During her tenure in Watersheds, she has led her team on significant progress on projects on San Francisquito, Permanente, and Upper Llagas creeks and has brought the Evelyn Fish Passage project to completion. Another important accomplishment during her time at the water district was the passage of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, an annual parcel tax approved by voters that continues to provide much-needed funding to Watersheds projects.

Teamwork will be an important tenet of Camacho’s time at the helm.

“I look at this as a team effort with myself and all the chiefs. I think it’s going to take all of us to work together in collaboration to get through this gap period, to continue all the good work of the district, and to push forward on the large projects that we are going to be facing in the future,” Camacho said. “Then, at the end of this process, we’re going to be handing the permanent CEO a solid organization that has accomplished much and is going to be working in harmony.”

Camacho will remain interim CEO until the board fills the position permanently.

Valley Water manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's 2 million residents. Valley Water effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 280 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and 350 miles of waterways. We provide wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver drinking water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.