As the federal government and the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority reached a cost-sharing agreement to raise the B.F. Sisk Dam, securing $295 million in grants, one major water district supplied by that dam gave promotions to two long-serving staff members.

Once the deputy general manager of resources, Russ Freeman is taking on the role of deputy general counsel for Westlands, the nation’s largest public water district. Kiti Buelna Campbell, who has been with the district since 2010, is filling Freeman’s vacated position.

“All of us at Westlands Water District are excited to see Kiti and Russ take on new roles and responsibilities as they continue to serve our growers,” said Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands Water District. “Their extensive expertise, dedication, and leadership will be invaluable as we address the evolving challenges facing our district.”

Freeman and Campbell began their new roles on Jan. 1.

Freeman and Campbell Instrumental in Water, Power Initiatives

Freeman’s tenure at Westlands goes back to 1997. In that time, the licensed engineer and attorney helped with supplemental water, land acquisition, power, and, more recently, solar development.

The district’s enormous Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan — a plan for 20,000 megawatts of solar energy — could be enough to power 9 million homes. Freeman was deputy general manager of resources for more than seven years.

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As deputy general counsel, he will provide legal guidance on contracting, employment, and public financing laws.

A licensed California professional engineer herself, Campbell has 15 years of expertise in water management, with a focus on water supply enhancement, groundwater management, and California’s power market.

She began at the district in 2010. She’s been the supervisor of resources — her most recent position — since 2018. While there, she’s led recharge efforts resulting in 400,000 acre-feet of water saved. She’s also helped secure more than $36 million in grants to enhance water supply and implement rules from the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

Cost-Sharing Agreement Important Milestone in Dam Raise

The dam raise will add 130,000 acre-feet to the reservoir’s capacity. The San Luis Reservoir supplies six irrigation districts — including Westlands — the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and the city of Tracy.

The agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation outlines what water belongs to what entity and when it can be drawn out of the reservoir. The agreement is an important milestone in raising the dam, said Scott Petersen, director of water policy for the water authority.

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The joint project means additional water supplies for 2 million people, 1 million acres of farmland, and 135,000 acres of Pacific Flyway wetlands.

“San Luis Reservoir has served as the hub of California’s water system south of the Sacramento San Joaquin Bay-Delta since its completion in 1967, and we are proud to take the next step to improve it for current and future generations,” said Cannon Michael, board chair of the San Luis Authority. “The future of California — in particular, the San Joaquin Valley — is dependent on our ability to improve the reliability of water supplies for our farms, communities, and wildlife refuges.”

Work to raise the dam can begin after another project to reinforce the 382-foot embankment against earthquakes is completed. The two projects together will cost more than $2 billion.

The federal government has provided $295 million toward the project, with two grants coming from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law. Reclamation will fund 85% of the seismic reinforcement — also a 10-foot raise.