On September 5, the Delaware River Basin Commission announced the appointment of Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, P.E. as its next Executive Director, effective December 1, 2024.

A formal resolution appointing Kavanagh received unanimous approval at the Commission’s September 5 business meeting.

“The Delaware River Basin Commission does exceptional work managing, protecting and improving water resources in areas throughout the Delaware River Basin, including across portions of New York State that benefit from a coordinated conservation approach,” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “New York State congratulates Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, who brings 30 years of experience and expertise in water resources management and engineering to this role. DEC looks forward to working with Ms. Bowman Kavanagh in this new leadership position to further protect and enhance the Delaware watershed.”

Kavanagh has served as the DRBC’s Deputy Executive Director since October 2019.

In that time, she has led the DRBC’s technical and managerial teams in implementing the Commission’s water resources programs, forged a partnership with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to advance hazard mitigation and climate resilience and secured grant funding from the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to advance scientific studies not otherwise feasible under current budgets, among other projects. 

Since 2020, she has served as staff liaison to the DRBC’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change.

“Pennsylvania works closely with Kristen and the DRBC to protect the streams and rivers that feed into the Delaware River and to ensure that the communities that rely on them are engaged in how those resources are managed,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We look forward to working with her in this new role and congratulate Steve for his well-earned retirement.”

Prior to joining the DRBC, Ms. Kavanagh served as the President and Principal Engineer at Flow Science Incorporated where she led business operations and development and had significant roles in hydrodynamic and water quality modeling studies for use in adaptive management plans, spill response plans and long-term planning and operations.

Kavanagh holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering: Environmental and Water Resources and an M.S. in Civil Engineering: Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, both from Stanford University. She is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and eight other states.

She is the interstates representative to the board of the Association of Clean Water Administrators, a past-chair of the American Water Works Association’s Pennsylvania Southeast District and a former President of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Philadelphia Chapter.

In March, DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini announced he will retire effective December 1, following a decade in the role.

“We thank Steve for his dedicated public service to the Commission. Under his leadership, DRBC’s scientific expertise continues to provide reliable answers to complex water management questions to decision-makers in our region and beyond,” said Steven Smailer, P.G., DRBC Alternate Commissioner and Director of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Water.

Kavanagh will take the reins as the fifth executive director in the DRBC’s 63-year history.

In addition to Tambini (2014-2024), she succeeds Carol R. Collier (1998-2014), Gerald M. Hansler (1977-1998) and James F. Wright (1962-1977).

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Delaware River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for regulator updates.  Follow DRBC on Twitter.  Visit them on YouTube.

Related Articles This Week:

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Announces $23.8 Million In Small Watershed Grants To Support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Efforts; $7.5 Million To Benefit PA  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Invests $1.5 Million In Research To Support Ag Industry Work To Tackle Complex Climate, Conservation Challenges On Farms  [PaEN]

-- USDA NRCS Now Accepting Applications For FY 2025 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training To Hold 3  Multi-Day In-Person Ag Conservation Keystone Training Workshops In October  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Trees For Graziers Host 2 Silvopasture Farm Walks On Sept. 4 In York County, Sept. 11 In Lebanon County  [PaEN]

-- Dickinson College Farm's Matt Steiman Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award From The Sustainable Energy Fund  [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Steward Volunteers Help Stroud Township Save Money With Stormwater Inspections In Monroe County  [PaEN]

-- Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Seeks Volunteers For Annual Plant-A-Thon Set To Plant 10,000 Native Trees, Shrubs, Perennials Throughout The 4-County Watershed  [PaEN]

-- Pike, Wayne Conservation Districts, Trout Unlimited Chapter Partner On New Stream Keepers Youth Program Oct. 5   [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts 5-Part Webinar Series On Woodland Stewardship - Guided Engagement With Your Land, Starting Sept. 25  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Why Reducing Farm Pollution In The Chesapeake Bay Region Is A Complex Problem

-- LancasterOnline: Penn State Research To Employ AI To Monitor Nitrates In Polluted Waterways

-- Pike County Conservation District: How To Properly Maintain Your On-Lot Septic System

-- Warren Times: Warren Conservation District Accepting Photo Contest Submissions Until Sept. 13

[Posted: September 5, 2024]

9/9/2024