Regional Water Board Members
California Water Code Section 13201 provides for the Governor to appoint nine members to the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Each member shall reside or have a principal place of business within the region. Appointments are made to fulfill seven categories of representation: water supply, conservation, and production; irrigated agriculture; industrial water use; municipal government; county government; recreation, fish and wildlife; public; and two water quality members. Appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The following members currently are serving on the North Coast Region Board:
Geoffrey Hales, Chair
Mr. Hales, of Eureka, is a geologist with the consulting firm McBain & Trush, Inc., specializing in streamflow and sediment management needs to naturally restore fluvial processes on regulated rivers. He is a licensed California Professional Geologist. Mr. Hales earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Systems from Humboldt State University. Mr. Hales was appointed to the Regional Water Board on February 27, 2007, as the representative for Water Quality, and re-appointed on November 13, 2008. His term expires September 30, 2012.
David Noren, Vice Chair
Mr. Noren, of Sebastopol, is the Manager of Environmental Services for EBA Engineering in Santa Rosa. He is a co-founder and member of the Sebastopol Water Information Group, a member of the California Groundwater Association, and a Registered Environmental Assessor. Mr. Noren was appointed to the Regional Water Board on April 9, 2008 as the representative for Industrial Water. His term expires September 18, 2014.John W. Corbett
Mr. Corbett, of McKinleyville, has more than 30 years experience in water quality issues. Mr. Corbett received his juris doctor from Hastings Law School and a Masters in Law from the University of Stockholm School of Law with his thesis on Water Quality Administration in Sweden. He has previously lectured at Humboldt State University on water quality law, Indian water rights, air quality law, and the politics of natural resources. He currently serves on the McKinleyville Community Services District Board which provides water and sewer to approximately 14,000 residents and advises the McBeth, Wautec, Requa, and Kepel water districts for the Yurok Tribe. He is the head hearing officer for the Unified North Coast Air Quality Management Hearing Board and was formerly a Federal Magistrate for Indian Fishing Rights on the Klamath River. He was a sponsored participant for the Program in Environmental Policy Management at the School of Public health and John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a former Humboldt County Supervisor and has previously served on the California Coastal commission. Mr. Corbett has successfully drafted legislation amending the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and is currently senior legal counsel for the Yurok Tribe. Mr. Corbett was re-appointed to the Regional Water Board on November 28, 2007, as the representative for Water Supply. His term expires September 30, 2011.
Heidi Harris
Ms. Harris, of Salyer, is a lecturer in range development and improvements at Humboldt State University, and range consultant for the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in rangeland resource science from Humboldt State University. Ms. Harris was reappointed to the Regional Water Board on November 13, 2008, as the representative for Recreation, Fish & Wildlife. Her term expires September 30, 2012.William R. Massey
Mr. Massey recently retired as chair of the Social Science Department at Santa Rosa Junior College, a position he held since 1998. Since 1990, he has been president of the board of directors for the Forestville County Water District. From 1996 to 1998 Mr. Massey was chairman for Region 1 of the Association of California Water Agencies and was vice chairman from 1994 to 1995. He is also a member of the Association of California Water Agencies, and a member of the Board of Directors of Joint Powers Insurance Authority. Mr. Massey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Arts degree from San Francisco State University. Mr. Massey was reappointed to the Regional Water Board on November 28, 2007, as the representative for County Government. His term expires September 30, 2011.
Irene Tynes
Irene Tynes, of Crescent City, is a registered nurse who served as a Del Norte County Unified School District school nurse from 2005 to 2010. She was a member of the Crescent City Council from 2003 to 2008 and served as Mayor of Crescent City from 2007 to 2008. Ms. Tynes is currently serving as a 2011-12 California Women’s Foundation fellow. Ms. Tynes was appointed to the Regional Water Board on November 23, 2011, as the Public representative. Her term expires September 30, 2014.
( Updated December 2, 2011 )