Water district seeks new board member

Board to hold special meeting to discuss river water cutback letter

A call has gone out for a new Monterey Peninsula Water Management District board member.

A call has gone out for a new Monterey Peninsula Water Management District board member in the wake of former Division 3 director Molly Evans’ long-anticipated resignation.

On Tuesday, the water management district announced it would accept letters or interest and statements of qualifications for prospective board members from the division, which represents most of Monterey, through Jan. 20. The district board would then deliberate on the selection of an appointee at a special meeting on Jan. 28.

Once chosen, the new board member would serve for two years of Evans’ four-year term and be required to run for election in

November 2022 for the remaining two years.

The district board could also still decide to call a special election to fill the vacant Division 3 seat instead even after reviewing all candidates.

Evans, who announced she would resign months ago, formally resigned on Dec. 15 after running for and winning re-election in the meantime. She was elected to the board in 2016 and is best known for her move as board chairwoman to call for district general manager Dave Stoldt to conduct an independent water supply and demand analysis that concluded the Peninsula could meet the Carmel River cutback order and provide enough water for at least the next quarter- century even without the California American Water desalination project.

“I am extremely sorry to see Director Evans resign from our board,” water district chairman Alvin Edwards said. “She has been a true asset to her Monterey constituents and wonderful to work with. Her knowledge of water and her wisdom regarding working toward collective goals will surely be missed.”

Evans was sworn into office earlier this month along with newly elected Division 4 and 5 board members Amy Anderson and Karen Paull.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their materials via email to Sara@mpwmd.net or by regular mail to MPWMD, P.O. Box 85, Monterey, CA, 93942.

Meanwhile, the board is set to conduct a special meeting on Wednesday to consider sending a letter to the state water board asking it to waive the 1,000-acrefoot reduction in Carmel River water as a result of Cal Am missing the September desal project milestone in the river aquifer