As the President of the Northern California Water Association (NCWA), David cultivates a shared vision in the Sacramento Valley for a vibrant way of life—working closely with the leaders in the region and an interdisciplinary team of experts to foster harmony and join together a world-renowned mosaic of natural and human abundance: productive farmlands, cities and rural communities, wildlife refuges and managed wetlands, and meandering rivers and creeks that support fisheries, people and an astounding landscape.
For the past several decades, David has worked closely with policy-makers to draw a deeper connection among people in rural and urban areas by showcasing the special attributes of California’s special rivers and landscapes, including the Sacramento Valley, Yosemite National Park, Redwood National Park, and the Sierra Nevada. In this role, he calls on his experience in law, geological sciences, communications, and working with amazing people. David and his wife have traveled extensively and they split their time between the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada, with three children who all love food and cooking, the outdoors, music, and traveling. You can follow him on X @DavidGuyNCWA.
Northern California Water. David was named the President of the Northern California Water Association (NCWA) in June 2010. He similarly served as NCWA’s Executive Director from 1999 to 2007. In this position, he works closely with a Board of Directors and water leaders in the Sacramento Valley, as well as Congress, the state legislature, state and federal agencies, and water suppliers throughout the state to advance sustainable water supplies in Northern California and showcase the special attributes of water in the Sacramento Valley.
Agriculture. David is a recognized voice in California agriculture, working closely with farmers and ranchers on reliable and affordable water supplies, the stewardship of farms and ranches, and preserving viable farmland and the attendant open space and wildlife values. He is a graduate fellow of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. To celebrate our agricultural heritage, he was appointed by Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger to the Sacramento County Fair Board, where he served as President. He has also served on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the California State Fair.
National Parks. From 2007 to 2010, David and his family lived in Yosemite National Park exploring every part of this iconic region. David served as Chief Executive Officer for the nonprofit Yosemite Association, which forges connections between people and Yosemite National Park. He led the merger of the Association with the Yosemite Fund, which has come together as the Yosemite Conservancy. David has also performed pro-bono work for the non-profit Redwood Park Associations. In Yosemite, David and his wife Ingelise were honored as visiting squires for the 2009 Christmas Eve Bracebridge Dinner.
Jurisprudence. David has served as water counsel in various capacities, including the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Department of Environmental Advocacy and Somach, Simmons, and Dunn, where he has represented public, private, and nonprofit clients on all aspects of natural resources law and policy, including water, land use, and real property. David is admitted to practice jurisprudence in California and Colorado, before the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal Ninth Judicial Circuit Appellate Court, and the U.S. District Courts for both the Northern and Eastern Districts of California. He has served as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Water Resources Committee and the Task Force on Agricultural Management.
Teaching/Publications. David is an adjunct professor at San Joaquin College of Law and a frequent lecturer on natural resources issues in California and the western United States at universities, conferences, and seminars. He has published more than two dozen articles and chapters on natural resources management and law in professional journals and law reviews, as well as backpacking, libraries, and the history of Sacramento. He has been an active mentor in the natural resources arena and has coached youth baseball and soccer.
Boards. He currently serves on the Water Education Foundation Board of Directors and previously served on the California State University Water Resources and Policy Initiatives Advisory Committee and the University of California Advisory Committee for the Water Resources Center in Berkeley. David has advised California Governors over the past several decades on natural resources law and policy and Governors have appointed him to serve on various boards and councils that advise federal and state officials on long-term solutions to California’s water challenges.
Education. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law where he was a fellow at the Natural Resources Law Center. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences from California State University, San Diego, where he graduated with distinction. He was awarded a certificate of completion for Leading Through the Changing Media Landscape Program, February 2024, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.
