Watermaster

On January 25, 1951, the United States of America filed Complaint No. 1247 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, United States v. Fallbrook Public Utility District, et al., Civil No. 51-cv-1247-GPC-RBB, to seek a judicial determination of all respective water rights within the Santa Margarita River Watershed. The Final Judgment and Decree was entered on May 8, 1963, and appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals. A Modified Final Judgment and Decree was entered on April 6, 1966. In March 1989, the Court appointed a Watermaster to administer and enforce the provisions of the Modified Final Judgment and Decree and subsequent instructions and orders of the Court. The appointing Order described the Watermaster’s powers and duties as well as procedures for funding and operating the Watermaster’s office.

The Santa Margarita Watershed encompasses a land area of roughly 750 square miles, of which about 200 square miles, or twenty-seven percent (27%), lies within San Diego County. The Watershed is located in northern San Diego and southwestern Riverside Counties and borders San Juan Watershed to the northwest and San Luis Rey Watershed to the south. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, the Santa Margarita Watershed is estimated to be home to approximately 320,000 residents, of which about 28,000 are located in San Diego County.

The Watermaster reports directly to the Court. This position has been a part-time effort requiring, on average, 130 hours per month. Watermaster manages one administrative assistant and historically had an annual budget of about $716,000. The ideal candidate will be someone of high integrity, who is independent, able to work with little oversight, and a self-starter with excellent follow-through. This person will have strong interpersonal skills, excellent public presentation skills, ability to facilitate discussion, and have experience in conflict management.

Requires any combination equivalent to the completion of a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree desired) in public or business administration, law, finance, engineering, geology, or hydrology; and at least ten years of experience in increasingly responsible senior management and supervisory positions, including seven years supervisory experience of which three to five should be working with, or as a consultant to water or wastewater utilities, municipal public utilities, military infrastructure and/or other public services. The individual or firm shall be knowledgeable in watershed management, watershed modeling, water rights, state and Federal legislation and regulation concerning water rights and water quality. Candidates should have knowledge of California water rights issues and Federal reserved water rights issues, including Indian reserve water rights. Experience with tribal water rights and reservations is a plus.

The compensation for this position will be dependent on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. The present Watermaster operates as a consultant with an all-inclusive rate.

Please apply on-line by July 21, 2025 at www.allianceRC.com. For questions, please contact Sherrill Uyeda at suyeda@alliancerc.com or Wesley Herman at wherman@alliancerc.com. Main Office: (562) 901-0769. EEO/ADA