Sacramento – The Board of Directors for the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority (DCA) has reappointed Graham Bradner as Executive Director of the DCA, through a unanimous vote at their March 8 Board Meeting.
Bradner, chosen following a public procurement process, has served as executive director for the organization since 2021. During his tenure, the DCA has refined the design and engineered innovations for the development of the Delta Conveyance Project, which will modernize the State Water Project, securing water availability for Californians across the state. Under Bradner’s leadership, work conducted by the DCA has been delivered on time and under budget, stretching current funding to progress testing and design as the project continues its planning and permitting process.
“We’ve all been impressed by Graham’s performance through the years,” said Dr. Sarah Palmer, President of the DCA Board of Directors. “He has led the team to design a project that is constructible and supports the goals of water security. He has also been incredibly effective at listening to stakeholders, then pushing the design team to find creative engineered responses to complex concerns raised by Delta communities.”
Bradner has more than 20 years of experience in the evaluation, design, and construction of large-scale water supply infrastructure in Northern California. He is a Professional Geologist in the State of California, as well as Certified Engineering Geologist, Certified Hydrogeologist, and Project Management Professional. His broad experience and skills were developed through working with and leading large, multi-discipline teams for water infrastructure projects ranging from screening studies and feasibility studies through development of detailed designs for construction.
Before being appointed Executive Director, Bradner was the DCA engineering lead for forebay and levee features, siting studies, and program-wide evaluations. He also served as deputy to the Engineering Design Manager and was responsible for coordinating design efforts for various components of the project. Bradner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geology and Master of Science degree in Hydrogeology, both from Clemson University.
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The DCA is a joint powers authority governed by a seven-member Board of Directors comprised of representatives from 16 of the Public Water Agencies serviced by the Department of Water Resource’s State Water Project. The DCA is currently focused on delivering the design and engineering needed to support the permitting and construction of the Delta Conveyance Project. The Delta Conveyance Project has been engineered to capture and move more water during wet seasons to better endure dry seasons and protect against sea level rise and earthquake-related disruptions to water supplies. The project will secure water for 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland reliant on the State Water Project to provide an affordable source of high quality, clean, and safe water.