Imagine the challenge of balancing protections for the lake – in order to keep out damaging invasive species – while keeping the lake available for the tourism industry, and working to keep the eutrophic lake healthy and vibrant in order for it to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Those are just some of the challenges for the head of the newly formed Water Resources Department, which the Board of Supervisors decided to separate from the Department of Public Works last October, as Lake County News has reported.
Scott DeLeon, appointed by the board as the Water Resources Director on April 20, said he's ready for the challenge.
As the new department's director he'll oversee the county's lakebed management, flood control and other lake-related programs.
DeLeon, who turns 46 this month, will begin work with the county on May 10.
“The thing that I bring to the table is, No. 1, a love of the lake, No. 2, a love of Lake County,” he said, adding that he's a 40-year Lake County resident.
He's got the support of the Board of Supervisors, with Supervisor Jeff Smith calling his hire “fantastic” and Supervisor Rob Brown expressing confidence in DeLeon and his qualifications, which include management and familiarity with lake-related issues.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox also supported DeLeon's selection, noting his love for the county and the lake, as well as being “eminently well qualified” for the new position.
DeLeon is a registered civil engineer with a bachelor of science degree from California State University, Chico.
He's no stranger to working with the county, where he was employed from 1987 to 1998.
DeLeon began as an engineering technician with the county right out of Chico State, working his way up through the Department of Public Works' Engineering and Inspection Division, eventually becoming the county's principal civil engineer.
In 1998 he left that job to open his own firm, DeLeon Engineering in Lakeport.
The business, which has done projects both for the county and the city of Lakeport, will remain open, with DeLeon's wife, Melody, continuing as general office manager and Lars Ewing – another longtime county resident – continuing his work as a registered civil engineer.
DeLeon's hiring as Water Resources director was the result of a lengthy recruitment process which began late last year after the county decided to create the position. He sought the job during the second recruitment; the first round didn't yield a candidate that satisfied the Board of Supervisors, according to statements at board meetings.
DeLeon said his interest in the job came, partly, from the part Clear Lake has played in his own life.
“I've grown up on the lake,” he said. “My parents moved us to Lake County when I was a young boy.”
Likewise, he and wife, Melody, are raising their two boys, Joe, 13, and Max, 11, in Lake County, with Clear Lake being a part of their lives.
He said he's spent nearly his entire life on the lake, and he didn't feel that anyone had taken ownership of it. DeLeon said the lake needed a dedicated steward, something he feels has been lacking.
“This was a great opportunity to do that,” he said.
When DeLeon gets to work on May 10, he'll head a department in which he'll have five employees, who he said are great people with strong qualifications.
He'll jump in by interviewing top candidates in the recruitment for the office coordinator position, and will work with Cox and Human Resources to consider the tasks and responsibilities of his staff.
Looking at the big job ahead of him, DeLeon already is setting his priorities.
“The invasive species, the quagga mussel, is a top priority, as well as a host of other issues,” he said.
He also said he'll be focused on making sure the county has plans in place to deal with lake-related emergencies – from algae blooms to weeds.
Last summer the county was hit hard when there occurred an algae bloom the likes of which Deputy Water Resources Director Pam Francis said that the county hadn't seen in about 40 years.
DeLeon said he doesn't think people have been informed about the tools the county has available to address water-related problems.
One of the ways he intends to build plans and awareness is by working with the county's lake-related advisory groups and subcommittees.
DeLeon realizes he has a huge task ahead of him, and noted that “people are already lining up” to talk to him about their lake concerns. But he said he believes having someone there to respond to those concerns is important.
“One step at a time is the way that I'm going to approach it,” he said.
When the Board of Supervisors opened the recruitment for the Water Resources director job, they made sure to note that an engineering degree wasn't necessary.
However, DeLeon thinks an engineering background will help him in his work ahead.
“I think engineers are inherently organized,” he said. “We tend to be logical thinkers.”
He said he's developed a broad contact base, and, “I tend to get things done.”
DeLeon said he's looking forward to getting to work as Water Resources director and working for the people of Lake County.
“I'm extremely excited about it,” he said. “I can't think of anything more exciting than being the guy who's in charge of the lake.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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