This June, Governor Gray Davis announced the appointment of Michael J. Spear as Interim Director of the California Department of Water Resources.

Before his appointment, Spear was Deputy Secretary for Land Conservation and Stewardship of the Resources Agency and was a member of the Governor’s Clean Energy Green Team.

In 2001, he retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) after 27 years of service. His last assignment with the Service was Manager of California/Nevada Operations Office where he developed and implemented endangered species habitat conservation planning programs in California where rapid urbanization was occurring. Spear was also a member of the CALFED Bay-Delta Policy Committee.

At the FWS he was also the Regional Director of the Pacific Region in Portland and the Southwest Region in Albuquerque. From 1992–1994 he was Assistant Director for Ecological Services and the national program manager for implementation of the Endangered Species Act.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University.

Mike has been a part of the Biodiver-sity Council with both the federal and state governments. The CBC welcomes Mike Spear and the California Department of Water Resources as a Council member.