News Release Archive

Drew Lessard Appointed Area Manager for Reclamation’s Central California Area Office

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, 05/24/2013 14:00

For Release: May 24, 2013

FOLSOM, Calif. – David Murillo, Regional Director for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region, announces the selection of Drew Lessard as Area Manager for the Central California Area Office, located at Folsom Dam, 23 miles east of Sacramento. As the Area Manager, Lessard is responsible for the operation of Folsom, Nimbus, New Melones and Monticello dams.

“Drew has worked at CCAO since 2000 as a Civil Engineer, as the Deputy Area Manager and most recently as the Acting Area Manager. With his experience, management skills and expertise working with customers and stakeholders, he is the ideal choice for this critical position,” stated Murillo.

As Area Manager, Lessard is responsible for Reclamation programs and facilities in the central part of California. CCAO encompasses twelve counties and includes the Central Valley Project’s American River Division (Folsom Dam, powerplant and reservoir; Nimbus Dam and powerplant and Lake Natoma), the  Auburn-Folsom South Unit (the Auburn Dam site and the Folsom-South Canal), the Eastside Division (New Melones Dam, powerplant and reservoir on the Stanislaus River) and the Solano Project (Monticello Dam, Lake Berryessa and the Putah South Canal).

CCAO’s jurisdiction extends from the coast to the crest of the Sierra Nevada and from the American River Basin to the Stanislaus River Basin. CCAO manages recreation at Lake Berryessa and New Melones and has a long-term managing partnership agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation for recreation management at Folsom Lake, Lake Natoma and the Auburn Recreation Area.

A federal employee for 19 years, Lessard began his career as an Environmental Engineer for the U.S. Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., implementing the Installation Restoration Program. He then worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Lincoln National Forest in Alamogordo, N.M., as a Civil Engineer responsible for the maintenance and engineering of Forest Service facilities.

Lessard is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer. He resides in Folsom, Calif., with his wife Julie and children, Evan and Brennen.

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