Yuba Water Agency Board Director Brent Hastey was honored today by the Association of California Water Agencies for his distinguished and dedicated service to ACWA, the country’s largest statewide coalition of public water agencies.
“Yuba Water is a premier leader in coming up with solutions that affect the entire state, and Brent is an extension of that,” said ACWA Executive Director Dave Eggerton, who presented the award to Hastey. “He is a tremendous asset to the California water community and one of the finest leaders in the water business and local government.”
Hastey was recognized for his leadership and contributions to ACWA from 2016 to 2021. He was elected as ACWA’s vice president in 2016, president in 2018 and he served as immediate past president in 2020, each two-year terms, and all positions he held while simultaneously serving on Yuba Water’s Board of Directors. Hastey first joined the agency’s board in 1993 as a Yuba County supervisor, a position he held through 2001. He returned to Yuba Water’s board in 2014 as an elected representative of south Yuba County and served as chairman of the board from 2017 to 2019.
As ACWA president, Hastey advocated strongly for voluntary agreements as a comprehensive and collaborative approach to resolving challenges within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. He was also actively involved in promoting safe drinking water solutions for disadvantaged communities across the state and increasing the pace and scale of ecologically-sound forest restoration to reduce catastrophic wildfire risks in key California watersheds and promote healthier, more resilient forests. Hastey also helped establish ACWA’s first dedicated agriculture committee.
“My work with ACWA couldn’t have happened without the support of Yuba Water’s board,” Hastey said. “It was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I look forward to what’s ahead for ACWA and its members.”
ACWA planned to recognize Hastey last year but postponed the award due to COVID-19 restrictions.
ACWA's mission is to provide comprehensive leadership, advocacy and resources for California public water agencies to ensure a reliable, high-quality water supply in an environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible manner. Collectively, ACWA’s members are responsible for 90 percent of the water delivered to California cities, farms and businesses.