News

Olivenhain Municipal Water District General Manager Kimberly Thorner was honored today as General Manager of the Year by California Special Districts Association during its annual conference.

In selecting Ms. Thorner for the honor, CSDA cited her leadership, commitment to regional partnerships and water supply reliability, financial management of her agency, and her advocacy in Sacramento on behalf of special districts.

“Ms. Thorner’s steadfast leadership and dedication have positioned OMWD as a top-performing agency in California,” said OMWD board president Matthew Hahn. “Her experience and innovation continue to guide OMWD through challenging times in the water industry.”

Ms. Thorner joined OMWD in 1996 and became its general manager in 2007. Under her leadership, OMWD has kept the monthly water bills for its customers lower than average among San Diego County water agencies.

Every year during her tenure, OMWD has achieved the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. Further, OMWD has maintained its AAA bond rating, the highest rating assigned by credit agencies, for over ten years.

OMWD board director Ebin Lanfried said: “Beyond OMWD’s boundaries, Ms. Thorner has improved the water supply outlook for the San Diego region as a whole, and fought for initiatives that benefit water ratepayers across California.”

Ms. Thorner has supported developing alternative water supplies to increase water supply reliability. Early in her tenure, she played a critical role in the partnership that developed the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and was the Project Manager on the Olivenhain Water Storage Project, which included the Olivenhain Dam and the David C. McCollom Water Treatment Plant. She has also been instrumental in bringing local water and wastewater agencies together to increase the use of recycled water in San Diego’s North County. Their joint water reuse projects have won over $60 million in grant funding, and will save more than 11 billion gallons of drinking water per year. For these efforts, Ms. Thorner was recognized by WaterReuse Association of California as its 2015 Recycled Water Advocate of the Year.

Additionally, Ms. Thorner actively shapes federal and state policy on such issues as water affordability, water use efficiency, and reliable water supplies. Her advocacy ensures that OMWD ratepayer interests are represented in Sacramento and Washington. As a result of her efforts, both CSDA and the Association of California Water Agencies have formally recognized OMWD’s effectiveness with legislators and policymakers.

CSDA is a not-for-profit association with more than 1,300 members throughout the state. It provides training, advocacy, legal resources, and other services. CSDA works with members to ensure policymakers understand the impacts of legislation on special districts and the communities they serve.

OMWD General Manager Kimberly A. Thorner