www.heraldandnews.com (Klamath) Water Users
executive director resigns Greg Addington's last day will be
Dec. 15
by Lacey Jarrell, Herald and News 9/9/15
After 10 years of going to bat for Klamath Project water users,
Greg Addington is stepping down.
Addington is the executive director of the Klamath Water Users
Association (KWUA), a nonprofit corporation that has advocated
for Project farmers’ and ranchers’ rights since 1953. Addington
joined the organization in 2005.
He said he feels it’s time to try something different.
“I’ve been treated great here. I work for people I really admire
and respect,” he said.
“I was actually contemplating doing this in the spring, but the
water year started shaping up so bad I didn’t want it to look
like I was running out in the face of another (bad) water year.”
Last day Dec. 15
Addington announced his resignation to the KWUA board in
mid-August. His last day is slated for Dec. 15.
KWUA Board President Rob Unruh said 2015, the Basin’s fourth
consecutive year of drought and continuing water shortages, has
kept Addington and the association busy.
“It’s just incredible the amount of issues Water Users handles
on a daily basis,” Unruh said. “Greg has done a fantastic job.
When a person like that steps down, it’s hard to fill his
shoes.”
Addington is well-known for his involvement in crafting the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and the accompanying
Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement. Their development was a
years-long process and included several hard-won compromises
from Basin water groups. Stakeholders cemented both agreements
in 2010. Congress has yet to move on them.
“I need a breath of fresh air, and frankly, I think it would be
good for the organization to have a breath of fresh air,”
Addington said.
Addington and a coalition of KBRA stakeholders are in
Washington, D.C., this week to pitch to federal officials the
stability they believe a settlement could bring to the Basin
farming and tribal communities. Stakeholders are banking on the
settlements winning congressional approval before the new year.
“If it doesn’t go forward, then it’s time for somebody else to
come in with some ideas and look at ways to move the
organization forward,” Addington said. “It seems like a good
time to step away.”
Deputy director resigns
Another hit to the association is that recently hired KWUA
deputy director Matt Vickery is also resigning. His last day is
Sept. 15.
Addington said KWUA staff hoped Vickery would step into the
executive director position.
“We’ll miss Matt a lot. He is fantastic,” Addington said.
Vickery explained that his departure occurring so close to
Addington’s is purely coincidental.
“I’ve been happy here. This opportunity came out of the blue,”
Vickery said.
Vickery explained that an employer he previously interned for
offered him a position as a property and natural resources
manager for a cattle ranch near Orlando, Fla. He said he’ll
participate in federal and state natural resource regulation,
including Clean Water Act and endangered species management.
Addington said he didn’t know Vickery was considering another
employment opportunity when he decided to tender his
resignation.
New executive director
Addington’s recommendation to the board is to hire an executive
director and let him or her hire the deputy.
Executive Assistant Chelsea Shearer is staying on.
Addington said he’s proud of the work KWUA has accomplished in
the last decade.
Although he was raised near Eagle Point in the Rogue Valley, he
has roots in the Basin: his father lived in Klamath Falls and
two great-uncles farmed near Malin. After joining the KWUA
staff, Addington and his family landed near Merrill.
“It was one of the best things we ever did. I’ve enjoyed it; my
family’s grown up out there. I became really good friends with a
lot of the people I’m here to work for,” he said.
Addington’s future
Addington said he may explore options for consulting on water
management or natural resource conflict in the West, but he’d
like to stay in the Basin, if possible.
KWUA plans to advertise its executive position before the end of
the month. Addington said he doesn’t anticipate any problems
filling the position.
“It’s challenging, there’s no question about it, but I think
it’s become a more appealing position,” he said. “Some of the
strides we’ve made over the years — to update and upgrade the
organization — will be appealing to candidates.”
He said he’s not going to walk away if the position has not been
filled by December.
“I’m pretty firm on December, but I’m absolutely committed to
not leaving the board hanging,” he said.
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