“Every day, I learn something new from incredible scientists. That includes members of our Metropolitan team as well as others from public resources agencies and universities,” says
Lynda Smith
, a principal resource specialist, who works on the Bay-Delta Initiatives in Sacramento. “These experts tackle enormously challenging issues and develop working solutions.”
Lynda
, a UCLA graduate and environmental scientist, admits her job is hard to describe. She takes technical information on Delta water quality and other issues and develops it into effective management actions and science studies. That information is essential to address the needs of the Delta, its ecosystem and a reliable water supply for Southern California.
Lynda
explains, “With incredible coordination and endless meetings, we consider how policy implications impact the operations of running a world-class water agency.” Linking science to management actions and regulatory policy is learned over the long-term, and she’s thankful for guidance from former Met colleagues.
Lynda
has worked at Met for 30 years, and she has advanced degrees in biology and environmental science with an emphasis on the nexus of science and policy.
The water talk also continues at home. Her husband, Brent Walthall, is the assistant general manager of the Kern County Water Agency. The two like to escape Sacramento’s withering hot summers with Bay Area weekend trips and visits to Lake Tahoe for relaxation and hiking.