FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Salton Sea, Calif., March 22, 2023)—The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) announced today that it has hired Audubon California’s Samantha Arthur as assistant secretary for Salton Sea policy. The position acts as director of the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) and has been vacant since last year.
“Samantha Arthur is an excellent choice for the Salton Sea Management Program, and I applaud Governor Newsom’s appointment of her,” said Frank Ruiz, director of Audubon California’s Salton Sea Program. “Samantha is a consummate professional with a profound understanding of the intersections of water, agriculture, communities and wildlife. She’s been the lynchpin of our work surrounding water in the Central Valley, and while Audubon will feel her loss, I’m excited that we’ll continue to work together on finding solutions to the many challenges facing the Salton Sea. SSMP is in good hands.”
Arthur currently serves as director of Audubon California’s Working Lands Program, where she leads efforts to conserve working landscapes that provide habitat for birds and other wildlife while also supporting sustainable management of natural resources. She has worked with farmers, ranchers, government agencies and partner organizations to develop and implement conservation programs that provide economic and environmental benefits for both landowners and wildlife. She has also been a member of the California Water Commission since 2020.
###
CONTACT:
Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org; 415-595-9245
About Audubon
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
