Mike Wade, Executive Director

Mike is the first Executive Director of the Agricultural Water Management Council since March 2002.  The Council is recognized as the lead organization overseeing agricultural water supplier water management planning and the advancement of agricultural water management in California.

Mike is also responsible for the day-to-day operation of the California Farm Water Coalition, the state's only educational organization dedicated to providing the public with factual information on agricultural water use. Duties include staff management and delegation of assignments and development of educational programs and public awareness activities on a statewide basis. The distribution of fact-based educational materials to the public is a major priority for the Coalition.

Brandon Souza, Assistant Executive Director

Brandon has been with the AWMC since November 2005.  Brandon developed the Online Agricultural Water Management Directory, and has helped conduct a number of Council projects including a state-wide study on the efficacy of water management practices in California irrigation districts: Efficient Water Management - Irrigation District Achievements, and a survey of San Joaquin Valley growers' on-farm water management practices and influencers.  Brandon also oversees the production of software tools including the enhanced USBR Water Conservation Plan annual updates site and the recently completed the AWMC Online Water Management Plan core module, a program designed to facilitate district planning processes and meet the requirements of new state planning legislation.  Brandon continues to work to improve the Council's expanding outreach programs to enhance the public's understanding of the complex issues facing California Agriculture.

Brandon is also the Executive Director of the California Irrigation Institute, California's oldest independent forum on water and irrigation.  The California Irrigation Institute (CII) holds an annual conference focused on furthering irrigation in California. CII brings together leaders from urban water interests, environmental interests, agricultural water users and suppliers, industry, academia and government to discuss the many fluid issues of California water.