Alameda County Water District General Manager to Retire

Fremont, Calif. – After 30 years of service with the Alameda County Water District and over six years as General Manager, Robert T. Shaver has announced his retirement from ACWD effective July 1, 2021.

Under Shaver’s leadership, ACWD efficiently: administered a $175 million annual operating and capital expense budget; responsibly managed local and imported water supplies guiding the District out of the historic drought ending in 2017; reached near completion of the District’s largest infrastructure investment to date with the construction of fish passage projects in Alameda Creek; and launched an Advanced Metering Infrastructure program that will allow the District to engage more effectively with customers and help ACWD continue its leadership in water use efficiency.

Shaver joined ACWD in 1991 as a project engineer and progressed to Assistant General Manager in 2010. During his tenure, he participated in or oversaw many capital improvement projects, including the construction of several water treatment-related projects, retrofits and seismic upgrades to critical facilities and pipelines in the earthquake-prone region, and construction and expansion of the Newark Desalination Facility in 2003 and 2010, respectively. Shaver has also emphasized watershed protection and stewardship, including the construction of fish passage facilities along Alameda Creek and the enactment of the ACWD Groundwater Protection Act, which was unanimously approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2009.

The ACWD Board of Directors appointed Shaver to be General Manager in December 2014.

“A three-decades-long commitment to ACWD proves Bob’s dedication to his work, community and public service,” said ACWD Board President Aziz Akbari. “I am sincerely grateful for his leadership and the lasting contributions he’s made to ensure a reliable supply of drinking water for our customers. His ACWD career spans water quality, environmental and regulatory changes requiring adaptiveness and resiliency,” Akbari added. “Bob’s guidance and interagency coordination align ACWD with area partners to strengthen the region’s water supply.”

Shaver currently serves as a Board member for the Bay Area Water Agencies Coalition and CalDesal and serves as the Board Chair for the California Urban Water Agencies.

“I am honored and humbled to have been entrusted to deliver the District’s mission as ACWD’s general manager,” said Shaver. “Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with extremely capable colleagues both here at ACWD and industry-wide. Although my retirement is bittersweet, the District will continue its path as a well-respected agency because of the leadership of the Board of Directors, Executive Management, and a truly dedicated staff that serve our customers.”

“Thirty years ago, my wife and I moved from Long Island, NY, to Fremont so that I could pursue a position as an ACWD project engineer,” said Shaver. “It was a leap of faith that led to a career of professional fulfillment and satisfaction,” he said. “I’m glad we did it – the Tri-City area is a great community to raise a family, and ACWD is a stellar public agency,” added Shaver.

A longtime resident of Fremont, Shaver plans to travel, enjoy the outdoors, and continue his service to the community through his volunteer work with the Fremont Rotary Club.

The ACWD Board of Directors will recruit for a new General Manager, and Shaver will remain on board during the transition process.

ACWD is working with Koff & Associates for the recruitment of the General Manager position. All interested and qualified candidates who would like to learn more can view the recruitment flyer at www.koffassociates.com/opportunities/ or visit www.acwd.org/jobs for more information.