Media Corner

For Immediate Release
January 18, 2005

Central Basin MWD Board Appoints Co-General Managers Art Aguilar and Rich Nagel to Head Districts

Carson, CA - The Central Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, together with its sister-agency, West Basin Municipal Water District, approved the appointment of Acting Co-General Managers Art Aguilar and Rich Nagel as Co-General Managers at its December meeting. Aguilar and Nagel held the positions of Acting Co-General Managers since May 2004.

"Art and Rich's overall knowledge of the water industry and its nuances is a tremendous asset to Central Basin," said Central Basin Board President Bob Apodaca. "From their collective experience to their management skills, they are highly qualified to excel in these positions."

Prior to his appointment to Co-General Manager, Aguilar was the Manager of Public & Governmental Affairs for Central Basin and West Basin for five years. In this position, he oversaw all aspects of the Districts' community outreach operation including public/media relations, public education, conservation, legislative efforts and special events. Before working with the Districts, Aguilar spent 30 years in the newspaper business as a reporter, editor and publisher of community newspapers. He has been honored both for his writing and community service and is a highly recognized authority on ethnic publications and demographics.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to community service, Aguilar also has a record of involvement in civic, charitable and political organizations.

Aguilar holds a B.S. degree in Business & Management from the University of Redlands and is a member of the ACWA Communications Committee and Joint Water Quality Communications Subcommittee.

Nagel has more than 17 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. Before being appointed to Co-General Manager, he served as Manager of Water Quality for Central Basin and West Basin for four years. While in that position, Nagel directed the daily functions of the Districts' Water Quality and Research programs. Prior to working with the Districts, Nagel served as the Assistant Upper Los Angeles River Area Watermaster. He has supervised the annual publication of two court- mandated reports, investigation of numerous water rights issues, groundwater quality and contamination studies, monitoring system development, modeling activities and supplies analyses.

Active in many industry organizations, Nagel is on the Board of Directors of the WateReuse Foundation; a Committee Member on the Department of Water Resources Conjunctive Use Advisory Board and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Water Quality Review Team; Chair of Association of California Water Agencies Chromium 6 Committee; and Chairperson of Association of Groundwater Agencies Subcommittee on Groundwater Management. He served two years as a member of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Speaker's Bureau and was also the President, Vice President and Secretary of LADWP's Water Engineers Club.

Nagel holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University.