Changing Of The Guard At Desert Water Agency; Mark Krause Retiring February 22nd 2024

On February 22nd 2024, the Desert Water Agency will get a new General Manager.

After 29 years at the DWA, General Manager and Chief Engineer  Mark Krause (photo above)  is retiring. 

He’ll be replaced by Assistant General Manager Steve Johnson.

Krause joined DWA in 1995 as the Operations Engineer. In that role, Mark helped develop the engineering department so DWA could design its own pipelines, booster stations and wells.

Krause was promoted to Assistant General Manager in 2004 and became DWA’s sixth General Manager on Jan. 30th 2016.

 He was instrumental in implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and in the signing of a historic water agreement between Metropolitan Water District (MWD), Coachella Valley Water District and DWA.

 Krause also helped the agency dive into the digital world with new data management systems, GIS (Geographic Information System) and advanced meter technology.

 Steve Johnson was hired as an Assistant Engineer at DWA in 1995 and promoted to Operations Engineer in 2004. He became Assistant General Manager in 2016.

 Among his many accomplishments, Johnson negotiated new power purchase and land use agreements to generate revenue for DWA and keep rates down. 

Retiring Desert Water Agency General Manager Mark Krause

Photo from Desert Water Agency, Palm Springs CA Feb 15th 2024