General Manager and Director of Governmental and Legislative Affairs of the Grassland Water and Resource Conservation District
Ric Ortega has served as General Manager and Director of Governmental and Legislative Affairs of the Grassland Water and Resource Conservation District since August of 2011. Born and raised in the small town of Dos Palos, Ric grew an affinity to the outdoors from an early age. Ric carries Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Ecology and Systematic Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a Master of Science in Wetland Ecology from UC Davis. Ric began at Grassland Water District as an Environmental Scientist investigating regulatory proposals that could have negatively affected the productivity of the largest contiguous wetland In California. Ric served as Science and Water Quality Programs Manager focusing on wetland water policy and governmental affairs from 2007-2011. Ric has since established a great working relationship with neighboring agricultural districts and the implementation of a Wetland/ Agricultural water supply development program.