Senior Management of the Department and Key Financial Officers

Karla Nemeth was appointed Director of the California Department of Water Resources by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on January 10, 2018. 

DWR operates and maintains the California State Water Project, manages floodwaters, monitors dam safety, conducts habitat restoration, and provides technical assistance and funding for projects for local water needs. Karla oversees the Department and its mission to manage and protect California’s water resources, working with other agencies in order to benefit the State’s people and to protect, restore and enhance the natural and human environments.

Karla worked at the California Natural Resources Agency as Governor Brown’s Deputy Secretary and Senior Advisor for water policy since 2014. She was the Bay Delta Conservation Plan project manager from 2009 to 2014.

Karla was the environmental and public affairs director for the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District from 2005 to 2009. She was also the community affairs manager at Jones and Stokes from 2003 to 2005.

Karla has a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington.

Cindy Messer was appointed as the Department's Managing Deputy Director in February 2017.  Cindy was the Deputy Director of the Planning, Performance, and Technology Division at the Delta Stewardship Council from 2012 until her appointment with DWR. As Deputy Director, she coordinated the preparation and implementation of the Delta Plan. Prior to this position, Cindy served as the assistant executive officer for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy where she provided oversight for the development of the Delta Conservancy’s Interim Strategic Plan.  She also worked for more than ten years in various technical and managerial roles within DWR's Division of Environmental Services.

Cindy is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental policy analysis and planning. She also obtained a Master of Science degree in conservation biology from California State University, Sacramento.

On March 5, 2024, Governor Newsom announced that Tom Gison will join Lead Deputy Director Cindy Messer as a second Lead Deputy Director. Tom will oversee the offices of the State Water Project, Sustainable Water Management, Integrated Watershed Management, Energy, Climate, and General Counsel. 

Tom Gibson joined DWR in 2021 as General Counsel. Prior to joining DWR Tom held multiple positions at the California Natural Resources Agency, including Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Water, Undersecretary, and General Counsel from 2014 to 2020. Between 2007 to 2014, Tom held multiple positions at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, including General Counsel and Assistant Chief Counsel.

Additionally, he held several roles at Best, Best, & Krieger LLP from 2002 to 2008, including Partner and Associate; and was an Associate at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara PC from 1999 to 2002 and at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard PC from 1997 to 1999. Tom earned a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College.

Stephanie Varrelman was appointed Deputy Director of Business Operations in May 2022. In this position, Varrelman is responsible for all Business Operations functions for the Department including fiscal management, human resources, procurement and contracting, facilities management, printing and mail, and 
information technology services. Additionally, Varrelman oversees the internal auditing, equal employment opportunity, and bond accountability functions, as well as the Electric Power Fund and Wildfire Charge Fund programs.

Prior to becoming Deputy Director, Varrelman served as DWR’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer and worked in a variety of policy and administrative positions within Executive and Business Operations.

Varrelman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Arts degree in History from California State University, Sacramento.

John Yarbrough was sworn in as the State Water Project (SWP) Deputy Director for DWR on May 3, 2024. This position advises and assists the Director in the formulation, revision, and implementation of policies and programs within the Division of Operations and Maintenance (O&M), Division of Engineering (DOE), Division of Integrated Science and Engineering, State Water Project Analysis Office, Hydropower License Planning and Compliance Office, Bay Delta Office, and Delta Conveyance Office.

John has worked on the SWP for over 24 years with assignments in Executive, O&M, DOE, and the former Power and Risk Office. Since August 2020, John has served as the Assistant SWP Deputy Director. In this position, he was responsible for executive management of the Oroville Recovery efforts, coordinating SWP’s risk management efforts, and leading SWP business improvement initiatives.

John earned an MBA from UC Davis, an MS in Civil Engineering from CSU Sacramento, and a BS in Civil Engineering from UC Davis. John is a Registered Civil Engineer in California.

On August 8, 2024, Duard MacFarland was appointed as the new Manager of the Division of Fiscal Services (DFS).  In this role, Duard will direct and oversee DFS’ branches which deliver various financial services Department-wide. This includes responsibility for the Budget, General Accounting, State Water Project Enterprise Cost Analysis and Billing, and Financial Reporting and Compliance branches, as well as Administration/Travel and Master Data. He is also responsible for assisting with the long-term planning of the State Water Project and management of the outstanding debt for the Department.

Duard has an impressive 24 years of budget, accounting, financial analysis, and project management experience with the state. For the last 13 years, Duard has served as the manager of the Budget branch and as DWR’s Budget Officer. Prior to joining the Department, Duard spent over a decade with the Department of Corrections enhancing his fiscal knowledge and expertise through a variety of positions – including several in leadership.

Duard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Sacramento.

Ann Carroll was appointed Managing Counsel in March 2024, overseeing the Office of General Counsel. She provides legal advice to the Director and Management and oversees approximately 50 attorneys. The Office of General Counsel is responsible for a broad range of issues, including water rights; water transfers; energy law; flood management; integrated water management; dam safety; personnel; and state contracting.

Ann, prior to joining DWR, held several roles at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2012 to 2019, including Assistant Chief Counsel and Senior Staff Counsel. She was Staff Counsel at the State Water Resources Control Board from 2009 to 2012. Between 2006 to 2009, Ann held several roles at the California District Attorneys Association, including Circuit Prosecutor and Research Attorney.

She is a member of the North Davis Elementary Parent Teacher Association and the Davis Odd Fellows. Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law.