The California Department of Water Resources Acting Director William R. Croyle yesterday announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2017.

Croyle put his original retirement plans on hold in January 2017 when he was asked by Governor Edmund G Brown Jr. to serve as Acting Director of the department. Cindy Messer, DWR Chief Deputy Director, will serve as Acting Director of the department until a new director is appointed.

Prior to his appointment, Croyle served as Deputy Director for Statewide Emergency Preparedness and Security at the Department, a role that uniquely prepared him to manage the Lake Oroville spillways incident in February.

“California is extremely fortunate to have had Bill at the helm of DWR this year, especially during the Oroville emergency,” said Secretary John Laird, of the California Natural Resources Agency. “We are all grateful for his commitment and public service.”

In nearly ten years with DWR, Croyle served as the Drought Emergency Operations Manager, representing the department on Governor Brown’s Interagency Drought Task Force and various other drought task forces. He also served as the Department Emergency Program Manager and spent more than six years as Chief of Flood Operations.

Croyle also worked more than 23 years for the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in Sacramento, where he served in a variety of capacities.

“I am honored to have served with many talented, dedicated people throughout my career. I am very proud of the work we have accomplished over the years bringing California through drought, flood and most recently, through the Oroville Spillway incident,” stated Croyle. “And now I’m looking forward to picking up my retirement plans where they left off six months ago.”