CLWA NAMES GENERAL MANAGER MASNADA REPLACES RETIRING SAGEHORN.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - A former managing director of the Valencia Water Company has been named as the new general manager of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, officials announced Friday.

Dan Masnada, who has been the executive director of the Central Coast Water Authority since 1992, will begin the $150,000-a-year position April 1. He will replace Robert Sagehorn, who announced his retirement last fall after 20 years with the agency.

``I think it's exciting,'' Masnada said. ``I know what I'm getting into. I have a pretty good head-up on the issues and am feeling uniquely qualified to take on the tasks ...''

Meeting the demand of new growth nears the top of his task list, including ensuring plentiful water supplies for the Santa Clarita Valley, he said.

``There may come a point and time where we tell (developers), hey, we have x amount of water, and we have to make sure they are aware of that before growth goes beyond what we can service,'' Masnada said.

Taking on challenges is not new to Masnada. During his time with the Central Coast Water Authority, he oversaw and directed the construction of the Coastal Branch Phase II Extension of the California Aqueduct, a major engineering and environmental undertaking of the authority and the California Department of Water Resources.

Before that, he was managing director of the Valencia Water Company, a subsidiary of The Newhall Land and Farming Company. He also served as a water purveyor representative on the CLWA board.

Peter Kavounas, CLWA board vice president, said Masnada's familiarity with the CLWA and his experience at the CCWA put him at the top of the board's list of the at-least 25 candidates who applied for general manager position.

``We felt he has a lot of relevant experience and a good understanding of the agency and the agency issues,'' Kavounas said. ``He expressed a genuine and sincere interest in the agency. We felt he was a good fit overall.''

Masnada, 48, received his bachelor's degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1975 and his master's degree from Stanford University. Both degrees are in civil engineering.

Masnada has two children, Nicole, 13, and Daniel, 9. He is an avid skier and also enjoys reading, tennis and water sports. He intends to relocate to the Santa Clarita Valley.

Sagehorn, who planned to retire at the end of the month, will stay with the agency through the interim.

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Photo:

(color) Robert Sagehorn

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