With the election of Gray Davis as governor, new leaders are assuming top positions in California’s agencies, boards and commissions. In January, Mary Nichols joined Davis’ cabinet as Secretary for Resources. As head of the Resources Agency, she directs the activities of 19 department’s, conservancies, boards and commissions. Among these agencies are the Department of Water Resources and Department of Fish and Game. On Feb. 23, Foundation Executive Director Rita Schmidt Sudman interviewed Ms. Nichols about her thoughts on the water challenges facing the Davis administration: CALFED and the Bay-Delta fix; California’s Colorado River 4.4 plan, groundwater use, water marketing and other issues. A written transcript of that interview was published in the March/April 1999 issue of Western Water.