Babs Makinde

Executive Member

Babs Makinde, PE, has several decades of sustainable environmental and resource management experience. Areas of expertise include environmental policy analyses, integrated resources planning and management, and regulatory impact analyses. Developed and/or improved several models used in resource management by California State Agencies. Managed a California Water District that quadrupled in service area and ensured that developers paid their equitable share of development impacts. Managed and improved transportation and wet utilities infrastructures for a Native American Reservation that enhanced welfare for the disadvantaged community during droughts and flood emergencies. Championed "Source Water Protection" and implemented reliance on local water resources which improved reliability while limiting environmental footprint and climate impacts. That enabled water rates that are significantly lower than those of adjacent communities. Banked several thousands of acre-feet of water in several counties for use during extended droughts. Developed many successful Water Supply Assessments for large-scale new developments that withstood legal challenges. Successfully negotiated and secured several environmental and development permits from Federal, State, and local agencies. Collaborated with regulators and legal counsel and recovered tens of millions of dollars from potentially responsible parties which ensured that ratepayers were not responsible for cleanup costs of contamination. Served on many technical committees that pioneered policies that resulted in the quick and successful clean-up of many Superfund sites and brownfields for redevelopment including the $160 million restoration of a closed military base. Collaborated with the CDC for the risk assessment of Public Health impacts of contaminated soils and groundwater to protect public health especially vulnerable populations within disadvantaged communities. Served on several technical committees of professional associations. Published many peer-reviewed papers in professional journals and has written articles for Water Encyclopedias.