Keene hired by county Open Space district

Sonoma County’s Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District has hired Bill Keene, formerly with the Sonoma County Water Agency, as Assistant General Manager overseeing administrative services, governmental affairs, public outreach and stewardship.
“Bill’s expertise adds to the District’s management depth and capability to oversee the many programs that we have in place,” said Andrea Mackenzie, District General Manager, in a statement released Tuesday.
Keene brings to the post an extensive background in natural resources management and environmental planning. In his previous SCWA position, he directed the agency’s environmental compliance program, managing the environmental review and natural resources management activities for its Capital Program, including overseeing endangered species compliance and recovery planning activities in the Russian River basin.
In addition, Keene has extensive experience building complex partnerships throughout the region with water agencies, municipalities, business interests, agricultural groups, NGOs, and other organizations in the areas of water resources, natural resources management, land use planning, climate change, integrated regional water management planning and watershed management.
Most recently, Keene served as program manager for the Water Agency’s Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program – the first of its kind in Sonoma County, and recently rated one of the top programs in the state for funding. He was also heavily involved in strategic planning at the SCWA, and will utilize that expertise as the District unveils its recently completed Strategic Plan to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in the coming months.
Since its first acquisition in 1992, the District has protected 152 properties totaling over 72,000 acres, through conservation easement and fee purchases. Lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by Sonoma County voters in 1990 and extended to 2031 in November 2006.