Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition Welcomes New Executive Director

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the David Bjerklie of Woodbury, CT will serve as its new executive director replacing Len DeJong who is retiring at the end of year. Mr. Bjerklie has a Ph.D. degree in Earth Sciences and MS degrees in both Civil Engineering and Hydrology. He recently retired from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division in East Hartford, CT having served there for 18 years as a Hydrologist. Prior to working for the USGS, Mr. Bjerklie held water resources consulting, research and planning positions in Rocky Hill, CT and Seattle, WA as well as with the University of Alaska. Mr. Bjerklie is the author of numerous water resource related publications including his extensive research within the Pomperaug River Basin. Topics include a simulated hydrologic response to climate change, investigation of the effects of sea-level rise on groundwater levels and modeling land use and groundwater withdrawals on ground water recharge and stream flow. Commenting on the hiring of Mr. Bjerklie, PRWC’s Board chair Gail McTaggart states: “This is an exciting time for PRWC to engage with such a highly qualified individual. Science has always been at the core of PRWC’s mission and serves as the foundation for all of our work and accomplishments. David’s ‘hit-the-ground -running’ scientific familiarity with the Pomperaug watershed will compliment the outreach and program work of our tremendous staff supported by our many volunteers.” The transition of responsibilities to Mr. Bjerklie will begin in December and will include introductions to coalition partners including Town officials and other community and business leaders and supporters as well as key regional and state-wide environmental stakeholders. He will assume full executive director responsibilities in January. Gail McTaggart also went on to say that: “PRWC owes Len DeJong great thanks for all of his work as our executive director. His professional leadership and cooperative spirit made a significant and positive difference in both local and state water resource planning. He truly left a lasting mark that we are very grateful to him for. We wish him great happiness in his retirement!”