After five years of dedicated leadership, Joel Metzger has announced his resignation as General Manager of the Utica Water and Power Authority (Utica), effective July 13, 2025. Metzger has accepted a senior leadership position at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), where he will serve as Deputy Director, Statewide Water Resources Planning and Enterprise Project Management. … In his new role at DWR, Metzger will lead the division updating California’s Water Plan, oversee enterprise project delivery, and support the state’s efforts to address challenges such as extreme drought, floods, and aging infrastructure. … Metzger is a graduate of the Water Education Foundation’s Water Leaders program.