Hall Of Fame Inductees

 

The individuals nominated should have made a significant impact or positive influence that assures the future of our industry in the lives of generations to come.

 

Once nominated, an individual’s biography and photo are updated on the site, and he or she is placed in the polls for voting. At the end of the year the committee takes into consideration the votes and decides which candidates are inducted.

 

Those with a star (*) next to their name below were either inducted posthumously or have passed away since being inducted.

 

Nomination Qualifications

  • Person with integrity and passion
  • Minimum 20 years in industry
  • Someone who has developed  or invented  new technology
  • Has made contributions that resulted in change
  • Contributed to mankind’s needs in his field
  • Provided education and encouragement  with self-sacrifice
  • Changed the industry

Chris Austin

Maven’s Notebook

 

A leading voice in California water news, Chris Austin is the founder and publisher of the independent and reader-supported Maven’s Notebook website, California’s most comprehensive source for water news and information.

 

Dedicated to providing unbiased information about California water issues, the water news source reaches thousands of regular readers and water leaders throughout the state. Based in Southern California but regularly traveling throughout the state to cover conferences, meetings and events, Austin has earned a stellar reputation among the state’s agricultural, environmental and water stakeholders for unbiased, complete, timely and accurate reporting and news curation.

 

With a decade of experience writing and aggregating California water news for multiple websites, Austin was recognized in 2016 by online news agency Environmental & Energy Publishing as one of nine Californians who play key roles in water policy. In 2015, her work was recognized with a scientific journalism award from the California-‐Nevada chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and a merit award from the California Water Policy Conference. In addition to writing original content and aggregating news for Maven’s Notebook, Austin also contributes water‐related content to Capitol Weekly, Estuary News, KCET SoCal Connected, and Zócalo Public Square.

 

Austin aims to improve and streamline access to thousands of complex water reports and documents, and to aid in the public’s understanding of these critical issues. Her photo essays and slideshows – on topics such as the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Imperial Valley agricultural region, and how the electrical grid works – demonstrate her ability to make complex topics accessible through reader‐friendly language and appealing photos. One of her most prominent media projects to date has been “Understanding California’s Bay Delta in 63 photos,” featured as part of an explanatory series by independent public television station KCET on water sharing. Informative web pages on groundwater, water infrastructure and the Delta and statewide planning processes provide a deep dive into the topics for beginners and experts alike. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan Road Map breaks down about 40,000 pages of documents, tables and charts by topic, with downloadable images and drawings for easy access.

 

Before diving into the world of water blogging, Austin was an audio engineer and studio manager in charge of operations for a busy audio post-production facility in North Hollywood. There, she managed a team of 14 technicians recording and editing music and sound for theme parks, commercials, television shows, and movie scores. Here career in professional audio ended when she starter her family, though she still enjoys editing music for local figure skaters.