Director of Natural Resources
Sheryl Parsons is the Natural Resources Director for the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District). She manages the District’s environmental programs, overseeing a group of environmental specialists who conduct biological monitoring for the Santa Ana River Basin recharge facilities and within the Prado constructed wetlands and its associated riparian habitat. Sheryl acts as the District liaison with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with all relevant environmental regulations. She collaborates with regional agencies and organizations to ensure a watershed-wide approach to protecting the natural resources of the Santa Ana River Watershed, including the endangered least Bell’s vireo and Santa Ana sucker.
Sheryl has a decade of professional experience in wetland management and research, including research on climate change’s effect on wetlands and nutrient and selenium cycling and removal within constructed wetlands. Sheryl holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from California State University, Fullerton and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from University of California, Los Angeles.