KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) announced today that Elizabeth Nielsen has accepted a position as Executive Director of the organization, effective April 7, 2025. Mrs. Nielsen currently serves as Deputy County Administrator for Siskiyou County, California. The announcement follows a months-long recruitment process conducted by a committee of members of the KWUA Board of Directors.
“We had a strong pool of applicants for the position, but Elizabeth was the clear choice,” said KWUA President Scott Seus, who served on the committee. “In the Klamath Project and throughout the watershed, irrigators have reason to be excited about her accepting the role as Executive Director of KWUA. We have all benefited from Elizabeth’s leadership and involvement in various prior capacities. She will bring leadership and perspective to the table.”
Mrs. Nielsen has worked on Klamath watershed issues for the past fourteen years in various capacities, including with the Bureau of Reclamation in Klamath Falls. In her current position, her responsibilities include overseeing the County’s natural resources department.
In recent years, Mrs. Nielsen has been instrumental in the work of the “Tri-Counties,” a coalition among Klamath County, Oregon, and Siskiyou and Modoc Counties, California, that has engaged effectively on water issues regionally, statewide, and nationally.
“Farming and ranching are a cornerstone of culture and tradition in the watershed. I look forward to joining this highly respected organization and representing those who keep this tradition alive, who dedicate themselves to ensuring that the same opportunities exist for future generations, and who work day in and day out to put food on our tables,” said Mrs. Nielsen. “I can’t wait to get to work.” She holds a BS in Agricultural Business from CSU Chico. She and her husband are raising two boys on their 5th generation family cattle ranch. Outgoing Executive Director Paul Simmons, who is retiring, will serve as an advisor during a transition period.
