Gov. Burgum has appointed Andrea Travnicek as the new director of the state’s Department of Water Resources – subject to the approval of the state Water Commission.
Travnicek is currently the state’s Parks and Recreation director – a position she has held since April 2020. She had earlier served as senior policy advisor for Natural Resources in the Governor’s office from 2010 to 2016.
The 2021 Legislature passed HB 1353, creating the new Department, making it the state’s primary water agency.
As director, Travnicek will hire the state engineer, as well as other staffers.
If the state water commission, approves, she would start Aug. 1.
Gov. Burgum has also named Paul Taylor as the interim Parks director, also effective Aug. 1. Taylor is currently the deputy director of Parks and Recreation.