Michele Putnam. Photo courtesy of NJDEP.

At its 3Q Business Meeting held on September 10, 2020, DRBC honored Michele Putnam for her service to the State of New Jersey and the Delaware River Basin Commission. Michele recently retired from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection after a 40+ year career in public service dedicated to the environment and water resources.

The following Resolution for the Minutes was passed unanimously by the Commissioners. We wish Michele and her husband nothing but the best as they embark on their next chapter!

RESOLUTION FOR THE MINUTES

A RESOLUTION honoring Michele Putnam for her service to the State of New Jersey and the Delaware River Basin Commission.

WHEREAS, Michele Putnam has made it a life’s mission to protect the environment and water resources through her career public service at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and

WHEREAS, Michele served as an alternate DRBC Commissioner on behalf of Governors Corzine, Christie and Murphy of the State of New Jersey over a period of approximately 15 years, from 2006 through 2020. In that role she provided leadership on numerous water resource challenges and labored to improve the working relationships between DRBC staff and state agencies, including by spearheading the first DRBC One Process One Permit program in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, for over 40 years Michele used her commitment and expertise to protect and improve the water resources of New Jersey and the Delaware River Basin by supporting and leading programs that addressed hazardous waste management, water infrastructure financing, safe drinking water, watershed management, and water quality; and

WHEREAS, Michele was appointed by Governor Murphy and prior Governors to serve as a principal representative of New Jersey under the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Decree, which governs diversions of water from the Delaware River Basin. In that capacity she served as one of the architects of the original Flexible Flow Management Program in 2007; and

WHEREAS, after serving most recently as the Assistant Commissioner for Water Resource Management, Michele retired from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, effective September 1, 2020; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Commissioners and DRBC staff extend their sincere thanks to Michele Putnam for her dedication to water resources and the environment and for her multiple contributions to the Delaware River Basin throughout her career. We wish Michele and her husband Ed good health and much happiness as they embark together on a well-deserved retirement.

ADOPTED: September 10, 2020

View Resolution as pdf

(2nd from L) Michele Putnam joins her fellow Commissioners and DRBC's Executive Director to honor
DRBC's Dr. Ken Najjar on his retirement from the Commission, March 2019. Photo by DRBC.