HerStory · Contra Costa County

Bette
Boatmun

46-Year CCWD Board Member  ·  ACWA's Second Female President  ·  Champion for Clean Water, Equal Pay & Environmental Stewardship

"I initially decided to apply for this position in the interest of bringing more women into the water industry and have been honored to represent our community on many important decisions." — Bette Boatmun, East County Today, September 2020
Contra Costa Water District ACWA President 2002–03 Woman of the Year 2001 ACWA Lifetime Achievement 2020 Concord, CA
Bette Boatmun portrait
46
Years of Public Service · 1974–2020
46
Years on CCWD Board
34th
Longest-Serving of All 34 Directors
2nd
Female ACWA President Ever
$795M
Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project
20K
Acres in Los Vaqueros Watershed
100+
Plant Varieties in Conservation Garden
500K+
Central & Eastern CC County Residents Served
11
Elected Terms on the CCWD Board

Origins & Formation

Early Life & Context

From a New York childhood to becoming Concord's foremost water steward — the foundations of an extraordinary life in public service.

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New Rochelle, New York Roots

Born to Otto and Elizabeth Heidig in New Rochelle, New York, Bette was raised with a deep sense of civic responsibility and community connection. Her northeast upbringing instilled in her the values of education, public engagement, and social justice — values that would shape every decade of her professional life and that she would carry west to California.

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Education: From Russell Sage to Holy Names

Bette earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York — a liberal arts institution with a proud tradition of educating women for leadership. She later deepened her academic foundation by pursuing a Master's degree from Holy Names College (now Holy Names University) in Oakland, California, positioning herself at the intersection of education, advocacy, and community leadership.

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Settling in Concord, California

In 1962, Bette married Charles Boatmun, and in 1965 the young family moved to Concord in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. It was in this rapidly growing suburban community that Bette found her calling. She immersed herself in civic life, joining the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, and Soroptimist International — networks that would later become central to her path into elected office.

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The YWCA & Pre-Board Civic Life

Before her appointment to the Contra Costa Water District board, Bette served as Executive Director of the YWCA of Contra Costa County, headquartered in Bay Point. This role placed her at the nexus of women's advancement, community services, and social equity — and gave her hands-on experience managing an organization, advocating for vulnerable populations, and navigating the complex political landscape of Contra Costa County. It was this practical leadership experience that made her an ideal candidate for the water board.

Career Arc

Leadership Journey

A remarkable four-and-a-half decades of water governance, statewide advocacy, and trailblazing representation for women.

An Unexpected Entry into Water Politics

In 1974, the Contra Costa Water District was seeking to diversify its board and approached community leaders to recommend a woman for an appointed seat. Bette, then active in AAUW and the League of Women Voters, was asked to help identify candidates. Unable to find the right person through her networks, she was personally encouraged to apply herself by a water district staff member she encountered leaving church one Sunday morning. She applied, was selected from 19 applicants, and was appointed to the board on July 31, 1974 — beginning what would become a 46-year odyssey of water stewardship.

Rising to Statewide Leadership

From her early years navigating the severe 1976 drought to her election as CCWD Board President (1990–1992), Bette steadily rose through the ranks. She served as CCWD Vice President from 1981 to 1989, overseeing the district through a period of rapid population growth in Contra Costa County. Her reputation as a fiscally responsible, environmentally sensitive, and equity-minded board member earned her recognition well beyond the district's borders, culminating in her election as ACWA Vice President (2000–01) and then President (2002–03) — making her only the second woman to hold ACWA's top office in its decades-long history.

A Legacy Built Through Projects and People

Under her leadership, CCWD undertook transformative infrastructure projects including the construction of the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant, fencing of the Contra Costa Canal, construction and expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, the Multi-Purpose Pipeline, two new Delta water intakes, and upgrades to the Bollman Water Treatment Plant. Throughout all of it, Bette kept community equity at the center — championing the Lifeline low-income assistance program and equal-pay and affirmative-action hiring practices that changed the composition of the workforce.

Phase 1 · 1974–1989 · Foundation Years

Appointed in 1974, elected to her first full term in 1976, and re-elected to 10 subsequent terms. Served as CCWD Vice President 1981–1989. Guided the district through the severe 1976 drought. Championed equal-pay and affirmative-action hiring policies that diversified the district workforce.

Phase 2 · 1990–2001 · District Leadership & Infrastructure

Served as CCWD Board President 1990–1992. Oversaw the 1991 creation of the conservation garden that would later bear her name. Championed the landmark Los Vaqueros Reservoir project, approved by voters in 1988 and completed in 1998 ($795M, 20,000-acre watershed). Introduced the Lifeline tiered water-rate program for disabled and low-income customers. Named California Assembly "Woman of the Year" for the 11th Assembly District in 2001.

Phase 3 · 2002–2014 · Statewide Advocacy

Served as ACWA Vice President (2000–01) and President (2002–03), becoming ACWA's second female president. Chaired the Governing Board of the East County Water Management Association, the Contra Costa Special Districts Association, and the Sanitation and Water Agencies of Contra Costa County. Led the 2011 expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir. In 2014, the CCWD Board named the conservation garden after her to mark her 40th year of service; she reportedly cried upon learning of the honor.

Phase 4 · 2015–2020 · Elder Stateswoman & Culminating Honors

In 2017, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recognized Bette as the longest-serving elected official in the county's history, passing an honorary resolution on her 80th birthday. Navigated the 2013 drought and led voluntary conservation initiatives. Received ACWA's Emissary Award (2014) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2020). Retired December 2020 after 46 years of unbroken service to CCWD.

Key Milestones

A Life in Timeline

Forty-six years of service, advocacy, and legacy — milestone by milestone.

1965
Movement Moves to Concord, CA

Bette and Charles Boatmun settle in Concord with their family. Bette quickly embeds herself in the civic fabric of the community through AAUW, the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, Soroptimist International, and the YWCA of Contra Costa County.

1974
Position Appointed to CCWD Board of Directors

After being selected from 19 applicants, Bette is appointed to the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors on July 31, 1974 — representing Division 4, covering parts of Concord, Pittsburg, and Antioch. She is among the first women on the board, setting a precedent for future gender representation in water governance.

1976
Campaign First Drought Leadership & Election to Full Term

Elected to her first full four-year term by CCWD voters and immediately faces the severe 1976 California drought — one of the state's worst on record. Her calm, data-driven crisis leadership establishes her reputation as a reliable steward of water resources and a trustworthy public servant.

1981
Position Elected CCWD Vice President

Serves as Vice President of the CCWD Board from 1981 to 1989 — an eight-year run in which she champions equal pay for district employees, diversifies hiring through affirmative action policies, and helps lay the groundwork for major infrastructure investments. Colleague Donald Freitas later calls her a "water warrior" who opened doors for women in elected office throughout the region.

1988
Campaign Voters Approve Los Vaqueros Reservoir

Bette leads public outreach and advocacy for the landmark Los Vaqueros Reservoir project — a $795 million initiative to build a 20,000-acre watershed in the Diablo Range between Brentwood and Livermore. Voters approve the project in 1988. Construction begins in 1994 and the reservoir opens in 1998, becoming one of the most significant water-supply projects in Contra Costa County history.

1990
Position Elected CCWD Board President

Becomes President of the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors, a position she holds from 1990 to 1992. Under her presidency, she authorizes the 1991 conversion of nearly one acre of district grounds from lawn to drought-resistant landscaping — the seed of what becomes the Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden. She also introduces the Lifeline tiered water-rate program for low-income and disabled customers.

1998
Innovation Los Vaqueros Reservoir Opens

After four years of construction, the Los Vaqueros Reservoir opens — a transformative water-storage facility that Bette championed for a decade. The project required delicate balancing of water quality regulations and recreational demands, a tension Bette navigated through extensive public hearings and compromise policy-making. A 2011 expansion extends the reservoir's capacity and impact further.

2001
Recognition California Assembly "Woman of the Year"

Honored by the California State Assembly as "Woman of the Year" for the 11th Assembly District — a formal recognition of her decades of service in water governance, her advocacy for equal pay and workforce diversity, and her leadership in community organizations. The honor reflects her standing not just as a water expert but as a transformative community leader.

2002
Position Elected ACWA President — California's 2nd Female President

After serving as ACWA Vice President in 2000–01, Bette is elected President of the Association of California Water Agencies for the 2002–03 term — becoming only the second woman ever to lead the organization representing hundreds of California water agencies. In this role she engages with statewide water policy including California's 4.4 Plan for Colorado River water allocation, shaping the future of water governance for the state's 40 million residents.

2014
Recognition Conservation Garden Named in Her Honor & ACWA Emissary Award

To mark her 40th year of service to the district, the CCWD Board officially names the conservation garden — which Bette helped create in 1991 — the Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden. The garden displays more than 100 varieties of ground covers, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Bette recalls: "I think I cried. I just thought that was above and beyond." She also receives ACWA's Emissary Award in 2014.

2017
Recognition Honored as Longest-Serving Elected Official in Contra Costa County

On her 80th birthday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors passes an honorary resolution recognizing Bette as the longest-serving elected official in the county's entire history — a remarkable milestone that underscores four decades of unwavering public commitment. The resolution catalogs her numerous local and statewide leadership roles and her lifetime of advocacy for equal pay, water conservation, and community service.

2020
Recognition ACWA Lifetime Achievement Award & Retirement After 46 Years

Upon announcing she will not seek re-election, Bette retires from the CCWD Board in December 2020 after 46 years of continuous service — the longest tenure of any of the district's 34 directors in its history. ACWA honors her with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and the CCWD Board adds a new butterfly garden to the conservation garden to commemorate her service. CCWD Board President Lisa Borba praises her "relentless advocacy for customers" and her "wit and wisdom."

2024
Movement Passing & Posthumous Legacy: The Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award

Bette Boatmun passes away peacefully at her home in Concord on September 20, 2024. ACWA, CCWD, and the California Special Districts Association all issue tributes. The ACWA Foundation establishes the Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award — an annual monetary prize for mid-level water industry managers who advance an inclusive and equitable water sector — ensuring her legacy lives on in the careers of future leaders across California.

Defining Contributions

Stories of Impact

Six watershed moments that defined Bette Boatmun's transformative tenure in California water governance.

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The Los Vaqueros Reservoir: A Generation in the Making
1988–2011 · Water Supply Infrastructure

No single project defined Bette Boatmun's career more than the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. She championed the concept for years before voters approved it in 1988, then shepherded it through years of construction controversy, heated public debate over recreational restrictions, and complex environmental negotiations. The central tension — how close to allow recreational users to a primary drinking water source — required Bette to balance community desires with scientific and public-health imperatives. The reservoir opened in 1998 and was expanded in 2011, ensuring a reliable water supply for hundreds of thousands of central and eastern Contra Costa County residents for generations to come.

$795M · 20,000-Acre Watershed · 1988 Voter-Approved
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The Conservation Garden: Growing Change One Plant at a Time
1991–Present · Water Conservation & Education

In 1991, during a drought year, Bette helped pioneer a bold decision: remove nearly one acre of thirsty lawn from the Contra Costa Water District's main Concord campus and replace it with drought-resistant, water-wise landscaping. The resulting conservation garden — which grew to feature more than 100 varieties of native and non-native ground covers, perennials, shrubs, and trees — became both a living demonstration site and a community education resource. Residents could walk the garden's pathways and learn exactly which plants thrive on minimal water in the Contra Costa climate. In 2014, her colleagues named the garden after her in honor of her 40th year on the board; the district added a butterfly garden in 2020 to mark her retirement after 46 years.

100+ Plant Varieties · Named in Her Honor 2014 · Butterfly Garden Added 2020
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Equal Pay & Affirmative Action: Changing the Face of Water
1974–2020 · Workforce Equity

From her very first years on the CCWD board, Bette was a vocal, persistent advocate for equal pay for equal work and for affirmative action in hiring — demanding that the district's workforce reflect the diversity of the communities it served. John Gregg, who spent 30 years with CCWD as manager of operations and later assistant general manager, recalled vividly how she pushed to bring employees from the Black community into what had been an entirely white workforce: "It was really a different time." These were not comfortable positions to hold in the 1970s and 1980s, but Bette held them with conviction and consistency — ultimately reshaping both the culture and the composition of one of the region's most important public agencies.

Decades of Advocacy · Transforming a "Lily-White" Workforce
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The Lifeline Program: Water Equity for All
Early 1990s · Low-Income Water Access

Recognizing that water is not merely a commodity but a human necessity, Bette introduced the concept of a tiered water-rate schedule specifically designed for disabled and low-income customers — a program the district would come to call its "Lifeline" program. At a time when most water utilities operated purely on volume-based rate structures without socioeconomic consideration, Bette argued passionately and persistently that the district had an obligation to ensure basic water affordability for its most vulnerable customers. The Lifeline program stands today as one of CCWD's signature equity initiatives and a direct expression of Bette's lifetime commitment to social justice.

Pioneered Tiered Rates for 500K+ Residents · Lifeline Program Still Active
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Drought Leadership: Conservation as Community Compact
1976 & 2013 · Crisis Management

Bette navigated the Contra Costa Water District through two of California's most severe droughts — in 1976 and again in 2013. In both instances, she championed a community-first approach, trusting residents to voluntarily reduce their water use rather than immediately imposing mandatory restrictions. Her 2013 strategy proved prescient: the board asked for a 10% voluntary reduction as a first step, and by the time of her retirement in 2020, district water use was still running 10–15% below 2013 levels — even after the state's formal 25% mandate had expired. This durable reduction reflected both the quality of her public education campaigns and the depth of community trust she had cultivated over decades.

10–15% Sustained Reduction Below 2013 Levels · Still Holding as of 2020
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ACWA Presidency: A Woman at California's Water Table
2000–2003 · Statewide Water Governance

When Bette was elected ACWA President for the 2002–03 term — after serving as Vice President in 2000–01 — she became only the second woman in the organization's history to lead the Association of California Water Agencies, the statewide body representing the interests of hundreds of water utilities serving millions of Californians. In that role she engaged in critical statewide policy debates, including California's compliance with the 4.4 Plan for Colorado River water allocation. ACWA Executive Director Dave Eggerton later described her as "one of the most consequential leaders in ACWA's history" and a personal mentor who provided him with "invaluable counsel" throughout his career.

2nd Female ACWA President · Represented Hundreds of CA Water Agencies

Honors & Milestones

Major Achievements

A lifetime of recognition for decades of transformative leadership in water, equity, and community service.

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ACWA Lifetime Achievement Award (2020)

Upon her retirement from the CCWD Board in 2020, the Association of California Water Agencies presented Bette with its highest individual honor: the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognized 46 years of dedicated service to the water industry, her statewide advocacy through ACWA, and her legacy of equity-driven leadership that helped shape California water policy for generations. It was, fittingly, the capstone of a career that had begun with a chance encounter on a Sunday morning outside a Concord church nearly half a century earlier.

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California Assembly "Woman of the Year" (2001)

In 2001, Bette was recognized by the California State Assembly as "Woman of the Year" for the 11th Assembly District — a designation that carries significant political weight and reflects the breadth of her impact beyond water issues alone. The citation noted her leadership in water governance, her advocacy for equal pay and diversity in the workplace, her community service through AAUW and the League of Women Voters, and her nearly three decades of elected service on the CCWD Board.

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The Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden (Named 2014)

In 2014, to mark Bette's 40th year on the CCWD Board, her colleagues took the extraordinary step of naming the district's showcase conservation garden — located at the main Concord office — after her. The garden, which she helped create in 1991 by replacing one acre of lawn with water-wise plantings, now features more than 100 plant varieties and a butterfly garden added at her retirement in 2020. It stands as a living testament to her belief that public institutions should lead by example on conservation. Bette's response to the honor: "I think I cried."

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Contra Costa County Longest-Serving Elected Official (2017)

On her 80th birthday in 2017, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an honorary resolution declaring Bette the longest-serving elected official in the county's entire history. The resolution catalogued her 43 years on the CCWD Board at the time, her statewide leadership through ACWA, and her decade-spanning advocacy for water equity, environmental stewardship, and women's representation in public office. It was a recognition rarely accorded to a water district board member — a tribute to both the duration and the quality of her public service.

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ACWA Emissary Award (2014)

In 2014, the same year her conservation garden was named in her honor, Bette received ACWA's Emissary Award — given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to advancing ACWA's mission and to representing the association and the broader California water industry in public forums. The award reflected her decades of service on ACWA committees and boards, her role as ACWA's second female president, and her continued engagement with the ACWA past presidents' council and ACWA Region 5 well into her later years on the CCWD Board.

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The Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award (Established 2024)

Following her passing in September 2024, the ACWA Foundation established the Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award — an annual monetary prize recognizing mid-level water industry managers who aspire to advance an inclusive and equitable water sector. The award specifically targets candidates with at least eight years of experience who demonstrate a passion for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in California water governance. It is the ultimate institutional tribute: Bette's values and vision, now permanently embedded in how California's water industry identifies and develops its next generation of leaders.

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Bette was truly an amazing human being and one of the most consequential leaders in ACWA's history. She was also a personal mentor who provided me with invaluable counsel.

— Dave Eggerton, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies

Voices & Tributes

In Their Own Words

Colleagues, peers, and Bette herself speak to a life of purpose, principle, and impact.

"

I initially decided to apply for this position in the interest of bringing more women into the water industry and have been honored to represent our community on many important decisions. This Board works together constructively and collaboratively and CCWD's workforce is strong — I know that our community will continue to be well represented and served.

Bette Boatmun
On her retirement announcement · East County Today, 2020
"

Obviously we came to a compromise, because in a reservoir your source water is very important. The less treatment you have, the better it is at the tap for the constituency. So we put in some regulations that many people did not like because it restricted some of the recreational activities that they wanted. But recreation was not the first purpose of that reservoir — the first purpose was to have a water supply for our customers.

Bette Boatmun
On the Los Vaqueros Reservoir · Concord Clayton Pioneer News, 2021
"

Bette was truly an amazing human being and one of the most consequential leaders in ACWA's history. For my entire career, she has been an enormously important figure in the water industry and at ACWA. She was also a personal mentor who provided me with invaluable counsel.

Dave Eggerton
Executive Director, ACWA · September 20, 2024
"

Bette has been a relentless advocate for customers by supporting water education, water use efficiency, financial responsibility and giving back to the community. We will greatly miss her wit and wisdom at our Board meetings, but we expect that she will check in as a customer from time to time.

Lisa Borba
CCWD Board President · East County Today, September 2020
"

In the 1970s, few women were elected and appointed to boards. Part of her legacy is that she opened up a lot of doors and she never stopped doing that.

Donald Freitas
Former CCWD Board Member & Antioch Mayor · Concord Clayton Pioneer News, 2021
"

Bette was a remarkable leader and a true visionary when it came to water conservation, education and public service. I am incredibly grateful for the time I spent with her serving on this Board. Her wisdom, vision, and friendship will be greatly missed.

Ernie Avila
CCWD Board President & ACWA Vice President · September 20, 2024

Enduring Impact

Legacy & Ripple Effects

The ways Bette Boatmun's vision, values, and voice continue to shape water, equity, and public service in California.

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A Sustainable Water Supply for Generations

The Los Vaqueros Reservoir, expanded in 2011 and subject to ongoing California Water Commission-funded expansion through the Water Storage Investment Program, represents Bette's most enduring physical legacy. The 20,000-acre watershed she helped protect from overdevelopment now provides clean, reliable water to more than half a million central and eastern Contra Costa County residents — and is positioned to serve future generations as climate change intensifies drought cycles across California.

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The Living Classroom: Conservation Garden as Public Resource

The Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden at CCWD's Concord headquarters continues to function as a free public education resource — welcoming residents, students, and landscapers who want to learn how to garden beautifully on less water. The addition of the butterfly garden in 2020 deepened the site's ecological value, attracting pollinators and serving as a model for habitat-friendly water-wise landscaping. Contact: 925-688-8320 or [email protected].

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Opening Doors for Women in Water Governance

Bette was among the first women appointed to the CCWD Board, and she remained a consistent advocate for female representation throughout her 46-year tenure — helping found a Central and Eastern Contra Costa County network for women who have held elected or appointed positions. She remained active on ACWA's past-presidents council after retirement, mentoring the next generation of women water leaders. Her legacy is reflected in the growing number of women serving on California water agency boards today.

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Water Equity as Non-Negotiable Policy

Bette's Lifeline tiered water-rate program — introduced in the early 1990s to ensure low-income and disabled customers could afford basic water access — remains active at CCWD and stands as a model of equity-conscious utility governance. Her conviction that public water utilities have a moral obligation to their most vulnerable customers has influenced water rate policy discussions across California and informed the ACWA Foundation's current mission of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water industry.

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The Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award

Established by the ACWA Foundation in late 2024 in response to an outpouring of tributes after Bette's passing, this annual award provides funding for a mid-level water industry manager to attend a leadership development program of their choosing. The award specifically targets candidates who advance inclusive, equitable workplaces — directly embodying Bette's lifetime commitment to breaking down barriers in public-sector water employment. Its establishment ensures that Bette's name and values will influence California water leadership for decades to come.

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A Blueprint for Fiscally Responsible Environmental Stewardship

Throughout her tenure, Bette demonstrated that ambitious environmental stewardship and rigorous fiscal responsibility are not in tension — they are complementary. Under her watch, CCWD built transformative infrastructure (Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant, Bollman upgrades, Multi-Purpose Pipeline, two new Delta intakes) while maintaining transparent finances and competitive rates. CCWD Board President Lisa Borba noted that Bette always kept "an eagle-eye on CCWD's finances." This integrated approach to public stewardship remains the model for how Contra Costa Water District operates today.

Community & Affiliations

Connected To

Contra Costa Water District CCWD Division 4 ACWA President 2002–03 Los Vaqueros Reservoir Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden Lifeline Water Rate Program East County Water Management Association Contra Costa Special Districts Association Sanitation & Water Agencies of CC County YWCA of Contra Costa County League of Women Voters – Diablo Valley AAUW – Concord Chapter Soroptimist International Sons of Italy Russell Sage College Holy Names University California Assembly Woman of the Year 2001 ACWA Lifetime Achievement 2020 Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award Concord, CA Water Conservation Education Equal Pay Advocacy Affirmative Action Champion

Research & Attribution

Sources & Further Reading

Pioneer Publishers – Feature Profile (Karen Jenkins)
pioneerpublishers.com
Pioneer Publishers – Obituary (Sep 20, 2024)
pioneerpublishers.com
ACWA – Mourns Past President Boatmun
acwa.com
ACWA – Lifetime Achievement Award News
acwa.com
ACWA Foundation – Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award
acwa-foundation.org
CCWD – Bette Boatmun Conservation Garden
ccwater.com
CCWD – District History
ccwater.com
East County Today – 46 Years on CCWD Board
eastcountytoday.net
California Special Districts Magazine – Nov/Dec 2024
issuu.com/csda
ACWA Foundation Board Meeting Packet – Nov 21, 2024 (Emerging Leader Award Proposal)
acwa-foundation.org (PDF)
Contra Costa County BOS Resolution – Sep 26, 2017 (80th Birthday)
ccc.docsonthecloud.com
CCWD Conservation Garden Plant Lists
ccwater.com (PDF)