Kincaid and Kunde to Receive WAKC Water Awards at 69th Annual Meeting
The Water Association of Kern County will proudly present the Water Leader of the Year and Water Legacy Awards on Wednesday, November 5th, at its 2025 WAKC Annual Meeting to be held at Stockdale Country Club.
Every year WAKC presents the Water Leader of the Year and the Water Legacy Awards at the Annual Meeting. The Water Leader of the Year award is given to an individual who has shown significant contributions, leadership and integrity over the past year. This year, WAKC will present the 2025 Water Leader of the Year award to Valerie Kincaid. Kincaid is a partner at Paris Kincaid Wasiewski, LLP and represents public irrigation districts, water districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and joint powers authorities at both the administrative and judicial levels. Kincaid represents
multiple Kern County water districts in various capacities. She was instrumental in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act process and has been a key player in getting Kern Subbasin across the finish line.
Robert Kunde is to be named as the 2025 Water Legacy Award winner. WAKC presents the Water Legacy Award to honor a recipient who spent their life working in water issues, demonstrated leadership and long-term commitment to Kern County water. Kunde is the former Engineer-Manager of the Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District, and is currently the District’s Retired Annuitant and Chair of the Reservoir Committee for the Sites Reservoir Project. During his over 35 years of service, Rob’s extraordinary breadth of knowledge, meticulousness, and persistent efforts have been instrumental in the success of many significant water projects benefitting Kern County, including the Kern Water Bank and, most recently during the last year, the Sites Reservoir Project. Rob’s thoroughness, attention to detail, pragmatism, and ability to ask probing and relevant questions has made him distinguished throughout Kern County and the state.
WAKC is grateful for their service and commitment to Kern County Water. Community members can join WAKC in honoring our award winners by purchasing tickets at www.wakc.com/upcoming-events/ before October 24th.
