COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Don Bransford received the Will S. Green Award during the Northern California Water Association’s annual meeting on March 7.
The award, presented annually by the association’s board of directors, recognizes individuals who have devoted their careers to advancing irrigation and regional sustainability in the Sacramento Valley.
Bransford, a longtime leader in the region, has spent more than three decades supporting Northern California agriculture and water management. He previously served as chair of the Northern California Water Association board of directors from 1999 to 2000 and has been active in a range of organizations focused on water policy, agriculture and environmental stewardship.
Over the years, Bransford has worked to promote the advancement and protection of irrigation, water rights and agricultural sustainability across the Sacramento Valley. His efforts have included leadership roles with the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, where he served for decades, including time as board president, and with the California Rice Commission, where he served as chair.
Bransford has also been recognized for his contributions to the rice industry, including being named Rice Farmer of the Year by the USA Rice Federation in 1999 and receiving a lifetime achievement award in 2005 from the California Cooperative Rice Research Foundation.
In addition to his work in water and agriculture, Bransford has served on the state Board of Food and Agriculture and on several advisory councils focused on water and drought issues. Locally, he served on the Colusa Unified School District Board for more than 30 years.
Colleagues described Bransford as a steady advocate for water management practices that support both agricultural production and environmental protection, including efforts to benefit migratory birds and aquatic species tied to the Sacramento Valley.
The award is named for Will S. Green, who founded the community of Colusa in the 1850s and helped design the Sacramento River diversion system, a key element in supporting irrigation and flood control in the region.
Organizers said the recognition reflects Bransford’s long record of service and his role in shaping water policy and agricultural sustainability in Northern California.