San Joaquin River Conservancy Welcomes New Executive Officer Kari Daniska

March 22, 2024

Fresno, CA – The San Joaquin River Conservancy Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Kari Kyler Daniska as the new Executive Officer. Ms. Daniska will assume this role April 1, 2024, and brings more than 14 years of experience in natural resources conservation and restoration, environmental planning and permitting, and project management and delivery. Ms. Daniska succeeds Interim Executive Officer Karen Buhr, who stepped in to lead the transition in May of 2023. Ms. Buhr will continue to support the Conservancy through the transition and will return to her position as the Deputy Executive Officer of the Delta Conservancy.
Ms. Daniska is a northern California native and graduated from California State University – Chico in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences.
Ms. Daniska’s connection to the San Joaquin River and Southern Central Valley began in 2010 when she served as part of a State Water Board technical team tasked with providing a scientific basis to support alternate restorative flows on the San Joaquin River. Since then, Ms. Daniska has worked for the California Department of Transportation where she led the implementation of AB1282, which created a structured process for early engagement with permitting agencies in addition to contracting delivering multiple restoration and mitigation projects within the Central Valley.
Ms. Daniska joins the Conservancy from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she served as a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) in the Habitat Conservation Planning Branch, processing habitat management lands and associated permits for large-scale renewable energy projects.
Ms. Daniska’s education and experience in habitat restoration, conservation, and developing and enhancing partnerships will be valuable in carrying out the Conservancy’s mission in developing, managing, and restoring the San Joaquin River Parkway.

“As chairperson of the San Joaquin River Conservancy, I am excited to extend a warm welcome to our newly hired Executive Officer, Kari Daniska. We are thrilled to have her leadership and expertise guiding our efforts both towards expanding access for all and preserving the San Joaquin River for generations to come.”