About Us

Kari Kyler Daniska was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the San Joaquin River Conservancy on April 1, 2024. She brings over 15 years of experience in natural resources conservation, environmental planning and permitting, and project management.

A Northern California native, Ms. Daniska earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University, Chico in 2008. Her connection to the San Joaquin River began in 2010 when she joined the State Water Resources Control Board’s Bay-Delta Team. There, she helped develop a technical report on San Joaquin River flows and Delta salinity objectives, contributing to updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Bay–Delta Estuary.

Ms. Daniska has held key leadership roles at Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. At Caltrans, she led the statewide implementation of Assembly Bill 1282 to improve early coordination with permitting agencies, managed transportation and restoration projects across the Central Valley, and developed environmental training modules. At CDFW, she oversaw habitat conservation planning and permitting for large-scale renewable energy projects and assisted in the conservation of thousands of acres of habitat for threatened and endangered species.

Her expertise in habitat restoration, conservation, and interagency collaboration will be instrumental in advancing the Conservancy’s mission to develop, manage, and restore the San Joaquin River Parkway.