Chris Kowitz is the North Central Region Manager for the Oregon Water Resources Department. The North Central Region consists of three district offices in The Dalles, Condon, and Pendleton. In this role, he oversees regulatory and policy matters for the region which include surface and groundwater resources in the lower Deschutes, lower John Day, Umatilla, and Walla Walla River watersheds.

Chris grew up in Northeast Washington and holds a Bachelors of Environmental Science from Western Washington University. His professional experience includes 15 years working in the natural environment, including natural resources management and restoration, water resource planning, applied research, and policy development. He has worked for city, county, and state governments in the Northwest, specializing in program implementation, inter-jurisdictional coordination, environmental systems, and community engagement.