David Lowry Widell

David Lowry Widell is the General Manager and Director of Governmental Affairs for the Grassland Water District located near Los Banos, California. The Grassland Water District is unique in being the only water district in the United States which provides water solely for wetland habitat. As a part of the larger Grassland Ecological Area, Widell represents both sporting and environmental interests in the preservation of the last vestige of California's Central Valley wetland habitat, which encompasses an area as large as Yosemite National Park and is the largest wetland complex west of the Rocky Mountains.

Prior to his tenure at the Grassland Water District, Widell served as Director of Policy for Ducks Unlimited's Western Regional Office, and served under two gubernatorial administrations as deputy director of California State Parks and the Assistant Secretary of the California Resources Agency under both the Davis and Schwarzenegger Administrations. Widell was also a lobbyist for the California Waterfowl Association between 1998 and 2000.

Widell received notable attention due to his ability to work with both hunting and environmental interests to secure water for Central Valley wetland habitat, including the development of the Grassland Environmental Education Center of western Merced County.

In cooperation with other environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited, Widell has received notable attention for raising the understanding of water needs for Central Valley habitat.