LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – William Lawrence Koehler, born June 8, 1948, died on December 11, 2017 in Mérida, Mexico. Bill lived in Kelseyville, Calif., with his wife, Caryn, but was vacationing and studying in Mexico at the time of his death.

He had always had an interest in languages, having learned some French, Spanish, German and Finnish as a child, and had long wanted to spend time in Mexico refreshing and improving his skill in Spanish.

Bill worked for many years managing water districts in Lake and Mendocino counties, including Konocti County Water in Clear Lake and California Water in Lucerne. The last years of his life were at Redwood Valley County Water District, and in working to consolidate water systems in the Ukiah area.

As manager of Redwood County Water District, Bill worked with the managers of Millview Water District, Calpella County Water District and Willow Water District toward consolidating the agencies under the Upper Russian River Water Agency, a Joint Power Authority. This was part of an ongoing merger to secure better water supply and distribution for their growing residential and agricultural communities. As this process evolved, Bill's duties expanded to include management of Millview and the JPA.

Granville Poole, the President of Redwood Valley Water Board of Directors wrote, in remembering Bill's contributions to local water management:

"When Bill took over as general manager of Redwood Valley County Water District, the district was up to its neck in problems, including a very tenuous water supply and major legal and financial problems. The relationships among the local water agencies were largely adversarial, desperately in need of voices of reason and wisdom. Bill's was such a voice.

“Bill's intelligence and wisdom, as well as his competence as a water professional, played a major role in bringing the numerous water agencies in inland Mendocino County together toward consolidation into one larger, stronger, regional agency. Much remains to be done toward achieving our regional goals but no one has done more to get us where we are today, close enough to see the prize ahead. Just a few years ago, few could have imagined it but Bill did.
Another huge accomplishment of Bill's was an additional, much larger, intertie that has allowed Redwood to get nearly all its drinking water from the Masonite Well No. 6, largely mothballing our treatment plant. The State of California helped to fund the intertie project, due to the recent drought."

Recently, he and his crew were escorted into the Redwood Valley fire zone daily, working in the hot zone to keep the water flowing to fire fighters. He spoke of his pride for his crew and the Redwood Valley community at large in the face of such devastating loss.

His greatest concern, in departing for his long-scheduled vacation, was for the major infrastructure rebuilding the district would need in the fire's aftermath. It was only at the urging of his family that he took the time for himself to rest and recuperate.

Bill also lent his talent as a manager and mediator working with the Lake County Court System as a court mediator and then President of Lake County Mediation Services in Lakeport for many years.

Bill had a passion for the history of water use, conflict and conservation, and the larger environmental issues it encompasses. He earned a degree in environmental science and a graduate degree in conflict resolution.

He was a man of many interests, an amateur wildflower photographer, lover of pizza, craft IPA beer and local wines. He built the home he shared with his wife. His grandson remembers him most for his love of silliness.

Bill is survived by his wife, Caryn; daughter, Heather Koehler and her husband Evan Carlson of Kelseyville; his son, Armas Koehler and his husband Alan Spooner of Philadelphia; and his grandchildren, Cameila Egas and Eli Carlson of Kelseyville.

Family gathered to celebrate his life and memories at a planned vacation in the Yucatan, Mexico, where he died.

We are touched by the many kind words and remembrances that have been shared. Instead of a public memorial, we ask that you toast his memory with a cold pale ale or a slice.