As Director of the California Department of Conservation, Bridgett Luther oversees a department within the Resources Agency with more than 600 employees in 15 offices around California.   The Department of Conservation has a wide variety of programs, including:

• LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION - Protects California's agricultural land, track land-use changes and supports grassroots environmental programs.
• RECYCLING - Oversees the state beverage container recycling program.
• GEOLOGICAL SURVEY - Studies and maps earthquakes, landslides, mineral hazards and mineral resources.
• MINE RECLAMATION - Oversees the cleanup of old mines and ensures that currently operating mines comply with state regulations.
• OIL, GAS AND GEOTHERMAL - Oversees oil, natural gas and geothermal energy production.

Ms. Luther has a long history of involvement in environmental protection.   While a resident of North Carolina, she helped create the first recycling program in the history of Mecklenburg County.   She also led campaigns to create neighborhood parks and acquire land to protect the region's water quality.   She founded the Carolinas office of the Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization.
 
After moving to California five years ago, Ms. Luther was the national development director for REP America (Republicans for Environmental Protection), which supports pro-environment Republicans.   She was appointed Director of the California Department of Conservation in 2005.