On Tuesday Governor Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of Lester Snow as the new Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. Snow’s appointment comes in the wake of Mike Chrisman’s notice that he is leaving his position as Resources Agency Secretary for a new post with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation where he will direct the nonprofit’s Southwest Partnership Office in San Francisco.

Snow will transition from the Director of the Department of Water Resources to his new position at the end of the month. As Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, Snow will oversee the policies and activities of 25 departments, commissions, boards and conservancies, including the Department of Water Resources, Department of Fish and Game, and California Energy Commission, as well as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan development process.

Schwarzenegger also appointed Mark Cowin to succeed Snow as the Director of the Department of Water Resources and John McCamman to lead the Department of Fish and Game.