Jonas doing a “nosestand” in his kayak on the American River.
Environmentalist Jonas Minton passed on June 22, as a result of complications following heart surgery.
Jonas was most recently a water policy advocate for the Planning and Conservation League, where he was known for his knowledge, wisdom, integrity and good humor. He was never afraid to share his strong views about how water should be better and more fairly managed, nor to offer creative solutions.
Jonas also well understood the essential needs of cities and farms. He served as the Executive Director of the American River Water Forum, where he oversaw the sharing of the river between environmental uses and regional water agencies. Jonas also served as a Deputy Director of California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR).
While he was at DWR, a Hetch Hetchy meeting was scheduled in the Director’s conference room. Jonas stunned the small crowd by bursting through the back door, operatically bellowing “Yo Ho, Blow the Dam Down”. We restoration advocates were mightily amused; others not so much.
Most impressively, Jonas balanced passion with realism – he understood success required hard work and patience, and he was determined to have fun along the way. And, as he explains in the short video interview below, Jonas never demonized his adversaries – after all, he hoped to come to agreement with them down the road. Jonas’ spirit and counsel inspire us at Restore Hetch Hetchy. May he rest in peace.