Lydia Bleifuss is the Program Manager at OpenET, where she supports cross-functional teams and partners in advancing accessible, science-based water data for resilient water management. She brings a decade of experience at the intersection of hydrology, climate science, agricultural water management, and collaborative project delivery. Before joining OpenET, Lydia held leadership roles at Virga Labs, where she guided partnership development and the delivery of data-driven tools for nonprofit, government, academic, and private-sector clients. Her previous work with Trout Unlimited focused on agricultural resilience, federal water programs, and securing funding for drought-impacted communities across the Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins.

Lydia’s career is grounded in a commitment to bridging science and policy through actionable data. She is motivated by supporting diverse stakeholders, cultivating trust, and enabling decision-making with best available science. She holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Lewis & Clark College, both concentrated in water resources management.