Johnny Amaral joined the Friant Water Authority (FWA) on March 25, 2019, as Chief of External Affairs. In early 2022, he assumed additional responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer, and in January 2026, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer following years of service and leadership within the organization.

In his roles, Johnny oversees and manages FWA personnel and the day-to-day operations, as well as the Authority’s engagement with San Joaquin Valley farmers, businesses, and related industry groups regarding water policy and water supply matters, as well as legislative, lobbying, and communications activities.

Two of the key areas of his focus include FWA efforts to help increase San Joaquin Valley farmers ability to recharge groundwater, and the Friant-Kern Canal conveyance restoration efforts. FWA is engaged with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, community representatives, farm bureaus, advocacy groups, commodity groups, and other water agencies working to achieve long-term sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley. For the Friant-Kern Canal Capacity Correction Project, Johnny served as FWA staff lead on all construction activities and is working to secure funding and to help identify partnerships to assist in implementing long-term repairs to the critical facility.

Prior to joining FWA, Johnny served as the Deputy General Manager for External Affairs for the Westlands Water District, a position he held for 4 ½ years.  Johnny started his career working on water and other public policy matters as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Devin Nunes, a position he held for more than 13 years. 

Johnny is a native of Tulare, and lives in Exeter, CA with his wife Stephanie, and together they have two children, Taylor (22) a Senior at Baylor University, and John Tomas (20) a Sophomore at San Diego State University.

Eric Limas joined the Friant Water Authority on April 23, 2026, as Chief Operating Officer. In his role Eric oversees and manages the day-to-day operations, as well as serving as the FWA lead on all construction activities.  Prior to joining FWA, Eric, for the past 8 years, served as the General Manager of Friant Districts; Lower Tule River and Pixley Irrigation Districts, Tea Pot Dome Water District, as well as Vandalia Water District, Campbell-Moreland Ditch Company and Pioneer Water Company on the Tule River system.  Limas also managed the Lower Tule River, Pixley ID, Tea Pot Dome and Vandalia Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. Eric worked for the Districts from 2002-2026, serving in the following roles; Controller, Business Manager, Assistant Manager, and General Manager.

In 2000, he earned his Certified Public Accountant license while working for M. Green and Company, CPAs. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness. Eric grew up on a family farm in Tipton and was active in the local 4-H and FFA programs. 

Eric and his wife Adriane, live in Tulare, and have three grown children: sons, Blake (wife Mia), and Breck (wife Makenna), and daughter Brooklyn (husband Trynt).  Eric and Adriane are also the proud grandparents of Mykah, 6, and Asher, 5.

Ian joined Friant Water Authority in February 2020. He coordinates with state and federal agencies on regulatory or planning process that could affect the Friant water supply, leads efforts to monitor and defend the reliability of Friant water supplies, and assists the CEO and COO in coordination of activities and strategic goals among Friant member agencies. Before joining Friant Water Authority, Ian was a water resources engineer at Stantec Consulting Services, Inc for over nine years. At Stantec, he supported Federal and local government agencies in water resources planning, infrastructure feasibility studies, engineering, facilitation, environmental compliance, and project management. Ian holds a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of California, Davis, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Katie Duncan is a Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Friant Water Authority, where she focuses on a number of projects to maximize and protect the Friant Division’s water supply. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Systems from the University of California, San Diego, and a master’s degree in Water Resources Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. Outside of her professional work, Katie enjoys spending time outdoors and making the most of life with her two young children.

Julie is a shareholder at Water and Power Law Group PC. Her experience includes non-federal hydropower licensing, rulemaking, and other proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; regulatory proceedings for federal water control facilities before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; state-law proceedings involving the protection of water supply and other beneficial uses of surface and groundwater; and appellate matters. She is also a certified mediator.

Julie earned her J.D. from UC Law San Francisco and her B.A. from California State University, Monterey Bay.

She lives in Sonoma with her husband, Russell, and their children, Oliver and Cecily.

Wilson Orvis joined Friant Water Authority (FWA) in March 2021 and serves as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the organization’s financial planning, accounting, budget management, human resources, and information technology functions. In this role, he provides both operational and programmatic support, working closely with leadership to guide strategic decision-making and short and long-term planning.

Wilson Orvis advises on budget development, forecasting, and financial impacts related to external programs and initiatives affecting Friant Water Authority and its member agencies, representing Friant with other organizations, associations, the State of California, and the Federal Government, especially as it relates to the Central Valley Project and ongoing extraordinary maintenance projects underway at FWA.

Prior to joining Friant, Wilson spent 14 years with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, where he held positions managing and overseeing finance, grants, acquisitions, budget, working capital fund, property, and fleet management functions.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.