Stephen Abbors, former manager with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, has been named the new general manager of the Los Altos-based Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

The Los Altos-based Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has appointed Stephen Abbors as general manager, effective April 14.

Abbors succeeds L. Craig Britton of Los Altos, who is retiring after 30 years with the district. Britton has served as general manager since 1994.

Abbors, a Walnut Creek resident and East Bay native, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences from California State University East Bay. He began his career as a naturalist with the East Bay Regional Park District and subsequently accepted a position with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the second-largest water utility in the state, managing the watershed and recreation function for 28,000 acres in the East Bay.

Abbors focused on weaving ecological principles into land management planning.

He served as the chairman of the subcommittee of the Alameda-Contra Costa Biodiversity Working Group that developed the management plan for the Caldecott Wildlife Corridor, has been involved actively in the Diablo Fire Safe Council, the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee and the Hills Emergency Forum, a multiagency organization formed in response to the 1991 Oakland hills fire.

“Stephen Abbors is an outstanding manager and very experienced in the preservation, protection and acquisition of open space resources, as well as the appropriate management of public low-intensity recreation,” said Pete Siemens, president of the board. “Through the extensive search for the most qualified candidate, Mr. Abbors, with over 30 years of experience in park, open space and watershed management, operations and planning, was the best fit for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and this key position in the organization.”

Abbors said he was “deeply honored” for the opportunity to work with the board of directors and staff of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and neighboring communities to “carry forward the vitally important mission of preserving, protecting and enjoying our environment.”

“As the impacts of climate become more apparent,” he said, “protection and restoration of the land that supports all life by providing air, water, food and other vital ecosystem services will become increasingly important to all of us.”

The board finalized contract terms for Abbors Feb. 19. The position generated 37 applicants, and five finalists were interviewed.

“The board sees Mr. Abbors as an outstanding person to carry forward the vision and mission of the district,” Siemens said.