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Marysville - Dennis Jagoda, a Hydraulics Engineer from Oroville, will accept the prestigious Karl Moskowitz award today when the California Department of Transportation presents their 2006 Outstanding Management and Engineering in Transportation Awards during a special luncheon in Sacramento.

Jagoda is a Registered Civil Engineer currently serving as the District 3 Hydraulics Engineer, a post he has held for the past 16 years. He pioneered the use of remote controlled camera surveillance in Caltrans' sprawling District 3 to assess the condition of existing culverts, which has had a great effect on the way the District tracks the condition of their roadside culverts while improving personal safety for workers. This remote camera system is a model throughout the Department's North Region and the State. He also assisted law enforcement by using the remote camera system to help investigators check abandoned wells for evidence in a capital murder case.

While nominating Jagoda for the award, District 3 Director Jody Jones pointed out that Jagoda "conducts the state's business with integrity and professionalism." She also provided highlights of his career, which included his ability to deal with crisis. During the flood of 1997, which closed several state highways, "Dennis displayed his leadership skill by coordinating Caltrans flood damage responses while working closely with state, federal and local officials. It is at such times when true character is displayed and Dennis' light," said Jones, "shined brightly during this event."

The Karl Moskowitz Award annually recognizes contributions by Caltrans registered engineers to the field of transportation engineering. Moskowitz served as a traffic engineer for the State Department of Transportation for 27 years. Much of his work in freeway design and traffic flow appeared at the outset of the Interstate Highway program and was used extensively by planners and engineers nationwide, thus becoming national standards. He conceived the idea of computer-controlled lane metering systems.