Larimer County Appoints Veteran Public Health Leader as Environmental Health Services Director
The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment has appointed Bob McDonald as its new Environmental Health Services Director, bringing more than 25 years of public health leadership experience to address mounting air quality, water safety, and disease surveillance challenges facing Northern Colorado residents.
McDonald most recently served as Executive Director of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment from 2011 through 2024, where he led the city's COVID-19 response and restructured programs to better integrate environmental health and community services.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bob McDonald to the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment," said Tom Gonzales, Public Health Director. "Bob brings a wealth of experience and proven track record of public health leadership. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to work to address the pressing public health challenges facing Larimer County."
The appointment comes as Larimer County faces significant environmental health challenges, including ozone nonattainment status with air quality exceedances averaging 12 to 18 days per year, according to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment monitoring data. The county also manages approximately 1,200 licensed retail food establishments and oversees decentralized water and wastewater systems across its rural and suburban areas.
Denver Leadership Experience Brings Urban-Rural Perspective
During his tenure in Denver, McDonald directed large-scale testing and contact tracing programs during COVID-19, achieving contact within 24 hours for 90 percent of cases by late 2020. He also expanded behavioral health peer support programs, secured external grant funding for innovative health equity initiatives, and led the department through successful national public health accreditation.
McDonald holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Resource Management from Colorado State University and has completed master's level coursework in Public Administration.
"I'm honored to join the incredible team at Larimer County Department of Health and Environment," McDonald said. "As a resident of Larimer County myself, I'm deeply committed to protecting the health of our community and our environment. I look forward to collaborating with local partners and continuing the county's strong tradition of public health leadership."
Scope of Environmental Health Services
In his new role, McDonald will lead the Environmental Health Services team responsible for inspecting facilities to ensure air quality compliance, monitoring outdoor air quality, conducting food safety and public pool inspections, testing water quality, permitting and inspecting onsite wastewater treatment systems, investigating solid waste complaints, and responding to diseases that spread from animals to humans.
The division completed approximately 1,760 routine food safety inspections in 2023, with 94 percent of establishments achieving compliance by the second follow-up inspection. The team also manages permitting and inspections for onsite wastewater treatment systems under Colorado Regulation 43, a critical function as a 2022 survey showed 13 percent of permitted systems in the county required repair or replacement.
Zoonotic disease surveillance remains an ongoing priority for the county. Larimer County recorded between 16 and 22 human cases of West Nile virus annually from 2021 through 2023, making it one of Colorado's highest-risk areas for the mosquito-borne illness. Animal rabies detection has averaged 11 to 18 positive cases annually in recent years, though no human cases have occurred in the past five years.
Air and Water Quality Challenges Require Attention
The Northern Front Range region, which includes Larimer County, has been in nonattainment for ozone, with the Fort Collins-Loveland area monitoring 15 days above the Environmental Protection Agency health standard in 2023. Particulate matter levels also show episodic elevation, frequently tied to wildfire smoke events that pose acute risks for sensitive populations.
Water quality protection encompasses both surface and well water sources, with at least five water system violations issued for nitrate and microbial contamination among small systems between 2021 and 2024, according to county environmental health data.
The Environmental Health Services division enforces multiple state regulations including the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations, Colorado Body Art Regulations, and state air and water quality statutes in coordination with county ordinances.
Larimer County's 2026 budget preparation, currently being finalized for submission to commissioners by October 15, will determine funding levels for environmental health programs in the coming fiscal year.
The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment expressed confidence that McDonald's leadership will advance the agency's mission to provide everyone in Larimer County with the opportunity for a healthy life.