Countywide

The San Diego County Water Authority’s board of directors has named Ralph B. Grahl to serve as acting general manager until a permanent replacement is found for Lawrence R. Michaels, who resigned March 12.

Grahl, a retired Navy captain who formerly served as city engineer for National City, was working as a self-employed consulting engineer until his appointment at the board’s regular meeting April 9.

Michaels, who had held the post since February, 1984, resigned unexpectedly last month after doggedly pursuing one of the Water Authority’s most controversial projects, Pamo Dam. He cited “the burden of the job” in submitting his resignation.

A search for a replacement is expected to take as long as six months.