Luckiamute Watershed Council Board of Directors
Board Officers
Wendy Hudson - President
Wendy is a retired "career environmentalist." Before moving to Oregon in 1988 from Washington DC, where she was born and raised, Wendy worked for a marine biology non-profit and briefly for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Oregon, she worked 12 years for Defenders of Wildlife, another non-profit, and 15 years for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. She joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council Board in 2018 and currently serves on the Council's Project Review Committee. Wendy is an avid bird watcher and finds many opportunities to do so throughout the watershed.
Wendy is a retired "career environmentalist." Before moving to Oregon in 1988 from Washington DC, where she was born and raised, Wendy worked for a marine biology non-profit and briefly for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In Oregon, she worked 12 years for Defenders of Wildlife, another non-profit, and 15 years for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. She joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council Board in 2018 and currently serves on the Council's Project Review Committee. Wendy is an avid bird watcher and finds many opportunities to do so throughout the watershed.
George Grosch – Treasurer
Prior to his recent retirement George specialized in rabble rousing and community involvement in and around Corvallis and Benton County. He served 10 years on the Corvallis City Council and was involved in a number of social justice organizations as a Staff and/or Board member. George currently lives with his wife Annie on 13 acres along the Luckiamute River in Hoskins where they raise chickens, grow organic vegetables, oversee grandchildren and serve as companions to assorted cats and dogs. This is his second stint as a Board Member with LWC and he is happy to be back helping the Council fulfill its mission.
Prior to his recent retirement George specialized in rabble rousing and community involvement in and around Corvallis and Benton County. He served 10 years on the Corvallis City Council and was involved in a number of social justice organizations as a Staff and/or Board member. George currently lives with his wife Annie on 13 acres along the Luckiamute River in Hoskins where they raise chickens, grow organic vegetables, oversee grandchildren and serve as companions to assorted cats and dogs. This is his second stint as a Board Member with LWC and he is happy to be back helping the Council fulfill its mission.
Karin Stutzman - Secretary
Karin has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years. Her current home is along the Little Luckiamute River with her husband, and she enjoys swimming and playing there with her dog. Living here inspires her dedication to restoring and maintaining healthy watersheds and managing natural resources. Karin has been on the Council Board for over 6 years, and is currently serving on the Outreach and Education Committee. In the past she has served on the Project Review Committee and as a member of the Steering Committee. She volunteers for other Council projects as often as possible, including the Adopt-a-Road clean-up along Buena Vista Road. Being on the Board has helped Karin to expand and grow her knowledge base surrounding what makes an effective team, and learn first-hand that it is an enormous task to carry out on-the-ground conservation work.
Karin has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years. Her current home is along the Little Luckiamute River with her husband, and she enjoys swimming and playing there with her dog. Living here inspires her dedication to restoring and maintaining healthy watersheds and managing natural resources. Karin has been on the Council Board for over 6 years, and is currently serving on the Outreach and Education Committee. In the past she has served on the Project Review Committee and as a member of the Steering Committee. She volunteers for other Council projects as often as possible, including the Adopt-a-Road clean-up along Buena Vista Road. Being on the Board has helped Karin to expand and grow her knowledge base surrounding what makes an effective team, and learn first-hand that it is an enormous task to carry out on-the-ground conservation work.
Board Members
David Ehlers has owned and managed a small property in the upper Luckiamute watershed for over 15 years, improving timber resources, as well as oak, riparian, upland and wetland habitats. A retired physician, he and his wife recently settled in the Luckiamute watershed, enjoying rural life and woodland management. David joined the LWC Board in March 2016, and the Education and Outreach Committee in December 2018. David recently completed the Benton County Master Gardener program and is on the Benton County Small Woodlands Association Board.
Dan Farnworth
Dan lives in Monmouth by Ash Creek. He came to the Luckiamute Watershed Council in 2012, via the Friends of Ash Creek and the Ash Creek Water Control District, and served on the LWC Board as Treasurer for more than 6 years before passing on those duties to Mark Hazelton in 2019. Dan continues to serve on the Finance Committee. As a long-time camper, backpacker, hiker and fisherman, he’s seen a lot of changes in the outdoors in the last 60 years – some good, some not so much. Dan likes the local flavor of watershed councils, how councils can leverage national, state and regional resources to help individuals improve the not-so-good and make the good better in their own neighborhoods.
Dan lives in Monmouth by Ash Creek. He came to the Luckiamute Watershed Council in 2012, via the Friends of Ash Creek and the Ash Creek Water Control District, and served on the LWC Board as Treasurer for more than 6 years before passing on those duties to Mark Hazelton in 2019. Dan continues to serve on the Finance Committee. As a long-time camper, backpacker, hiker and fisherman, he’s seen a lot of changes in the outdoors in the last 60 years – some good, some not so much. Dan likes the local flavor of watershed councils, how councils can leverage national, state and regional resources to help individuals improve the not-so-good and make the good better in their own neighborhoods.
Kathy Farnworth
Kathy is an Oregon native, born and raised in the Willamette Valley. She has camped all over Oregon with her family and backpacked with her husband. Her roots here go deep; she still attends an annual reunion of the descendants of the pioneers who settled in Eastern Oregon. She studied botany, and graduated with a BA History and a BS Civil Engineering from Oregon State University, and later took a masters in civil engineering. While working full time she supported LWC as a volunteer in road cleanups, 4th of July parade, planting and fundraisers. Now mostly retired, she joins her husband, Dan, on the Board, with a commitment to the conservation of resources and a healthy environment for all.
Kathy is an Oregon native, born and raised in the Willamette Valley. She has camped all over Oregon with her family and backpacked with her husband. Her roots here go deep; she still attends an annual reunion of the descendants of the pioneers who settled in Eastern Oregon. She studied botany, and graduated with a BA History and a BS Civil Engineering from Oregon State University, and later took a masters in civil engineering. While working full time she supported LWC as a volunteer in road cleanups, 4th of July parade, planting and fundraisers. Now mostly retired, she joins her husband, Dan, on the Board, with a commitment to the conservation of resources and a healthy environment for all.
Jackson Stalley
Jackson has always had relationships with rivers and he's loved fishing for as long as he can remember. A child of the west, Jackson has lived in Colorado, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and, for the last 18 years, in Oregon. He lives on the upper reaches of Ash Creek and has been connected to the Luckiamute River for many years as both a local resident and frequent visitor of the river. Jackson is the second person from his home to serve on the LWC, following the example of his spouse, Emily Plec. Currently, he works at Western Oregon University’s Hamersly Library, following a decade in the outdoor industry. Jackson advises the WOU Campus Garden and helped establish the WOU Food Pantry, one of the first on a US college campus. He is an avid (addicted?) fly fisher and tyer and can often be found paddling the waters of the Lucki with Emily and their dog, Meisie.
Jackson has always had relationships with rivers and he's loved fishing for as long as he can remember. A child of the west, Jackson has lived in Colorado, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and, for the last 18 years, in Oregon. He lives on the upper reaches of Ash Creek and has been connected to the Luckiamute River for many years as both a local resident and frequent visitor of the river. Jackson is the second person from his home to serve on the LWC, following the example of his spouse, Emily Plec. Currently, he works at Western Oregon University’s Hamersly Library, following a decade in the outdoor industry. Jackson advises the WOU Campus Garden and helped establish the WOU Food Pantry, one of the first on a US college campus. He is an avid (addicted?) fly fisher and tyer and can often be found paddling the waters of the Lucki with Emily and their dog, Meisie.
Scott Youngblood
Scott has worked for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as the Willamette River Greenway Ranger for about a dozen years, taking care of state park land along the Willamette River and its tributaries. His work involves coordinating with many other government agencies, watershed councils, land trusts, farmers, and members of the public to restore and protect the riparian corridors along the river, as well as providing resources for recreational users. Scott has recently moved to the Luckiamute Watershed, and lives within sight of the river and within the floodplain of the Luckiamute River. He has seen the work the watershed council has done over the years and is excited to be a part of it. He hopes that his work will help make the river a cleaner, healthier river for his daughters and all the other citizens of Oregon to enjoy and be proud of. Scotts look forward to seeing you out on the river!
Scott has worked for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department as the Willamette River Greenway Ranger for about a dozen years, taking care of state park land along the Willamette River and its tributaries. His work involves coordinating with many other government agencies, watershed councils, land trusts, farmers, and members of the public to restore and protect the riparian corridors along the river, as well as providing resources for recreational users. Scott has recently moved to the Luckiamute Watershed, and lives within sight of the river and within the floodplain of the Luckiamute River. He has seen the work the watershed council has done over the years and is excited to be a part of it. He hopes that his work will help make the river a cleaner, healthier river for his daughters and all the other citizens of Oregon to enjoy and be proud of. Scotts look forward to seeing you out on the river!
Council Committee Members
The Luckiamute Watershed Council's committees are essential to our project prioritization, event organizing, fundraising and strategic planning processes, and we could not be successful without the many volunteers that contribute their valuable time, energy and talents! Below is a list of our current committees and their members, with committee chairs highlighted in bold print. Click on the committee title to see a description of each, and contact us at 503-837-0237 or Director@LuckiamuteLWC.org if you would like to find out more about joining one of our committees!
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Project Review Committee (PRC)
Marc Bell Heidi Christensen Aubrey Cloud (Assistant Project Manager) Dave Ehlers (Board) Kathy Farnworth Douglass Fitting Karen Haberman Karen Hans Wendy Hudson (Board) Phil Larsen Kristen Larson (Executive Director) Mary Beth Nicholson Caleb Price (Monitoring Coordinator) Chris Seal Jean-Paul Zagarola (Project Manager) Temperature Monitoring Committee
Douglass Fitting Karen Hans Phil Larsen Caleb Price (Monitoring Coordinator) Jean-Paul Zagarola (Project Manager) |
Finance Committee
Judy Beebe George Grosch (Treasurer) Dan Farnworth (Board) Kristen Larson (Executive Director) Education and Outreach (EnO) Committee
Dave Ehlers (Board) Amy Pinkley-Wernz Karin Stutzman (Board) Suzanne Teller (Outreach Coordinator) |
Luckiamute Watershed Council Staff
Kristen Larson -- Executive Director
Kristen has been the Executive Director of the Luckiamute Watershed Council since September 2012. Shortly after starting the job, she and her husband became Ash Creek watershed residents, moving from Corvallis to Independence. Kristen has a bachelor's degree with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, where she met her Oregonian husband who was also in the Peace Corps, and moved to Oregon in 2003. Kristen has worked in science communications, outreach, and management, and after teaching English in Thailand, returned to Oregon to complete a Professional Science Master's degree in Environmental Science with a focus on water resources at Oregon State University.
Kristen has been the Executive Director of the Luckiamute Watershed Council since September 2012. Shortly after starting the job, she and her husband became Ash Creek watershed residents, moving from Corvallis to Independence. Kristen has a bachelor's degree with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, where she met her Oregonian husband who was also in the Peace Corps, and moved to Oregon in 2003. Kristen has worked in science communications, outreach, and management, and after teaching English in Thailand, returned to Oregon to complete a Professional Science Master's degree in Environmental Science with a focus on water resources at Oregon State University.
Suzanne Teller -- Outreach Coordinator
Suzanne became the Outreach Coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in December 2013. She is the former coordinator of the Izaak Walton League’s Protect Our Wetlands program and continues to be a guest writer for their Outdoor America magazine. Suzanne has a BS in Environmental Science with a focus on wildlife ecology from Western Washington University, and a Dual MA in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University. Her passion for community-based conservation has taken her all over the world, including West Africa, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Washington DC and – most recently – the Pacific NW. She is thrilled to have found a beautiful place to put down roots with her husband, Jay, and two boys, Jayson and Oliver.
Suzanne became the Outreach Coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in December 2013. She is the former coordinator of the Izaak Walton League’s Protect Our Wetlands program and continues to be a guest writer for their Outdoor America magazine. Suzanne has a BS in Environmental Science with a focus on wildlife ecology from Western Washington University, and a Dual MA in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University. Her passion for community-based conservation has taken her all over the world, including West Africa, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Washington DC and – most recently – the Pacific NW. She is thrilled to have found a beautiful place to put down roots with her husband, Jay, and two boys, Jayson and Oliver.
Caleb Price -- Monitoring Coordinator
Caleb joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Monitoring Coordinator in April 2018. He is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest, and moved to Oregon to pursue a MS degree in Marine Resource Management with a Certificate of Fisheries Management from Oregon State University, where he graduated in 2011. His past experiences include conducting backcountry snorkel surveys in the Idaho wilderness, controlling invasive species on a wildlife refuge in the remote Pacific Islands, and assisting with a USAID-funded program for international development in fisheries and aquaculture. Recently, Caleb has been involved with several acoustic and radio telemetry projects evaluating juvenile salmonid migration and survival in Oregon and Washington on the Snake, South Santiam, and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers. Caleb enjoys hiking and fishing across the Western US, and currently resides in Corvallis with his wife and son.
Caleb joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Monitoring Coordinator in April 2018. He is a long time resident of the Pacific Northwest, and moved to Oregon to pursue a MS degree in Marine Resource Management with a Certificate of Fisheries Management from Oregon State University, where he graduated in 2011. His past experiences include conducting backcountry snorkel surveys in the Idaho wilderness, controlling invasive species on a wildlife refuge in the remote Pacific Islands, and assisting with a USAID-funded program for international development in fisheries and aquaculture. Recently, Caleb has been involved with several acoustic and radio telemetry projects evaluating juvenile salmonid migration and survival in Oregon and Washington on the Snake, South Santiam, and Middle Fork Willamette Rivers. Caleb enjoys hiking and fishing across the Western US, and currently resides in Corvallis with his wife and son.
**Welcome to Aubrey, who joined the LWC as Assistant Project Manager on May 5, 2020!**
Aubrey Cloud -- Assistant Project Manager
Aubrey joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Assistant Project Manager in May 2020. Aubrey moved to Oregon from Denver, Colorado in 2011 to pursue education in Natural Resources and Ecosystem Restoration at Oregon State University. He has been working to restore the Willamette Valley’s native habitats since 2016, when he was hired by Ash Creek Forest Management. Starting as a crew member doing boots on the ground restoration work (often at LWC sites in Kings Valley), Aubrey has since worked as a Crew Leader and Project Coordinator, improving riparian and floodplain forest habitat for a wide range of clients and sites throughout the Valley. In his free time, Aubrey loves gardening with natives and leading volunteer restoration projects where he lives in Albany.
Aubrey joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Assistant Project Manager in May 2020. Aubrey moved to Oregon from Denver, Colorado in 2011 to pursue education in Natural Resources and Ecosystem Restoration at Oregon State University. He has been working to restore the Willamette Valley’s native habitats since 2016, when he was hired by Ash Creek Forest Management. Starting as a crew member doing boots on the ground restoration work (often at LWC sites in Kings Valley), Aubrey has since worked as a Crew Leader and Project Coordinator, improving riparian and floodplain forest habitat for a wide range of clients and sites throughout the Valley. In his free time, Aubrey loves gardening with natives and leading volunteer restoration projects where he lives in Albany.
Luckiamute Watershed Council Project Manager
Jean-Paul Zagarola
Jean-Paul is an ecologist with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and has been managing projects for the Council since 2013. He earned a BS at Portland State University where he first became interested in community-based watershed management and restoration. He later earned his MS as a Fulbright Scholar studying adaptive ecosystem management strategies in southern Patagonia. Beyond his research experience, Jean-Paul has built a broad social-ecological skill set through his project management experience in the Luckiamute, Middle Fork Willamette and Siuslaw Watersheds and his more recent experience managing Willamette-wide restoration efforts for BEF. Jean-Paul regularly enjoys the bounty the Willamette basin has to offer whether it be through hiking, biking, paddling or foraging ingredients for his next home brewed batch of beer or mead. Cheers!
Jean-Paul is an ecologist with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and has been managing projects for the Council since 2013. He earned a BS at Portland State University where he first became interested in community-based watershed management and restoration. He later earned his MS as a Fulbright Scholar studying adaptive ecosystem management strategies in southern Patagonia. Beyond his research experience, Jean-Paul has built a broad social-ecological skill set through his project management experience in the Luckiamute, Middle Fork Willamette and Siuslaw Watersheds and his more recent experience managing Willamette-wide restoration efforts for BEF. Jean-Paul regularly enjoys the bounty the Willamette basin has to offer whether it be through hiking, biking, paddling or foraging ingredients for his next home brewed batch of beer or mead. Cheers!
Thinking about joining our team? Click here to find out more about becoming a board member!
