Luckiamute Watershed Council Board of Directors
Board Officers
Patrick Melendy - President
Pat is an enrolled member of the Hupa Tribe and grew up in the Redwood Creek and Trinity River watersheds in Northern CA. Since 1962, he has resided within and explored the Luckiamute Watershed, seeing many changes from logging practices to citizen use and impact. Patrick retired in 1999 and now lives with his wife on the remaining seven acres of her grandparents' 40-acre farm established in 1929. The once clear farmland that surrounded their property has been dramatically developed over the last 20 years and he and his wife have experienced first-hand the development impact on the lower watershed. Patrick’s work history includes civil rights activism, community organizing, program development, CAP administration, national union president and director of organizing for a major state educational union. Patrick hopes to use his professional background to support the goals, objectives and activities of the LWC.
Pat is an enrolled member of the Hupa Tribe and grew up in the Redwood Creek and Trinity River watersheds in Northern CA. Since 1962, he has resided within and explored the Luckiamute Watershed, seeing many changes from logging practices to citizen use and impact. Patrick retired in 1999 and now lives with his wife on the remaining seven acres of her grandparents' 40-acre farm established in 1929. The once clear farmland that surrounded their property has been dramatically developed over the last 20 years and he and his wife have experienced first-hand the development impact on the lower watershed. Patrick’s work history includes civil rights activism, community organizing, program development, CAP administration, national union president and director of organizing for a major state educational union. Patrick hopes to use his professional background to support the goals, objectives and activities of the LWC.
Wendy Hudson - Vice 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.
Mark Hazelton – Treasurer
Mark helped found Kings Valley Charter School in 2000 and worked for 11 years as its Executive Director, so he brings invaluable experience in both non-profit management and public education to the Council. Having earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from OSU, Mark is also a process engineering consultant with M and E Company. Currently, most of his time is spent helping on the farm raising yaks, pigs and caring for goats.
Mark helped found Kings Valley Charter School in 2000 and worked for 11 years as its Executive Director, so he brings invaluable experience in both non-profit management and public education to the Council. Having earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from OSU, Mark is also a process engineering consultant with M and E Company. Currently, most of his time is spent helping on the farm raising yaks, pigs and caring for goats.
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.
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 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 Mark Hazelton (Treasurer) Dan Farnworth (Board) Kristen Larson (Executive Director) Fundraising Committee (FRC)
Wendy Hudson (Board) Kristen Larson (Executive Director) Pat Melendy (Board) Education and Outreach (EnO) Committee
Dave Ehlers (Board) Cheryl Gaston 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.
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!
