LWC Board of Directors
Board Officers
Karin Stutzman - President
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.
Judy Beebe - Treasurer
Oregon born and raised, Judy spent most of her youth camping, hiking, fishing and exploring Oregon with her family. While not involved directly as an adult, her passion is preservation of our unique environment. Utilizing her strengths, Judy has been volunteering to help Luckiamute Watershed Council with the recording, reporting and management of their finances since 2016, when she joined the LWC's Finance Committee. In December 2024, Judy joined the Board and is looking forward to contributing her expertise in this new role. Judy is also involved with the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District as Director Emeritus.
Oregon born and raised, Judy spent most of her youth camping, hiking, fishing and exploring Oregon with her family. While not involved directly as an adult, her passion is preservation of our unique environment. Utilizing her strengths, Judy has been volunteering to help Luckiamute Watershed Council with the recording, reporting and management of their finances since 2016, when she joined the LWC's Finance Committee. In December 2024, Judy joined the Board and is looking forward to contributing her expertise in this new role. Judy is also involved with the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District as Director Emeritus.
Scott Youngblood - Secretary
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!
At-Large Board Members
Britton Castor
Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, Britton has made her forever home with her family on 23 acres in the heart of the Luckiamute Watershed near Pedee. She started her career in pharmaceutical research but has now worked as a high school science teacher in the area for 10 years. Engaging students in stewardship activities and outdoor learning experiences has been the highlight of her career. Another passion is being involved in the Polk Community Emergency Response Team and teaching youth classes in preparedness. In her free time, Britton enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her family, dogs, cats, chickens, and goats. Being surrounded by nature daily inspires her to advocate for, protect and restore our beautiful watershed so that it will be healthy and prosperous for future generations to come.
Born and raised in the Willamette Valley, Britton has made her forever home with her family on 23 acres in the heart of the Luckiamute Watershed near Pedee. She started her career in pharmaceutical research but has now worked as a high school science teacher in the area for 10 years. Engaging students in stewardship activities and outdoor learning experiences has been the highlight of her career. Another passion is being involved in the Polk Community Emergency Response Team and teaching youth classes in preparedness. In her free time, Britton enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her family, dogs, cats, chickens, and goats. Being surrounded by nature daily inspires her to advocate for, protect and restore our beautiful watershed so that it will be healthy and prosperous for future generations to come.
David Ehlers
Dave 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.
Dave 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.
Nick Hazelton
Nick is a yak and hog rancher on the Luckiamute River. He is part of the 4th generation of a family that emigrated to the Luckiamute Watershed in the early 1900’s, and has lived his whole life on the farm he manages now. Nick’s main passion is connecting people with their food and the land we live on. Understanding the details of the local ecology and how it applies to managing livestock and food crops is very important to him. He grew up on the Luckiamute River that was hard to access through the Himalayan blackberry. Nick is on the board to reciprocate the impact the Watershed Council has made on his land and life.
Nick is a yak and hog rancher on the Luckiamute River. He is part of the 4th generation of a family that emigrated to the Luckiamute Watershed in the early 1900’s, and has lived his whole life on the farm he manages now. Nick’s main passion is connecting people with their food and the land we live on. Understanding the details of the local ecology and how it applies to managing livestock and food crops is very important to him. He grew up on the Luckiamute River that was hard to access through the Himalayan blackberry. Nick is on the board to reciprocate the impact the Watershed Council has made on his land and life.
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.
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 [email protected] if you would like to find out more about joining one of our committees!
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Governance Committee
Operations Coordinator Karin Stutzman (President) Nick Hazelton Jordan Perez (Executive Director) Project Review Committee (PRC)
Brian Bangs Marc Bell Heidi Christensen Aubrey Cloud (Restoration Project Director) Dave Ehlers (Board) Douglass Fitting Phil Larsen Jordan Perez (Executive Director) Chris Seal Scott Youngblood (Board) Monitoring Sub-Committee
Aubrey Cloud (Restoration Project Director) Douglass Fitting Derek Godwin Phil Larsen Jonah Nicholas (Monitoring Coordinator) Jordan Perez (Executive Director) |
Fundraising Committee (FRC)
Operations Coordinator Britton Castor (Board) Nick Hazelton (Board) Jordan Perez (Executive Director) Jackson Stalley (Board) Lauren Zatkos Education and Outreach (EnO) Committee
Dave Ehlers (Board) Nick Hazelton (Board) Morgan Neil Misha Pierce Suzanne Teller (Outreach Coordinator) |
LWC Staff
Jordan Perez -- Executive Director
Jordan joined the LWC as its Executive Director in August 2024. He grew up in rural Illinois and spent his childhood exploring the woodlands, ponds and streams of the region, taking an early interest in the natural world and honing the skills he would later utilize in his career as a Naturalist for the State of Utah. Immediately following graduation from Western Illinois University’s Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration (RPTA) Department, Jordan moved west, working and exploring the vast public lands of the Colorado Plateau. After holding positions in environmental education and trail system management, Jordan moved into a role in Park Management at Snow Canyon State Park for ten years. In this role, he worked with local landowners, served on regional committees and most pivotally collaborated with local non-profit organizations on a shared mission of endangered species protection. This past work has provided skills in natural resource project planning, budget management, and leadership that Jordan brings to the watershed council. When not working, Jordan can be found with a camera in hand alongside his wife and dog as they roll around in the dirt exploring the wonders of Oregon's mountains, streams and coast.
Jordan joined the LWC as its Executive Director in August 2024. He grew up in rural Illinois and spent his childhood exploring the woodlands, ponds and streams of the region, taking an early interest in the natural world and honing the skills he would later utilize in his career as a Naturalist for the State of Utah. Immediately following graduation from Western Illinois University’s Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration (RPTA) Department, Jordan moved west, working and exploring the vast public lands of the Colorado Plateau. After holding positions in environmental education and trail system management, Jordan moved into a role in Park Management at Snow Canyon State Park for ten years. In this role, he worked with local landowners, served on regional committees and most pivotally collaborated with local non-profit organizations on a shared mission of endangered species protection. This past work has provided skills in natural resource project planning, budget management, and leadership that Jordan brings to the watershed council. When not working, Jordan can be found with a camera in hand alongside his wife and dog as they roll around in the dirt exploring the wonders of Oregon's mountains, streams and coast.
Aubrey Cloud -- Restoration Project Director
Aubrey joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Project Manager in May 2020, and was promoted to Restoration Project Director in 2024. 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 as a restoration contractor. Starting as a crew member doing boots on the ground restoration work (often at LWC sites), Aubrey continued to work as a Crew Leader and then a Project Coordinator, improving riparian and floodplain forest habitat at a wide range of sites throughout the Valley. In his free time, Aubrey loves writing, native plant gardening, and amateur paleontology. Aubrey lives in Corvallis and also serves as a Project Manager for the Marys River Watershed Council.
Aubrey joined the Luckiamute Watershed Council as Project Manager in May 2020, and was promoted to Restoration Project Director in 2024. 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 as a restoration contractor. Starting as a crew member doing boots on the ground restoration work (often at LWC sites), Aubrey continued to work as a Crew Leader and then a Project Coordinator, improving riparian and floodplain forest habitat at a wide range of sites throughout the Valley. In his free time, Aubrey loves writing, native plant gardening, and amateur paleontology. Aubrey lives in Corvallis and also serves as a Project Manager for the Marys River Watershed Council.
Jonah Nicholas -- Monitoring Coordinator
Jonah joined the LWC as Monitoring Coordinator in April 2023. Jonah is originally from the Mid-Willamette Valley and grew up in the forests of the Oregon Coast Range and Cascades. He loves exploring the local environment through hiking, backpacking, running, and canoeing. Jonah followed his love of the outdoors and studied at Oregon State University where he received a bachelor's degree in Forest Engineering and after learning to love the local water systems of Oregon, he received a master’s degree in Sustainable Forest Management with a focus on forest watershed hydrology. Jonah has previously worked to research the effects of timber harvests and riparian management on streamflow in headwater streams. He has also spent time working in forest road engineering, forest surveying, and recreation management.
Jonah joined the LWC as Monitoring Coordinator in April 2023. Jonah is originally from the Mid-Willamette Valley and grew up in the forests of the Oregon Coast Range and Cascades. He loves exploring the local environment through hiking, backpacking, running, and canoeing. Jonah followed his love of the outdoors and studied at Oregon State University where he received a bachelor's degree in Forest Engineering and after learning to love the local water systems of Oregon, he received a master’s degree in Sustainable Forest Management with a focus on forest watershed hydrology. Jonah has previously worked to research the effects of timber harvests and riparian management on streamflow in headwater streams. He has also spent time working in forest road engineering, forest surveying, and recreation management.
Suzanne Teller -- Outreach Coordinator
Suzanne was hired as the Outreach Coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in December 2013. She 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 and Washington DC, but she has now put down deep roots in the Willamette Valley with her husband, Jay, and two boys, Jayson and Oliver. In her free time, Suzanne spends time hiking, bird-watching, gardening, experimenting with dry farming, and scouring the internet for incredible travel deals!
Suzanne was hired as the Outreach Coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in December 2013. She 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 and Washington DC, but she has now put down deep roots in the Willamette Valley with her husband, Jay, and two boys, Jayson and Oliver. In her free time, Suzanne spends time hiking, bird-watching, gardening, experimenting with dry farming, and scouring the internet for incredible travel deals!
Mid-Valley River Connections Network Coordinator
Regina Southworth -- MVRC Network Coordinator
Regina is the Network Coordinator for the Mid Valley River Connections (MVRC) partnership. She assists with fish passage projects for the 5 partnering MVRC watershed councils. She has an MS in Environmental Science and a BS in Biology from the University of North Texas. She was a field ecologist for 17 years, and then worked in GIS and LiDAR editing. Before her current position, she helped fund fish passage and habitat restoration projects, providing technical assistance to project partners. Her hobbies include hiking, acrylic pour painting, bird watching, gardening, snorkeling in the coral reef, and traveling.
Regina is the Network Coordinator for the Mid Valley River Connections (MVRC) partnership. She assists with fish passage projects for the 5 partnering MVRC watershed councils. She has an MS in Environmental Science and a BS in Biology from the University of North Texas. She was a field ecologist for 17 years, and then worked in GIS and LiDAR editing. Before her current position, she helped fund fish passage and habitat restoration projects, providing technical assistance to project partners. Her hobbies include hiking, acrylic pour painting, bird watching, gardening, snorkeling in the coral reef, and traveling.
Mid-Willamette Beaver Partnership (MWBP) 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 stepped back from his management role of many LWC projects in 2022, but still manages the habitat assessment work of the Mid-Willamette Beaver Partnership (MWBP). He also 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 stepped back from his management role of many LWC projects in 2022, but still manages the habitat assessment work of the Mid-Willamette Beaver Partnership (MWBP). He also 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!
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