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Healthy Headwaters Seventh Leadership Convening - Participant List 1

Healthy Headwaters Seventh Leadership Convening Sacramento, CA - May 16, 2013 Participant List 5-13-13

David Aladjem Partner, Downey Brand LLP David is a veteran attorney and water rights expert in private practice who regularly serves as counsel for public agencies in complex multiparty water negotiations throughout California. He advises on legislative and regulatory initiatives, and testifies frequently in legislative and administrative proceedings. David has served as Chair of the American Bar Association's Water Resources Committee, and Chair of the American Bar Association's Annual Water Law Conference. He is a recipient of ACWA’s 2009 Excellence in Water Leadership Award. David received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, Phi Beta Kappa. He holds an MA from Princeton University, and J.D.

from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Arthur G. Baggett, Jr. AG Baggett & PJ Weber, Inc., Former Member, State Water Resources Control Board Art served three terms as the attorney Board Member, and past Chair, of the California State Water Resources Control Board from 1999 through 2011. He was first appointed by Governor Gray Davis. The SWRCB is responsible for protecting all water quality and water supplies in California, as well as the allocation of surface water supplies for agricultural, public trust, and urban purposes. Prior to his SWRCB service, Art was a two-term Member of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors from 1987

to 1995, and had a law practice in El Portal, California, specializing in water, environmental, and business law. Art has served as faculty for the Yosemite Institute, the Sierra Institute of UC Santa Cruz, the Yosemite Association, and Fresno State University. He holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch College and a law degree from San Joaquin College of Law.


Roger Bales Professor, Mountain Hydrology Research Group, University of California Merced Roger joined UC Merced as one of its inaugural faculty members in 2003 where he organized the Mountain Hydrology Research Group, which is focused on the unprecedented stresses being experienced in mountain regions today. This work employs a strong observational program, involving both state-of-the art ground-based measurement systems, as well as satellite and other remotely sensed data. The Mountain Hydrology Research Group studies water and biogeochemical cycles in forested areas - above the tree line, in meadows, and in streams to better understand and predict mountain hydrology and biogeochemistry,

and to improve planning and resource management decisions. Roger is also the Director of UC Merced’s Sierra Nevada Research Institute which uses the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada regions of California as an “outdoor laboratory” to learn about the natural, cultural and agricultural resources of these important areas in light of current threats to sustainability. Roger has published over 100 papers in diverse fields of research including snow hydrology, alpine hydrology and biogeochemistry, polar snow and ice, contaminant hydrology, and water quality. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of the American Geophysical Union, and of the American Meteorological Society, and serves on a number of advisory committees, and professional society boards. He received his B.S. from Purdue University, an M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley and his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

Brian Barr Habitat Restoration Project Manager, Geos Institute Brian Barr is an aquatic ecologist with Geos, a non-profit organization and consulting firm that uses science to help people predict, reduce and prepare for climate change. Brian has over 16 years of experience on trout and salmon restoration in the Pacific and intermountain west. Over the past nine years, Brian has focused his attention on improving fish passage conditions in the Rogue and Klamath Rivers of

southern Oregon and northern California, restoring river, floodplain, and streambank conditions, and assessing the effects of livestock grazing on creeks and springs in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Brian’s work also addresses the emerging impacts of climate change, how those impacts are likely to affect communities and natural resources, and what we can do to prepare ourselves and the resources we depend upon to withstand these effects. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Miami University and a master’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science from Virginia Tech. In his off time, Brian fishes, watches his daughter ride horses, and bites his fingernails during Virginia Tech football games.


Markley Bavinger Project Manager, Trust for Public Lands Markley has worked in TPL’s in San Francisco office since 2010. She has worked to protect priority landscapes along California's coast and in the Sierra, with a focus in the foothills. She has completed transactions with the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and works in partnership with numerous conservancies, regional land trusts and county and city agencies. Markley manages TPL's Northern Sierra Foothills Program. Prior to joining The Trust for Public Land, Markley

worked in the private and public sectors completing land acquisition projects and providing design and project management expertise to stormwater improvement, habitat restoration, and river restoration projects. Markley holds a BS from Stanford University and a MLA from Harvard University.

Jeff Beehler Program Manager, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) Jeff implements regional projects and develops planning strategies on behalf of SAWPA, a regional water agency and joint powers authority. Formed in 1968, SAWPA’s mission is to plan and build water facilities to protect the water quality of the Santa Ana River Watershed in Southern California. Jeff’s primary focus has been directed toward developing multi-agency projects, including the development of agreements and financing plans. Most recently, Jeff administered multi-agency and stakeholder task force efforts to address changes in water quality and endangered species regulation. An “escaped academic”, Jeff has worked in university research, government

and in the private sector. He also teaches an occasional class at CSU San Bernardino and is currently the President of the Riverside Land Conservancy. Jeff received his B.A. from Kalamazoo College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.


Laura Briefer Water Resources Manager, City of Salt Lake Public Utilities Laura is the Water Resources Manager for Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU), a municipal entity responsible for the provision of culinary water to more than 500,000 people in the Salt Lake Valley, and wastewater and stormwater services in Salt Lake City. As Water Resources Manager, Laura's responsibilities include managing various programs and projects related to watershed and source water protection, water conservation, water rights, and climate change issues. SLCDPU has one of the nation’s more complex water systems due to the location, timing, and nature of its water resources, and the high number of pressure zones in its distribution system. SLCDPU is particularly

interested and concerned with mapping its own energy-water nexus, and planning for resiliency in a changing climate. Prior to SLCDPU, Laura worked for six years as the Assistant Administrator for a small city in Utah, and for eight years as an environmental consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area conducting environmental investigations for contaminated sites and environmental compliance work throughout the country. She has a degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara.

Lauren Campbell Research Fellow, US Forest Service Lauren Campbell is an ORISE Research Fellow at the USDA Forest Service in Washington, DC. Her work focuses on developing ecosystem services policy and guidance documents and analyzing the social and economic benefits of culvert upgrades and watershed restoration projects. Her previous work includes conducting CEQA reviews for water infrastructure projects in Southern California and researching how the environmental review process is shaping the hydropower debate in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Lauren holds a Master of Environmental Management (M.E.M.) from the Nicholas School at Duke University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.


Kim Carr Sustainable Initiatives Coordinator, Sierra Nevada Conservancy Kim has worked on environmental and sustainability issues in the Sierra Nevada for over 10 years, and leads projects for the Conservancy across the Sierra, including the Sierra Nevada Forest and Communities Initiative. The initiative strives to foster collaboration locally and regionally to reduce wildfire risk, restore and protect watershed health, and ensure the local communities benefit from these activities. A key component is supporting locally

based collaboratives that are taking action to actively manage the forests, create local jobs and improve the social wellbeing of residents. Kim holds a MA in Natural Resource Planning from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

Ann Chan Deputy Secretary for Climate Change and Energy, California Natural Resources Agency Ann was appointed as Deputy Secretary in 2012 following 15 years of legal and public policy experience in the fields of forest climate policy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, smart growth, cap-and-trade design, climate adaptation, and environmental law. She was the Senior Climate Change Specialist for The Wilderness Society

and founder and director of the San Francisco office of the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), a DC-based think tank specializing in climate change policy. She also served as the California Policy Director of The Pacific Forest Trust where she worked to strengthen the role of forests in compliance and voluntary climate change measures. Prior to working in the climate policy arena, Ann spent five years as an Assistant Regional Counsel for US EPA Region 9. She began her career as a securities and finance attorney for the multinational law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Ann served on the Board of Carpe Diem West from 2010-2012. Ann holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a B.S. in Economics from Stanford University.


Martha Davis Inland Empire Utilities Agency Martha has been the Executive Manager for Policy Development with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency since 2000. In this capacity, she combines policy development with oversight of the Planning and Water Resources Department. Previously, Martha served as the Executive Director for Californians and the Land, and the Mono Lake Committee. Under her leadership, the Mono Lake campaign culminated in the State Water Resources Control Board’s unanimous decision to protect Mono Lake. Ms. Davis serves as co-

chair of the CALFED Watershed Subcommittee, and was a member of CALFED’s Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee. She has served on the Boards the Earth Island Institute, Mono Lake Committee, the WateReuse Foundation, and the Urban Water Institute, and The Sierra Fund. Martha received her undergraduate degree in human biology from Stanford University cum laude, and received her master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She is the recipient of an honorary Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Kennedy School.

Debbie Davis Community and Rural Affairs Advisor, Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR) Debbie was appointed to OPR in 2012 where she works on water, the water-energy nexus, environmental justice, and rural community issues. Prior to her appointment by Governor Brown, she served as the Policy Director for the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, a coalition of more than 70 community‐based, tribal, non‐profit, and faith based organizations working together to achieve water justice in California. In her role at EJCW, Debbie co‐convened the California Water Summit, a neutral venue to learn about, discuss, and debate California’s water future. Debbie has a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Davis and a Master’s Degree in

Social Ecology from UC Irvine.

Robert Dean Director, Calaveras County Water District Robert currently serves on the executive committee of the Association of California Water Agencies Board, and as Region 3 Chair. As chair for the “Headwaters Policy Principles Initiative” Subcommittee, he worked on and produced a set of policy principles that could guide ACWA in addressing headwaters issues, both related to water management, policy

and all aspects of headwaters protection.


David Edelson Sierra Nevada Project Director, The Nature Conservancy David has led TNC’s Sierra Nevada Project since 2011. A veteran environmental attorney and public land conservation specialist, David was previously the Regional Director for the California and Nevada office of the Wilderness Society, and was lead attorney for the Sierra Forest Legacy, where he played an important role in blocking the Bush Administration’s 2004 forest management plan. David was also a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council for 16 years where he led NRDC’s efforts to improve management of national forests in the

Sierra Nevada and Pacific Northwest. David earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his JD from Harvard Law School.

Charlie Ester P.E., Water Resource Operations Manager, Salt River Project (SRP) Charlie is a 29-year veteran of SRP, and Water Resource Operations Manager for the last 15 years. SRP is Arizona’s largest utility, providing about 1 million acre-feet of water to Phoenix and surrounding areas. It is also a major provider of electricity in the State. Charlie’s Water Resources group is responsible for watershed monitoring, runoff forecasting, reservoir operations planning, emergency reservoir operations, strategic water resource

planning, and drought preparedness as well as weather forecasting in support of reservoir and watershed operations. Previously, he was a hydrologist in the same division. Charlie is a hydrology graduate of the University of Arizona.


Bruce Goines Ecosystem Services Group Leader, US Forest Service Bruce is a Registered Professional Forester in California with 37 years of field experience with the Forest Service. His early career focused on work in forest fire and fuels management, reforestation, silviculture, forest stand management, timber sale preparation, administration, and forest genetics, More recently Bruce has worked on forest community economics, economic diversification, biomass utilization, forest carbon and forest health issues within the State & Private Forestry branch of the Forest Service. In his position as Ecosystem Services Leader for the Forest Service in California, Bruce is the lead on climate change and ecosystem services related to water, forest carbon and bioenergy,

and responsible for informing ongoing proceedings on forest management and bioenergy policy. Bruce has helped formulate Forest Service policies on biomass utilization, biomass grants programs, climate change and forest carbon protocols, policy and management. Here in California, he leads an interdisciplinary team integrating climate change considerations into forest plans and programs, helped write the California AB 32 forestry carbon accounting protocols, and is a member of the California Biomass Working Group informing numerous energy proceedings on their relationship to forest health, conditions and trends.

Bruce serves on several national level teams and organizations addressing forest carbon, ecosystem services, integration of climate change into forest management. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from University of California Berkeley in Forest Resource Management.

Kamyar Guivetchi Manager, Statewide Integrated Water Management, California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Kamyar was worked with the California Department of Water Resources in various capacities for over 30 years. He was appointed Manager of DWR’s Division of Statewide Integrated Water Management in August 2008, and he previously managed the Statewide Water Planning Branch for many years. Kamyar has also worked on the Delta Vision initiative to develop a strategic plan for sustainable management of the Delta and Suisun Marsh, and the

FloodSafe initiative to develop a sustainable flood management system and reduce flood risk. Kamyar has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and has completed postgraduate work in Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis.


David Guy Executive Director, Northern California Water Association (NCWA) David was named the President of the Northern California Water Association in June 2010. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer for the nonprofit Yosemite Association. David also served Of Counsel to Somach, Simmons and Dunn, where he represented clients on natural resources law and policy matters, including water, land use, and real property. He previously served as NCWA’s Executive Director from 1999 to 2007. David is an adjunct professor at San Joaquin College of Law and he is a frequent lecturer on natural resources issues in California and the Western United States. He has published more than two dozen articles and chapters on

natural resources management in professional journals and law reviews. He currently serves on the Water Education Foundation Board of Directors, and previously served on the University of California Advisory Committee for the Water Resources Center in Berkeley. He was appointed by Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger to the Sacramento County Fair Board, where he served as President. He has served as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Water Resources Committee and the Task Force on Agricultural Management. David has a bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences from California State University, San Diego, where he graduated with distinction; he is also a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law where he was a fellow at the Natural Resources Law Center, and a graduate fellow of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.

Dr. Holly Hartmann Professor, University of Arizona Holly is the Director of the Arid Lands Information Center at the University of Arizona (UA). She is a co-investigator within the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) and leads the scenario development team within the UA Science and Technology Center for the Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRA). Holly is a national leader in research related to the development of decision support tools for climate, water, and other

resource management applications, especially linking research with the needs of decision makers and moving research into agency operations. Current research projects include quantitative verification of climate and hydrologic forecasts; improving communication of probabilistic forecasts and uncertainty; incorporating complex integrated models and climate change within a scenario planning framework; and decision support tool development. Holly received her BA in Natural Resource Planning from Southern Illinois University; her MS in Water Resource Management from the University of Michigan; and her Ph.D. In Hydrology and Water Resources from the University of Arizona.


Polly Hays Water Program Manager, US Forest Service Polly has served as the Forest Service’s Water Program Manager for the 5-state Rocky Mountain Region since 2001. She has regional level responsibilities for a broad set of programs including watershed management and restoration, water quality, and water rights. Prior to coming to Colorado, she worked in California for the Pacific Southwest Region of the USFS with a focus on watershed planning and restoration. Polly earned her master’s degree in Geosciences from the University of Arizona.

Cynthia Koehler Director of Programs, Carpe Diem West Cynthia joined Carpe Diem West in July 2012 from the Environmental Defense Fund where she was the California Water Legislative Director responsible for EDF’s water agenda in California. A public interest attorney and water policy expert for 20 years, Cynthia served as a chief negotiator for the historic 2009 Bay Delta Water Reform Act, and was the lead in the State Water Resources Control Board’s 2010 decision in establishing public

trust flow criteria for the San Francisco By Delta Estuary. Previously Cynthia was the Legal Director for Save San Francisco Bay Association, and a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley’s Center for Sustainable Resource Development. She was an associate at the law firm Heller, Ehrman LLP, and began her career as an assistant regional counsel for EPA Region 9. Cynthia is also an elected member of the Marin Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors, and immediate past president, currently serving in her third term. She serves on a number of boards and committees for organizations including the Water Education Foundation, the California Water Policy Conference, and Mothers of Marin Advocating Sustainability. She is a recipient of The Bay Institute’s Bay Hero Award, and the Marin Conservation League’s Ted Wellman Water Award among other honors. Cynthia is a graduate of Pomona College and received her JD and Environmental Law Certificate from the University of Oregon School of Law.


Jonathan Kusel Executive Director, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment Jonathan is the founder and executive director of Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable forests and watersheds by investing in the well-being of rural communities. The Institute works to strengthen community participation in natural resource decisions and programs, through applied research, pilot studies and collaborative problem solving. Jonathan's research focuses on social indicator use and evaluation, community well-being and assessment, and community-based

group processes. He received his Ph.D. in natural resource sociology and policy from the University of California, Berkeley where he was a visiting scholar and instructor before launching the Sierra Institute.

Karen Larsen Deputy Director, Office of Information Management and Analysis, California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) 2009 Karen has managed California’s statewide Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) since 2009. She works to advance the State’s monitoring coordination through the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, and develop policies for protecting healthy streams. Karen worked previously as an Environmental Scientist with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region where she developed and implemented water quality monitoring and assessment programs, assisted in developing local watershed

stewardship capacity, supported development and implementation of total maximum daily loads, and developed water quality control policies. Karen received her B.S. in biological sciences from the University of California, Davis. She conducted post graduate research on water quality impacts from toxic pollutants in California waterways at the UC Davis Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory.


Tina Cannon Leahy Principal Consultant and Counsel, California Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife Tina is the Principal Consultant for the California Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee where she serves as the Assembly's primary expert on water resource law and policy. The core jurisdictions of the Committee are water resources, flood management, fish and game, parks and recreation, and wildlife. Before coming to the Assembly, Ms. Leahy was Senior Staff Counsel to the California

Department of Fish and Game (now Fish and Wildlife) assigned to Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water management and endangered species law and policy issues, including the CALFED Bay Delta Program and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan process. Prior to public service, Ms. Leahy was an associate attorney with the law firm of Somach, Simmons, and Dunn. She is an advisor to both the California State Bar Association's Environmental Law Section and the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at her alma mater King Hall, the University of California, Davis, School of Law.

John Lowrie Assistant Director, California Department of Conservation John currently serves as Division Chief for the Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection. Prior to joining the Department, John worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for 29 years. He has had a wide variety of project and program management experience on the central coast, north coast, northeastern, and Central Valley regions of California, including 10 years with the CALFED Bay Delta Program, serving as manager of that program’s extensive watershed program efforts. John has a B.S. in Agriculture from California State University-Chico.


Dale Lyons Water Resources Coordinator, City of Santa Fe As the City of Santa Fe’s program manager for the Municipal Watershed Investment Program, Dale leads a diverse group of non-profit organizations, academic advisors, and the US Forest Service through project planning and implementation. He has over nineteen years of experience in environmental research, consulting, and natural resource management, primarily focused on water issues in the southwest. In addition to his water resource expertise, Dale has also overseen the development of over 3 megawatts of solar and hydroelectric renewable energy projects for the City of Santa Fe. He has been a long-time volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, served as the Board of Directors President for the Santa Fe Watershed

Association and now serves as a Leadership Team member for Carpe Diem West’s Healthy Headwaters Program. Dale conducted graduate research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory hydrology group from 1995-1996, and then completed a M.S. degree in Disturbed Land Rehabilitation at Montana State University in 1998.

Liz Mansfield Coordinator, Sierra Water Workgroup Liz works with the Center for Collaborative Policy, as the senior facilitator for the Sierra Water Workgroup. The Sierra Water Workgroup’s mission is to increase inter-regional cooperation and assist regional efforts in protecting and enhancing water quality, water supply, and watershed health. She worked for El Dorado Irrigation District as the Water Resources Manager 2003-2010. She was also served as the Executive Director of the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning group for the Cosumnes, American, Bear and Yuba River Region (CABY). Previously, Mrs. Mansfield worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, held the position as

Deputy Assistant to the California Department of Water Resources, and Water Consultant to the California Legislature, Assembly Committee on Water, Parks And Wildlife.


Mary Mitsos Vice President, National Forest Foundation (NFF) Mary joined NFF in 2001 and serves as Vice President, Conservation Programs. Prior to that, Mary was Director of Community-Based Forest Stewardship at the Pinchot Institute for Conservation where she provided leadership for the program in sustainable forestry and sustaining rural communities. She brings expertise in a range of topics relating to the protection and sustainable management of forest ecosystems and sustainable development. Her specialized interests are in collaborative stewardship, and contracting mechanisms on public forestlands, conservation-based development and strengthening the working relationship between local

communities and forestland managers. She is currently a member of the Managing Partner team that provides assistance to non-profits that are participating in The Ford Foundation Community-Based Forestry Demonstration Program. With more than two decades of experience in the natural resources field, she served on the steering committee of the Seventh American Forest Congress Communities Committee, as a Board member of the National Network of Forest Practitioners and serves on the advisory board for the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from the University of Colorado-Denver; she earned a Master of Science in Natural Resources, and a Masters of Arts in Applied Economics, from the University of Michigan, where she completed her Masters project on Sustainable Management of Common Property Resources.

Steve Moore Board Member, State Water Resources Control Board Steve was appointed to the SWRCB by Governor Brown in 2012. He has worked for over 20 years on water issues as a consultant and as both staff and a Board Member with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board. Steve has designed and overseen construction of projects for local government and sanitary districts, specializing in work in environmentally sensitive areas, and has contributed to many successful sewer infrastructure upgrades, as well as wetland and stream habitat restoration projects. He has worked on NPDES and wetland permitting, water quality standards, watershed and stream protection policies, development of the

Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), and statewide coordination of water quality programs. Steve was actively involved in the 2007 update of the San Francisco Bay Estuary’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, focusing on drainage infrastructure renewal and pollution prevention. He holds a B.S. in biological sciences and an M.S. in civil engineering, both from Stanford University, and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.


Karl Morgenstern Drinking Water Source Protection Coordinator, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) Karl has spent the last 11 years at EWEB developing and implementing a drinking water source protection program to safeguard the McKenzie River, Eugene’s sole source of drinking water. His program addresses various water quality threats, and engages partners and watershed stakeholders in implementing actions to mitigate these threats. Karl is currently working to implement a Voluntary Incentives Program that rewards good land stewardship in the riparian area with payments in

return for long-term protection agreements. Previously, Karl spent 10 years with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and 7 years as an environmental consultant managing high priority cleanups at abandoned hazardous waste sites and responding to hazardous material spills. Karl serves on the boards of a number of organizations including the East Lane Forest Protection Association; the Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development; and the Oregon Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils. Karl received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Kansas.

David Nawi Senior Advisor, US Dept. of the Interior (DOI) David Nawi serves as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior for California and Nevada. He served from 1993 to 2001 as Regional Solicitor for the Pacific Southwest Region of the Department of the Interior. California water issues have been a principal focus of his positions with Interior. In private practice from 2001 to 2009 he specialized in mediating environmental disputes. He has served as General Counsel of the California Air Resources Board and as Santa Barbara County Counsel, and he was Of Counsel to Shute, Mihaly &

Weinberger, LLP. Mr. Nawi served for seven years on the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.


Mark Nechodom Director, California Department of Conservation Mark has dedicated his professional life to integrating conservation, regulation and development right where it matters the most: on the land, on the farm, and in the forest. His mission has been to inspire sustainable production and practices while maintaining a sensible balance between economic opportunities, environmental health and human well-being. Governor Brown appointed Mark to his current position in 2011. Previously, he was a Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). He also served as Director of the Office of Environmental Markets at USDA, and as the

Senior Climate Science Policy Advisor to the Chief of the US Forest Service. Mark was the USDA representative on the team that negotiated the greenhouse gas reporting protocol for forestry for California’s Climate Action Reserve, and provided scientific and technical support to the California Air Resources Board and the Board of Forestry in the development of the state climate strategy under AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006).

In the mid-1990’s, Mark helped to establish the California Biodiversity Council, and was the founder and co-director of the Land Use and Natural Resources program at UC Davis. Mark earned his doctorate in political science and environmental policy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he taught for several years. He is married to California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, and has a daughter attending college in Northern California.

Vance Russell Director, California Program, National Forest Foundation

Vance Russell joined the NFF staff in February 2010. He has worked for more than 20 years in community-based restoration, and biodiversity conservation projects. Prior to his current position with the NFF, he was Director of Audubon California's Landowner Stewardship Program that restores habitat on farms and ranches in a manner compatible with existing agricultural

operations. He is one of the founding members of the Wild Farm Alliance and currently serves on the organization's board of directors. He co-authored Wild Harvest Farming for Wildlife and Profitability detailing the importance of conservation incentives for landowners. Vance also worked at the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity Support Program in the Latin America and Adaptive Management Programs. Vance received his M.S. Degree in Natural Resources with a minor in Conservation and Sustainable Development from Cornell University in 1996 and B.A. in Biology from the College of Wooster in 1987.


Chris Savage Assistant Director, Watersheds, Fish and Aquatic Ecology, US Forest Service Chris has been the Assistant Director overseeing the Watershed, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology programs for the Forest Service for the last eighteen months. He was previously a District Ranger in Southeast Alaska on the Tongass National Forest for 7 years, working

with local communities to collaborate on forest and salmon habitat restoration. Chris also spent fifteen years working as a hydrologist in Idaho, Utah and Oregon. His passions include fishing, hiking, biking and golfing. He has been happily married for 10 years to his wife Sue and also is busy throwing balls and sticks their three dogs.

Nancy Steele Executive Director, Council for Watershed Health Nancy joined the Council as Executive Director in 2005. Previously, she worked for California’s Environmental Protection and Health and Human Services Agencies. As a regulator, she reduced emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses; sought to reduce childhood lead poisoning; identified environmental lead contamination sites in Los

Angeles County, and enforced compliance with hazardous waste control laws. She served as Deputy Ombudsman for the California Air Resources Board from 1997-1999. In 2010 Nancy was recognized for her work with the 21st Senate and 44th Assembly Districts' Women in Business award. She is currently a 2012-2013 Stanton Fellow of the Durfee Foundation. Nancy serves on the board of the Marine Conservation Research Institute, as vice-chair of the Upper Los Angeles Integrated Regional Water Management steering committee and as a member of the Leadership Committee of the Greater Los Angeles County IRWM. She is co-founder and past-President of the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy and co-owner of the Chaparral Mountain Honey Company. Nancy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Occidental College, her Master of Science in Zoology from Arizona State University, and her doctorate in Environmental Science & Engineering from UCLA, where her dissertation concerned recycling and waste management life cycle impacts of batteries for electric vehicles.


Richard Sykes Director of Natural Resources, East Bay Municipal Utility District Richard is responsible for overseeing EBMUD’s water supply and water resources planning and permitting, environmental stewardship activities, and land management of over 50,000 acres in the East Bay and Sierra Foothills. Richard has been with EBMUD for over 20 years during which time he has managed a variety of departments including Water System Operation, Maintenance and Construction, and Natural Resources. He has degrees in English, Conservation and

Resource Studies, and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley.

Kristiana Teige Program Manager, Carpe Diem West Kristiana manages the Carpe Diem West Academy and provides communications and logistical support to the Executive Director and the Director of Programs. In addition to her program work, Kristiana is the organization's Grants Manager. Prior to Carpe Diem West, Kristiana was the District Clerk for the Montara Water and Sanitary District in Northern California. She holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College. At the Bren School, Kristiana specialized in Water Resources Management, and completed a group thesis project exploring watershed management strategies for the US

BLM to reduce mercury pollution in a tributary of the Sacramento River.


Cindy Tuck Deputy Executive Director, Government Relations, Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Cindy joined ACWA in March 2011 as State Legislative Director with more than two decades of experience developing and implementing legislation and regulations involving water and other environmental issues. Prior to joining ACWA, she served as Undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), and as Assistant Secretary for Policy, advising the CalEPA Secretary on water quality, air quality, pesticides and climate issues. As ACWA's Deputy

Executive director, Cindy leads the Association's Government Relations Team, including the Federal and State Relations Departments, and represents ACWA on priority issues before Congress, the California Legislature and federal and state executive branch agencies and departments. Cindy is a licensed civil engineer and an attorney, with degrees from the University of Illinois and the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.

Laurie Wayburn Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Forest Trust Laurie cofounded the Pacific Forest Trust with Connie Best in 1993. A preeminent authority on the climate and ecosystem benefits of forests, she leads efforts enacting climate change policies that unite conservation and sustainable management with market-based approaches. Previously, Laurie worked internationally for 10 years in the United Nations Environment Program and Ecological Sciences Division of UNESCO. She also

served as Executive Director of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, and founded the Central California Coast Biosphere Reserve. She has received several highly prestigious honors bestowed for her leadership, and is a frequent speaker, writer and media commentator on working forest conservation. Laurie is a graduate of Harvard University.


Kimery Wiltshire Executive Director, Carpe Diem West Kimery Wiltshire is CEO & Director of Carpe Diem West, a non-profit that leads a broad based network of experts, advocates, scientists and decision makers collaboratively developing solutions for the growing climate change-driven water challenges in the American West. For over twenty years, Kimery’s work has focused on building strategic, solution-oriented diverse partnerships to address environmental, economic and social challenges.

As the former Director of the Kenney Foundation, and as a long time donor and foundation advisor, she has led campaigns to

protect and restore river systems in the western United States. In addition she has led or helped build a number of innovative projects, including the Diversity Network Project (supporting social justice and housing in the context of urban environmental health); Resources for Community Collaboration (providing funding and training for western rural communities to more effectively engage in resource decision making); the Sustainable Business Ratings System (a ground breaking approach to assessing companies’ environmental, economic and social performance); and Girl Scouts Save the Bay, (the 100,000-strong Northern California Girl Scout community working to protect the San Francisco Bay.)

A bred, born and raised daughter of the American West, Kimery has to be reminded that occasionally important things do happen east of the 100th meridian.

Rebecca Wolfe National Forest Committee, Sierra Club Rebecca is a writer, consultant, and teacher who has led a number of successful efforts to protect and defend “the commons,” especially water. Her successes include stopping four water bottling plants in Washington State, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility on the Columbia River, and achieving “Voter Verified Paper Ballots” for Snohomish County, WA where she lives. Rebecca is currently working on collaborative teams to restore watersheds in Washington State. She volunteers for several organizations focused on protection of people and the planet including the United Nations Association, Sierra Club, Alliance for Democracy, and the City of Edmonds, WA. A native of North Carolina, Rebecca

was educated at the University of North Carolina, and Duke University. She received her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.


Patrick Wright Executive Director, California Tahoe Conservancy Patrick has been the Executive Director of the California Tahoe Conservancy since 2006. The Conservancy is a state agency charged with protecting and enhancing natural resources and recreational opportunities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. He was previously Director of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, where he led a consortium of agencies and stakeholders in managing one of the nation’s largest collaborative water management programs.

Patrick also served as Deputy and Assistant Secretary for the California Resources Agency in the administrations of former governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and served on the board of the California Coastal Conservancy. Prior to these appointments, he was a senior policy advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Interior and the Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA Region 9.

Anne Zimmermann Director, National Forest System, Wildlife, Fish & Rare Plants, US Forest Service Anne has served as the Director of the USFS’s national office for Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants since 2005. She will be retiring from the Forest Service in July 2013 after a career with the agency spanning almost 35 years. She began her career as a wildlife biologist in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia, and held biologist positions as well as other natural resource positions in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana and National Forests in Alabama. On Montana’s Lolo National Forest, she served as a deputy district

ranger and later as a district ranger. She then returned to the southeast as deputy forest supervisor and then forest supervisor of the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. A Virginia native, Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech, and a master’s in wildlife ecology from Purdue University.

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