Before shifting my focus toward my family and raising my son, I had a successful career as an Environmental Scientist. I gained a strong understanding of the need for a healthy ecosystem and the beneficial use of water through my education and my professional experiences working in watersheds at National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), US Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife which qualifies me for this position. Enclosed is a copy of my resume, entailing additional information about my qualifications.
Throughout my career, I have been a dedicated public servant, whether it was representing the federal or state government in data collection or participating in non-proprietary research to foster new open-source technological advancements. I have successfully built relationships with NGOs, private landowners, and local and federal agencies, facilitating site access for monitoring and fostering partnerships among agencies. My expertise in salmonid survival studies, particularly in utilizing telemetry technology, was recognized and I was invited to apply it in California to understand the effects of drought conditions on salmonid migration. Monitoring fish migration and behavior is crucial in understanding the impacts of extreme climate conditions, water operations, and developing management strategies to minimize threats.
I have been involved in many projects in our area, including installing monitoring equipment on the Felton Bladder Dam and conducting topographic land surveys for the Carmel Dam Removal geomorphological study. I saw first-hand the previous fire's impact on water quality and how it affected the salmonid rearing at the Scott Creek Hatchery near our valley. My work gives me a unique insight into our watershed and the best methods to protect the beneficial use of water for all users.
In 2021, I was appointed to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s Environmental committee. In 2022 and 2023, I was reappointed to the now-combined Engineering and Environmental committee. I showed my dedication by attending every meeting and in most cases, quorum would not have been reached in my absence. Completing the Fall Creek Fish Ladder Rehabilitation Project was a major hurdle during my appointment. Being a mandated project, it was disqualified from many grants. I researched and attended grant workshops to discover that SLVWD qualified for Prop 1 funding. I wrote a letter of recommendation and helped the District secure a $1.1 million grant to help pay for the Fall Creek Fish Ladder. I persisted in saying that the fish ladder needed to be inclusive in its design to allow for lamprey passage. Design changes were incorporated to ensure that lamprey can pass safely upstream to reach their spawning grounds. In 2022, I ran for the SLVWD Board of Directors, which resulted in the closest election in the county, a near three-way tie, losing by only 51 votes. It was still a great victory after being outspent 10 to 1. The voters went to the polls and said they would like to see me elected to the Board of Directors.
My commitment to our ratepayers is to evaluate every issue fairly, considering all the facts and science behind them. I strive to strike a balance between our ecosystem and the water needs of our customers. In times of rising water costs, I strongly advocate for water equity and will actively seek ways to achieve this. Most importantly, I am an active member of our community. In addition to serving three terms on the SLVWD’s Environmental and Engineering Committee, I am currently a member of the Boulder Creek Parks Recreation and Park District’s Master Plan Taskforce. It would be my honor to continue to serve our community by joining the San Lorenzo Valley Water Board of Directors.
