Bill has been connected to the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council since its inception in 1997 first as a Forest Service partner working on the restoration of Whychus Creek to a wild and free flowing stream and then in retirement as a volunteer on its Board of Directors. He supports the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council as a Board member because of its professional, science-based, and collaborative approaches to watershed monitoring and restoration and its amazing community education and stewardship development programs.
Davíd Pilz is a consultant working on water and watershed management challenges across the western U.S. and beyond. In addition to his professional connection to watershed work, David supports the UDWC because its education program is helping create new generations of stewards for our watershed.
Cris Converse is a former rancher and previous manager/part owner of Pine Meadow Ranch in Sisters. Her first introduction to UDWC was in 2009 when approached by them to explore ways to help fish migrate past the ranch’s irrigation dam. The end result of our collaborative project was thirteen miles of upstream habitat being opened up, one cubic foot per second of senior water rights permanently protected instream, and my lifelong commitment to support the work of UDWC.
Kelley Hamby is the operations manager for the Central Oregon Irrigation District. Kelley supports the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council because he considers the Deschutes River a part of his home and values the stewardship of this precious resource.
Joanne E. Richter is a former watershed scientist and a long-time member of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, going back nearly to the watershed council’s inception. The UDWC is one of the most effective and inclusive organizations that she has ever had the honor to be part of. She loves the UDWC’s diverse focus that covers watershed restoration, water quality and aquatic invertebrate sampling and analysis, and community outreach and education. She feels the UDWC is very well respected throughout Central Oregon, particularly in and around Sisters where much of the stream restoration and aquatic invertebrate sampling takes place.
Gena Goodman-Campbell is the stewardship program director with the Oregon Natural Desert Association and began serving on the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Board of Directors during her four-year term on the Bend City Council. Gena supports UDWC as a board member because she values the unique combination of restoration, stewardship, and education that the watershed council brings to the community.
Will Groves is the planning manager for Deschutes County, as well as their Certified Flood Plain Manager. He supports the UDWC because its amazing team of professionals efficiently and effectively protects and enhances our watershed at the intersection of restoration, monitoring, and education.
Lisa Keown is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator and Environmental Club Advisor for Bend Senior High School. She is connected to the watershed council through her passion for watershed education. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, she believes that watershed education is vital to restoring and sustaining our most valuable natural resources.
Smita Mehta is a water quality scientist with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. She supports the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council as a Board member because they strive to make Central Oregon a better place with their on-the-ground work restoring watersheds and connecting communities to the natural resources we rely on.
Michael is a newly retired college administrator and professor with a background in forestry and rangeland resource management. He loves being a part of the UDWC for a multitude of reasons, but especially enjoys working with such a great staff and Board and getting to be a part of the incredible work the UDWC does.
Sunny serves as the Executive Director of National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) where she is dedicated to championing the interests of public agencies by advocating for policies that prioritize community safety, flood risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and effective water resource management. In her free time she loves to fish, hike, and ski with her husband, two sons, and dog! Sunny serves on the Board of the UDWC because she feels the Deschutes River is such a special place that’s she lucky to live near and she wants to help preserve its magic and beauty for all to enjoy!
Jason is the Forest Hydrologist and Watershed Program Manager for the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River Grassland. Throughout his professional career in the Deschutes Basin, he has collaborated with the UDWC on a wide variety of projects. Jason enthusiastically supports the UDWC as a board member because of the lasting and positive impact the organization is making on the land and in the communities of Central Oregon.
