Kris has spent 20 years working in the field of natural resources on issues related to rivers and watersheds. Kris started working for UDWC in 2019 and before that worked in Washington, Iowa and Kansas. For 11 years, Kris worked for The Nature Conservancy with seven years living in the Skagit River Valley in Washington State, managing collaborative projects and finding common ground between conservation and agricultural interests in the Puget Sound region. Between 2015 and 2019, Kris worked in his home state of Kansas as the Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy where he launched a new conservation program called Healthy Streams for Kansas and led the creation of the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Kris holds a B.S. degree from Drake University and a M.S. degree in Environmental Science from Iowa State University. Kris met his wife Wendy while previously living in Central Oregon over 20 years ago and they are excited to be back in Central Oregon with their three young boys.
Mathias has a diverse background in project management in environmental and water resource consulting. Before joining the UDWC in 2008, Mathias worked with Newton Consultants, Inc. concentrating on forming strong ties with Deschutes Basin stakeholders and implementing projects in water resources, conservation and groundwater. Mathias holds an M.S. in Hydrologic Sciences and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering both from the University of California, Davis and a B.S. in Geology from the University of Delaware.
Lauren came to UDWC from Flagstaff, AZ, where she collaborated with the Grand Canyon Trust and Kaibab National Forest to study the effects of post-fire livestock grazing and management in southwestern forests. Lauren previously worked extensively in outdoor and environmental science education, including seven years with Outward Bound as a course director and instructor, where she facilitated staff and participant groups to develop and achieve common goals and objectives in wilderness, workplace, and family settings. She also worked as a field technician for the Institute for Bird Populations. Lauren holds a M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Northern Arizona University and a B.A. in French Language and Literature from Earlham College.
Casey has spent 13 years in the Deschutes basin working on issues related to fish, wildlife and watershed management. Prior to joining the UDWC in 2023, Casey worked for the Deschutes National Forest for nine years supporting projects monitoring, preserving and restoring critical fish and wildlife habitat. His background also includes advising for natural resource protection during wildland fire and is an active member on the regional scientific SCUBA team. Casey worked with the Native Fish Investigation and Warm Water Fisheries programs for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2012 to 2014. Casey holds a B.S. degree in Natural Resources from Oregon State University and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Central Oregon Community College.  As the Stream Restoration Project Manager, Casey is excited for the opportunity to contribute his expertise and to continue the collaborative approach to watershed restoration.
Michael is an outdoor adventurer and activist who wanted to give back to the river environment that means the most to him. He went back to school in his adult life to obtain a degree in natural resource conservation at OSU-Cascades which ultimately led him to the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. At the Watershed Council, he has the privilege to work in stream restoration through the continuous monitoring program which allows him to roam and work in an ecosystem that feels quite at home to him!
Katie grew up in Frederick, Maryland, where her love for the outdoors was fueled through adventures in the Appalachian Mountains and along the Chesapeake Bay. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Outdoor Education and Leadership from Salisbury University, laying the foundation for her career in environmental education.
Prior to joining the UDWC team, Katie worked in a variety of educational settings from New York State Parks and Dinosaur National Monument to public schools and nature centers. Most recently, she completed a two-year graduate fellowship in Avon, Colorado, earning her M.A. in Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado. During this time, Katie taught natural science topics to K-12 students and completed her action research project on how mindful engagement strategies in environmental education can impact students’ connection to nature through the pathways of contact, emotion, and beauty.
As the Education and Outreach Coordinator, Katie is eager to share her enthusiasm for the natural world by connecting with students and the community through watershed education! She is also thrilled to explore all that Bend has to offer including skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, and all things outdoors.
