Dave was born and raised in Lane County and has been with the Upper Willamette SWCD since April of 1998. Prior to joining the District as the Watershed Technical Specialist, he was an owner/operator of a family farm north of Eugene. Up until 2017, Dave provided technical assistance and project implementation to landowners throughout the district with his strengths being able to relate, build trust, and assist landowners to reach their natural resource goals. From 2017 up through 2020 Dave served as a technical specialist and as the district’s manager. In 2021 Dave became the full time District Manager and enjoys the challenges of transitioning and growing the district since acquiring a tax-base. Dave enjoys the outdoors, attending his kids’ sporting events, and keeping up with chores at home.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 517-3004

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Lily joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in September 2015. Her work focuses on developing the UWSWCD programs of natural resources, environmental education, partnership collaboration, and grants. During her tenure with the UWSWCD, Lily also fulfilled the role of Sr. Conservation Specialist and conducted water quality protection, riparian restoration, and post-fire recovery efforts through the Pure Water Partners Program. Lily holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resources, specializing in water conflict management through Oregon State University, and a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology from Western Michigan University. In her free time, Lily enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, rock hounding, mushrooming, gardening, reading, traveling, and numerous other pursuits.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 517-6436

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Jared joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in 2023. His work focuses on advancing District priorities by facilitating grant funding to local partners and projects. His professional background includes leadership roles with school garden and environmental education nonprofits, managing grantmaking and community impact programs for United Way, and facilitating partnerships in rural food systems and wildfire recovery efforts. Jared holds a master’s degree in Environmental Studies and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon, where he also helped coordinate the interdisciplinary Food Studies Program. He is an appointed commissioner of the OregonServes State Service Commission, which oversees AmeriCorps programs in Oregon. Born and raised in Lane County, he spends his free time backpacking, running, and gardening with his kids.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 999-9057
(Email or texts preferred)

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Victoria joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in 2021. Victoria works with agricultural producers to improve water quality and natural resource concerns. Her work focuses on agricultural operations within the Bear Creek and Camp Creek Strategic Implementation Areas. Victoria received her BS in Forest Ecosystems & Resource Management from Oregon State University and has a passion for rivers and watershed management. Prior to joining the Upper Willamette SWCD, Victoria spent the last 11 years working in the natural resources field with the Upper and Middle Deschutes watersheds. She has worked as a Conservation Technician & Riparian Restoration Specialist for Jefferson County SWCD, an Environmental Technician for the USFS Deschutes National Forest and as a professional river rafting guide throughout Oregon & Southern Washington. Victoria’s strength lies in her passion for working with landowners & producers to create lasting relationships and provide technical assistance in soil & water conservation.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 654-9436

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Daniel joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in 2021.  He has worked in natural resource management for almost 25 years having done everything from running a no till drill in restoring native prairies with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to working on a prescribed fire crew with The Nature Conservancy, to collaborating with landowners on conservation easements with the Texas Land Conservancy and the McKenzie River Trust.  The intersection of human and natural communities has been a passion for Daniel since obtaining his geography degree from the University of Texas.  He and his family have called Oregon home since 2016, and they enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring the outdoors.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 654-9346

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Meridith joined Upper Willamette SWCD in May 2022. Originally from Tennessee, Meridith has worked with nonprofits and federal agencies in New Mexico and Oregon doing seed collection, vegetation monitoring, and restoration work. Meridith has a B.S. in Organismal Biology from University of Tennessee and an M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University. Meridith works with landowners in the Pure Water Partners program on post-fire restoration and watershed protection in the McKenzie Watershed. Outside of work, Meridith likes to do embroidery art and hike with her dog, Maple Bacon.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541)-517-6153

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Alec joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in October 2022. He holds a BS in Environmental Science from Western Washington University, where he pursued his long-standing interests in ecology. Alec has always known the Pacific Northwest as home and has worked regionally in support of invasive vegetation management, wildlife conservation, stream and riparian restoration, beaver conflict mitigation and translocation, outreach and education, and environmental compliance. Through the Pure Water Partners program, Alec represents the UWSWCD in coordinating post-fire riparian restoration efforts in the McKenzie River Watershed. Left to his own devices, he enjoys hiking, biking, photography, road trips, and reading natural histories.

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Born and raised in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country, Clarissa joined the District in November 2017. After attending Lane Community College and University of Oregon with a major in Accounting, she moved to the Midwest with her husband. While there, she began working for the local soil conservation district and became passionate about the work they did. When she moved back to Oregon, she was happy to rejoin the conservation district in an administrative capacity. She enjoys hiking, camping, and gardening with her family and friends.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 517-1546

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As a 6^th generation Oregon native, Leslie has a love for exploring the beautiful PNW. She is passionate about community outreach and spends her free time volunteering for local animal rescue groups. She recently joined the Upper Willamette SWCD in September 2021 in an administrative capacity and is passionate about the conservation work we do.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 729-1139

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Born in Southern Oregon, Cricket moved to the Willamette Valley the moment she had any say about it. Cricket has degrees in cultural anthropology and graphic design from the U of O and PSU respectively, and years of experience with social media and public outreach. She has been interested in conservation issues since pretty much always, as well as urban homesteading and sustainable living. When not crafting, cooking, or gardening, she can often be found hiking the trails or kayaking the streams near Eugene.

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: (541) 517-2581

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Maple Bacon is a rescue mix from Phoenix, OR with expertise in treat gobbling and squirrel tracking. She wears a variety of bandanas and is surprisingly active despite her short stature, although she does enjoy a good nap. Maple ensures that any passersby pet her without exception and is a big fan of tummy rubs.

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Baloo is a black & tan Australian Shepherd Mix from Dallas, Oregon. He graduated at the top of his class with a Master of Science in Fluvial Geomorphology from Yale University. Baloo specializes in food crumb prevention, butt wiggles, and squirrel chasing. He is happy to provide technical assistance to any landowner in need of a squirrel chaser.

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Hestia is a Great Dane mix who thrives in her role of supporting goofball activities. She feels that being a goofball is not so much a profession as much as it is a calling. Hestia usually works from home, but can occasionally be found in the field, working with landowners in the McKenzie watershed. Her specialties include accidentally knocking people over in attempts to snuggle and hiking outdoors.

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Toby is revered around the office for being a great listener and is even nicknamed “The Therapist”. It’s hard not to be inspired by his incredibly relaxed approach to life. His super-warm nature has been found to lower stress and boost morale. He has never met a stranger and instantly makes friends, which works out well for him because he’s never short of someone to give him a belly rub. He can usually be found not far from the front desk and is eager to say hello to anybody who comes in.

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