MEET OUR TEAM
UWSWCD Staff
Our goal as a team is to foster the responsible stewardship of our natural resources through conservation, restoration and protection. Meet the folks behind the efforts of the Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District’s work.
Dave Downing –
District
Manager
About Dave Downing – District Manager
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
Lily Leitermann – Conservation Programs Manager
About Lily Leitermann – Conservation Programs Manager
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 517-6436
Daniel Dietz –
Senior Restoration Specialist
About Daniel Dietz – Senior Restoration Specialist
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
Leslie Owens –
Administrative
Specialist
About Leslie Owens – Administrative Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 729-1139
Meridith McClure –
Restoration
Specialist
About Meridith McClure – Restoration Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 517-6153
Cricket DeLoe – Media & Outreach
Specialist
About Cricket DeLoe – Media & Outreach Specialist
At UWSWCD, Cricket works to share the story of the District with the public and to educate and inspire our audience to stay current with conservation issues and happenings. She creates print materials for us and manages our social media.
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
Jared Pruch – Grant Management
Specialist
About Jared Pruch – Grant Management Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 999-9057
(Email or texts preferred)
Lark Theodore Articus – Working Lands Conservation
Specialist
About Lark Theodore Articus – Working Lands Conservation Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 852-6054
Tatum VanHawkins –
Water Quality Conservation
Specialist
About Tatum VanHawkins – Water Quality Conservation Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 654-9436
Ian Appow –
Fire Adapted Landscape Coordinator
About Ian Appow – Fire Adapted Landscape Coordinator
With a background in community forestry and wildfire resilience, Ian specializes in facilitating partnerships, developing conservation strategies, and making technical forestry concepts accessible. He is key in aligning regional priorities, supporting grant initiatives, and advising on strategic planning efforts integrating ecological stewardship with fire preparedness.
Email: [email protected]
Direct Line: (541) 654-9396
UWSWCD’S Support Staff
Maple Bacon – Snuggle Enforcement Officer
About Maple Bacon
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.
Hestia – Assistant to the Associate Director of Goofball Activities & Othersuchisms
About Hestia
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.
Toby – Head of “Hooman” Resources
About Toby
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.
Badger – Executive Director of Badgering and Bothering
About Badger
Badger is a Border Collie rescue from Central Oregon who was built for speed and precision. At the office, she carries out the essential tasks of rolling around on the carpet and begging coworkers for attention. In the field, she is an expert in all things livestock, and is excited to continue her education in herding. As the youngest member of her team, she thoroughly enjoys pestering the other working dogs, putting her very pointy nose in places it doesn’t belong, and running away from geese in a blind panic.
Nico – Overly Nosey and Wildly Chatty Intern
About Nico
Nico is an Australian Shepherd mixed with other wonderful unknown breeds, who loves to watch you do anything and everything. She enjoys long walks in the park, listening but also not quite listening to her parents and treats oh boy treats. She spends most of the day at home either throwing toys around the house or sound asleep, nothing in between. It’s all about the smells with this girl, she knows all the happenings going on around the neighborhood.
Ready for assistance or have questions?
We’re here to work in partnership with landowners, local conservation nonprofits and local, state, and federal agencies to protect and enhance the ecosystems of Lane County.
