Noelle Pickard
Placed at: Watershed Stewards Program, Eureka Office
Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S. History, Technology, and Society; B.S. Literature, Media, and Communication
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Noelle discovered a passion for Environmental History and interdisciplinary research during her studies at Georgia Tech. Following the completion of her senior thesis – an environmental history of the Klamath River from 1970 to current dam removal initiatives – she came across WSP and was inspired to apply. Planning to pursue a Ph.D. in History and continue her undergraduate research on the Klamath following her service term, Noelle is thrilled to have the opportunity to develop professional and technical expertise with WSP. As a Team Leader, she looks forward to the role’s dynamic and varied responsibilities and is excited to participate in everything from fieldwork to volunteer coordination. She is particularly eager to learn more about California watersheds, engage with site communities, and participate in hands-on watershed restoration.

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Crystal Baerwaldt
Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yreka
Brigham Young University, Idaho, B.S. Plant and Wildlife Ecology, Emphasis: Fisheries
Originally from Los Banos, CA, Crystal chose to serve with WSP because it closely aligns with her career and personal goals. Joining the program after serving with the California Conservation Corps, she is excited about returning to fisheries work with a more science-based approach to conservation. Crystal is eager to take advantage of WSP’s unique opportunities to site-share, work with other organizations, and network with professionals and peers. At her Placement Site, she most looks forward to gaining new experiences and skills, such as extracting head tags, operating rotary screw traps, learning to PIT tag, and participating in redd, spawner, and snorkel surveys. In her free time, Crystal makes sturgeon figurines out of polymer clay. Her ultimate career goal is to use eDNA to ascertain the existence or extinction of three critically endangered sturgeon species in Eastern Europe, and then work with local peoples, governments, and NGOs to establish management plans.

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McKayla Woodie

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yreka

Miami Valley Career Tech Center, Animal Science certification; Forestry Corps

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, MK’s journey to WSP was defined by many different experiences. Prior to joining the program, she completed a two-year certification in Animal Science, gained college experience within the Forestry Corps, and served on spike crews in the beautiful mountains of Big Sur. MK ultimately decided to serve with WSP to finally explore her love for marine life and she believes that the program provides Corpsmembers with a rare opportunity to work with multiple cultures and locations, all while qualifying for an amazing scholarship to help them continue along their chosen paths. At her Placement Site in Yreka, MK looks forward to the opportunity to work with different tribes and amazing, ginormous fish. While excited to begin lab work, MK is currently enjoying Shasta Creek and all of the other beautiful rivers in the surrounding area.

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Julian Palmisano

Placed at: Yurok Tribe Environmental Department

California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt, B.S. Ecology & Biodiversity; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Julian was born and raised on unceded Chumash land in the state of California. While serving with WSP last year, he was showered with opportunities to build technical skills and grow under his Mentor. He chose to serve with WSP again to distill a broad awareness of ecology into more practical and focused work in natural water systems. He is flooded with excitement to help further the mission of the Yurok Tribe's environmental department's water division, and to see the many field sights throughout the lower Klamath River. Julian has a torrent of hobbies; lately, he has experienced an upwelling of creativity making baskets, unicycling, snorkeling, and catching waves. His professional goal is to be deeply of service to all forms of life.

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Alex Wilder

Placed at: Yurok Tribe Environmental Department

University of California, Davis, M.S. Civil/Environmental Engineering, Emphasis: Water Resources; B.S. Biological Systems Engineering, Minors: Computational Biology and Technology Management; Foothill College GIS Technology Certificate

While originally from Lompoc, CA, Alex spent the last decade in the Davis/Sacramento area before applying to WSP. Alex chose to serve with the program due to its service and professional development components. He believes that serving with the Yurok Tribe is “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that perfectly aligns with his own professional development journey. At YTED, Alex is looking forward to learning about the water issues the Yurok Tribe is facing and working to solve those problems. Following his service term, Alex hopes to one day work for a RWQCB, CDFW, or a science-focused consultant as an Ecological Engineer and Ecohydrologist. In his personal life, Alex enjoys white-water rafting and is looking forward to exploring the forests and parks on the North Coast!

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Katharine Major

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Arcata

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Fisheries Biology, Emphasis: Marine Fisheries; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Kat chose to serve with WSP because it offers the unique opportunity to combine natural resource conservation with community outreach and education. During her service term, she is eager to further develop her knowledge of California’s watershed systems while involving local community members in restoration projects and hands-on learning activities. She is also looking forward to networking within the fisheries community and receiving valuable mentorship from natural resources professionals. At CDFW Arcata, Kat is excited to develop her fieldwork, professional writing, and data analysis skills, all while taking advantage of the site’s unique biodiversity.

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Tiffany Douglas

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Arcata

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Environmental Science and Management, Emphasis: Ecological Restoration; Minors: Watershed Management, Geospatial Analysis, and Business; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Tiffany grew up in Idaho, where the rivers are an environmental focal point of the community. When she came to Northern California for college, she learned about how integral rivers are to the community here as well. In her last few semesters at Cal Poly Humboldt, she gained interest in fisheries conservation and coastal watershed restoration. After working at a salmonid hatchery in Idaho, she discovered that working with salmonids was a thrilling experience, and that salmonoid watershed recovery was the type of restoration she wanted to pursue. She chose to serve with WSP to gain invaluable experience with watershed restoration and education in Northern California. At CDFW Arcata, Tiffany is looking forward to observing salmonids and lamprey of all life stages in their natural habitat and exploring as much of the Freshwater Creek, Mad River, Prairie Creek, and Smith River watersheds as possible. An interesting fact about Tiffany is that she used to compete in archery competitions with her family when she was growing up.

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Cassidy Dupree-Sood

Placed at: Bureau of Land Management, Arcata

Florida State University, B.S. Biological Sciences, Emphasis: Marine Biology & Zoology; Minor: Chemistry

Cassie is pursuing a career in environmental conservation and education. She chose to serve with WSP because it offered a unique opportunity to work with several partnering organizations, access competitive scholarships, and network across many different fields. Coming from a background in marine biology, Cassie is eager to gain experience in freshwater with salmonids and watershed restoration. At the Bureau of Land Management, Cassie is looking forward to participating in snorkel surveys in the Mattole River, hosting her own volunteer event, and engaging in different aspects of both State and Federal Government. An interesting fact about Cassie is that she recently acquired her Divemaster Certification in Honduras and is looking forward to putting it to use in her conservation efforts in the future. In her free time, Cassie enjoys teaching yoga, horseback riding, creating artwork, and practicing jiu-jitsu!

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Liam Hay

Placed at: Bureau of Land Management, Arcata

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Environmental Science and Management, Emphasis: Ecological Restoration

Originally from Topanga, California, Liam chose to serve with WSP after working alongside several Corpsmembers at the Resource Conservation District of Santa Monica Mountains. This experience, as well as those at Cal Poly Humboldt working in his local watershed, inspired his interest in pursuing a career in salmonid and watershed restoration. During his service with WSP, Liam looks forward to gaining new skills and working on a variety of new projects that the program provides. He is especially drawn to the program's goals and focus on community engagement, environmental education, and networking opportunities. Liam is excited to continue working on habitat enhancement projects but is especially excited to participate in the Mattole snorkel surveys.

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Christine Burchinal

Placed at: Trinity County Resource Conservation District

University of Portland, B.S. Environmental Science, Emphasis: Earth Science; Minor: Sustainability

Christine chose to serve with WSP to gain hands-on experience with watershed restoration projects, especially those centered around the protection of native salmonid populations. Her placement site, Trinity County Resource Conservation District (TC RCD), provides a unique opportunity for Christine to not only live in an area very different from her hometown of San Jose but also to learn in an environment with a large focus on natural resource management and watershed restoration. Christine looks forward to becoming involved in Trinity County’s tight-knit community, and to taking advantage of the many educational opportunities that her natural surroundings have to offer. She also hopes to expand upon her education and outreach skills to serve and inspire the local community. In her free time, Christine enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, attending farmers markets, and sipping tea.

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Mariah Tofanelli

Placed at: Watershed Stewards Program, Eureka Office

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Environmental Science & Management, Emphasis: Environmental Education & Interpretation; Minor: American Sign Language & Special Populations; Sierra College, A.S. Sustainability Science

After growing up in Sacramento, CA, Mariah made the decision to relocate to Humboldt County, CA, to pursue a B.S. in environmental science. Mariah is deeply passionate about promoting environmental stewardship and awareness through environmental education. Her specific interests lie in place-based learning, graphic interpretation, volunteer coordination, and community-led programs. These passions drew her to WSP and the Eureka Office, attracted by its impressive track record as a career development program. She saw the opportunity to contribute to watershed recovery, environmental education, support her fellow team members, and assist in restoration event planning and coordination. A fun fact about Mariah is her wealth of environmental education experience, spanning Humboldt & Sacramento Counties, Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and even international locations. Outside of work, Mariah enjoys foraging, reading, hiking, and spending quality time with friends.

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Brittney Tresenrider

Placed at: CA Department of Fish & Wildlife Coastal Watershed Planning and Assessment Program

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Zoology; B.S. Forestry, Emphasis: Hydrology; Minor: Philosophy

Britt is from Sebastopol, California. She has a B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Philosophy and a B.S. in Forestry with a concentration in Hydrology. Britt chose to serve with WSP to gain more hands-on fisheries experience. WSP offers a great opportunity to see many agencies collaborate toward larger restoration and monitoring goals. She’s forward to spending time in the field this year. While surveying, they will stay in the field three nights a week and Britt feels it will be nice to unplug for a bit. In her free time, Britt likes to enjoy her favorite outdoor activities which are surfing and biking.

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Zoë Burgess

Placed at: CA Department of Fish & Wildlife Coastal Watershed Planning and Assessment Program

The Evergreen State College, Emphasis: Biochemistry and Genetic Engineering of Microbiology; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Zoë is serving their second term with the Watershed Stewards Project at the Coastal Watershed Planning and Assessment Project CDFW Fortuna. Zoë has been a Corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps for 2 years where they have enjoyed stepping into public service and learning leadership skills in a professional setting. They are excited to explore the Eel River basin while gaining new skills in fisheries monitoring and watershed restoration. Zoë hopes to use this opportunity to further their ability to serve their community by conserving natural resources. A focus for their term will be learning to provide better public access to the outdoors and environmental science, especially to marginalized communities.

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Kasie Tyler

Placed at: Wiyot Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, Eel River Watershed Improvement Group & California Conservation Corps Collaborative

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Environmental Science and Management, Emphasis: Environmental Education and Interpretation; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Kasie is originally from Aptos, California, and moved to Humboldt County for school. Kasie initially chose to serve with WSP because of the opportunities for diverse hands-on fieldwork experiences in remote creeks and rivers coupled with the chance to engage with the local community through education and outreach. She chose to serve a second term with WSP to further expand her fieldwork experience and knowledge about the natural history and ecology of watersheds in California while serving a unique role as a WSP Corpsmember in preserving and protecting them for the wildlife and humans that depend on them. Kasie is looking forward to collaborating with her Placement Site on diverse projects ranging from carrying out various fisheries surveys throughout the year, planning an environmental education fair for local Humboldt County schools, conducting habitat assessments, and designing large wood projects to improve watershed health.

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Regine Familara

Placed at: Wiyot Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, Eel River Watershed Improvement Group & California Conservation Corps Collaborative

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, B.S. Environmental Science and Management, Emphasis: Environmental Education and Interpretation; B.A. Environmental Studies, Emphasis: Appropriate Technology

Regine was born and raised in Michigan. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area post-high school and currently resides in Humboldt. Regine chose to serve with WSP because she desired to enrich her knowledge, experience, and skill in environmental fieldwork. Furthermore, as an environmental educator and interpreter, it is Regine's passion to tell the stories of the fish that swim in these waterways and to paint their stories vividly for the public to better understand them. Regine is most looking forward to a few exciting things at her unique placement site. Firstly, the collaboration between the Wiyot tribe, Eel River Improvement Group (ERWIG), and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Collaboration. Secondly, she also looks forward to planning and facilitating the environmental educational event, Creek Days. Finally, contributing towards the Salmon Restoration Project (SRP). She helped design and create interpretive signage for the Prairie Creek Redwood State Park Visitor Center for the park's centennial celebration. She would love to become an environmental interpretive ranger for a federal or state agency. In her free time, Regine loves to go kayaking.

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Saul Cervantes

Placed at: North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. Statistics and Data Science

Saul is from Antelope Valley, in Southern California just north of the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. In June of 2023, Saul received his B.S. in Statistics and Data Science from the University of California – Los Angeles. At UCLA, Saul was a part of the UCLA Roundnet Club Team, UCLA Ski and Snowboard Club Team, UCLA Mentorship, the Bruin Ambassadors Program, UCLA DataFest, and was a presenter at UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Week. Saul was searching for a meaningful and intriguing field to contribute to and decided to pursue a career in environmental science and ecology. This inspired Saul to apply for WSP because he believes the WSP connections and experience will provide a platform to further himself in his professional and potential academic pursuits. At the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Placement Site, Saul is excited to participate in data analysis and practice GIS mapping as Saul has a growing interest in data visualization. In his personal time, Saul loves to snowboard, backpack, and run. He got close to 40 days of snowboarding in the 2022-2023 snow season and hopes he can backpack in the Trinity Alps this upcoming backpacking season. Saul can leap and click his heels three times while in the air; his goal is to be able to do four clicks by the end of his term with WSP.

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Megan Kownurko

Placed at: North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Environmental Resource Management; Minors: Environmental Soil Science, Watersheds & Water Resources; Certificate in Agricultural Stewardship and Conservation

Megan Kownurko is from Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. She recently graduated from Penn State University and majored in Environmental Resource Management with two minors in Environmental Soil Science, Watersheds & Water Resources, and a certificate in Agricultural Stewardship and Conservation. She always wanted to live in Northern California, so when she heard about the Watershed Stewards Program from a WSP alumna in her Biogeochemistry lab, she was inspired to apply. For her, WSP is a great opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience as an environmental professional and experience a new ecosystem. She is most enthusiastic about engaging in water quality sampling, Estuarine Marine Protected Area (EMPA) monitoring, and analyzing data collected using R. A fun fact about Megan is that she was on the Penn State Soil Judging team and even competed in the National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest. Outside of professional undertakings, Megan enjoys hiking, reading, painting, and attending concerts.

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Sage Videla

Placed at: Point Reyes National Seashore

Hampshire College, B.A. Marine Science and Studio Art, Emphasis: Marine Ecology and Sculpture; Minor: Theater Design and Technology, Emphasis: Lighting Design

Sage relocated from their home state of New York to serve with WSP. They chose to make the big move because they were impressed by the unique and robust program WSP offers. Sage could not pass up the opportunity to gain extensive fieldwork, networking opportunities, mentorship, career exploration, environmental education, volunteer event planning and management. At Point Reyes, Sage is most looking forward to conducting life cycle monitoring surveys on endangered Coho salmon populations. They are hoping their experiences with WSP will help launch them into a career in marine sciences. Sage’s dream is to have a job that allows them to work on projects that combine their passion for the marine sciences with their love of art. In their free time, Sage loves to go tidepooling and has a huge soft spot for marine invertebrates. They can’t wait to poke around and find nudibranchs!

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Andrew Fulton

Placed at: Point Reyes National Seashore

San Francisco State University, B.S. Environmental Science; B.A. Geography; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Andrew studied at San Francisco State University getting his B.S. in Environmental Science and B.A. in Geography. During his first term with WSP at USFWS in Lodi he learned a lot about monitoring a large-scale watershed and will now be learning about the protected salmonid populations in smaller Point Reyes watersheds. Andrew is excited to be mentored by Michael and Brentley and monitor the salmonid life cycle. WSP gives him meaningful and fun experiences like understanding an environment by using surveys to monitor the salmonid populations and shifting environmental factors. He is grateful that this program allows him to support the community by teaching the next generation the importance of being a steward of the land. Andrew’s goal is to work on projects that combine wildlife conservation and wetland restoration. In his free time, he enjoys exploring geography and wildlife at Point Reyes and the rest of the west coast.

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Shane Lile

Placed at: Marin Water Fisheries Program

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt B.S. Environmental Science and Management, Emphasis: Ecological Restoration; Modesto Junior College, Emphasis: Environmental Science, Studio Arts, and Anthropology; 2nd year WSP Corpsmember

Shane chose to serve two consecutive terms with WSP because of the unbeatable, diverse hands-on experience and knowledge gained under the mentorship of passionate professionals in their fields. He also understands the great benefit WSP Corpsmembers provide to the field of natural resources sciences and the public. He is excited to learn new skills and concepts to conduct fisheries research in both the field and office while growing both professionally and personally through Placement Site opportunities, site sharing, WOW!, and WAVE. At his Placement Site this term, he looks forward to learning about new management techniques and goals in new watersheds with new biological communities. An interesting fact about Shane is that he is an artist with no favorite color.

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Shannon Husband

Placed at: Marin Water Fisheries Program

Whitman College, B.A. Biology

Shannon attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA where she obtained her B.A in Biology in 2022. In the summer of 2019, she studied pollination biology at Station Linné in Öland, Sweden, and was introduced to the fascinating world of plant and insect ecology. The following year she donned waders as a research intern at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) in Northwest Washington state, where she monitored eelgrass abundance in the Padilla Bay estuary. After a foray into the world of environmental microbiology at UC Davis in 2022, she moved to the Bay Area in California to serve as a WSP Corpsmember in the fisheries department at the Marin Municipal Water District. Shannon is eager to partake in field research and watershed restoration projects with Marin Water while gaining an on the ground perspective on salmon conservation in California and community outreach programs in Marin. She's also very excited to make the most of Marin's extensive trail network and go on some epic runs on Mount Tamalpais and in the Lagunitas Creek watershed!

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Reed Hammock

Placed at: Watershed Stewards Program, San Luis Obispo Office

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.S. Plant Sciences

Reed is an Eagle Scout from the sunny San Fernando Valley of Southern California. In his youth, he developed a passion for the natural world by taking frequent trips to the Santa Susanna Mountains, and annual trips to the Mojave Desert and Kern River. After finishing high school, Reed took to the redwoods of Santa Cruz to study plants and all things natural. He worked hard as a research assistant in a plant evolution lab and studied studiously in his upper-division classes. Upon graduating, Reed decided to jump into work as a Naturalist Intern at Foothill Horizons Outdoor School. This opportunity provided Reed a chance to develop skills as an environmental interpreter and share his passion for the outdoors with a new audience. Reed now pursues a Team Leader opportunity with WSP for professional development, networking, and community outreach events. He is extremely excited to work with the Yr. 30 cohort and bring forth another year of improved watershed resilience. Reed enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, reading, and posting to iNaturalist.

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Lauren Puffer

Placed at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lodi

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.S. Marine Biology

Lauren grew up in Tempe, Arizona, and studied Marine Biology in Santa Cruz, California. She chose to serve with WSP to further her career in fisheries science and develop broadly applicable skills as a young scientist. During her service with the program, she looks forward to the opportunity to lead outreach and education events and to gain hands-on professional experience in the federal sector. At her Placement Site, Lauren is excited to work within an Interagency Ecological Program on a project that is so important for the community and the health of species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

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Jackson Fimrite

Placed at: US Fish & Wildlife Service, Lodi

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies/Biology

After pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and Biology at UC Santa Cruz, Jackson is very excited to serve with WSP and take his first steps into fisheries. At UCSC he interned with the Santa Cruz Puma Project, and since graduating has volunteered with the Felidae fund in the Bay Area, monitoring mountain lions and other wildlife. These experiences grew his desire to work in the outdoors and with wildlife, and he believes WSP is the perfect opportunity to continue in this direction and grow personally and professionally. At USFWS Lodi he is looking forward to gaining valuable field experience working on boats and learning about all the fish species in the Delta, while also learning from the experts in the field. For fun, Jackson likes playing soccer and is looking forward to finding a league around Lodi!

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Olivia Hockley-Rodes

Placed at: San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

Harvey Mudd College, B.S. Engineering, Emphasis: Environmental Analysis; Concentration: Gender Studies

Olivia is from Los Angeles, CA and they chose to serve with WSP as a way of introducing themselves to a variety of aspects of water conservation and management to help them decide a pathway in graduate school. They are also excited about the opportunities to connect with their local community through outreach events and to try out teaching for the first time. Olivia is looking forward to working at a placement site with a good balance between fieldwork and data analysis, which allows them to spend time outdoors learning field skills while seeing firsthand how data collected in the field can directly influence water policy and further scientific research. Olivia is passionate about outdoor recreation and recently bought a school bus which they plan on converting into a home on wheels to take them on adventures across the country. In their free time, Olivia likes to hike and ski in the Sierra Nevada and explore the canyons of Utah and Arizona.

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Charlotte Diamant

Placed at: San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

Wellesley College, B.A. Environmental Studies; Minor: Peace & Justice Studies

Charlotte chose to serve with WSP to gain more hands-on experience in watershed conservation, and to explore different professional pathways within her field of interest. While in college, she focused her studies primarily on water policy and riparian conservation efforts, with particular emphasis on dam removal practices. During her term at the Water Board, she is looking forward to learning more about the process of implementing water policy solutions on a regional level, and to participating in field work throughout the Bay Area. Charlotte has a passion for all things river-related, and spent the past three summers working as a white-water rafting guide in California, Idaho, and Oregon. When she’s not on the water, she enjoys sewing, birding, and playing with her two cats, Sachi and Smudge.

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Petra Boester

Placed at: Grassroots Ecology

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies, Emphasis: Conservation Science and Policy

Petra was born and raised in the Bay Area and is currently residing in foggy Half Moon Bay. While at UCSC, Petra worked in field research in a plant disease lab and an animal behavioral lab. In her final quarter at UCSC, Petra chose to study abroad in Costa Rica, where she fell in love with the tropical rainforest and vibrant coral reefs. Petra chose to serve with WSP to gain valuable hands-on experience conducting restorations and conservation projects on local watersheds. WSP provides the unique opportunity to blend various fields together such as restoration, community awareness, and education. WSP also offers a great opportunity for recently graduated university students to gain valuable experience, networking opportunities, and be a part of a community of passionate environmental conservationists. Petra is excited to be at her Placement Site with Grassroots ecology which specializes in native plant restoration. Petra is eager to increase her knowledge of native plants and implement the knowledge into creating a restoration plot that assists in the conservation of pollinators. Petra has also gone diving with White-tip Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks in Costa Rica, and they are two of her favorite marine species. Petra enjoys hiking, trail running, scuba diving, backpacking, mountain biking, and competing in triathlons during her free time.

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Perla Martos

Placed at: Grassroots Ecology

University of California, Merced, B.S. Biological Sciences, Emphasis: Ecology and Evolutionary Sciences

Perla grew up in San Diego, inspiring a love of the outdoors and a desire to preserve natural places for future generations. She studied Ecology and Evolutionary Sciences at UC Merced and became particularly interested in the restoration and management of preserves and reserves after being part of the Yosemite Leadership Program. Her interest grew as she got involved in various research projects at school and conducted research under the UC Natural Reserve System. Perla chose to apply to WSP because of the program's focus on community service, opportunities to observe different agencies and organizations in action, and scientific training for a career in conservation. She's excited to assist in ongoing monitoring and restoration efforts at Foothills Nature Preserve, Bear Creek Redwoods, Hawthorns, and Russian Ridge Open Space.

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Dashiell Ridolfi-Starr

Placed at: Grassroots Ecology

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, B.A. Biological Basis of Behavior; Minors: Nutrition and Hispanic Studies

Dash is from San Jose, CA, and is excited to be serving the South Bay with Grassroots Ecology. Shifting out of the healthcare field, he joined WSP to explore a budding passion for ecology, native plants, and restoration. Dash grows lots of native plants—his favorite is whichever one is doing something interesting or attracting the most wildlife at any given moment. Eventually, he hopes to study the intersections of urban environments with habitat and restoration.

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Laura Powers

Placed at: Grassroots Ecology

University of California, Berkeley, B.S. Integrative Biology, Emphasis: Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Laura is from San Jose, California and is eagar to serve at Grassroots Ecology to give back to her hometown communities and open spaces. She has a passion for scientific research and worked on research projects at UC Berkeley exploring plant physiology, root microbes, and biogeochemistry. Through WSP, Laura hopes to learn more about restoration and conservation sciences, especially focusing on botany and native plant restoration at Grassroots Ecology. She enjoys hiking and most outdoor activities, but especially loves anything involving water. In her free time Laura loves to swim, surf, kayak, snorkel, tide pool, float, and aspires to get her diving certification.

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Sarah Doyle

Placed at: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies; B.A. Sociology

Sarah is from the town of Mount Shasta and grew up exploring the lakes, rivers, and forests of northern California. While at UCSC for an undergrad, she fell in love with restoration ecology and the science of freshwater ecosystems. Sarah chose to serve with WSP because of the great networking opportunities and hands-on field experience provided by the program. She is excited to learn more about salmonid conservation and to work closely with the amazing people at NOAA SWFSC. Outside of WSP, Sarah likes to spend her free time backpacking, gardening, and hanging out with her python Sylvester.

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Noah Schott

Placed at: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies and Biology

Noah originates from Temecula, California. From Temecula, he went to Santa Cruz to study Environmental Studies and Biology. Noah chose to join WSP because he wanted an opportunity to get his hands dirty in the field. WSP allows him to work closely with a team of researchers as well as develop practical job skills in the fields of research and restoration ecology. Noah most looks forward to becoming intimately familiar with the lifecycle of threatened and endangered Salmonid species. Noah also enjoys sailing in his free time!

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Zola Nesbitt

Placed at: Coastal Watershed Council

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies

Zola chose to join WSP to gain valuable experience in restoration ecology and to network with like-minded professionals. They attended the University of California, Santa Cruz as a first-generation, genderfluid, queer, Environmental Studies major and was an active member of the International Living Center. Their studies and work revolved around building community and advocating for environmental justice. While serving at the Coastal Watershed Council, they look forward to collaborating with elementary school students on field trips and unhoused Santa Cruzians during River Health Day events to restore the Lower San Lorenzo River.

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Sara Goel

Placed at: Watershed Stewards Program, San Luis Obispo Office

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, B.S. Biological Sciences, Emphasis: Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity & Conservation; Minor: Bioinformatics

Sara is from Cupertino, California and recently graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she researched the behavioral ecology of livebearing fishes, as well as long-term monitoring and aquaculture of Pismo clams. With fieldwork and lab experience under her belt, she chose to serve as a Team Leader to gain experience in leadership, community outreach, and project management. Sara is excited to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a program like WSP, and to take on a role in which she gets to support other Corpsmembers. She’s also eager to explore California as she travels to the Placement Sites in her district for WAVEs. She appreciates that Team Leaders take on many different responsibilities, and is hoping to build skills and character for attending graduate school in the future. In her free time, Sara loves to paint, hike, and go herping! Her favorite herp is the California newt, which she has caught for research!

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Sean O'Connell

Placed at: The Central Coast Wetlands Group and Watsonville Wetlands Watch

San José State University, B.A. Environmental Studies; Minors: Environmental Restoration and Philosophy

Through serving with WSP, Sean looks forward to jumping into a diverse hands-on field experience through interacting with ecosystems that he's learned about in college. This unique experience is broadening new perspectives for Sean and he looks forward to supporting and restoring diverse habitats through the extraordinary training provided by the CCWG and WWW. Previously, Sean supported the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center in researching the gaps in wildfire and bushfire insurance coverage as a research assistant. Sean appreciates being in direct contact with environmental field experiences and looks forward to passing on this passion as a professor in the unforeseen future. In the meantime, a wild Sean is commonly found in his hometown, Santa Cruz, climbing and falling off large boulders with suspicious enthusiasm.

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Marwah Dawoody

Placed at: The Central Coast Wetlands Group and Watsonville Wetlands Watch

University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies

Marwah originally grew up in Southern California before moving up to Santa Cruz to study environmental studies at UCSC. There, she developed a passion for California’s many fresh-water systems and wetlands. She chose to serve at WSP's Placement Site CCWG & WWW because of the many opportunities to gain hands-on experience working in these unique ecosystems, while also having the opportunity to participate in various restoration projects. She is also excited about the diversity of opportunities for personal and professional development made available to Corpsmembers by WSP. An interesting fact about Marwah is that she was originally an art major!

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Edgar Cruz

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Big Sur

University of California Santa Cruz, B.A. Environmental Studies, Emphasis: Natural History, Land Stewardship, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems; B.A. Art, Emphasis: Photography and Photo-based Printmaking

Edgar is a Zapoteco ecologist, land steward and visual artist from South Central Los Angeles. Edgar chose to serve with WSP because of the program's focus on watershed improvement and recovery through community education, land stewardship and hands-on field research. Since this will be his first experience working in watersheds, Edgar is excited to learn about salmonids and their cultural and environmental importance. Serving at CDFW Big Sur, Edgar is excited to be a part of the Coastal Monitoring Project (CMP), monitoring threatened steelhead along the Big Sur coast. Edgar is also an artist, whose artwork is centered around his relationship to land, space, and environment. Often utilizing organic materials such as plants, sunlight and water, his artwork creates narratives of intimacy and connection. Actively involved in both worlds of art and environmental conservation, Edgar hopes to find a profession where he can connect his passion and knowledge of art, ecology, and land stewardship.

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Anya Weinstein

Placed at: San Luis Obispo Steelhead Initiative

California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, B.S. Environmental Management & Protection; Minor: Biology

Anya is from Lafayette, Caliornia and chose to serve with WSP because she is passionate about ecological restoration and wants to gain relevant hands-on experience in this field. She looks forward to learning more about the life cycle and ecological role of salmonids, as well as restoration efforts that can help support their population. She is excited to gain experience doing fieldwork such as e-fishing and conducting snorkel surveys. She is grateful that her work will allow her to be outside and further explore the central coast. In her free time, Anya enjoys hiking, reading, and swimming in the ocean.

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Zoё Vavrek

Placed at: San Luis Obispo Steelhead Initiative

Pitzer College, B.A. Environmental Analysis, Emphasis: Environmental Science; Minor: Spanish

Zoё is from Fairfax, California and attended Pitzer College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Analysis on the Environmental Science track with a minor in Spanish. She chose to serve with WSP because she wanted to explore her interest in a career in community-based watershed restoration in California. She wanted to join WSP because she was interested in the diverse range of experiences and connections that are available to Corpsmembers that serve in the program. Placed at San Luis Obispo Steelhead Initiative, Zoё is most excited about getting exposed to different facets of the watershed restoration world including water, plant, and fish monitoring in riparian and estuarine systems. She loves to rollerblade and one of her recent favorite activities is taking photos of native bees!

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Madeleine Sharp

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara, B.S. Biological Sciences; Minor: Professional Writing, Emphasis: Science Communication

Madeleine is from Monterey County and grew up inspired by all the awesome wildlife she encountered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and down the Big Sur Coast. She chose to serve with WSP because the program allows her to learn about different avenues in the field of conservation, including fieldwork, scientific communication, and education. She hopes to work in research before eventually going to graduate school and becoming a professor, and WSP provides a valuable introduction to this career path. Madeleine also looks forward to the knowledge she will gain from a close relationship with her Mentors. The unique setup of this program creates a learning environment tailored to each individual Corpsmember, and Madeleine is excited to pursue both her established and new interests under the guidance of experts in this field. After interning with Coal Oil Point Reserve in Santa Barbara during college, she is looking forward to learning about another SB ecosystem and how she can help protect it. In her free time, Madeleine enjoys hiking, tidepooling, reading all kinds of books, and meeting new dogs on the beach. She can’t wait to hike across Santa Barbara County and assist the CDFW with its essential monitoring work on steelhead trout!

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Rachel Hagar

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Barbara

University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. Environmental Science, Emphasis: Conservation Biology

Rachel grew up in Dallas, Texas before moving to California to study Environmental Science with a focus in Conservation Biology at UCLA. While attending school, she developed a passion for learning about endangered species, leading her to apply for WSP’s 30th year. Rachel is looking forward to the unique hands-on opportunities of WSP at her Placement Site, CDFW Santa Barbara, working with the endangered Southern California Steelhead Trout. Rachel is excited to learn about California watersheds and fisheries in addition to field skills such as PIT tagging and electrofishing. Rachel also has a passion for birds, and worked in a lab at UCLA studying the effects of solar energy sites on migratory bird populations.

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Kat Vicini

Placed at: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Barbara

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, B.S. Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity; B.S. Psychology

Kat is fascinated by all things water-related, originating from visits to the Great Lakes in her home state of Michigan and time spent exploring tidepools on the Central Coast as a kid. As a result of this fascination, she is excited to serve watersheds in Santa Barbara, for the sake of humans and fishes alike. She is looking forward to conducting snorkel surveys, improving her hiking abilities in beautiful SoCal streams, and learning from skilled environmental scientists. Throughout her time in undergrad, Kat participated in a variety of ecological research projects, such as monitoring sea turtle nesting behavior and collecting molecular information regarding grasshopper speciation. She is grateful to contribute to wildlife research for CDFW and to gain experience in fisheries science. Going forward, she hopes to continue with research by attending graduate school and studying conservation and behavioral ecology in marine/aquatic systems. Even after being stung by a stingray while surfing, Kat loves the water more than anything, and will spend her time in Santa Barbara listening to music at the beach or swimming in the ocean as much as possible.

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Luke Benson

Placed at: Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains

University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. Ecology, Behavior & Evolution; Minor: Evolutionary Medicine

Luke was born and raised in Topanga, California. He decided to serve with WSP in order to apply the theoretical knowledge gained from the classroom to practical field techniques and real-world scenarios. He’s excited to explore all that the WSP and the RCD has to offer and hopes to narrow down his specific path going forward in his ecology career. Although he has spent much of his time as a citizen naturalist in the Santa Monica Mountains, he his excited to officially support the RCD with its many conservation projects as a WSP Corpsmember. He is particularly interested in urban ecology and worked with Dr. Grether at UCLA analyzing camera trap data on gray fox occurrences. He is eager to see the mountains from a new lens as he surveys its many creeks and lagoons for endangered fish species, such as Steelhead Trout and Tidewater Gobies, and to make new discoveries about his natal watershed. Luke enjoys climbing, hiking, and camping throughout the coastal mountains and hopes to contribute to the ongoing efforts in preserving this beautiful environment for future generations of naturalists and the animals that reside there.

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