NATIVE FISH SOCIETY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Instructor at Western Washington University
Cathy is an ecohydrologist exploring human dependencies and effects on freshwater systems. She collaborates on multiple research efforts, as well as teaches and advises for Western Washington University's College of the Environment.
Her global research focuses on sustaining freshwater goods and services under an ever-increasing human demand, in particular examining the roles of dams and inland fishing. Cathy is interested in the intersection of freshwater conservation and WASH science and policies within the international aid arena. More locally, her efforts have centered on instream flows, including hydrologic classification, climate change modeling, and applied water conservation planning.
Education:
PhD, Umeå University; MS, University of Washington; BMusic, Boston University
Mark Scheuerell
Associate Professor University of Washington
Job Titles:
- Kenzie River Steward and Owner of the Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene Wrote a Great Piece Sharing the Economic Impacts the River Democracy Act of 2021 Will Provide for the Great State.
Chris Daughters, McKenzie River Steward and owner of the Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene wrote a great piece sharing the economic impacts the River Democracy Act of 2021 will provide for the great state...
Dana Renton joined NFS in January 2021 as the Administrative Assistant and Membership Outreach Coordinator, and has recently added the role of Communication Coordinator to her title. As a lifelong native Oregonian, she has been exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest her whole life. Hiking, camping, fishing, rafting, and skiing have been her favorite hobbies for as long as she can remember.
Dana has her B.S. from Oregon State University with a degree in Environmental Science and a specialty in Aquatic Biology. After graduating, she was a biologist for an international seafood company working on promoting sustainable fisheries. She also had the pleasure to lead a high school study abroad program in the Carribean, where she taught students marine ecology and conservation biology, along with how to SCUBA dive, a passion of hers.
She has spent the majority of the last decade fishing for wild steelhead, particularly in the Deschutes and Umpqua Basins. Throughout that time she has gained a tremendous respect for the conservation of anadromous fisheries and their habitats. She cares about establishing and further aiding the protection of wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and helping others to do so as well alongside the NFS team and community.
Member Dave Kruse asked, "Another fish organization says they need to use wild stock for hatcheries. I'm not sure this is a good idea and would like your input." Dave's question arose from a...
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Doug is a public interest environmental lawyer and owner of Portal Food Co. He recently worked as the Wild Fish Advocate for Advocates for the West, in Portland, Oregon. Before joining Advocates, Doug completed a two-year legal fellowship at Earthrise Law Center, also in Portland. Doug received a B.S. in Conservation & Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2016. In law school, Doug earned a Certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law and focused on salmon and steelhead issues. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, fly tying, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Northern Oregon Coordinator
- the Northern Oregon Regional Coordinator
Liz joined the Native Fish Society as the Northern Oregon Regional Coordinator in January 2021. Previously, Liz worked as an environmental consultant in Calgary, Alberta, a visiting professor in Maryland and Oregon, and a scientific researcher in Vancouver, BC.
Liz grew up fishing, swimming, and playing in the upper Molalla River in northern Oregon. Family outings along the Nestucca, Willamette, Deschutes, and Crooked Rivers spurred an early fascination with wild, native salmonids and the habitats that support them. Thanks to the environmental advocacy of several of her relatives, Liz was introduced to environmental conservation at an early age and participated in monitoring programs even as a pre-teen. Liz recognizes that not everyone has been so warmly welcomed in environmental conservation, so she is always looking for ways to create a space for everyone in advocating for wild native fish and our homewaters.
Liz has a Bachelors in Biology from Reed College, a Masters in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Washington, and a PhD in River and Riparian Ecology from the Free University of Berlin (Germany). When Liz isn't working for Oregon's wild, native fish, she enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, painting, and writing children's stories about nature.
On Thursday, September 1st, 2022 NFS' own Northern Oregon Coordinator, Dr. Liz Perkin, provided an update on water quality, aquatic insects, and summer steelhead in the Deschutes River. We...
Do you own waterfront property or have a dock? If you do, you may want to consider removing any outdoor lighting at those locations, given the results of a recent study coauthored by Liz Perkin,...
Native Fish Society is thrilled to share that Liz Perkin has joined the team as the NFS Northern Oregon Regional Coordinator! We are excited that Liz brings her passion for the region and her...
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Oregon State University
Ivan's interests encompass stream ecology, limnology, hydrology, forestry, and watershed-level processes. In particular, he is interested in the consequences of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, biological invasions in freshwaters, and terrestrial-aquatic food webs. In addition, Ivan is interested in issues related to diversity and inclusion in sciences. Ivan is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University.
Education:
Post-Doctoral Scholar, 2010-2012
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS)
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
Doctorate in Forest Sciences, 2010
Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile
J. Michelle was raised on the north end of the Hood Canal in Washington State. She grew up fly fishing and exploring the gorgeous rivers of the Olympic Peninsula. In 2016, seeing a great need for more active cold-water conservationists, she started Oly Women on the Fly, a group that focuses on teaching women fly fishing and fly tying, as well as conservation and stewardship.
When not sharing her knowledge of the fly with the people, you can find her guiding for trout, salmon and steelhead, teaching rowing, or fishing for that magical unicorn of the water on her favorite North Olympic Rivers.
J. Michelle has her Masters from Bastyr University in Applied Behavioral Science, specializing in organizational development and leadership training. She joined NFS in September of 2018 as the Washington Regional Coordinator. J. Michelle lives in Olympia, Washington, with the best fishing dog in the world, Duncan.
Jeff Dose is a retired Fisheries Biologist and an outstanding wild fish advocate. For 31 years of his 35 year career Jeff worked in the Umpqua basin and for 24 years as the Fisheries Program...
Jeff taught himself to fly fish and tie flies when he was 10. Growing up in a lodge on Mt Hood that he helped his mom manage, he saved up his housekeeping wages to buy his first Spey rod at 12. Hitchhiking to the river before and after school, he was doomed to a life of fishing addiction. The strong addiction lead to fly shop employment, guiding in Oregon and Alaska and even management at a bonefishing lodge in the Bahamas. Jeff started his own guiding service, Fish The Swing in '11, to show his commitment to "swing only" and now owns and operates three well respected and sought after fishing/guiding programs in Oregon as well as Kimsquit Bay Lodge on the Dean River in British Columbia. Through Jeff's decades on the water he has become a dedicated advocate for the wild, native fish and free flowing rivers. Before joining the Native Fish Society board of directors he served for years as a River Steward volunteer on the Nehalem and Clackamas rivers.
Jeff Hickman, Nehalem River Steward and wild fish advocate wrote an opinion piece this month on his concerns for the future of wild fish in his homewaters. In this piece, Jeff shares the impacts of...
Jennifer joined NFS in 2018 in the role of Campaign & Columbia Regional Director before becoming the organization's Conservation Director in 2020. Jennifer's previous experience includes nonprofit environmental advocacy relating to federal public lands, assessing program outcomes for the EPA Office of Research & Development, and serving as a graduate intern to U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio. Jennifer received her M.A. in Public Policy from The George Washington University in 2009.
A childhood spent in rural Oregon inspired Jennifer's passion for the outdoors and the meaningful relationships that can develop between people and the places they inhabit. Jennifer maintains her connections to place and the Pacific Northwest through backpacking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and gardening. When not out adventuring, she and her husband work to restore their 120-year-old farmhouse and operate a small farm outside of Canby, Oregon.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair
- Law Partner at Annala
Jeremy is a Law Partner at Annala, Carey, & Hull in Hood River, Oregon, where he advises closely-held businesses in the Gorge. Prior to returning to his hometown, Jeremy spent 10 years at Nike, working in Finance, Real Estate and Strategy. After earning a JD and MBA at the University of Oregon, Jeremy worked at Obsidian Finance Group in Portland, developing utility-scale solar facilities across Oregon. He is also member of the Hood River Crag Rats, the oldest Search and Rescue group in the US, and sits on the ODFW Recreational Fishing Advisory Board. Jeremy is most happy watching water moving around him, and when not in the office you can find him trying to achieve his personal "Triple Double" - double digit days flyfishing, skiing and kiteboarding in the Gorge.
Job Titles:
- Owners
- Southern Oregon Coordinator
Jim McCarthy, the Southern Oregon Coordinator for WaterWatch of Oregon has been working on bringing the rule of law to owners of Winchester dam for the past three years. As recently shared with...
The Native Fish Society Board of Directors is proud to welcome its newest member Jodi Wilmoth. Jodi works in Environmental Consulting with a varied list of stake holders including private...
Jodi Wilmoth, the Little Deschutes River Steward for Native Fish Society and a member of our Women for Wild Fish Initiative, has always worked to protect native species be they fish or frogs. Jodi...
Kayla Lockhart first discovered fly fishing to help cope with her depression and anxiety from a difficult upbringing. Today fly fishing has not only given her the tools to help heal on the water, but has taken her across the globe in pursuit of some of the most remarkable species of fish.
In between these trips, Kayla assists with conservation efforts, advocating for a more inclusive space within the sport and organizations like the Native Fish Society and is the Lead mentor for the Portland chapter of the Mayfly project.
Job Titles:
- Southern Oregon Coordinator
Kirk Blaine joined NFS in March of 2020 as the Southern Oregon Regional Coordinator. Fairly new to the Pacific Northwest and Southern Oregon, Kirk made his way to the Native Fish Society working through community work focused on health and well-being in the Umpqua Valley. Previously, he was the Project Manager for Blue Zones Project Umpqua focused on transforming the community to live a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Born and raised in Wyoming, Kirk graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula with a B.S. in Business Administration focused on Marketing and Management. After school, Kirk moved to Colorado where he managed a private forest for diversification and regeneration of forest species. Kirk and his wife moved to Roseburg, Oregon in the spring of 2015 pursuing new careers to positively impact their community.
Outside of work, Kirk and his wife enjoy everything outdoors-skiing, rafting, hunting, fly fishing, and hiking. Kirk is excited to help conserve and protect wild places and wild fish for future generations to cherish and enjoy.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Safety Director
Kyan Bartel is a project manager and safety director for a construction firm specializing in general and specialty commercial construction. Growing up on the Molalla River as an outdoor enthusiast, Kyan immersed himself in nature through skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, and fly fishing. He continues to love the outdoors and combines that with a goal to preserve the wild as much as possible for future generations, especially his daughter. He received his bachelors of science degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University in 2010. Kyan enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, fly fishing, and drifting the rivers of the Pacific Northwest.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor University of Washington
Mark is an applied ecologist who integrates different data sources and analytical methods to study a variety of problems related to the conservation and management of aquatic resources, particularly along the west coast of North America. He collaborates closely with partners from tribal, government, and academic institutions in identifying and conducting research projects. He is also dedicated to conducting open, reproducible science.
Much of his research is focused on the development and application of statistical methods for analyzing temporal and spatial data. Examples of recent projects include integrated population models for Pacific salmon, evaluation of the risks and rewards of ecological portfolios, and assessing the effects of large-scale disturbances from natural and anthropogenic causes.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- the North Umpqua Coalition Media Contact
The Native Fish Society is one of the foremost organizations advocating for the protection and conservation of the Northwest's native fish and the habitats that sustain us all.
For more than six years Mark helped River Stewards channel their passion for their homewaters and wild fish into meaningful conservation. This included working with volunteers, staff, and NGO partners on conservation campaigns to reform hatchery practices on Oregon's Sandy River; establish Wild Steelhead Gene Banks in Washington; promote responsible catch and release practices through the Crush the Barb and Keep 'Em Wet campaigns, and working with local community members and leaders to protect thousands of rivers miles of critical salmon habitat in Oregon and California from the threat of mining.
Mark Sherwood joined the NFS staff in 2010 and has served the organization in a number of roles including Administrative and Development Assistant (2010), River Steward Program Director (2011-2014), Southern Regional Manager from (2014-2016) before his current position as Native Fish Society's Executive Director.
Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English Literature from Westmont College in 2007. During summers off, he worked the Arkansas River Valley in Colorado as a rafting, backpacking, climbing, and fly fishing guide. After graduation, Mark struck out on a childhood quest to live and fish in Argentina, which strangely also led him north to Bristol Bay, Alaska where he worked for two seasons as a commercial Sockeye Salmon fisherman. Fascinated with the intersection between wild salmon and Pacific Northwest cultures, Mark moved to Portland, OR in 2008 to help revive abundant wild fish. Since 2014, Mark has lived on Oregon's Wild Rivers Coast near Gold Beach, OR.
Remembering Mark Schmidt Mark Schmidt was one of Native Fish Society's original River Stewards and the first recipient of the River Steward of the Year Award. Mark was one of the most welcoming and...
Oregon City, OR | The Native Fish Society Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mark Sherwood has been promoted as the organization's new Executive Director."Mark's passion for wild...
Michael is an advertising executive with 20 years of marketing and branding experience. He spent 12 years at Wieden+Kennedy building strategies and integrated campaigns for some of the most iconic and beloved brands in the world, including Nike, Coca-Cola and Old Spice. He is currently the Director of Client Services at Opinionated, a start-up advertising agency in Portland. Michael is an avid outdoorsman and loves to share his passion for fly fishing with anyone who will listen. He enjoys exposing new people to fishing and feels there is an inherent and authentic connection you make with people when out on the river.
Coalition takes Army Corps to court over the future of the Willamette's anadromous fish The Willamette Valley is the most populous watershed in the state, home to about 70 percent of Oregonians....
Paul received his B.B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1967 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1975. Paul served in the U.S. Navy from 1967-1980. In 1983 Paul opened the Perkins Coie law office in Portland, where he worked for 30 years until his retirement in 2013. Paul served as a Director at Oregon Trout and continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Freshwater Trust. He joins the NFS Board of Directors looking forward to the opportunity to get closer to wild fish and wild fish issues.
Stephen James Cary May 6, 1946 - April 28, 2018 A good friend of the Native Fish Society passed away recently and we wish to briefly celebrate his life and contributions. Stephen Cary...
Job Titles:
- Director of Wild Steelhead Funding
Tom Derry joined the Native Fish Society staff in October 2005 as the Director of Wild Steelhead Funding. Tom and his wife Connie relocated to the Molalla River after years of living and working in central Oregon.
An ardent steelhead and trout angler and committed conservationist, Tom owned and operated the Kokanee Café for 11 years on the banks of the Metolius River in Camp Sherman. During his time on the Metolius, Tom was very active in fish conservation on both the Metolius and Deschutes rivers and was very involved in stopping the stocking of trout in the Metolius and returning it to a river managed for wild fish.
Through his years as a restaurant owner and fishing addict who frequents the great haunts of the Pacific Northwest, Tom has met many people from wide walks of life who share his concerns for native fish. Tom's many connections assist the Native Fish Society in growing its membership and financial base.
Born in Portland, Tom's recent return to the Willamette Valley finds him heavily involved in working to improve the Molalla River and its habitat for fish. In addition to his development duties, Tom serves as a NFS Molalla River Steward and is on the board of Molalla RiverWatch and the Molalla River Alliance.
Conservation and wild Fish are two things found deep in Tom Derry's heart. His passion and willingness to give back is portrayed through his work as a Molalla River Steward and the Director of Wild...
Job Titles:
- Operations, Women for Wild Fish
Tracy Buckner joined NFS in 2012 and quickly filled the role as Administrative and Development Coordinator, later becoming our Operations Manager, and Event Coordinator. Tracy co-founded the Women for Wild Fish initiative, which encourages and promotes women as leaders of science-based education, conservation, and wild fish advocacy.
A native Oregonian, Tracy has spent most of her life exploring the Pacific Northwest and seeking out the hidden gems of the area. Endless summer days fishing with her grandfather on the Deschutes and area lakes, as well as family trips to all corners of the Northwest helped shape her views on conservation and the need to preserve our natural resources. Tracy was fortunate enough to live abroad for 5 years and traveled extensively throughout Japan and the Far East. She has also spent time living in Arizona, Tennessee, and Connecticut - always searching for the road less traveled.
Tracy continues to foster her need for all things wild and free and gets out into the world at every opportunity. When they aren't out rooting for their favorite footy club, Tracy and her husband, an avid hunter, flytyer, and artist, love to pack up their little teardrop and hit the road searching for adventure…and wild, native fish!
Warner is a fourth generation Oregonian who is on the board of his family foundation, The Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1987 he took to the road less traveled to see the world with his trusted backpack. Over the years he's adventured to all seven continents and traveled to over 100 countries. His passion for the great outdoors and his love for fly-fishing fuels his desire for the preservation of wild fish for eternity. Long live the adipose fin!