Trinity River Adaptive Management Working Group - Biographies
Mr. Steve Anderson
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management
Interest Group: Natural resources land management agency
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Anderson works for a federal land management agency with significant land holdings in the Trinity Basin and would help reflect the geographic diversity of the basin and represent public trust interests. As Field Manager of the Bureau of Land Management field office responsible for BLM lands in the Trinity River Basin, Mr. Anderson has knowledge of the Trinity River and its watersheds and resources.
Mr. Edgar Duggan
Director, Willow Creek Community Services District
Interest Group: Small businesses and economic development on the lower Trinity River
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Duggan has served on the Willow Creek Community Services District since 1991, and was appointed to the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission in 1997. He has represented the small businesses and communities along the lower Trinity River before the Klamath Fisheries Management Council, and is an active fishing guide. Mr. Duggan has developed a reputation for bringing together diverse groups and getting consensus.
Mr. James Feider
Electric Utility Director, City of Redding, CA
Interest Group: Electrical power customers in northern California
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Feider has extensive experience in management and policy development related to hydro resources that are directly applicable to the Trinity River Restoration Program. He was recently elected as President of the California Municipal Utilities Association, and has a reputation for working collaboratively toward balanced decisions. As former Power Operations Manager for Reclamation’s Central Valley Operations Coordination Office, he gained firsthand knowledge of the Trinity River Division through his day-to-day responsibilities for power generation at Trinity, and Keswick power plants in concert with downstream water releases for both the Trinity and Sacramento Rivers.
Mr. Patrick Frost
District Manager, Trinity County Resource Conservation District
Interest Group: Landowner-focused watershed conservation and restoration
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Frost has an extensive knowledge of the Trinity River, its watersheds, and associated resources gained through his active participation in the technical subcommittees of the restoration program during the past three years. Mr. Frost has a graduate degree in biology, professional experience in adaptive management, and has demonstrated his ability to work collaboratively with competing and divergent interests.
Mr. Dan Haycox
Self-employed miner (gold dredging)
Interest Group: Gold dredgers on the North Fork and mainstem Trinity Rivers
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Haycox has been a resident of Trinity County for 24 years and has been actively dredging on the Trinity River for most of that time. Mr. Haycox is an enthusiastic educator on the subject of gold mining, and is well aware of the concerns expressed about the impacts his livelihood may have on salmon and steelhead spawning habitat. He supports the proactive approach taken by the Miners Alliance to better understand the impacts of dredging on fisheries, invertebrates, and river morphology.
Ms. Ann Hayden
Water Resource Analyst, Environmental Defense
(Alternate for Spreck Rosekrans)
Interest Group: Environmental Community
Biography and Qualifications: As a specialist in water resource management, Ms. Hayden has conducted analyses of state-wide instream flow requirements, and has analyzed and monitored water operations and policies to ensure protection of aquatic resources and habitats. She has regularly interacted and collaborated with agencies and various organizations on water management issues including the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program. Her experience in these areas makes her an excellent candidate as an alternate for Mr. Rosekrans.
Ms. Dana Hord
Board Member, Big Bar Community Development Group
Interest Group: Small river-related businesses
Biography and Qualifications: Ms. Hord has a degree in sociology, and a wide variety of experience in small business management, grants administration, and public relations. She has been actively involved in the transition of the local economy from one focused on commodity production to one that is more dependent on tourism and recreation. As Coordinator of the Downriver Resource Center, she has helped organize, obtain grant funding, and promote several new activities and events that take advantage of the opportunities provided by the river and its fisheries.
Mr. Byron Leydecker
Chair, Trinity River Division California Trout, Inc
Interest Group: Wild trout protection and sport fishing
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Leydecker has been actively involved with Trinity River issues for many years, including service on the former Trinity River Task Force as the sport fishing representative. He was the chair of the former Friends of the Trinity River, is now chair of the Trinity River Division of California Trout, Inc., and has the support of every major sport fishing group in the State. He has worked with other non-governmental organizations to support restoration activities on the Trinity River, and has been recognized with several awards for his efforts.
Mr. Richard Lorenz
Trinity County resident
Interest Group: Long-term local resident
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Lorenz is the fourth generation of his family to reside, own property, and work in Trinity County. Mr. Lorenz has a bachelors degree in agricultural business and a masters in business administration. He has served on a wide variety of technical and policy advisory committees associated with resource and land management issues in the Colusa, CA area, including the Sacramento River Conservation Area Technical Committee, the Family Water Alliance, and the Yuba College Agriculture Advisory Committee. Through these groups he has gained experience in consensus building and the use of scientific research to find reasonable solutions.
Mr. Joseph Neil
Retired, local resident
(Alternate for Byron Leydecker)
Interest Group: Wild trout protection and sport fishing
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Neil has demonstrated leadership ability with his 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force, and 10-year career with the California Conservation Corps as a Project Supervisor and Center Administrator. Mr. Neil has experience working with governmental agencies on many levels on watershed restoration projects. He is familiar with the Trinity River by virtue of living along the river and being an avid fisherman. Mr. Neil's leadership skills, familiarity with watershed restoration, and local knowledge would make him a very capable alternate for Mr. Leydecker.
Mr. Spreck Rosekrans
Senior Analyst, Environmental Defense
Interest Group: Environmental Community
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Rosekrans has been committed to the protection and restoration, of aquatic resources in California and other western states for more than two decades. He has been involved in the Central Valley Improvement Act since its inception and is involved in the Bay-Delta Accord. He has served on several committees involving CVPIA implementation and has analyzed the project operations necessary to meet measures identified by the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program.
Mr. Steve Rothert
Associate Director, Dam Programs, American Rivers
(Alternate for Elizabeth Soderstrom)
Interest Group: Scientific interests in river restoration
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Rothert's academic background in ecology, and wildlands resources science is well-suited to the issues addressed by the Working Group. He has worked with diverse groups to develop improved management plans for large dams with the goal of restoring fisheries and general river health, including such work on the Klamath River. Mr. Rothert's knowledge of regulated rivers, fluvial geomorphology, and environmental planning, along with recognition of the links between the Trinity and Klamath river systems would bring valuable expertise to the Working Group.
Mr. James Spear
District Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Interest Group: Natural resource land management agency
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Spear has a degree in soil science, and has worked for the NRCS in the Trinity River basin since 1990. As District Conservationist, he manages the delivery of USDA cost-share programs to landowners in Trinity County. Mr. Spear served as the NRCS representative on the former Trinity River Task Force, and has been actively involved in restoration activities in Grass Valley Creek and the South Fork Trinity River. He has extensive local knowledge of the resource issues, has experience in adaptive management, and has been very effective in building consensus among various interests.
Mr. David Steinhauser
Owner, Trinity River Rafting, Inc.
Interest Group: Trinity River whitewater outfitters and guides
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Steinhauser has owned and operated a whitewater rafting business for the past 15 years. In this capacity he has provided instruction in boating, river safety, and environmental awareness. He is presently a member of the Six River Outfitter and Guide Association, which represents those businesses permitted to operate on the Trinity River by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Mr. Steinhauser has closely followed the evolution of the restoration program, and participated in a variety of hearings and meetings.
Mr. Tom Weseloh
Northcoast Manager California Trout, Inc.
Interest Group: Trout conservation and fishing
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Weseloh has been actively involved with Trinity River issues for many years. He has worked as a sportfishing guide, whitewater rafting guide, and professional fisheries advocate. He has served on a variety of policy and technical advisory committees, working with other non-governmental organizations to support restoration activities on the Trinity River, and has been recognized with several awards for his efforts.
Mr. Arnold Whitridge
River Issues Specialist, Trinity County Planning Department
Interest Group: Forest management and water quality issues
Biography and Qualifications: Mr. Whitridge is a long-time Trinity County resident, business owner, and former member of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors. He has also served on a variety of policy and technical advisory committees. Mr. Whitridge is very familiar with Trinity River issues, having served on the former Task Force from 1990 to 1996. His ability to work constructively with people of different perspectives is evidenced by his repeated appointment to a wide variety of boards and committees that deal with contentious issues.