Jake Seavert

Family:
Jake and his wife, Kim, live on their cattle ranch in the Grande Ronde Valley. They have two sons.

Education:

• Studied Agriculture at Eastern Oregon University
• Union County Commissioner
• Cattle Rancher
• Also serves on:
    -Union County Weed Board & Tri-County Weed Board
    -Eastern Oregon Jobs Council
    -Northeast Oregon Economic Development District Board
    -Union County Cattleman’s Association (President & Animal Health/ID Committee Member)

Role at GRMW:
Selected as GRMW’s Board of Directors Union County Commissioner representative

Paul Anderes

Family:
Wife, Kelly of 25 years
Daughter, Callahan – OSU Ag Ed Master’s Program
Son, Bern – BMCC Student and Wildland Firefighter

Education:
Roseburg High School
Linn-Benton Community College
BS – OSU, Ag Education
MS – OSU, Ag Education

Work Experience:
31+ years Agriculture and Natural Resources
Teacher at Adrian High School
Teacher at La Grande High School
Union County Commissioner

Interest in GRMW:
As a County Commissioner, I look forward to working with GRMW.

JD Cant

Family:

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW:

Phil Howell

Education:

• Rockhurst University
• BA English
• University of Missouri
• MA Journalism Fish and Wildlife

Work Experience:

High School and University (OSU) teaching
• Magazine writing, photography, cinematography, television production
• Project leader, Native Trout Studies, Research Section, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Fisheries biologist/Aquatic ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Umatilla National Forest
• Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Region (retired)

Expertise:
Salmonid biology, ecology, and habitat; collaboration with natural resource agencies and organizations and universities

Memberships
American Fisheries Society

Current Activities
Trout research and management
Mangrove conservation in Mexico and El Salvador

Norm Cimon

Family:
Married to Shelley with two children, James and Jess. We were foster parents to many children for the first 15 years after our move to La Grande in 1980. We adopted one of those kids, and then had one of our own. This past summer we were delighted to participate in the wedding of a young woman who stayed with us the longest of any of our foster kids, and who we’ve kept in touch with over the years. That was wonderful. I grew up in New England, and Shelley is from California originally. We met in Corvallis, years ago, an Oregon State University where I’d come for graduate work.

Education:
I started my under-graduate studies at Boston College, in the late 60s. Those were interrupted by the Vietnam War and I ended up casting my lot with the US Air Force, learning electronics and navigation systems at Keesler Air Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1970.

Two years later while deployed in Okinawa, my name popped up on a computer list of French speakers, something I learned from my French Canadian mother before I could speak English. The other name for SE Asia during colonial times was French Indochina. It was the second language for many in that part of the world, and I ended up interpreting for forward air control along the Mekong River and its delta, taking a few lessons in piloting the OV-10 Bronco along the way. We did a good enough job of dodging rockets that I made it back to Nellis AFB for a final tour of duty in Las Vegas, Nevada courtesy of the AF.

There, I resumed work on a dual degree in mathematics and physics at UNLV, eventually settling on the former. My working experience came as a computer programmer hired as a student, both for private industry and for the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency. That work was fascinating and all-consuming.

We were doing baseline studies for water quality around the West, and monitoring air emissions from copper smelters which were then completely un-regulated. Our scientists found the first signature of airborne cadmium, along with sulfur and mercury, coming from the Anaconda, Montana smelter. Those emissions and others were responsible for a 50-mile swath of de-vegetation, leading away from the smelter in the direction of the prevailing winds.

Five years later I worked my way into a graduate position at Oregon State University, in mathematics. That’s how I got here. I made my way North to get out from under the development machine that was covering that sere but exquisitely beautiful part of the Mojave with housing tracts. I heard about land-use planning and that led to my decision.

As a favor to my boss, I was an advance man for the company I was then working for. They were thinking of putting in a bid for the grass-burning impact study that Oregon was proposing in the late 70s. I came to Corvallis in 1978, met with the then head of Oregon’s DEQ, and put myself out of a job. The state had none of the mathematically based computer tools, ones that they’d agreed too, ready to go. Those were needed for our company to do the analysis. I thanked my boss for the opportunity, but we said goodbye. Instead I ended up programming for a very small Corvallis company for a half-year. After that came my graduate work in mathematics at OSU.

Work Experience:
I’ve worked as a plumber’s assistant (not a helper!), a stock clerk, a cab driver, cutting sugar cane, as a busboy in Las Vegas, and as a nav systems tech working on intertial and Doppler-radar systems. I’ve also taught algebra (OSU, EOU), calculus (OSU), and finite mathematics (EOU).

I jumped on the federal register while at OSU, and found a job at the Forestry and Range Sciences lab here in La Grande, Oregon as a jack of all trades: a computer programmer; an equipment repair tech; a mathematician; a computer network designer; a database designer and programmer; and as a systems analyst. Data management for the Starkey Project became the end-all and be-all starting in the late 80s and extending into my retirement in 2007. Twenty-six years shot by.

I still keep my hand in with work through my own company, on contract with both private and governmental organizations.

These days I also help with finance and do the accounting for a local non-profit, living inside of QuickBooks for a few hours every week.

Interest in GRMW:
Water is the only reason any of us get to live in the interior west of North America, and the Grande Ronde Model Watershed is all about water. Intelligent management of that gift to what is after all a drier part of the world is the key to long-term sustainability. It’s what can make this a viable place for every plant, animal, and person to have as a home.

As the environmental representative on the board, I’m proud of my association with the dedicated individuals of organizations such as HCPC. Their very knowledgeable and professional staff work for peanuts to make that vision come to pass. It’s all about the ecology of water.

Aric Johnson

Family:

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW:

Joe McCormack

Family:
Joe has one son and three grandchildren. He has lived near Joseph Or. for 25 years, originally from the Spokane Washington area. He is a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran and a Nez Perce Tribal Member.

Education:

• Attended Spokane Falls CC, Eastern Washington State University, Blue Mountain CC, College of Southern Idaho, Eastern Oregon State University, Oregon State University, with interests in Art, environment and Fisheries

Work Experience:

• Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries (Research)
• Tribal Commercial Fisher
• Cattleman
• Ture Guide sharing Nez Perce Tribe History in The Wallowa’s
• Worked in the Alaska Commercial Fisheries
• Owned a Sub Contracting Business in Spokane (Floor Covering, Carpet & Vinyl, Cory Tile and Ceramic Inst., and Formica counter tops)
• Boards
• Nez Perce Homeland Project
• ICAPS (International Center for Applied Postural Science)
• NEOEDD
• Wallowa Land Trust (past Charter Board member, currently Lands Committee)
• Wallowa Resources (past board member)
• The Nature Conservancy Wallowa County Advisory Board
• Lions Club
• Eagle Cap Ski Club

Interest in GRMW:
Appointed by the Nez Perce Tribe with interest regarding Treaty Resources, particularly water, watershed health, Salmon, steelhead, Lamprey and ecological systems, and human interaction on the Grande Ronde, Minam, Wallowa and Imnaha River sub basins.

Katie Frenyea

Family:
Born and raised in upstate New York. Moved to La Grande in 2001. Currently live in Joseph OR with significant other and 6-year old step-daughter.

Education:

• Associates Applied Science (Aquatic Science) – SUNY Morrisville, New York
• B.S. Fisheries Management – Auburn University, Alabama

Work Experience:

• College – Fish hatchery in New York and USDA Aquatic Animal Health Lab in Auburn Alabama
• ODFW – EBA 2 ½ years – spawning surveys, hatchery, lab work, etc.
• NPT – Bio 1 watershed, tech II research – snorkeling, spawning and habitat surveys, cryopreservation, captive brood, hatchery, etc. – 4 ½ years
• USWCD – 5 years, 2 = Conservationist and 3 – Manager

Interest in GRMW:
Alternate on Board while with the Nez Perce Tribe. Board Member for 4 years. Stay current with science, restoration approaches and private landowner interests and projects (agricultural and otherwise). She believes that partnership and communication are key for successful healthy watershed management and that all interests based in natural resources be represented.

Allen Childs

Family:
Allen is married to Julie. They have three children, Cody, Jacey and Eli.

Education:

• B.S. Science, Biology at Eastern Oregon State University
• A.S. Science, Fish and Wildlife Eastern Utah State University

Work Experience:

• 1987-1993 – USFS Wallowa-Whitman Fisheries and Wildlife Technician and NEPA Staff
• 1993-Present – CTUIR: Grande Ronde Fish Habitat Project Biologist/Leader. Current experience and responsibilities – Manage CTUIR’s Grande Ronde Fish Habitat Program, including working with landowners to develop project opportunities, project planning, design, implementation, and administration, land acquisition, and conservation property management.
• Board Member, Member of Science Tech Team and the Implementation Team

Interest in GRMW:
Promote watershed restoration and recovery of fishery resources. Promote CTUIR First Foods and River Vision that encompasses enhancing and restoring watershed processes and functions, including: floodplain connectivity; wetlands/riparian; habitat complexity and diversity and instream flow that supports aquatic resources.

Dave Yost

Family:
Dave is married to Marianne. They have two daughters, Megan and Anna. Megan is married to Jerry Cobb and they have a son Coyle. Anna is married to Odo Grandi.

Education:

• Agricultural Education Degree at Oregon State University

Work Experience:

• Ag Instructor for 29 years
• Retired for 3 years

Interest in GRMW:
A positive way to help my home community of Wallowa County.

Larry Nall

Family:
Larry is married to Sharon and they have two grown sons, Ryan and Tyler. Both are living in the Pacific Northwest with their respective families.

Education:

• B.S. Forest Management – Washington State University 1970

Work Experience:

• 38 years owning and operating a forest management business, specializing in forest inventory, reforestation, and timber stand improvement
• Since 2008, lead auditor working with certified forest owners and wood product manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada

Interest in GRMW:
Long-term enhancement of anadromous fish habitat, with the intent to ensure that local projects adhere to good science, with monitoring to evaluate improvement in fish population numbers and quality.

Jed Hassinger

Family:
Jed grew up on his family’s farm North of Cove, along Catherine Creek. His father, Phil, farmed while his mother, Trudy, taught school in Cove and La Grande. Jed lives in Cove with his wife, Amy, and their two sons, Rowan and Cael. He and his brother, Seth, currently operate the family farm.

Education:

• Graduated from Cove High School in 1994
• Graduated from University of Oregon in 1999 with B.S. in Biology

Work Experience:

• Chemist, Helix Research, Eugene, 1999-2003
• Chemist, AVI BioPharma, Corvallis, 2003-2010
• Farmer, Hassinger Farms (Family Farm), Cove, 2010-present

Interest in GRMW:
His interest is in representing interest of agricultural community, while improving the quality of the local environment.

Jeff Yanke

Family:
Married to Janell, who teaches first grade at Enterprise Elementary. We have two boys, Bryce and Brandon. We find our passion exploring the mountains and canyons of the Western US, chasing water in whatever seasonal form it takes.

Education:

• Waukesha North High School (Waukesha, WI)
• B.S. in Biology, University of Wisconsin La Crosse
• M.S. in Fishery Resources, University of Idaho

Work Experience:

• 1999-2003: Fisheries/Field Technician for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Onalaska, WI), Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Salmon, ID)
• 2003-2005: Research Assistant / Graduate Student (Moscow, ID)
• 2005-2009: Fisheries Research Biologist, ODFW (Enterprise, OR)
• 2009-Current: District Fish Biologist, ODFW (Enterprise, OR)

Interest in GRMW:
As a fisheries biologist for ODFW, the GRMW has always been an essential partner in our common goal of protecting and enhancing habitat. Since 2005, I have worked with the GRMW to plan, guide, and implement restoration projects, particularly in Wallowa County. My role has varied widely, and included technical review, fish salvage, landowner relations, permitting, and feeding local fisheries knowledge into project design. In addition, I have assisted the GMRW as a member of BPA Expert Panel and ATLAS development teams.

My intent as a board member is to continue building upon my prior experience to steer the GMRW towards restoration projects that maximize biological, economic, and social benefits; and to support GRMW staff as they promote sound watershed stewardship in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha basins.

Winston Morton

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW:

Lisa Collier

Family:

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW:

Jim Webster

Family:
Jim married his high school sweetheart Gita in 1989 and they have two daughters, Rachelle and Jaqueline.

Education:

• Graduated from Imbler High School in 1988.
• B.S. Biology and Chemistry at Eastern Oregon State College (EOU)
• M.S. (ABT) Forest Engineering and Hydrology at Oregon State University

Employment History:

• 1990-1998 USFS Wallowa-Whitman NF, Biological Technican and District Hydrologist
• 1998-2006 Umatilla Tribes Environmental Planning Program, Wildland Hydrologist
• 2006-2013 Umatilla Tribes Fisheries Program, Fish Habitat Program Supervisor
• 2013-2017 GeoEngineers, Inc., Senior Hydrologist and Project Manager
• 2017-Present Union Soil and Water Conservation District, District Manager

Associations and Memberships:

• Grande Ronde Model Watershed Implementation Team
• Umatilla Basin Watershed Council Technical Team
• OWEB Region 6 Technical Review Team
• Mid-Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan Implementation Team
• Snake River Recovery Board Regional Technical Team
• National Riparian Service Team, Oregon PFC Teaching Cadre

Interest in GRMW:
Growing up in the farming and ranching lifestyle of the Grande Ronde Valley and valuing fisheries and wildlife, I am interested in maintaining a vibrant agricultural economy while restoring and protecting natural resources. Creating solutions that meet the multiple goals of stakeholders requires effective communication and common understanding of the socioeconomic and watershed conditions. The organization of the GRMW provides an important opportunity for collaboration to develop working solutions.

Aaron Bliesner

Landowner Technical Assistance

• Assist Union County landowners, district and partnership staff in a friendly, positive, personable manner and maintain positive, effective working relationships.
• Provide landowners technical assistance in developing detailed project plans and schedules which implement voluntary soil and water quality conservation principles and practices.
• Understanding of regulations and policies to develop appropriate technical recommendations with landowners, District, and partnership agency staff.
• Assist landowners and partner agencies to comply with all local, state, and federal regulations such as: NEPA, ESA, Privacy Act, and Oregon Ag Water Quality requirements.

Project Management

• Serves as a project team member to assist landowners and partnership agencies with development and review of project data, modeling, concept through final design, and construction including costs estimation, budgets, and timeline scheduling.
• Serves as lead contracting officer coordinating with contractors and partnership agencies to implement project construction and restoration activities.
• Understanding of contract project specifications such as: construction site parameters, field survey data, stream profiles, cross sections, vegetative cover and water quality data, computer downloading, and maintaining quality assurance of field data.
• Review and direct construction work including grade checking and stakeout consistent with engineering drawings and specifications.
• Monitor and .inspect all projects for quality assurance to complete projects within grant budgets, timelines, and specifications.
• Understanding of technical guides such as the USDA NRCS Technical Standards and the Field Office Technical Guide to implement conservation projects within the District.
• Understanding of regulations and policies to ensure appropriate project construction methods are implemented.
• Assist conducting construction contractor and partnership agency site tours.
• Prioritize and schedule daily work tasks, meetings, landowner and staff contacts, site visits, field construction and contractor work.
• Maintain District equipment and supplies.
• Perform other job related duties as assigned by the District Manager and Board of Directors.

Technical Writing:

• Effectively communicate using correct English grammar, spelling, and punctuation to produce written and visual materials.
• Write detailed and accurate project grant proposals, including budgets and cost analysis for funding sources such as OWEB, ODA, BOR, and BPA.
• Write detailed and accurate project contracts, schedules, agreements, work statements, and monitoring, quarterly, and completion reports.
• Document projects and own work time for payroll and funding reports.
• Operate various computers, copiers, office tools, and photographic and audio-visual equipment.

Education:

• Bachelor degree in Forestry with an emphasis on riparian management, Humboldt State University
• Masters Education in Watershed Management, Humboldt State University

Morgan Olson

Family:
Morgan lives with his girlfriend, April, along Catherine Creek with their menagerie of animals including six mules, one horse, and 12 hounds. April has three dogs and a cat.

Education:

• Holds two degrees from Oregon State University (at EOU) in Range Land Management and Crop Science.
• Currently the Production Manager at La Grande sawmill and particle board plant, now owned by Woodgrain
• Also serves as:
    -Hunter representative for ODFW’s Access and Habitat Board.
    -Habitat/Conservation Director for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
    -Board Member for Wallowa Mountain Hells Canyon Trails Association.
    -Chapter President for the Union/Wallowa County Chapter of Oregon Hunters Association.
    -ODFW Bear and Cougar Agent

Role at GRMW:

• Selected as GRMW’s new Economic Development and Industry Representative in August 2023.
• Joined GRMW Board due to curiosity about large wood additions to the Upper Grande Ronde River and habitat restoration efforts.
• Brings valuable management and timber industry experience.

John Hillock

Family:

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW:

Stephaney Kerley

Family:

Education:

Work Experience:

Interest in GRMW: