Kris has spent 25 years working in the field of natural resources on issues related to rivers and watersheds. Kris started working for UDWC in 2019 and before that worked in Washington, Iowa and Kansas. For 11 years, Kris worked for The Nature Conservancy with seven years living in the Skagit River Valley in Washington State, managing collaborative projects and finding common ground between conservation and agricultural interests in the Puget Sound region. Between 2015 and 2019, Kris worked in his home state of Kansas as the Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy where he launched a new conservation program called Healthy Streams for Kansas and led the creation of the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Kris holds a B.S. degree from Drake University and a M.S. degree in Environmental Science from Iowa State University. Kris met his wife Wendy while previously living in Central Oregon and they stay busy outside of work raising three boys.
Kolleen has directed education, outreach, and fundraising activities for over 20 years. She has designed, managed, and taught experiential environmental education courses for youth and community members throughout Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Kolleen has spearheaded community-based stream restoration projects, orchestrated large fundraising and outreach events, and designed collaborative conservation education programs throughout Central Oregon. She is committed to developing relationships with community members, local businesses, and donors to raise awareness and support for our restoration, monitoring, and education programs. Kolleen holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a M.A. in English Studies with an emphasis in Ecocritical Analysis from Western Washington University. As the Education and Development Director, Kolleen oversees the education and outreach programs for thousands of students and community members each year in addition to providing leadership for fundraising events, corporate sponsorships, and other philanthropic activities in Central Oregon.
Mathias has a diverse background in project management in environmental and water resource consulting. Before joining the UDWC in 2008, Mathias worked with Newton Consultants, Inc. concentrating on forming strong ties with Deschutes Basin stakeholders and implementing projects in water resources, conservation and groundwater. Mathias holds an M.S. in Hydrologic Sciences and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering both from the University of California, Davis and a B.S. in Geology from the University of Delaware.
Lauren came to UDWC from Flagstaff, AZ, where she collaborated with the Grand Canyon Trust and Kaibab National Forest to study the effects of post-fire livestock grazing and management in southwestern forests. Lauren previously worked extensively in outdoor and environmental science education, including seven years with Outward Bound as a course director and instructor, where she facilitated staff and participant groups to develop and achieve common goals and objectives in wilderness, workplace, and family settings. She also worked as a field technician for the Institute for Bird Populations. Lauren holds a M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Northern Arizona University and a B.A. in French Language and Literature from Earlham College.
Casey has spent over 15 years in the Deschutes basin working on issues related to fish, wildlife, and watershed management. Prior to joining the UDWC in 2023, Casey worked for the Deschutes National Forest for nine years supporting projects monitoring, preserving, and restoring critical fish and wildlife habitat. His background also includes advising for natural resource protection during wildland fire and is a scientific SCUBA diver. Casey worked with the Native Fish Investigations and Warm Water Fisheries programs for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2012 to 2014. Casey holds a B.S. degree in Natural Resources from Oregon State University Cascades and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Central Oregon Community College. As the Stream Restoration Project Manager, Casey is excited for the opportunity to contribute his expertise and to continue the collaborative approach to watershed restoration.
Michael is an outdoor adventurer and activist who wanted to give back to the river environment that means the most to him. He went back to school in his adult life to obtain a degree in natural resource conservation at OSU-Cascades which ultimately led him to the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. At the Watershed Council, he has the privilege to work in stream restoration through the continuous monitoring program which allows him to roam and work in an ecosystem that feels quite at home to him!
