Lynn Palensky

President, Term 2012-2015

University of Washington, B.S. Fisheries Science; Troy State University, M.P.A.

Lynn works for the Portland-based Northwest Power and Conservation Council, where she coordinates the ongoing scientific review of the Council’s Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The program annually directs more than $200 million of federal hydropower revenue to projects that protect and enhance fish and wildlife in the Basin. Lynn has 16 years of experience working in collaborative, multi-agency fish and wildlife grant, mitigation, planning, and habitat acquisition programs. She led a four-state effort to develop 62 subbasin plans that were amended into the fish and wildlife program in 2004 and 2005.  She has coordinated several events including art shows and fundraisers, and was the founder and Race Director for an 8k run in Washington State. Lynn is also on the Board of the Portland-based Salmon Safe, Inc. Lynn, her husband Phil, and dog Dodie, spend their free time fishing Oregon rivers.

 

Gary Hibler

Vice President, Term 2012-2015

University of Oregon, PhD Chemistry, 1972

Gary is the recently retired President of Jensen Investment Management, a Portland based asset management firm. He remains on the Board of Directors for the Jensen Portfolio, a no load equity mutual fund. Gary also works with the University of Oregon’s Lindquist College of Business where he is part of a group helping the University start a Center for Sustainable Business Practices. The center’s goal is to build leaders who know how to balance social, environmental and financial responsibilities. The center is up and running and has its first group of Masters candidates enrolled.
 
 

Mary Lou Soscia

Secretary, Term 2010-2013

University of Maryland, M.A. Geography, 1982; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.A. Geography, 1975

Mary Lou Soscia is the Columbia River Coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10.  She leads the Columbia River Toxics Reduction Strategy, the Columbia River Toxics Reduction Working Group, and the implementation of the 2010 Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan. She also led the collaboration for the Oregon Water Quality Standards Human Health criteria revision. Mary Lou has had over thirty years of experience with state, federal, and tribal government in watershed and river management issues.

 

Karl G. Anuta

Term 2010-2013

Lewis and Clark College, J.D., 1986; Lewis & Clark College, B.S., 1981

Karl is the Owner of the Law Offices of Karl Anuta, PC. Karl is also on the Board of Friends of Mt. Hood and Board member and President of Northwest Environmental Defense Center. Karl was formerly on the Board of Pacific Rivers Council and the Environmental Advisory Board of the US Army Corps, Portland District.

 

Elizabeth Furse

Term 2011-2014

Evergreen State College, B.A., 1974

Elizabeth is well known in the Pacific Northwest as an educator, public servant, and lifelong activist for Native American rights, peace, social justice, and the environment. Elizabeth co-founded the National Coalition to Support Indian Treaties and later directed the tribal restoration project for the Native American Program of Oregon Legal Services. She eventually coordinated the successful passage of legislation to restore the federal status of the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, the Klamath Tribes, and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw. In 1980 she co-founded the Oregon Peace Institute, promoting education and resources for peace and nonviolent conflict resolution. In 1992 she was elected to the U.S. Congress representing Oregon’s First Congressional District where she served 3 terms before retiring in 2000. Elizabeth co-founded Columbia RiverKeeper and also co-founded and directed the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University. She currently serves on the Warm Springs Enterprise & Casino Board and the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Tamastslikt Cultural Institute Board. She is co-owner of Helvetia Vineyard and Winery, located in Washington County.

 

Bryan Sohl

Term 2010-2013

UCSD School of Medicine, M.D., 1984; UC Davis, B.S., 1980

Bryan is the Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, and an Assistant Clinical Professor at OHSU School of Medicine in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Family Medicine. Bryan is a Member of Tom McCall Society of 1000 Friends of Oregon, a major contributor to Earthjustice and American Rivers and an avid fly-fisher. Bryan currently resides in Ashland, Oregon.

 

Jeff Curtis

Term 2012-2015

Louisiana State Law School, J.D.

Jeff is a former Executive Director of WaterWatch.  He has held influential policy positions in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Congress, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. His accomplishments include representing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Congressional negotiations on the Endangered Species Act amendments of 1978 and 1979, serving as Counsel for six years for the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment, where, in addition to a working on number of environmental initiatives, he drafted strengthening language for the Endangered Species Act (including removing economics from species listing considerations). Jeff has served as chief policy advisor to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission on the U.S.-Canada Salmon Treaty and as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He also served as the Western Conservation Director for Trout Unlimited.

 

Paul Franklin

Term 2012-2015

Eastern Oregon College, B.S. History and Political Science, 1970

Paul is the Senior Consultant on Direct Marketing for the Learning Resources Network (LERN) and is a top North American expert on the marketing of lifelong learning programs. Paul’s professional background is long and varied and includes stints as a college administrator and business owner. Since the 1970s, he has developed, coordinated and promoted thousands of training programs, seminars and conferences as a consultant, a managing partner in a high volume seminar company and for the past eight years in his part-time role with LERN. Paul formerly served on the Board of the Native Fish Society and a Portland business. He is an avid angler, conservationist and development specialist.

 

Gary Shelton

Term 2011-2014

California Polytechnic University, B.S. Accounting; Licensed CPA in Idaho, Oregon and California since 1978

Gary has been a CPA for over 30 years and either owned or been a partner in various businesses including a 2,200 acre alfalfa and potato farm South of Klamath Falls, a corporation with exclusive business rights on Lake San Antonio in California, a whitewater rafting and fly fishing outfitter running the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho, and mini-storage complexes in Idaho. Currently, he is working in a reduced role as a CPA and Certified Financial Planner for individuals and businesses providing estate and income tax planning as well as long range financial planning and asset allocation. He  He has served on various non-profit boards and volunteered as needed for other entities. His passions include fly fishing, bird hunting, Nordic skiing and road cycling and mountain biking. Gary currently resides in Bend, Oregon.

 

Bob Hunter

Term 2011-2014

University of Michigan, B.S., 1975; University of Michigan, J.D., 1978

In addition to a career in private practice, Bob has been with WaterWatch as a Staff Attorney, Board Member or Board President for over twenty-five years. Bob’s vision and commitment to rivers can be seen in the results of his work. Bob drafted Oregon’s Instream Water Rights Act, the visionary law that provides legal protection for water instream. Bob also played a key role in starting the water trust movement now found across the West. Bob led WaterWatch’s Free the Rogue Campaign, the most successful river restoration campaign in the nation and was the primary force behind the removal of Savage Rapids Dam from the Rogue River. This Campaign removed four major dams from the Rogue Basin and completed the largest instream conversion of water rights in Oregon’s history at Savage Rapids Dam. Bob’s work has been recognized many times. He has been awarded the Leopold Award, the highest national conservation award from the Federation of Fly Fishers. He has also been named a National River Hero by River Network and has received conservation awards from the federal government for his work on Oregon’s rivers.

 

Matt Deniston

Term 2011-2014

California Polytechnic State University, Engineering B.S.

Matt is the Founder of and Partner in Sitka Technology Group, a growing software development firm in Portland, OR. Matt and Sitka specialize in developing custom software for sustainability-focused businesses, government entities and non-profit organizations. An avowed conservationist, Matt can often be found flyfishing a favorite river, kayaking or biking. Matt lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, two kids, two rabbits and four chickens.

 

Jean Edwards

Term 2012-2015

University of California, Davis, B.A., Zoology, 1974

Jean has extensive experience working with policy makers and the scientific community to improve mutual understanding of complex natural resource management issues. Her recent career has focused on the Endangered Species Act, salmonid harvest, fish hatcheries, habitat and hydroelectric energy activities. Jean currently manages the Tribal Leadership Forum and much of her work is consulting with rural eastern Oregon communities on development issues. Prior to this, Jean spent two years as a congressional staffer focused on natural resources and energy legislation.  Her experience also includes work for tribes as a fisheries biologist and technical expert in treaty fishing rights negotiations and litigation. Jean and her husband Phil also operate a commercial blueberry farm and raise pack mules in Washington County, Oregon.

 

Jeff DeVore

Term 2012 – 2015

San Diego State University, B.A. Mathematics and M.A. English, 1974

Jeff spent his career as a systems/software engineer in Southern California. Jeff has a long history of community involvement including original member of the Poway Planning and Development Program Executive Committee; member of the Xerox Computer Users Group Executive Committee (when Xerox made computers); President and Cofounder of the Bernardo Youth Soccer Organization; and member of the Green Valley Civic Association Board of Directors. Since moving to Oregon over ten years ago, Jeff has been a member of two watershed councils and the ODFW Inland Sport Fisheries Advisory Committee. He has been a volunteer for the Salmon Watch Program; volunteer coordinator for the ODFW Gold Lake Rainbow Trout Restoration Project; Chairman of the Eugene Fly Fishing Festival; and President, Conservation Chairman and Projects Chairman of the McKenzie Flyfishers. Jeff and his wife, Joanie, live in Pleasant Hill and enjoy life on the Willamette River.