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Staff

Jeanette Wrysinski, Executive Director

Jeanette, Executive Director, has worked for the Yolo County RCD since 1996. She has worked with a broad variety of local and state agencies and organizations and has managed budgets exceeding $2 million dollars with multiple subcontractors. These projects have involved extensive coordination for program development; communication; and installation of conservation methods to benefit water quality and wildlife habitat in agricultural and watershed contexts. She has designed and coordinated monitoring programs to determine conservation effects on plant and wildlife species and has coordinated research-level investigations on working landscapes. She has a B.S. degree in Plant Science/Plant Pathology from the University of California at Davis (1979). Prior work has included managing research station-based and farm-based statewide research programs for the University of California, research trial evaluation for UC Cooperative Extension, and seed field inspection for the California Crop Improvement Association on a wide variety of California crops, as well as developing winter waterfowl habitat on farmland under Ducks Unlimited’s Private Lands Program.

Sue McCloud, Finance Manager

Sue has worked as the Finance Manger since 2002. Her primary responsibility includes all of the accounting for the Yolo RCD, whose annual budget is currently $2.2 million. The RCD’s funds are held in the Yolo County Treasury. Sue utilizes their GENLED System to manage the RCD’s accounts and their PeopleSoft System for payroll. Before joining the RCD, Sue worked for the County of Yolo in the Auditor-Controller’s Office. Sue has an Associate Degree in Accounting from the Rhode Island Junior College (1980) along with over 30 years of accounting experience.

Sheila Pratt, Administrative Assistant

Sheila has been an Administrative Assistant for the Yolo RCD since 2005. She has been an important part of the RCD team fulfilling a number of functions related to administration, Board of Director meeting preparation, organizing special events and workshops, assistance with accounting and personal tasks, and managing publications. She also has considerable responsibility for a number of project related tasks such as project reporting, report and proposal preparation, and greeting customers and directing them to the appropriate staff member. She has past experience in a variety of fields including the insurance industry.

Heather Nichols-Crowell, Project Manager/ Watershed Coordinator

Heather joined the Yolo County RCD in 2008 as the Watershed Coordinator for Hungry Hollow and Dunnigan Watersheds. Following three years in Edinburgh, Scotland working as a landscape designer and project manager, she applies her skills to various RCD projects including project planning, grant writing, and stakeholder outreach. Heather graduated from CSU Humboldt (1999) with a B.S. in Sustainable Systems and a minor in Soil Science. She gained experience in project grant-writing as an AmeriCorps member working for the United Indian Health Services’ (UIHS) Potowat Health Village in Arcata, CA designing and implementing their recycling program and also on their Ku' wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area. She became familiar with small scale agricultural production at the UIHS CSA farm where she learned to drive a tractor and composted on a small farm scale. She grew interested in landscape architecture and sustainable land-use planning and went on to earn her M.A. in Landscape Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design (2003). She has since gained substantial experience in planning, design, and project management on a variety of projects ranging from townships to town homes in California, New England, and the UK.

Chris Robbins, Project Manager/ Watershed Coordinator

Chris joined the Yolo County RCD in 2008 as the Watershed Coordinator for Willow Slough Watershed, and as Restoration Specialist for various RCD projects. Chris has experience in outreach and implementing restoration projects, with extensive experience designing and installing irrigation systems, as well as native plantings. He is responsible for facilitating stakeholder meetings and completing resource conservation projects for the RCD. He holds a Qualified Applicators License. Chris graduated from CSU, Chico with a B.S. in Agricultural Science. During his studies he gained knowledge and experience in land management and agricultural practices including Integrated Pest Management and crop production. As a Park Ranger for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Chris was responsible for the Natural Resources Program at one of the largest reservoirs in California. This work included native plant establishment, NEPA compliance and contract management. Chris was also responsible for designing, writing and presenting educational programs to a broad range of audiences on a diverse range of topics. He also planned and coordinated large public events such as National Public Lands Day. Chris has experience with large scale riparian restoration projects that range in size from 20 to 800 acres.

Gillies Robertson, Project Manager/ Vegetation Management Specialist

Gillies joined the Yolo RCD in 2010, bringing considerable knowledge and experience within the fields of vegetation management, wildlife conservation, and outreach. He manages riparian restoration projects in the Capay Valley, coordinates the Yolo County Weed Management Area, facilitates local stakeholder meetings, and advises the general public on weed management and restoration issues. Gillies obtained a Bachelor’s in Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies from The University of Tasmania, Hobart, in 2007, and also holds a Diploma in Natural Resource Management. He worked for 3 years as a restoration specialist in Sydney, Australia, planning and implementing various weed eradication and revegetation projects. He has also worked with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service developing and presenting an environmental education program. Since his arrival in Northern California in 2007, Gillies has worked as a field biologist with an environmental consulting firm and developed an interest and experience in livestock-based agriculture and its function in vegetation management. His consulting work included the planning and implementing of rare plant and tree surveys, biological assessments, wetland delineations, and a range of species-specific wildlife surveys and monitoring projects.

Kate Salfen, Project Assistant

Kate joined the Yolo County RCD in 2010 as the Vegetation Management Intern when she was a senior at University of California, Davis. Kate graduated from UC Davis in June 2011 with a B.S. degree in Landscape Architecture. Her experience in courses for the landscape architecture program includes the fields of landscape ecology, plant identification, plant management, and soil grading and drainage. Kate also has experience with computer programs such as Arc GIS, AutoCad, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign. With the RCD, Kate has been involved in control of invasive species, planning and implementation of hedgerows, retention ponds, and other native plant projects. She assists in irrigation system maintenance and field irrigation evaluations.