Staff

SRWP has a small dedicated team of staff members and works closely with a number of additional subcontractors to implement our programs.

Mary Lee Knecht

SRWP Executive Director
marylee@sacriver.org

Mary Lee serves as SRWP’s Executive Director and key spokesperson. In this role, Mary Lee provides leadership, creates vision for the organization, and conducts strategic planning with SRWP’s 21-member Board and dedicated team of staff. She is also responsible for the development of an annual work plan and budget, which incorporates the goals and objectives that work toward the strategic direction of the organization. Mary Lee always seeks to establish good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with community groups, funders, elected officials, and other stakeholders to help achieve the goals and elevate the visibility of the organization. Additionally, Mary Lee is involved in project management and implementation of several of SRWP’s exciting grant projects.

Mary Lee comes to SRWP with over 14 years of experience in watershed management and water policy work. Prior to joining the SRWP team, Mary Lee worked for Jones & Stokes, where she served as lead consultant to the CALFED Watershed Program and other important watershed planning efforts throughout Northern California. She serves on the Board of Directors of the California Watershed Network, is an alumni of the Water Education Foundation’s Water Leaders Class, and participates on a number of water policy advisory committees and task forces. Mary Lee has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley.

Holly Jorgensen

Watershed Coordinator
holly@sacriver.org

Holly joined the SRWP team in November 2011. She comes to SRWP with more than 15 years of nonprofit and resource management experience. Holly has spent the majority of her life working and recreating in the Sacramento River watershed and appreciates the amazing diversity of land use that it encompasses. Upon graduating from CSU, Chico with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, she began her career in the watershed community as an environmental educator with the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group and then spent seven years working as a watershed management consultant for the Deer Creek Watershed Conservancy. Holly has worked to secure financial support, develop partnerships, and manage numerous programs, projects, and activities.  She has a holistic understanding of the region’s watershed issues and extensive knowledge of natural resources plans, programs, and policies. Holly has dedicated her time, energy, and skills to fully understanding the ecological, social, and economical factors associated with local and statewide resource issues and will earn a Master of Arts in Geography with an option in Environmental Policy and Planning from CSU, Chico in May 2012.

Holly has worked to address stakeholder needs and values and is committed to working with landowners and organizations concerned about the health of the Sacramento River and its watershed.  She has direct experience with agricultural, fisheries, water, flood, and educational activities and projects. Holly is keenly aware of the importance of local support and has collaborated with private businesses, colleges and universities, state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and other businesses and organizations to ensure successful outcomes. She continues to foster SRWP’s existing relationships and establish new relationships to improve and expand communication and cooperative management actions within the watershed. As the watershed coordinator, Holly focuses on successfully implementing the goals and objectives identified in the Department of Conservation Watershed Coordinator Work Plan to cooperatively address resource issues in the Sacramento River watershed and promote the long-term social and economic vitality of the region.

Dennis Bowker

Training Coordinator
dennisbowker@volcano.net

Dennis participated in the development of the SRWP beginning in 1996. He worked closely with the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD), Larry Walker Associates, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to assist with establishing the Program. He facilitated the meetings of the Monitoring Committee since its inception, and subsequently also served as the original facilitator for the Organo-Phosphate Pesticide Focus Group of the Toxics Committee. He facilitated, wrote and obtained certification of the bylaws for SRWP, allowing it to establish as a 501(c)3 public benefit corporation. He also worked to help identify and nominate the first 21 members of the SRWP Board of Trustees.

Dennis has a broad range of experience with diverse groups, successfully resolving difficult issues in environmental management. He specializes in assisting agencies, groups and individuals to develop consensus-based watershed or basin planning and management. He has provided watershed stewardship training to over 3,000 participants across the US, through classes that range from one day to full two-week residential seminars.

He participated with a team of national experts to describe the stewardship element of the strategic plan for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and helped with national strategic planning for the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the USDA Forest Service.

Chuck Lundgren

SRWP Webmaster
webmaster@sacriver.org

Chuck has nearly 35 years of programming, technical writing and graphic design experience. He has created and maintained numerous websites, developed and marketed software products, and written hundreds of articles, columns and subscription-based email newsletters.

Chuck has served as SRWP's webmaster for over 10 years.

Patricia Torres

Administrative Assistant