The mission of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group
is to build partnerships that educate and engage
the community in habitat restoration and watershed
stewardship in order to enhance salmonid populations.

Staff Members

Alison Studley, Executive Director
Perry Welch, Project Manager
Lucy DeGrace, Outreach Coordinator
Mary Mae Hardt, Finance Manager
Joe George, Restoration Technician
Dwayne Massey, Restoration Technician
Mike McCain, Restoration Technician
Kara Bloch, Restoration Technician
Andy Beckman, Restoration Technician
Kyle Koch, AmeriCorps Habitat Restoration Assistant

Board of Directors

Deene Almvig, President, Burlington, WA    Deene is retired from an education position at Skagit Valley College, and now teaches fly fishing. He is a member of Fidalgo Fly Fishers, and has volunteered with SFEG and the Wildcat Steelhead Club helping with the Nutrient Enhancement Program (dead fish toss) in the Cascade River.

Bruce Freet, Vice President, Mount Vernon, WA   Bruce retired from the National Park Service in 2002 after 32 years of federal employment. Bruce's most recent position was the Chief of Resource Management at North Cascades National Park from 1992-2002. His career with the federal government has taken him all over the United States including Yellowstone National Park, Death Valley National Park, Cabrillo National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Wind Cave National Park, Big Cypress National Park, and Great Basin National Park. Bruce graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Biological Sciences that includes minors in chemistry and secondary education. Bruce recently created Environmental Agreements, Inc. to facilitate and mediate environmental issues. His hobbies include fly-fishing and tying, photography, woodworking, gardening, and genealogy.

Ned Currence, Secretary, Lyman, WA   Ned has been working on salmon and trout habitat issues in northwest Washington for some time, and is currently working as a biologist for the Nooksack Indian Tribe primarily focusing on salmon recovery planning. He has conducted stream habitat monitoring for US Forest Service in Skagit County, and was a habitat biologist for the Makah Tribe on the outer Strait of Juan de Fuca and North Coast where he reviewed land uses and worked on watershed analyses. He lives on Wiseman Creek and is a land steward for the Skagit Land Trust's Grandy Creek property. He currently serves as board president for the Sedro Woolley Farmer's Market.

Dan Ballard, Treasurer, Anacortes, WA    Dan has a lifelong interest in salmon fishing and conservation. He graduated from Seattle University with a BA in Political Science and was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps, US Army Reserve. After completing his active duty, Dan went to work in the insurance industry as a property casualty underwriter. In 1963, he went into the independent insurance agency business. In 1969, he formed his own agency and owned and operated it until retiring in 2000. Dan retired from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Kurt Buchanan, Mount Vernon , WA    Kurt is recently retired from the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife after 26 years as a habitat biologist, half of which were for the Skagit River basin. Kurt is known as a local expert on salmon resources leading many educational tours for conservation purposes with a variety of organizations, including SFEG. He has a vast array of expertise including knowledge of aquatic, marine and nearshore environments. Kurt continues to contribute to stream, riparian and wetland restoration efforts in the Skagit Valley.

Jeanne Glick, Mount Vernon, WA    Jeanne is a local business owner, a landowner and a very active volunteer. Her volunteer involvement includes participation with the Skagit River Stewards, The Nature Conservancy's Eagle Watch Program and a member of the Skagit Land Trust Board of Directors. Jeanne is retired from the nursing profession. She has a great deal of business management experience. As a landowner, Jeanne is working with the Skagit Conservation District on a plan to protect most of her property along Anderson Creek.

Stephen Hopley, Samish Island, WA    Steve is a fifth generation Samish Islander. Steve has a Master of Science from the UW College of Forest Resources specializing in environmental chemistry relating to the forest industry. After commercially fishing crab and salmon in Puget Sound for 15 years he and his family lived and worked in Russia for four years. Until his recent retirement he was Deputy General Manager and part-owner of Marine Resources Co. Intl., a Russian-American joint venture fishing company based in Seattle. He is a competitive sculler and avid fly-fisherman.

Jim Johnson, Sedro Woolley, WA    Jim is recently retired from Sedro Woolley High School after twenty-seven years of teaching English. At Sedro Woolley High School he was advisor to the school's environmental club. A native Washingtonian, he is a River and Land Trust Steward and a frequent SFEG volunteer. Jim enjoys gardening, hiking, and birding. Currently he serves as chair of the planning commission for the city of Sedro Woolley.

Boshie Morris, Anacortes, WA   Boshie is a self-employed seamstress residing in Anacortes.  She has a passionate interest in the outdoors and conservation of natural resources.  For the last two years, Boshie has volunteered with SFEG in a variety of capacities doing monitoring, planting, education and outreach activities.  Her hobbies include sailing and rowing.

Chris Kowitz, Mount Vernon, WA Chris is a biologist with Skagit County who oversees all the salmon-related projects within the Public Works Department.  He has a BS in Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries Management from Western Washington University.  While with Skagit County, Chris has developed, designed, permitted and constructed a number of restoration and enhancement projects in the Skagit and Samish watersheds that benefit salmon populations.  Chris was appointed to the board in 2008 and is excited about taking a more active role in the community and broadening his experience related to local Salmon Recovery.

 

Robin LaRue, Mount Vernon  Robin grew up in Skagit County and has always been interested in the outdoors and fishing since childhood.  Robin worked for Skagit County Public Works for many years in the Engineering and Solid Waste Divisions.  He is a Land Steward with the Skagit Land Trust and served on their board of directors for one year.  Robin feels strongly that we need to protect natural areas and fish habitat or future generations will not have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

The Board of Directors welcomes and encourages the public to attend its monthly meetings.  The Board meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at Skagit Valley College.  Please join us!

SFEG Annual Report 2005-2006

SFEG Annual Report 2004-2005

SFEG Annual Report 2003-2004

SFEG Annual Report 2002-2003

SFEG Annual Report 2001-2002