The DRC Board of Directors

Natasha is the Conservation Director for the Deschutes Land Trust. Prior to directing and carrying out all conservation projects under the Deschutes Land Trust, Natasha worked to restore stream flow for Oregon's rivers with the Deschutes River Conservancy and The Freshwater Trust. She is currently a board member for the Oregon Natural Desert Association, (ONDA). Natasha provides an environmental perspective to the DRC and our board.

Bobby has spent his career managing natural resources for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Bobby now serves as the Tribes' Secretary/Treasurer & CEO. On the DRC board, Bobby represents the Tribes' interests. Bobby's experience and cultural knowledge bring a powerful voice to the importance of water to Indigenous People.

Phil is a third generation Madras-area farmer who lives in North Unit Irrigation District, a district with the most junior water rights in the region. Because of the scarcity of water in his district, Phil has had to finely hone his watering practices to make the most of the water he has. Phil is also an avid fly-fisher and loves spending time on the river.

Steve is the City Manager of the City of Prineville. He brings a municipal perspective as well as the voice of the Crooked River Basin to DRC conversations.  Steve serves as a board member for the Ochoco Irrigation District, and owns and operates a farm in Crook County.  Steve spent 25 years as an executive in the Forest Products Industry.

Zach is the Sustainable Water Program Director at The Nature Conservancy. With his background in hydrology, Zach leads state- and watershed-scale research to better understand the resilience of Oregon’s most charismatic and biodiverse ecosystems: our springs, streams, and rivers. Zach’s expertise provides a valuable environmental perspective to the DRC board.

Jay has served as CEO to multiple healthcare entities over his career and is a founding partner in Tenfold Health. Jay shares his extensive experience in creative thinking, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and business strategy with the DRC.

Megan is the Natural Resources Manager for Portland General Electric at the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project in Central Oregon. She represents hydroelectric and anadromous fish reintroduction interests. Megan also advises the DRC on fishery updates and funding opportunities.

Craig is the District Manager for Central Oregon Irrigation District. As well as the President of the Deschutes Basin Board of Control. He represents the interests of senior water right holders in the Bend, Redmond and Powell Butte areas.

Jade is the Vice-President and the Chief Financial Officer for Brooks Resources, one of Central Oregon’s oldest and most respected real estate developers. Jade’s business and financial expertise are invaluable to the DRC.

Emelie is a Senior Water Advisor at Oregon Water Resources Department. She advises the DRC on advancing and integrating complex water management initiatives to ensure a sustainable water future in the Deschutes River Basin.

Emelie’s background is in environmental policy, land use planning and project management. She specializes in collaborative landscape scale natural resource planning that balances diverse interests and needs.

Bridget is the Field Supervisor for the Bend Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She is leading the development of the Habitat Conservation Plan currently in process in the Deschutes River Basin and advises the DRC on habitat and species needs.

Bill is the Natural Resource Staff Officer at Deschutes National Forest, with over two decades of service with the USDA Forest Service. He has progressed from a Wildlife Biologist to his current role, concentrating on integrated watershed restoration throughout Central Oregon.

Spencer is the Habitat Division Deputy Administrator and Water Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. With a background in hydrology and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, Spencer leads statewide efforts to protect and restore aquatic habitats through science-based water management. His work supports resilient fish and wildlife populations by securing and enhancing instream flows in Oregon’s rivers and streams. Spencer’s expertise brings a valuable ecological perspective to the DRC board.

David is the Bend Field Office Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation, where he connects Reclamation’s mission with various beneficiaries. With over 16 years of experience as a Civil Engineer, David has examined, evaluated, and designed various aspects of water projects. He brings technical expertise and a federal agency perspective to the DRC and our board. David is also an avid cyclist and bike commuter.