CORE STAFF

Clifford N. Dahm, Ph.D.
CALFED Lead Scientist, cdahm@calwater.ca.gov

Lauren Hastings, Ph.D.
Deputy Director for Science, hastings@calwater.ca.gov

Ladd Lougee
Program Manager II, llougee@calwater.ca.gov

Rebecca Fris
Program Manager II, rebeccaf@calwater.ca.gov

Michelle Shouse
Special Assistant to the Lead Scientist/ USGS Coordinator, mkshouse@calwater.ca.gov

Dusty Boeger
Science Program Webmaster, dboeger@calwater.ca.gov

Steven Culberson, Ph.D.
Staff Environmental Scientist, SteveC@calwater.ca.gov

Shemeles Ayalew
Research Analyst II/ Database Coordinator, shemeles@calwater.ca.gov

Darcy Jones
Staff Environmental Scientist/ DRERIP Coordinator, dgjones@calwater.ca.gov

Barbara Marcotte
Staff Environmental Scientist/ Water Quality Coordinator, marcotte@calwater.ca.gov

Jill McGee
Executive Assistant, jmcgee@calwater.ca.gov

Elizabeth Soderstrom
Performance Measures Coordinator, esoderst@calwater.ca.gov

Matt Nobriga
Environmental Scientist, Matthew.Nobriga@calwater.ca.gov

To reach a member of the Science Program staff, please contact the Science Program Administrative Assistant at 916-445-7690.

ADVISORS

Dr. Wim Kimmerer, Environmental Water Account Science Advisor

Dr. Brock Bernstein, Performance Measure Advisor

Dr. Stuart Siegel, Wetlands Science Advisor

Dr. John Conomos, BDSC Director

BIOS:

Lauren Hastings, Ph.D.
Deputy Director for Science: As Deputy Director, Lauren oversees implementation of the CALFED Science Program, including supervising staff and working collaboratively with state and federal agencies, academic institutions, scientific experts and stakeholders to ensure sound use of science within the CALFED Program. Prior to managing the Science Program, Lauren worked for the Ecosystem Restoration Program for 6 years, the last 3 as the ERP Delta Regional Coordinator. During her tenure with the ERP, she focused on incorporation of science into ERP activities, including working with the ERP Science Board and with other academic, agency and stakeholder scientists to improve the scientific aspects of proposal review, to promote ideas for incorporating adaptive management into specific projects and the program as a whole, and, as part of the Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Planning (DRERIP) effort, to develop processes for documenting the state of knowledge through conceptual models and then using those peer-reviewed models to scientifically vet Delta actions in ERP planning documents. Prior to working for the ERP, Lauren worked for the USGS managing two field research projects evaluating effects of various water- and land-management strategies on mitigating subsidence of peat soils. Lauren has a PhD and MS in Soil Chemistry from UC Davis, and a BA in biology from Luther College.

Ladd Lougee,
Program Manager II: Ladd Lougee supervises Science Program staff, and he continues to pursue his research interests in zooplankton ecology part-time with Wim Kimmerer at the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC). After Ladd received his Bachelors degree in 1992 from Gettysburg College he taught Environmental Science to k-12 students on the Neuse River Estuary in North Carolina. Later he moved to Maryland where he conducted research, production and sales efforts for a Company that derives products from micro-algae. Wishing to pursue academic science, Ladd accepted a 1 year position at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute where he performed research on zooplankton ecology under the guidance of Dr. Scott Gallager. Ladd received his Masters degree at San Francisco State University in 2000 and conducted his thesis research at RTC on the vertical migration behavior of zooplankton in the San Francisco Estuary.

Rebecca Fris
Program Manager II: Rebecca supervises a majoreity of the Science Program technical staff. She joins the Science Program staff after eight years with the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP). With the ERP, she first assisted in developing and implementing early proposal solicitation packages including development of an ERP Implementation Plan. For the last several years, she served as the Sacramento Valley Regional Coordinator where she worked on major ecosystem grants such as the Battle Creek Restoration Project and activities within the Sacramento River Conservation Area. Previous to her work with the CALFED program, Rebecca worked as a special assistant to the Secretary for Resources for three years on major initiatives such as coastal salmon and vernal pools. She also previously worked in environmental consulting in Southern California and with the Southeast Regional Office of the Nature Conservancy while in graduate school. She received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a Masters in Environmental Management, Resource Ecology from the Duke School of the Environment in 1995.

Michelle Shouse,
Special Assistant to the Lead Scientist/ USGS Coordinator: Michelle comes to the Science Program after working for eight years as a part of the USGS San Francisco Bay Group as a biologist. She received her graduate degree in marine biology from San Francisco State in 2002. Michelle's work in the Bay focused on benthic community ecology. Specifically, Michelle sought to identify community level responses to anthropogenic pollution in the shallow water benthic environment. As part of the USGS team, Michelle spent countless hours on boats sampling the Delta, facilitating interdisciplinary research. As a boat operator for USGS, Michelle will continue to be a part of research in the Delta.

As a member of the Science Program, Michelle is the USGS coordinator, overseeing all USGS funds committed to the CALFED Science Program. Michelle advises the Lead Scientist and the Science Program Deputy Director in developing budgets and financial plans for the program. She is the representative for the USGS within the Science Program to identify how the Science Program and USGS Scientists can best contribute to meeting the CALFED Program goals and objectives. Michelle assists the Lead Scientist in technical aspects of the Science Program and relevant programs within the USGS.

Dusty Boeger,
Science Program Webmaster: Dusty was exposed to the importance of water in California at an early age. Growing up in rural Northern California surrounded by rice fields and almond orchards, he learned early in life that water was precious. Sticking close to home, Dusty received a BA in English from UC Davis with special focus on creative writing and teaching. His writing efforts culminated in the co-authoring of the book "Education Corruption in the State of California". In 1997 he shifted his career focus and moved to the Bay Area to work in the Silicon Valley. Before joining the Science Program in May of 2004, Dusty worked as a website developer and graphic artist for an educational software company developing online learning systems for high school students. In addition to his duties with the Science Program, Dusty is also the webmaster for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Science Consortium website.

Dr. Steven D. Culberson,
Staff Environmental Scientist: Steven holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology (1984) from Oberlin College in Ohio where he concentrated in comparative vertebrate anatomy and embryology. During a five-year assignment with the U.S. Peace Corps in Central Africa Dr. Culberson served as a cooperative extension agent and technical consultant for several national aquaculture programs under the Africa Region Basic Human Needs charter. His work during this time involved supervision, research, extension, and technical material preparation in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture's Family Fishculture Program in Zaire (Congo), the U.S.A.I.D. Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program in Rwanda, and the Ministry of Water and Forests' Rural Development Program in Gabon.

Following his return to the U.S. and a short stint working on contract to the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle, WA and Dutch Harbor, AK, Steven earned a Master of Science degree in International Agricultural Development (Aquacultural Engineering; 1993) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ecology (Tidal Marsh Geomorphology; 2001) from the University of California at Davis. During the completion of his Ph.D. research activities Steven was a California Sea Grant College Trainee, receiving funding under the Coastal Zone, Water Resources, and Environmental Management program. Steven is a certified Professional Wetlands Scientist. From 2001 to 2005 he served as an Environmental Scientist in the Environmental Planning and Information Branch of the Division of Environmental Services at the California Department of Water Resources. Steven's current research interests include quantitative fisheries population simulation modeling, hydrodynamic forcing of San Francisco Bay Estuary tidal marsh and related ecosystems, wetland soil carbon cycling and storage, and the use of systems thinking approaches for management of large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.

Shemeles Ayalew
Research Analyst II/ Database Coordinator: Shem Ayalew graduated from California State University of Sacramento with a BA degree in Economics and a special minor in Smart Growth Urban Planning. Before joining the Science Program, he worked for the California Student Aid Commission Responsible for contacting students and school officials in California Universities (UC), California State Universities (CSU), Independent Colleges (IC), California Community Colleges (CCC) and private Schools to determine the financial aid eligibility and cost associated with attending school. After that he worked for California Department of Transportation to collect, compile, analyze and interpret the state highway classification data to identify California state highways and arterial roads systems. Compile the system data in the GIS Arc-view software to interpret and analyze the data to be used by Caltrans and CHP regarding the different functional classification systems. Now working in the Science Program, he helps in the development and management of a Science Program database to track science activities and projects, and assures that project deliverables are received and catalogued electronically.

Darcy Jones
Staff Environmental Scientist/ DRERIP Coordinator: Darcy Jones is working on the scientific input phase of the Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Plan (DRERIP); developing life history conceptual models for key species, conceptual models for ecosystem elements (e.g., habitats, processes, and stressors), and the scientific evaluation and prioritization of actions and targets found in multiple planning documents for the ERP. The goal of DRERIP is to refine the existing ecosystem restoration approach based on current scientific knowledge.

Prior to CBDA, Darcy worked as a water quality regulator for 12 years. At the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Darcy wrote National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for high profile discharges, such as the City of San Diego 301(h) ocean outfall discharge, and the International Boundary and Water Commission ocean outfall discharge. Darcy also worked on several controversial enforcement orders involving sediment contamination in San Diego Bay and sewage spills in Los Peñasquitos Lagoon. Darcy served on the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) Technical Advisory Committee and Steering Committee for the regional monitoring effort known as Bight '98. After leaving the Regional Board, Darcy worked briefly at the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and for several years in the Clean Water Act Standards and Permits Office at USEPA, Region 9. Most recently she worked at the State Water Board in the Freshwater Standards unit, developing water quality standards for mercury, bacterial indicators, and a policy for discharges to effluent dominated water bodies.

Darcy received a BS in Biology with an emphasis in Microbiology from Colorado State, and a MPH in Environmental Health from San Diego State. Darcy's career interest is in improving public health and the human condition through improvements in environmental quality and the protection of natural resources.

Barbara Marcotte
Staff Environmental Scientist/ Water Quality Coordinator: Barbara transferred from the Ecosystem Restoration Program in July 2006 where she was coordinator and contract manager for the Dissolved Oxygen Program (Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel). Barbara is currently part of the staff team to coordinate the water quality sections of the State of Science Report. Barbara Marcotte graduated with a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from University of Arizona. She continued her studies at California State University, Humboldt, obtaining a M.S. in Natural Resources. Her graduate work focused on fluvial geomorphology and implications for fish habitat enhancement. Before joining CALFED in 1999, Barbara worked many years at the Department of Toxic Substances Control doing regulatory work for cleanup of toxic contamination at military facilities.

Jill McGee
Executive Assistant: Jill has worked with the Science Program for 9 months. Her previous position of 16 years was with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly CYA). Her unit managed the prison population. She now enjoys working with a program attempting to manage the fish population.

Matt Nobriga
Environmental Scientist/EWA Coordinator: Matt Nobriga joined the Science Program in December 2006. He is transitioning in as the Environmental Water Account (EWA) Coordinator and will assume responsibility for coordinating the EWA and Tier 3 Review Panels. Prior to joining the Science Program, he was a long-time researcher with the Interagency Ecological Program for the San Francisco Estuary. He also represented the Department of Water Resources on the IEP Management Team and IEP Pelagic Organism Decline Management Team from 2002-2006, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Delta Smelt Working Group from 2004-2006. Matt's expertise and interests are broadly centered on fisheries ecology of the San Francisco Estuary and watershed. He has authored and co-authored numerous papers covering a wide range of local species and topics.

Matt received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stanislaus State University in Turlock, CA in 1993 and his Master of Science degree in Biology from Sacramento State University in 1998. His graduate research comprehensively described the feeding ecology of delta smelt larvae following the overbite clam invasion of the San Francisco Estuary.