John van der Veen
Chemist, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board

John graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Chemistry and spent 8 years working at the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Berkeley and UC Davis as an Associate Research Fellow with over 30 publications. John has taught college and high school science, worked at Chevron Chemical for four years as their Chief Chemist. As part of that assignment he was responsible for all water discharge reporting for the Richmond facility, analysis of all products manufactured at the facility and developed a program of 100% ponding of all wastewater and rain run-off water for the company. The next 28 years was spent as a consultant in the field of Quality Control and Statistical Process Control (SPC) for many manufacturing processes. During this time John wrote two training manuals for implementing SPC for the manufacturing first line operators and supervisors. He worked with company engineers and scientists to perform Design Experiments to use SPC to improve quality and efficiency of the manufacturers process(es). He is currently working to use these same techniques to study and improve wastewater treatment plants. After retiring five years ago, John has spent his time to help found Friends of Deer Creek where he serves as Secretary/Treasurer. He helped write the Prop 204 grant for Friends of Deer Creek to establish a base line monitoring program, two restoration demonstration projects and a Coordinated Resource Management Plan group. John has also worked with the Deer Creek River Scientist to implement the Prop. 204 projects and served on the Technical Advisory Committee to assist in evaluation of two other monitoring groups data. Some of his community activities are: past Chair of the Library Committee which resulted in the voters approving a sales tax increase to fund the library; President of Common Ground Communities which builds affordable housing in Nevada County; Secretary/Treasurer of the Yuba Watershed Foundation which raises money for the Yuba Watershed Council 's projects; and past President and cofounder of Music in the Mountains which produces a yearly Summer Classical Music Festival.
 

Joanne Hild
Executive Director, Biologist

Joanne has her Masters of Science degree in Zoology from University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Tufts University . She has been working as a River Scientist since February 2000 and has served as Executive Director of Friends of Deer Creek since 2004. She has coordinated the water quality and biological studies, training and using the help of 35 volunteer monitors at 15 sites along Deer Creek. Joanne is coordinating the use of the EPA's Rapid Bioassessment Procedure to sample macroinvertebrates in the creek and identify them to the family level of classification. She has developed a college class to teach volunteers about the biology of the creek and the identification techniques needed for the classification of the organisms and for the analysis of the data. She is coordinating a creek restoration project along an upstream tributary of Deer Creek. She is the Staff Advisor for the Coordinated Resource Management Group. She is currently and has been a Biology Professor at Sierra College for 15 years, teaching various general biology, anatomy and physiology, and ecology courses. Through her work with students at the college, Joanne has coordinated various research projects such as: Stream Bioassessment using macroinvertebrates to determine the health of the Yuba River, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Procedures and vegetation studies to be used for environmental impact, ecological studies for Sierra College land use plan, local restoration projects with Nevada County Land Trust, trail guide for Nature trail at Sierra College. Joanne previously worked as a high school biology teacher for one year. She was also a research scientist with Wildlife Conservancy (mountain lions) in Sacramento and for the Bermuda Biological Station (effects of oil on coral growth and limpets) and with Cornell University (pigeon navigation).
 

Margery Williams
Watershed Coordinator

Margery Williams joined Friends of Deer Creek in February 2005 as the Watershed Coordinator. Margery’s responsibilities include grant reporting, managing the day-to-day office operations, assisting the executive director and staff, and managing the membership database. She also provides outreach to the community by coordinating volunteers in the water quality monitoring, macroinvertebrate identification, and restoration programs.

Before joining Friends of Deer Creek, Margery worked for Wolaver’s Organic Ales as their office manager. She also worked for many years as an administrative assistant for an educational company that provides teacher training programs nationwide.

Margery has lived in Nevada County since 1970 and has actively worked to preserve and protect the Yuba Watershed by volunteering for local political campaigns and the South Yuba River Citizens League. Not having a science background, Margery is enjoying the opportunity at Friends of Deer Creek to learn and grow in this field and make a positive difference in her community.

Sandy Williamson
Macroinvertebrate Specialist

Sandy is a volunteer for Friends of Deer Creek working with the macroinvertebrate identification program and as a creek monitor.  She graduated for CSUS with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Biology.  Her introduction to the bug world began as a young child when she began constructing sand castles (complete with moats) for local sow bugs.  Her interest in maintaining an extensive personal insect collection dates back to childhood, and her hobby became a more serious study during high school and college.  She has worked for the county as an insect trapper and volunteered with the U.S. Forest Service where she assisted in conducting bird, bat, and frog surveys.  As a volunteer for Friends of Deer Creek, she is able to work with others who share the common goal of protecting the local watershed. 
 

Rosemary Gregor
Lab Technician

Rosemary Gregor is currently a student at Sierra College . Her fields of interest are in biology and anthropology. She has been working with Friends of Deer Creek as a research assistant/lab technician since the summer of 2004. Living in Nevada County for most of her life, she is not only interested in learning how to help preserve, but also to restore this beautiful area.

In the warmer months you will find Rosemary streamside collecting algae for studies. Monitoring the growth of algae has become a vital way of assessing our streams' health and she feels fortunate to be involved in the process. Rosemary also samples water for bacterial studies, conducts nutrient analysis, and performs various experiments and duties around the Friends of Deer Creek lab and office. She is currently learning more about the macro-invertebrate studies and restoration projects.

When not in the office, Rosemary can be found with her constant companion, her dog Angus. Whether hiking, camping or horseback riding, she loves spending time outdoors.
  

Harlow Rothert
Monitoring Volunteer Coordinator

Harlow graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Political Science and History. After service in the Army, he worked for Ingersoll-Rand traveling extensively in the Far East , Middle East , Central America and Continental Europe. He was chosen to represent his Company at governmental seminars in China , U.S.S.R. and Vietnam .

In addition, he spent 35 years working on a variety of environmental issues.

After moving to Nevada City , he joined Friends of Deer Creek assisting with the monitoring program.

Thomas Spellman
Infosystems Technician

A native of Nevada County, Thomas develops the FoDC GIS, maintains the computer systems, hosts and masters the website, and swoops in to the rescue when technical problems rear their ugly heads. He also focuses his energies on developing a rich understanding of the local environmental, social, political, and economic ecology. He has earned 3 Associate degrees from Sierra College and entertains the idea of going back to school for a higher degree. In his free time, among other hobbies, he writes and performs music, hosts websites and listservs for local public benefit organizations, broadcasts music/art performances and interviews on NCTV, hikes, and relaxes at the river.

Sol Henson
Hydrologist, AmeriCorps Member

Sol Henson was born and raised in Nevada County and has recently returned from his studies in Davis, California.  He graduated from UC Davis in 2006 with a masters degree in hydrology with a water quality emphasis.  Past projects at UC Davis included studies on eutrophication and the loading of agricultural and dairy inputs of nitrogen and phosophorus into the San Joaquin River.  He also worked on the impacts of this nutrient pollution on phytoplankton (free floating algae) growth on San Joaquin River in California's Central Valley.  Between his undergraduate and graduate education Sol taught for the Woodland School District and was later a lab technician at UC Davis for a water quality lab.  As an AmeriCorps member with Friends of Deer Creek Sol is participating in an EPA Brownfields assessment to determine the impacts of abandoned mine sites on the water quality of Deer Creek and its tributaries.  He is also coordinating restoration efforts to remove non-native English Ivy and plant native species along the trail between Stonehouse Restaurant and Pioneer Park on Little Deer Creek in Nevada City.  His primary motivations for joining Friends of Deer Creek as an Americorps member are to participate in sound science within a community involved setting and to work in the field experiencing the beautiful surroundings that Nevada County has to offer.

Becca Hammargren
Outreach Coordinator, AmeriCorps Member

Born and raised in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Becca developed a love for the mountains of the west through family trips to Montana and Colorado (beginning when she was only two months old). Though an avid hiker, backpacker, and general fan of the outdoors, it was not until the past year that she ventured out into the wonderful world of the Sierra Nevada. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degrees in environmental studies and political science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, Becca accepted a seasonal position working for the Mono Lake Committee in Lee Vining, CA. While there she assisted in the maintenance of the membership database, planned and conducted interpretive tours for area visitors, and worked in the MLC store and Chamber of Commerce. She also found the time to explore the Eastern Sierra, developing an appreciation for the region’s unique history and problems. Such interests are what led her to accept an AmeriCorps position with Friends of Deer Creek. As the Outreach Coordinator Becca designs, edits, and writes the Deer Creek Monitor, FoDC’s newsletter. She also assists in the development of new fundraising programs, writes and edits FoDC mailings and publications, and helps in our restoration and community education programs. In her free time Becca enjoys exploring her adopted hometown of Grass Valley, hiking the Sierra, and swimming the Yuba.