meet the people
Joanne Hild
Executive Director, Biologist
Joanne has her MS in Zoology from University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her BS in Biology from Tufts University.
She worked as a research scientist with the Wildlife Conservancy (mountain lions) in Sacramento, with the Bermuda Biological Station (effects of oil on coral growth and limpets) and with Cornell University (pigeon navigation). She was a Biology Professor at Sierra College for 15 years, teaching various general biology, anatomy and physiology, and ecology courses. As a professor, Joanne involved her students in a number of hands-on environmental projects including a stream bioassessment using macroinvertebrates to determine the health of the Yuba River, vegetation studies using U.S. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Procedures to be used for environmental impact, ecological studies for Sierra College land use plan, local restoration projects with Nevada County Land Trust, and a trail guide for a Nature trail at Sierra College. Joanne previously worked as a high school biology teacher for one year.
She has been working as one of Friends of Deer Creek’s River Scientists since February 2000 and has served as Executive Director since 2004. In her free time she enjoys going on family adventures.
Jane Sellen
Watershed Coordinator
Jane graduated from Cambridge University, England with a BA and MA in English Literature and Law.
A native of England, Jane moved to California in 1989, where she worked as a high school Latin and English teacher and a librarian. She was a researcher on the production of Michael Moore’s healthcare movie Sicko, and helped produce the Traverse City Film Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. She began working for Friends of Deer Creek in 2008, and is responsible for office management, grant writing and reporting, and technical writing of all kinds.
Jane lives in the Deer Creek watershed in Nevada City and enjoys hiking, camping, swimming at the river and spending time with her three children.
Rosemary Lynch
Lab Technician
Rosemary has worked for Friends of Deer Creek as a research assistant/lab technician since the summer of 2004. A Nevada County resident for most of her life, she is passionate about preserving and restoring 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 and heavy metal 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 husband Dan and her constant companions, her dogs Angus and Finn. Whether hiking, camping or horseback riding, she loves spending time outdoors.
Matt Freitas
Restoration Ecologist, Outreach Coordinator
Matt was born and raised in Nevada City, where he spent his days soaking up the sun along the banks of the Yuba River and exploring the Sierras. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2008 with a BA in Environmental Studies. It was at Santa Cruz that he discovered his passion for restoration ecology. Later, he spent a year abroad in New Zealand, where he explored the educational and recreational opportunities available there. This increased his desire to apply his classroom lessons in a real world environment.
After returning to UCSC, he enrolled in a six-month internship with the UC Natural Reserves at Younger Lagoon Reserve. Along with three other seniors he completed an invasive species removal project on a coastal sand dune system, and a scientific evaluation of revegetation techniques for these unique ecosystems. His work at Younger Lagoon Reserve showed him the great potential for a partnership and collaborative learning process between the scientific and land management communities. He looks forward to applying his knowledge of ecology and restoration ecology to help the communities and environment in the Sierra Nevada.
In 2009, Matt returned home to Nevada City to take an AmeriCorps service position as Friends of Deer Creek’s Outreach Coordinator. In his free time, Matt enjoys mountain biking and backpacking, and hopes to learn to kayak.
Justin Wood
River Scientist
Justin was born and raised in South Bend Indiana, and graduated from Indiana University in 2007 with a BS in Geography with a concentration in atmospheric science and hydrology and a minor in environmental management.
He worked for two years as an undergraduate researcher in rainfall surface hydrology and, on graduating, took a job at Eastern Illinois University as a stream technician doing habitat assessments. He moved to Nevada City in 2008 with his two cats, to take a service position with AmeriCorps as Friends of Deer Creek’s River Scientist. Now in his second year of service, he hopes to go on to graduate school or employment in the field of hydrology and river science.
In his free time, Justin enjoys hiking, camping and playing disk golf.
John van der Veen
Chemist
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, and 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 retirement, John cofounded Friends of Deer Creek where he continues to work as a chemist. A long-time Nevada City resident, he is actively involved in the community, serving as 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 President and cofounder of Music in the Mountains which produces a yearly Summer Classical Music Festival.
Harlow Rothert
Monitoring 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.
Sandy Williamson
Macroinvertebrate Specialist
Sandy works for Friends of Deer Creek with the macroinvertebrate identification program and as a creek monitor. She graduated from CSU Sacramento 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. At Friends of Deer Creek, she is able to work with others who share the common goal of protecting the local watershed.
Lisa Frankel
Development Director
Lisa grew up in rural Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, with a BFA in applied art and music. She went on to study Public History at Hayward State and Sacramento State. Her varied work background includes experience as a professional musician, graphic artist, owner and manager of a neighborhood bakery in Berkeley, directing inside sales and operations for an art supply wholesale distributor and, for the past 13 years, as an employee benefits consultant to non-profits and small businesses throughout northern California.
After many years in the SF Bay Area, Lisa and her husband Eric moved to Grass Valley in 2001 and quickly became involved in the local community doing volunteer work. While she continued to work with and support non-profit organizations in the Bay Area, Lisa was more and more drawn to working on environmental issues with a local organization. She is passionate about the environment, enthusiastic about new ideas and has been successful encouraging collaboration and cooperation in a variety of business and volunteer settings. In January 2010 she came to work for Friends of Deer Creek bringing years of business and non-profit experience to the project of developing the Sierra Streams Institute programs.
Away from the office Lisa can be found contra dancing, playing the bass, reading, cooking, splashing in the Yuba, exploring archeological sites, camping and hiking throughout the west.
Kelly Hickman
AmeriCorps Member, Outreach Coordinator
Kelly will be responsible for education and outreach, monitoring and restoration of Deer Creek, and the creation of an algae collection and identification program using state standardized protocols.
She grew up in Irvine, CA and developed a passion and awareness of the natural environment at an early age. Upon graduating high school, Kelly attended UC Santa Cruz and received her B.S. in Marine Biology. She gained great skills as a Resident Advisor and Outreach Intern with Recycling Services. Not forgetting her love of the ocean, she obtained her AAUS Scientific SCUBA Diving certification her junior year.
During her last quarter, Kelly moved to Michigan to take classes, work in one of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center labs, and participate in an independent research internship working on phytoplankton community ecology and physiology at the Kellogg Biological Station.
After moving back to California, Kelly joined the 2009 SNAP Program and served in South Lake Tahoe at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District as the Aquatic Conservation Assistant where she focused on aquatic invasive species issues.
Now in her second year of service, Kelly is looking forward to exploring even more of the Sierra Nevada region by foot, bike, skis and raft. She is excited for a great year!
Michael O'Connor
River Scientist, AmeriCorps Member
Michael will be assisting in a variety of projects including storm sampling, monthly river monitoring of Deer Creek, measuring water quality parameters, benthic macroinvertebrate collection and identification, data analysis, a gravel augmentation project, and much more.
Mike grew up in Rouses Point, New York, a small town located at the northeast tip of New York State. He attended college at St. Lawrence University where he received his B.S. with honors in Geology. His senior thesis research focused on the groundwater geochemistry of private wells in St. Lawrence County.
Mike did a lot of traveling while at St. Lawrence University including a semester abroad in Queensland, Australia, a trip to Kyoto, Japan for a Zen Garden project and two 10-day geology field trips to the greater Yellowstone area (Volcanology course) and the Canadian Rockies (Glacial Geology course).
After college, Mike lived in Burlington, Vermont for the summer working for a creperie on their summer festival crew until he joined the SNAP program. Mike lives with four other SNAP members in Nevada City. He enjoys backpacking, cross-country skiing, tennis, running, playing the bass guitar, and much more. This is Mike's first long-term stint on the West Coast and he is looking forward to exploring the area as much as possible.
Mary Anne Kreshka
Board President
Mary earned a BA in Child Development and an MA in Education from UC Berkeley. She worked as a public school preschool and K-12 classroom teacher and principal in schools in Berkeley and Nevada County, including Charter Schools in both communities.
For the past twenty years, she has been a Professor of Human Development and Family at Sierra College, Nevada County Campus, with a specialty in teacher training. She was chosen Outstanding Teacher-of-the-Year in 2007. She coordinated two college projects training preschool teachers. She was also Co-Principal Investigator of four California Breast Cancer Research Program projects in partnership with Stanford University 1998-2009. The projects were initiated by the community to research the effects of support group intervention using video conferencing in nine northeastern counties of California.
Mary Anne is a Sacramento native. Her father was a gold miner and she grew up in the Sierra foothills. Twenty-three years ago she left the Bay Area with her husband to live on an acre in the beautiful Deer Creek watershed close to down town Nevada City.
As a founding member and president of Friends of Deer Creek my efforts have been focused on developing a sustainable organization to support the Executive Director, scientific staff, and trained community volunteers to restore and preserve the health and beauty of the entire Deer Creek watershed. I have worked to establish strong collaborative relationships with local public and non-profit agencies to ensure continued support and positive cooperation.
Michael Hill-Weld
Board Treasurer
Micheal graduated from UCSB with a major in Political Science/Sociology. He served an internship with the California State Democratic Party and then worked for Assemblyman Charles Warren (D-LA) and the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee as a consultant.
Michael moved to Nevada City in 1972 and became active in local government including serving 4 years on the Nevada City Planning Commission. He went to work for Nevada County in 1976 and retired in 2007 after 30+ years. The last 8 years he served as Director of Transportation and Sanitation. As Director his responsibilities included the operation of 7 wastewater treatment facilities in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. He supervised the planning and implementation of the upgrades of 3 plants to comply with new wastewater discharge requirements.
Michael is an active volunteer in the community including serving as a member of the Music In the Mountains Board for 11 years and working on several Foothill Theater productions. He is currently a member of the Deer Creek Elementary School Site Council (3 years) and the Friends of Deer Creek Board (1 year).
Stephen Carlton
Board member
Stephen graduated from San Diego State University with a BS Geology and from University of Nevada, Reno with an MS in Hydrogeology.
He has worked for 29 years for both private industry and the federal government on cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater. He is a Principal Hydrogeologist in the Rancho Cordova, California office of GeoTrans, Inc. Steve has two California professional licenses: Professional Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist.
Steve has lived in Nevada City for 24 years. He and his wife Laurie Oberholtzer have two kids, Wyn and Lizz. As well as serving on the Board for Friends of Deer Creek, Steve is involved with the Sierra County Land Trust. He enjoys a good book and being outside on foot, on a bike, in a canoe or on cross country skis.
John Norton
Board member
John returned to college in the late 1960’s after 10 years in the aerospace and computer industry, to retrain himself for a career in water quality protection. He received a BS in Biology from UC Davis and completed graduate studies in environmental toxicology and ecology.
Among his many accomplishments in the course of his thirty year career in water resources control, he established the Beach Water Quality Workgroup that directed millions of dollars of grant funds to help local agencies clean up their beaches; established the State Water Boards Enforcement Unit in 1998, that was sufficiently effective within just two years to become the “model” for Cal/EPA; authored the Sanitary Sewer Overflows Regulatory Program that will dramatically reduce sewage spills; guided the establishment of the Water Board Academy in 2003; and served as Interim Executive Officer at both the San Diego and Los Angeles Regional Boards, helping those boards transition during times of crisis.
He moved to Nevada County with his wife Sharon after his retirement in December 2005. Since that time he has devoted his time and expertise towards protecting and enhancing the water resources of our local watersheds. He is an active volunteer as a monitor and board member for Friends of Deer Creek, helping to establish a partnership between Friends of Deer Creek and the Lake Wildwood Lake Committee, on which he also serves. He has served as an advisor on the Nevada County Sanitation District’s Citizens Advisory Committee, and was executive producer of a film aimed at inspiring young professionals to enter careers in water resource protection.
