Session Coordinators: Eli Asarian, Riverbend Sciences, and Sarah Phillips, Marin Resource Conservation District

This session will feature a multitude of “lightning” (5-minute) talks in which presenters share nuggets of inspiration and wisdom relevant to restoration. We asked potential presenters to reflect on their careers and lives, pondering these thought-provoking questions to help their brains start flowing: 
 

We received a wide-ranging collection of abstracts for this session, ranging from practical tips to philosophical musings and heart stirring stories that will captivate the audience. Presenters will share gems of wisdom that have carried them through the days, months, years, or decades in their practice of restoration. Presentations will be ordered according to five general themes that emerged from the set of abstracts submitted: strategies, philosophies, mentors, personal stories, and collaborations. After presentations on an individual theme, we will have a brief period of time  for questions and discussion, then move on to presentations on the next theme. 

Please join us for a memorable session of distilled and focused insights, snapshots of wisdom shared amongst the SRF community! Many presenters, many smiles, some epiphanies, and few—if any—slides. This session will focus on the positivities and the possibilities. We aspire for people to leave this session feeling replenished, motivated, energized, and connected.
 

 

Lessons Learned from 40 Years of Watershed Restoration, Don Allan, Mad River Alliance

How to Maximize Your Grant Writing Efforts, Steve Madrone, Humboldt County Supervisor

Creek Incision Prevention/Fish Habitat Creation, Freddy Otte, City of San Luis Obispo

A Few Nuanced Tips for Getting the Most Out of Large Wood-Loading Projects, Tom Leroy, Pacific Watershed Associates

Turning Forest Fuels into Instream Habitat to Benefit Long-term Ecological Function, Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program: Bureau of Reclamation

Restoration Success While Negotiating with Disney Villains, Plus a Perspective on Time, Alison Willy, SRF Board

Perfect Is the Enemy of Good; A Pragmatic Restorationist’s Perspective, Mike Berry, retired CDFW and DWR

When Failure Leads to a Plethora of Successes, Sarah Phillips, Marin Resource Conservation District

How I Began to Listen to Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK), Michael Belchik, Yurok Tribal Fisheries Program

Thinking Like a Natural Historian: Nature Nerd Nuggets from the Professor of Wonderment, Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center

What Makes a Good Mentor and Why Is a Mentor Important, Ross Taylor, Ross Taylor and Associates

Indigenous Versus Anglospheric Approaches to Monitoring and Restoration—Advice from Tyson Yunkaporta’s Aunties, Mary Power, PhD, Angelo Coast Range Reserve 

Praise for Phil Pister’s Species in a Bucket, Eli Asarian, Riverbend Sciences 

So You Want To Be a Stream Scientist, Bill Trush, Cal Poly Humboldt River Institute

A Different Perspective and Uncomfortable Conversations, Larry Notheis, California Conservation Corps

Reflections on a Quarter Century in Waders, Sarah Nossaman Pierce, California Sea Grant

There Is No EGO in Ecosystem Restoration, Anna Halligan, Trout Unlimited