WALPA Board and Committees

Officer Biographies

Beth Cullen, President (2007-2008)

Beth has been a Water Quality Planner with King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks since 2003. Her work has entailed working on special projects on King County lakes including the Hydrilla Eradication project on Pipe and Lucerne Lakes, nutrient monitoring on the tributaries to Beaver and Cottage Lakes, and working with community groups on aquatic weed issues. She also assists with the Lake Stewardship volunteer monitoring program, interprets data, participates in community outreach and writes grants. She received her BA from Huxley School of the Environment at Western Washington University in environmental policy and planning. In 2002 she received her Masters of Environmental Management from Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, focusing on watershed processes. Her free time is spent on outside on her bike.  Beth Cullen email

BiJay Adams, Past President (2007-2008)

BiJay Adams is the Lake Protection Manager for the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District where he is responsible for the management of Liberty Lake and its watershed. BiJay's duties include implementing lake protection measures to reduce sources of water quality impairment, while providing evaluation and inspection of stormwater runoff systems, shoreline requirements, aquatic invasives, and water quality. He also enforces district policies and regulations, promotes public stewardship through educational programs, and serves as the local liaison to the Watershed Advisory Committee, the public, and lake groups throughout Washington and Idaho. BiJay has a BS in Geology/Hydrogeology from Lewis and Clark State College, and has over 7 years of work experience with lakes and streams in Idaho and Washington. When not working, BiJay enjoys to hunt, fish, rock climb, and mountaineer.  BiJay Adams email

Jonathan Frodge, President Elect (2007-2008)
Bio coming soon...

Shannon Brattebo, Secretary (2007-2009)

Shannon Brattebo received her B.S. degree in environmental engineering from Seattle University and her M.S. degree in environmental engineering from the University of Washington.  For the past several years, Shannon has worked for Tetra Tech, Inc. as an environmental engineer and limnologist.  She has participated in numerous water quality, limnological, water resources, environmental restoration, and watershed planning studies for both state and federal agencies.  She is currently involved with the Boundary Dam relicensing studies located in Metaline Falls, Washington.  Shannon is registered as a professional engineer in the state of South Dakota and served on the WALPA board of directors from 2003 to 2005. Shannon Brattebo email

Gene Williams, Treasurer (2006-2008)

Gene Williams is a senior planner in the Surface Water Management Division of Snohomish County, Washington.  Since 1989, he has been project manager of Snohomish County’s lakes program.  The program involves monitoring of about 35 lakes, most of them with the help of volunteers.  The program also includes management of invasive aquatic plants and several lake restoration projects.  Gene served on the WALPA Board of Directors (primarily as Secretary) from 1994 through 2003.  Gene Williams email

Director Biographies

Karl Mueller, Director (2006-2008)

Karl Mueller is a Senior Associate with ENVIRON International Corporation in Seattle.  Since 1986, Karl has worked in various aspects of fish and shellfish husbandry and fisheries research.  For several years, Karl worked as an upper-level field biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) conducting fisheries investigations in lakes and ponds throughout western Washington.  Much of his work was cited in Wydoski and Whitney’s (2003) Inland Fishes of Washington, 2^nd edition (American Fisheries Society/University of Washington Press).  In 2000, Karl was designated a Certified Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society.  After leaving WDFW in 2004, he worked as a part-time independent consultant and enrolled in graduate school at Western Washington University in Bellingham. From 2005 to 2007, the focus of Karl's private endeavors and M.S. thesis research was the interaction between native and non-native crayfish in Pine Lake, King County, Washington. In June 2007, he earned his M.S. degree in Environmental Science, specializing in freshwater ecology. In his spare time, Karl enjoys recreational scuba diving, boating, travel, photography, theatre, films, and music.

Arline Fullerton, Director (2006-2008)

Arline Fullerton is currently working as an independent sub-contractor surveying lake vegetation, hand pulling invasive aquatic plant species, and writing reports. Arline has a vast experience in identifying and recording aquatic plant species, diving, monitoring water quality conditions, and taking samples. Arline received her SCUBA Dive Master Certification in 1988, and since has been instrumental on various projects utilizing her diving expertise. An example of her creativity is expressed in her Aquatic Plant Herbarium that she built and maintains. The Aquatic Plant Herbarium is used as an educational tool while conducting Lake Management District educational classes, Washington State Lake Protection Association conferences, fairs and organizational presentations.

Steven Fradkin, Director (2006-2008)
Steven Fradkin received his Ph.D. in 1997 from Dartmouth College in Biological Sciences (Aquatic Ecology). Since 2000, he has been working as a Coastal Ecologist/Limnologist for the Olympic National Park. In addition, Steven is an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Idaho Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Steven’s experience also includes staff scientist and research positions for CH2M HILL and University of Oregon where he studied aquatic ecology and marine biology.

Ben Scofield, Director (2006-2008)

Ben Scofield received his BS and MS in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho.  His master’s thesis focused on benthic algae in the Rocky Reach reservoir of the Mid Columbia River. He has worked the Spokane Tribe of Indians as a limnologist since 2002.  His investigations with the Spokane Tribe have focused on water quality, lower trophic level interactions, and ecology of planktonic organisms important to fisheries in Lake Roosevelt.  He grew up in North Idaho near the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and has been captivated by the mysteries of deep waters ever since. 

Beth Cocchiarella, Director (2006-2008)

Beth Cocchiarella is a lake resident at Liberty Lake, Washington. Beth and her family moved to Liberty Lake in 1995, and since have been active in various community watershed efforts. She belongs to the Liberty Lake Citizen Watershed Advisory Committee, Liberty Lake Property Owners Association, Green Space Committee, and the Spokane County Conservation District volunteer monitoring group. Beth has a great deal of experience in adult education, tutoring and teaching skills dating back to the 1970s. In her spare time, Beth can be found kayaking, hiking, and cross-county skiing.

Jean Jacoby, Director (2006-2008)

Jean Jacoby is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Seattle University.  She received a B.S. in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering-Environmental Engineering and Science from the University of Washington in 1981 and 1986, respectively.  From 1986-1991, she worked at several civil and environmental engineering consulting firms where she managed studies of toxic pollution in urban bays of Puget Sound, watershed and water quality investigations, and lake restoration projects.  Since joining Seattle University in 1991, she has taught courses in environmental engineering and science, and has conducted research on cyanobacterial toxicity and migration, as well as stream nutrient and trophic interactions.  Jean is active in several professional organizations, serving as the secretary of WALPA from 1991-1993, faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers since 1991, a board member of the North American Lake Management Society, and is an associate editor for the journal Lake and Reservoir Management. 

Joe Ravet, Director (2007-2009)

Joe Ravet received a B.S. degree in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin and his M.S. degree and Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Washington.  Joe is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Washington. His interests in lake research and stewardship are closely related to his love of fishing and spending time close to water. He is currently studying the molecular basis of food quality in aquatic food webs and how the presence of certain compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, may help to strengthen food web interactions leading to less nuisance algae blooms and increased fisheries production. He aims to develop these interests into a teaching and research career and would consider it an honor to serve WALPA.

David Christensen, Director (2007-2009)

Dave Christensen received a B.S. degree in fishery resources from the University of Idaho and his Masters in Environmental Science and Regional Planning from Washington State University (WSU).  Recently, Dave completed his Ph.D. in Natural Resources at WSU where he focused on food web and habitat influences affecting salmonid survival in a meso-eutrophic lake.  Dave currently works as a post-doctoral researcher at the WSU Limnology Lab where he is studying food web interactions and habitat constraints within a portion of the upper Columbia River, Washington.  He will also conduct nutrient, invertebrate, and food web analyses on two small salmon bearing streams on the Skagit River Delta.  In the past, Dave worked with the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Within these agencies, he worked on management and research projects, including both warm and cold water fish species and their habitats.  During this time, he developed a profound appreciation for the interconnectivity of fisheries and limnology with an understanding that productivity drives the system.  Much of his research there focused on fishes and their relationship to habitat in lentic environments.  Dave hopes to continue his research as it pertains to both fish and the environment in which they live.  He has published his research as a primary author and has other papers currently in review.

Jacob McCann, Director (2007-2009)

Jacob McCann is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and also studied Classics at Cambridge University in the UK.  Jacob works in the Environmental Programs section of Spokane County’s Division of Engineering and Roads, which also administers the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District. His water resources training came from the Environmental Sciences Department at Spokane Community College, as well as through extensive experience working in the Hydrology Division of the USDA Forest Service Bonners Ferry Ranger District.  His responsibilities in the Division of Engineering and Roads include providing guidance for and monitoring of county road and bridge projects with regards to sediment input into surface water bodies, helping with the upgrading of  crossing structures to meet fish passage criteria, and coordinating these efforts with the other applicable regulatory agencies.  Jacob also serves as SEPA coordinator for any private land use issues in Spokane County that involve floodplains, which is virtually all lakes and most streams.  When administering the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District, he operates and maintains the hypolimnetic aeration system, organizes milfoil eradication efforts, and coordinates volunteer monitoring activities and community education.  Furthermore, Jacob writes and edits the biannual newsletter, and provides assistance to lake and watershed residents in development activities that are consistent with the goals of improving the water quality of Newman Lake.  Jacob’s current position allows him to be directly involved with the protection of the abundant natural treasures that are in the Inland Northwest.  He feels it is vital that our lakes and their watersheds are protected as wild spaces become urbanized.

Norm Dion, Director (2007-2009)

Norm Dion’s education includes a B.A. in geology from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A. in hydrogeology from Indiana University, and a year of ecological and limnological studies at the University of Wisconsin.  Norm retired from the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a supervisory hydrologist in 1995 after 30 years of service.  At the time of his retirement he had authored more than 40 technical reports and supervised up to 35 professional and technical employees in Florida, Idaho, and Washington.  During his 22 years in the Tacoma USGS office, his assignments included studies of the ground-water resources of various regions, the effects of the Mount St Helens eruption on various lakes, a lay primer on lakes in Washington, a statewide reconnaissance of lakes to determine trophic status, the suitability of Ozette Lake for Sockeye salmon, and water/nutrient budgets for Wilderness and Pine Lakes in King County.  When not enjoying the luxury of total retirement, he volunteers with the lake-monitoring arm of Pierce Stream Team, runs a small home-based business buying and selling firearms, and enjoys the company of his grandchildren.

Ray Latham, Alternate Director (2007-2009)
Ray Latham has been with Water Quality Program at Ecology's Central Regional Office in Yakima since 1996. His duties range from water quality complaint response to liaisons with local jurisdictions on water quality issues. As a regional lead he is responsible for lake issues, aquatic permits, and construction stormwater. He has 24 years experience in water quality/resources work with the states of Washington, Idaho and with the Nez Perce Tribe in north-central Idaho. He has had a variety of non-point source pollution experience, ranging from forest roads and practices, urban development, irrigated and dry-land agriculture to non-traditional point sources such as aquaculture, dairies and construction stormwater. He and his family enjoy horseback riding, fishing, huckleberries and bluegrass picking.

Kelly McLain, Special Advisory Committee, Conference Planner (2007-2008)
Kelly has been running the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Aquatic Pesticide Program since 2004. This job involves the review of new aquatic pesticides and adjuvants, and the preparation of risk assessments and environmental impact statements on those products. She also provides technical support during the development of any aquatic pesticide permits, either general or individual. She was the lead permit writer on the Aquatic Plant and Algae Management general permit, a permit geared towards the control of nuisance plants, algae, and noxious weeds in Washington lakes. She has a bachelor of science degree in invasive species ecology and a masters degree in environmental studies with a focus on pesticides and toxicology.