WALPA Board and Committees

Officer Biographies

Jacob McCann, President (2009-2010)

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.

Beth Cullen, President Elect (2009-2010)

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.

Jonathan Frodge, Past President (2009-2010)

Bio coming soon...

Jane Anderson, Secretary (2009-2011)

Jane graduated from the University of Washington in 2006 with BS in Civil Engineering.  After graduating she went to work for Spokane County as an Environmental Programs Engineer in the Engineering and Roads Department.  Her work for the County involves assisting with the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District to include maintaining and operating the hypolimnetic aeration system and alum injection system, monitoring and controlling the lake level, managing contracts, establishing the District budget, and coordinating with the District Advisory Board members.  In addition, her work responsibilities include providing engineering support to the floodplain program in the County.  She is currently involved in the hydrology and hydraulic design for Spokane County bridge repair and replacement projects.  For fun she enjoys spending time at her family cabin on Spirit Lake, Idaho, snowboarding, biking, hiking, and tennis.

Rebecca Dugopolski, Treasurer (2008-2010)

Rebecca Dugopolski received her B.S. from Michigan Technological University and her M.S. from the University of Washington, both in Environmental Engineering.  As part of the Valle Fellowship program at the University of Washington, she spent six months studying sediment phosphorus speciation at Uppsala University in Sweden.  Her Masters research focused on short-term effects in Green Lake sediments and water quality following a 2004 alum treatment.  Since January 2006, she has worked for Herrera Environmental Consultants as a member of the water quality group where she specializes in limnology, stormwater sampling, stormwater design, data analysis, and hydrologic modeling.  Earlier this year, she assisted WALPA with the phosphorus fertilizer legislation bill and is excited to introduce the bill to the Senate again during the next legislative session.

 

Sally Abella, Director (2009-2011)

Sally has a BS in Geology and MS degrees in both Zoology and Botany from the University of Washington. She worked with W.T. Edmondson for over 25 years on the long-term study of Lake Washington and is now the lakes and streams lead for the Science Section, managing the Lake Stewardship Program for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. In addition to general limnological analysis and monitoring design, her fields of specialization include phytoplankton ecology and taxonomy, effects of watershed changes on lakes, and reconstruction of past lacustrine environments from sedimentary evidence.

BiJay Adams, Director (2009-2011)

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 10 years of work experience with lakes and streams in Idaho and Washington. When not working, BiJay enjoys to hunt, fish, rock climb, and mountaineer.

Tom Brattebo, Director (2008-2010)

My involvement with water began long ago, spending many growing-up days playing and working in a wetland (we called it “the swamp") on the coast of Washington.  I still think there's nothing better than a swamp for education and entertainment.  I was a Liberty Lake resident and participant in the early days of the sewering discussions, and have lived near the lake for the past ten years.  I have been an active participant in the Liberty Lake Watershed Committee.  After a couple of retirements in Spokane, I spent three years teaching environmental education at West Valley School District's Outdoor Learning Center (you can't beat taking young kids into the swamp – though we call it a "wetland," now.)  Along the way, I initiated a conversation about phosphorus in dishwasher detergent with the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, that lead to a groundbreaking decision by the state of Washington banning phosphorus in dishwasher detergent in Spokane and Whatcom counties in 2008, and the entire state in 2010 (Will it go nationwide?).  I'm interested in joining the WALPA Board of Directors to continue a lifelong focus on water to help create a better future for the world.

Marisa Burghdoff, Director (2009-2011)

Marisa has been working in lakes and wetlands for five years and is currently a water quality analyst with Snohomish County’s Lake Management Program.  In this role, she runs the County’s volunteer lake monitoring program, analyzes and reports on lake quality data, conducts toxic algae monitoring, and develops education and outreach materials for lake residents.  She is particularly interested in determining how to best use monitoring data to promote lake protection actions.  Marisa received her BS in plant biology from the University of Michigan and later received a Master of Science in environmental science and a Master of Public Affairs in natural resource management from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.  When not working on lakes, Marisa enjoys hiking, camping, reading, spending time with her husband, Mike, and daughter, Hazel. 

Chris Burke, Director (2008-2010)

Chris Burke is a Senior Scientist with the City of Tacoma Public Works Department.  His role with the City encompasses multi-media assessment, contaminant transport/fate, source control and restoration.  He received his BS from Washington State University in Environmental Sciences/Chemistry, and MS from University of Idaho in Environmental Sciences/Water Quality.  From 1995-2002 Chris worked on lake, reservoir and river assessments, restoration, and habitat compensation projects in Washington, Idaho (USA) and the Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada.  Recently employed by the City, Chris has the opportunity link ecological experience with stormwater and source control expertise of the City’s Public Works department to benefit of urban aquatic habitats.  Chris likes to swim, dive, kayak, fish observe the magnificence of nature.  That’s why he’s passionate and work hard to maintain and improve aquatic habitats in Washington State. 

Neil Harrington, Director (2008-2010)

Neil Harrington is the Program Manager for the Water Quality Division of Jefferson County Public Health. His work includes overseeing the County’s lake monitoring program. Jefferson County’s monitoring program has been focused on protecting human health, however this year it has expanded to include a comprehensive nutrient study of several lakes. He also supervises several clean water projects in Chimacum Creek, Discovery Bay and Hood Canal, the shellfish biotoxin safety program and is the county’s lead staff member for WRIA 17 watershed planning efforts. Neil earned a BA in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). He went on to earn a MS in Marine Science with an emphasis in biological oceanography and estuarine nutrient dynamics in 1999, also from UCSC.  He lives in Port Townsend with his wife Renee and their two small children.

Dustin Hinson, Director (2008-2010)

Dustin Hinson received his B.S. in Fisheries Management and M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho. At the university level, he worked on numerous fisheries and aquatic ecology projects, including salmonid predation studies on the lower Snake River reservoirs and kokanee-zooplankton interactions in Lake Pend Oreille.  Furthermore, his Masters thesis project focused on benthic impacts derived from agriculture and aquaculture point-source discharges to the middle Snake River near Hagerman, Idaho.  Since 2002, Dustin has worked as a private consultant and currently works as an aquatic ecologist with AMEC Earth & Environmental, Incorporated of Spokane, Washington.  As an aquatic ecologist, he spends his time working in the areas of fisheries management and ecology and analysis of environmental impacts to aquatic species and habitats for local governments, tribes, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and universities.  Dustin has extensive experience in the field, including fish sampling, identification, handling, and transport; benthic macroinvertebrate and aquatic macrophyte sampling and identification; wetland delineation and functional assessment; stream survey and assessment; and limnological and water quality sampling.  On his free time, Dustin enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, as well as flyfishing, bowhunting, tennis, and golf.

Steve Kalenius, Director (2008-2010)

Steve Kalenius is President of Northwest Aquatic Management, LLC. Steve spent his youth on the bays and lakes around the Puget Sound area.  He became a certified SCUBA diver in 1974, at the age of 13.  Steve graduated from Western Washington University in 1983 with a degree in Business and Economics.  Pursuing his love for the water and boats he then spent 14 years in the marine industry.  While advancing his career in that industry he served many years as a committee member on a Lakes Management District, later serving as President and Vice-President.  In 1994, Steve combined his love for the water, knowledge of lakes issues, and business management skills to form Northwest Aquatic Management, LLC.  He added two employees, purchased two aquatic weed harvesters (currently four) and support equipment, a Trimble GIS system and became both a certified pesticide applicator and commercial truck driver.  In his free time, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and family, golfing, and of course doing anything that can be done on the water.

Kelly McLain, Director (2008-2010)

Kelly McLain received a B.S. degree in marine biology/invasive species ecology from Evergreen State College, Olympia.  She earned her Master of Environmental Studies degree, with an emphasis on pesticides and toxicology in 2004. Kelly has worked on lakes related issues for the last five years. Most recently, she ran the Washington State Department of Ecology Aquatic Pesticide Program, reviewing pesticides prior to their use under NPDES permits. She is currently the Environmental Protection Manager for the City of Auburn, where she is working closely on toxic algae issues.

Rob Plotnikoff, Director (2009-2011)

Rob began his academic career at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington and completed his academic education at The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania in 1989. He was employed by the Washington Department of Ecology for the next 17 years as a Staff Scientist and then the Manager for the Statewide Freshwater Monitoring Network. He has continued his professional career with a private consulting firm, Tetra Tech, in Seattle, Washington where he serves as a senior ecologist and project manager. Rob has more than 20 years of experience conducting aquatic environmental studies and in lecturing with two academic institutions. He continues to work on projects involving: environmental resource assessment of rivers and lakes, toxicological impacts to freshwater biota, numerical and conceptual biological modeling, and evaluating effectiveness of regulatory permits.  Rob’s major accomplishments involve development of a statewide biological monitoring program where he used his academic training in ecology of benthic macroinvertebrates and what they tell us about the environment.

Rob has maintained an active role in scientific societies and national technical working groups. His membership to these technical workgroups include the: Pacific Northwest Bioassessment Workgroup, California Bioassessment Workgroup, Pacific Northwest Native Freshwater Mussel Workgroup, North American Benthological Society, North American Lakes Management Society and recently the Washington Lakes Protection Association. Rob is an active contributor to National Workgroups that include the: U.S. EPA Macroinvertebrate Tolerance Research Workshop, U.S. Forest Service Regional (Region 6) Research Conference, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement National Long-Term Monitoring Program, and Regional Science and Policy Workshops on Biomonitoring Applications. He provides technical guidance and time in assisting non-profit organizations develop scientific information that helps conserve and restore rivers and lakes in the Pacific Northwest.

Rob enjoys his work in aquatic ecology, but it was his hobby flyfishing from a young age that influenced his career choice. He is an avid reader and book collector, enjoys listening to jazz and is rarely seen without a cup of coffee in hand (sometimes in both hands).

Frank Wilhelm, Director (2009-2011)

Frank Wilhelm is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho, in beautiful Moscow. Frank has been interested in the outdoors and biology since being a kid when he played near and in streams and ponds in his neighborhood. Frank combined that love for the watery outdoors with a rigorous science education that now sees him teaching limnology and undertaking research on aquatic ecosystems. Frank joined the University of Idaho in 2007 after six years at Southern Illinois University where he also taught limnology and undertook lake restoration research. That was preceded by a two-year post doctoral fellowship in New Zealand, and a PhD at the University of Alberta focused on high alpine lake research in the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks. Frank's interests include the restoration of water quality in lakes for future generations, food web dynamics, cyanobacteria, and cave ecosystems. Personal interests include being outside near, on, or in water, fishing, building and using small watercraft, biking, hiking and snowshoeing.