Flyway Nights Speaker Series
Flyway Nights is a monthly speaker series highlighting environmental issues, current research topics in conservation, and natural history of Northern California.
- First Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted, from November through April – 7 p.m.
- Events are via Zoom. Registration is required.
- Talks are 60 to 90 minutes in duration.
- A $15 donation is suggested. Donations help ensure that we are able to continue hosting this program.
Upcoming Talks
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Beaver Restoration Program
Molly Alves, Beaver Restoration Program Supervisor
Kyle Pagel, Senior Environmental Specialist
Tanner Harris, Environmental Scientist
Lee Margadant, Environmental Scientist
Molly and her team will talk about the new California Department of Fish and Wildlife Beaver Restoration Program (BRP); how it all started, what has been accomplished to date, and what exciting things are on the horizon. They will go into detail about the purpose, process, and objectives of the program including:
- Why California initiated a Beaver Restoration Program
- How are source beavers identified and captured (Lee Margadant)
- How we help manage beaver conflict in State Wildlife Areas, including Yolo!
- How translocation sites are assessed and strategically selected (Tanner Harris)
- BRP’s role in beaver coexistence
- Translocated beavers: where are they now? (Kyle Pagel)
- Creation of a Statewide Beaver Management and Restoration Plan
- How you can get involved!
Molly Alves is the Beaver Restoration Program Supervisor and has been with CDFW since 2024, having come from WA where she managed the Tulalip Beaver Project, a tribal-led beaver translocation program, for over a decade. Molly has trained countless biologists in safe trapping, transport, handling, and translocation techniques, presented her work at both national and international beaver conferences, served as a technical advisor to State and Tribal agencies and contributed to improvements to beaver management policy. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, the BBC, the New York Times, and many more.
Kyle Pagel is a Senior Environmental Scientist – Specialist with the Beaver Restoration Program and has been with CDFW since 2019. He is originally from Southern California and completed his B.S. at the University of Minnesota in 2014 and his M.S. at the University of Toledo in 2019.
Tanner Harris is an Environmental Scientist with the Beaver Restoration Program that specializes in GIS modelling and fisheries. His passion for stream and meadow restoration led him to the beaver world.
Lee Margadant is an Environmental Scientist with the Beaver Restoration Program that specializes in human-beaver coexistence and conflict resolution. He has been with CDFW since 2021.
February 5, 2026
Putah Creek Salmon in the Yolo Bypass
Max Stevenson, Putah Creek Streamkeeper
Max Stevenson, the Putah Creek Streamkeeper, will talk about the fall-run Chinook salmon migration through the Yolo Bypass. Thousands of adults come each year to spawn, and millions of juvenile salmon can migrate out of Putah Creek, through the Toe Drain (aka Tule Canal) and to the Ocean beyond.
Max has been the full-time Putah Creek Streamkeeper for the Agency since January 2022. Max serves as the Executive Director of the Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee (LPCCC). The LPCCC provides a forum for Putah Creek discussions and advises the Agency on Putah Creek management actions. The Streamkeeper is responsible for a variety of administrative and technical functions, including the development and management of salmon restoration projects, grants, environmental monitoring databases, and technical studies. Max has a PhD in Plant Physiology from UC Davis and has previously served as the Staff Scientist for The Bay Institute and the Assistant General Manager of Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Max currently represents the Agency on local and Statewide technical advisory committees, assisting the California Water Data Consortium and Voluntary Agreements Scientific Advisory Committee, among others.