Why I am on the YBF Board: For me, it is about getting kids outside and introducing them to the Wildlife Area which, for many, is close to home. Our school field trips bring kids from around the Sacramento region to this restored natural area to which we hope they will return with their families. It is important to me to ensure this special place remains open and accessible to the public.

Why I am on the YBF Board: The Yolo Basin Wildlife Area is a place where I experience adventure, discovery, and awe, many of the same things I felt as a child growing up in the wetlands and waterways of the San Joaquin Delta. I love watching as our educational programs help children and our greater community discover the wonderful natural resource almost in their own backyards. I am on the Board to help preserve the legacy of the Wildlife Area and to work expanding our partnerships with the many interests served by Yolo Bypass.

Why I am on the YBF Board: I was one of the first kids to go through the Discover the Flyway program and I want future kids to be able to continue to learn and experience nature in their backyard. I also want people to know about and appreciate the Yolo Bypass and the wildlife area.

Why I am on the YBF Board: I’m excited to expand the conversation beyond birds and bats to how floodplains can work better for farmers and fish. Did you know that the Yolo Bypass can protect people from floodwaters that are a third of the entire Mississippi River at full flood stage? The Yolo Basin Wildlife area, located in the center of the floodway, is a microcosm of the larger Sacramento Valley which makes it the perfect place to demonstrate how all of these interests can complement each other. Showing how they do is necessary for the survival of biodiversity of the valley as a whole.

Why I am on the YBF Board: I have enjoyed the Yolo Basin recreationally since I was a child, and I continue to enjoy it with my own children today. I joined the YBF Board with the primary goal of expanding access to the Yolo Basin, expanding outreach through YBF programs, and to facilitate continued sustainable management by land owners and land managers.

Why I am on the YBF Board: I serve on the YBF Board because the Yolo Basin provides a wonderful opportunity to show the greater Sacramento region how land can provide a wide array of benefits, including wildlife habitat, food production, and flood control. I am also passionate about getting local kids out into nature and the Yolo Basin is an excellent place for our students to learn about the natural environment close to home.

Why I am on the YBF Board: In the final 15+ years of my conservation policy advocacy work initiatives to ensure all communities have easy access to nature and to build human connections to nature were a big part of my focus. In addition, I concentrated on protecting and restoring diverse ecosystems. The Yolo Basin Foundation allows me to continue that work within my local community. In addition, I remember working with Vic Fazio when he was in the CA Legislature, being a YBF Board member allows me to honor his legacy.

Why I am on the YBF Board: With so much focus on internet learning and social media, young people and adults need opportunities to explore the wonders of the natural world. The Yolo Basin Foundation provides such opportunities through Discover the Flyway (DTF) and other public programs. That’s why I volunteer as a DTF docent and as a member of the YBF board of directors.

Why I am on the YBF Board: I serve on the Yolo Basin Foundation Board because I deeply value the preservation of open space that supports multiple community and ecological goals. The Yolo Bypass is a powerful example of how wildlife habitat, agricultural production, and flood control can coexist and complement one another. I’m proud to support efforts that protect and sustain this landscape while providing opportunities for people—especially children—to experience the natural world right in the backyard of a major urban area.

Why I am on the YBF Board: As a nature resource specialist, I joined the board to support their leadership in growing outreach about the unique wildlife-friendly farming and natural habitat management that takes place on the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area as part of the Sacramento River Watershed and Delta. I also enjoy fundraising for the wildlife education programs for school aged children and, of course, the amazing bat program!

Why I am on the YBF Board: I serve on the Yolo Basin Foundation Board of Directors because I care about having access to and learning about the Pacific Flyway and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.

Why I am on the YBF Board: At a point where rivers, communities, highways, and cultures converge, lives the YBWA—a remarkable place shared by birdwatchers, students of all ages, farmers, a wide diversity of species, hunters, conservationists, and water managers. The basin is an opportunity to experience a unique landscape’s legacy and step into a world separate from the increasing hustle and bustle. I love that we bring young people into the basin to feel, firsthand, our connection to the circle of life and begin to understand the responsibility of our stewardship. The fact that this incredible spot provides so much for so many makes it a privilege to serve on the Yolo Basin Foundation board.

Yolo County Board of Supervisors