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About Native Fish Society

The Native Fish Society exists to cultivate a groundswell of public support needed to revive abundant wild, native fish.

Meet The Team

We're a group of dedicated advocates and conservationists...

Executive Director
Director of Wild Steelhead Funding
Director of Community Development | Women For Wild Fish
Northern Oregon Coordinator
Communications
Legislative and Policy Director

Board of Directors

Doug is a public interest environmental lawyer and owner of Portal Food Co. He recently worked as the Wild Fish Advocate for Advocates for the West, in Portland, Oregon. Before joining Advocates, Doug completed a two-year legal fellowship at Earthrise Law Center, also in Portland. Doug received a B.S. in Conservation & Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2016. In law school, Doug earned a Certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law and focused on salmon and steelhead issues. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, fly tying, and cooking.

Jeremy is a Law Partner at Annala, Carey, & Hull in Hood River, Oregon, where he advises closely-held businesses in the Gorge. Prior to returning to his hometown, Jeremy spent 10 years at Nike, working in Finance, Real Estate and Strategy. After earning a JD and MBA at the University of Oregon, Jeremy worked at Obsidian Finance Group in Portland, developing utility-scale solar facilities across Oregon. He is also member of the Hood River Crag Rats, the oldest Search and Rescue group in the US, and sits on the ODFW Recreational Fishing Advisory Board. Jeremy is most happy watching water moving around him, and when not in the office you can find him trying to achieve his personal "Triple Double” - double digit days flyfishing, skiing and kiteboarding in the Gorge.

Paul received his B.B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1967 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1975. Paul served in the U.S. Navy from 1967-1980. In 1983 Paul opened the Perkins Coie law office in Portland, where he worked for 30 years until his retirement in 2013. Paul served as a Director at Oregon Trout and continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Freshwater Trust. He joins the NFS Board of Directors looking forward to the opportunity to get closer to wild fish and wild fish issues.

Kyan Bartel is a project manager and safety director for a construction firm specializing in general and specialty commercial construction. Growing up on the Molalla River as an outdoor enthusiast, Kyan immersed himself in nature through skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, and fly fishing. He continues to love the outdoors and combines that with a goal to preserve the wild as much as possible for future generations, especially his daughter. He received his bachelors of science degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University in 2010. Kyan enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, fly fishing, and drifting the rivers of the Pacific Northwest.

Michael is an advertising executive with 20 years of marketing and branding experience. He spent 12 years at Wieden+Kennedy building strategies and integrated campaigns for some of the most iconic and beloved brands in the world, including Nike, Coca-Cola and Old Spice. He is currently the Director of Client Services at Opinionated, a start-up advertising agency in Portland. Michael is an avid outdoorsman and loves to share his passion for fly fishing with anyone who will listen. He enjoys exposing new people to fishing and feels there is an inherent and authentic connection you make with people when out on the river.

Warner is a fourth generation Oregonian who is on the board of his family foundation, The Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1987 he took to the road less traveled to see the world with his trusted backpack. Over the years he's adventured to all seven continents and traveled to over 100 countries. His passion for the great outdoors and his love for fly-fishing fuels his desire for the preservation of wild fish for eternity. Long live the adipose fin!

Jeff taught himself to fly fish and tie flies when he was 10. Growing up in a lodge on Mt Hood that he helped his mom manage, he saved up his housekeeping wages to buy his first Spey rod at 12. Hitchhiking to the river before and after school, he was doomed to a life of fishing addiction. The strong addiction lead to fly shop employment, guiding in Oregon and Alaska and even management at a bonefishing lodge in the Bahamas. Jeff started his own guiding service, Fish The Swing in '11, to show his commitment to "swing only" and now owns and operates three well respected and sought after fishing/guiding programs in Oregon as well as Kimsquit Bay Lodge on the Dean River in British Columbia. Through Jeff’s decades on the water he has become a dedicated advocate for the wild, native fish and free flowing rivers. Before joining the Native Fish Society board of directors he served for years as a River Steward volunteer on the Nehalem and Clackamas rivers.

Leslie learned to fly fish on the Truckee River. Growing up across from the street from the river, much of her free time was spent swimming and fishing. While at college in the Bay Area at St. Mary’s College of California, she discovered steelhead fishing. After graduation, she followed her passion for steelhead fishing and pursued a career in guiding. Within 2 years of starting her guide career, it was apparent that all she wanted to do was swing flies for steelhead. She converted her guide business to swing only, due to swinging having the least amount of impact on the resource while still participating.

She has enjoyed guiding throughout the Pacific Northwest; some of her favorite venues have been the Olympic Peninsula, the Grande Ronde, and the Southern Oregon Coast. Leslie decided to join the NFS Board after seeing the political and environmental impacts on her favorite fisheries and aims to move the needle in the right direction for the health of our fisheries and our wild fish.

You can catch Leslie, her husband Dax Messett, and their dog Marlee on the rivers of Southern Oregon. They call Medford, OR home, and chase winter steelhead from Gold Beach in the winter months.

Science Advisory Team

About:

Ivan’s interests encompass stream ecology, limnology, hydrology, forestry, and watershed-level processes. In particular, he is interested in the consequences of climate change on freshwater ecosystems, biological invasions in freshwaters, and terrestrial-aquatic food webs. In addition, Ivan is interested in issues related to diversity and inclusion in sciences. Ivan is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University. 

Education:

Post-Doctoral Scholar, 2010-2012
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS)
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Doctorate in Forest Sciences, 2010
Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile

About:

Cathy is an ecohydrologist exploring human dependencies and effects on freshwater systems. She collaborates on multiple research efforts, as well as teaches and advises for Western Washington University's College of the Environment.

Her global research focuses on sustaining freshwater goods and services under an ever-increasing human demand, in particular examining the roles of dams and inland fishing. Cathy is interested in the intersection of freshwater conservation and WASH science and policies within the international aid arena. More locally, her efforts have centered on instream flows, including hydrologic classification, climate change modeling, and applied water conservation planning.

Education:

PhD, Umeå University; MS, University of Washington; BMusic, Boston University

About:

Mark is an applied ecologist who integrates different data sources and analytical methods to study a variety of problems related to the conservation and management of aquatic resources, particularly along the west coast of North America. He collaborates closely with partners from tribal, government, and academic institutions in identifying and conducting research projects. He is also dedicated to conducting open, reproducible science.

Much of his research is focused on the development and application of statistical methods for analyzing temporal and spatial data. Examples of recent projects include integrated population models for Pacific salmon, evaluation of the risks and rewards of ecological portfolios, and assessing the effects of large-scale disturbances from natural and anthropogenic causes.

Education:

Ph.D., Zoology, University of Washington (2002) M.S., Fishery and Aquatic Science, Cornell University (1995) B.S., Zoology, University of Wisconsin (1991)

Our Impact
Grassroots river stewards taking care of their backyard and native fish
68
Victories safegurading habitat and restoring fish passages
42

History & Accomplishments

Learn more about the history of the Native Fish Society

Strategic Framework

Guided by the best available science, Native Fish Society advocates for the protection and recovery of wild, native fish and the stewardship of the habitats that sustain us all.

FAQ

Get answers to some of the most common questions asked about Native Fish Society.

Annual Reports

View our annual reports dating back to 2008

Career Opportunities

View current and future career opportunities

Equity Practice

Why a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion matters to us.

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Strong Runs

View an archive of Strong Runs publications dating back to 2007

Business Partners

Native Fish Society couldn't do what we do without the help of these great partners

A to Z / Rex Hill Vineyards
Adventures Across Oregon
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe
All Star Rafting
Andros South
Ashland Fly Shop
Babine Steelhead Lodge
Bartel Contracting
Bendistillery
Caddis Fly Shop
CF Burkheimer Fly Rod Co.
Deneki Outdoors
Deschutes Angler Fly Shop
Deschutes Brewery
Dog River Coffee
EcoServices Biological Consulting
Educational Recreational Adventures
Emerald Water Anglers
Farlex Reels
Fish Head Expeditions
Fish the Swing
FishMadMan
Fly Fishing Collaborative
Fly Water Travel
Flyfishing Arts & Conservation Society
Frontier Farwest
Garden Fever!
Gorge Fly Shop
Grand Central Baking Company
Heart Rock Studios
Higgins Restaurant
Imperial River Co.
John Larison Steelheading
Karstetter Rods
KayakFlyAngler
KS Wild
Krieger Enterprises
Lange Estate Winery & Vineyard
Little Stone Flyfisher
Loon Outdoors
Magic Waters Patagonia
McKenzie Fly Fishers
Mother’s Bistro & Bar
Mountain Rose Herbs
New Outlook Financial, LLC
Northline Wealth Management
Oregon Growers and Shippers
Oregon Outdoor Excursions
Oregon Zoo
Oscar’s Source for Adventure
Ouzel Outfitters
Paloma Clothing
Patagonia
Patagonia Portland
Pistil Designs
Portland Nursery
Ransom Wines & Spirits
Red Shed Fly Shop
Rio Products
River Runner Outfitters
River Snorkeling
Royal Treatment Fly Fishing
Saracione Fly Reels
Sasquatch Brewing
Smith River Alliance
South Coast Tours LLC
Steelhead Water Guide Service
Stuart Warren Fly Fishing
Swing the Fly
Tactics
The Drake Magazine
Toast Inc
Trader Joe’s
TroutNV
Wanderlust Tours
Watershed Fly Shop
Western Waters Guide Service
Yamhill Valley Vineyards
Z’IVO Wines