Aaron, Patti, Biologist
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, Bureau of Reclamation

Patti Aaron is responsible for developing partnerships that effect the restoration of riparian and floodplain habitats for native and migratory species for the purposes of the Lower Colorado River (LCR) Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP). She has been with the Bureau of Reclamation for six years, primarily working on the LCR MSCP. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is an active volunteer in the Las Vegas community and enjoys kayaking, hiking, dancing, fiber arts, and good laughs. Patti and her husband are the proud parents of a grown son and godparents of twin 6-year old godsons.

Presentation: "The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program: Developing Partnerships to Secure Land and Water Resources for Long-Term Habitat Restoration" The LCR MSCP is a multi-stakeholder Federal and non-Federal partnership responding to the need to balance the legal use of lower Colorado River water and power resources and the conservation of threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Reclamation is responsible for implementing this comprehensive 50-year native species conservation and habitat management program, which is the largest of its type in the United States. The program will provide over 8,100 acres of native habitat and augment native fish populations. Due to the unique nature of the program, it is important for Reclamation to develop active, long-standing partnerships to accomplish this habitat development and long-term management. top of page

Babb, Randall, Information and Education Program Manager
Mesa Regional Office, Arizona Game & Fish Department

Randy Babb is a native of Arizona and grew up spending much of his free time in the state's wildlands. He started his professional career employed by the U.S. Forest Service working as a field technician on grazing impact studies in the southwest. In 1986 Randy moved to the Arizona Game and Fish Department doing contract work and soon became the Aquatic Education Program Manager working for the Education Branch. In 1993 he took a position in Mesa's Region VI Office overseeing information and education activities in central Arizona. He has worked on numerous studies and projects in Arizona, New Mexico, southeastern U.S., Mexico, Central America, Viet Nam, and southern Africa on small mammals, fish, and reptiles and amphibians.

Presentation: "Human and Wildlife Values of Natural Areas Within and Adjacent to Urban Areas in Arizona's Sonoran Desert" The Sonoran Desert of Arizona has historically been one of most rapidly altered habitats in the southwest. Much of this alteration has been done with little or no regard for the wildlife that originally inhabited these lands. Randy will discuss the life histories and needs of many of these creatures and wildlife/human conflicts that arise in the wake of development. He will also highlight the importance of the conservation of these lands for wildlife and quality of life for humans. top of page

Baldwin, Kerry, Natural Resources Division Manager
Pima County Parks & Recreation Department

Kerry Baldwin is a native of Arizona and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1979 with degrees in Renewable Natural Resources and Wildlife Ecology. After graduation in 1976, Kerry was hired by the Arizona Game and Fish Department where he remained for the next 28 years. Kerry was Chief of Education for the Department for over 20 years with responsibilities for programs in conservation education, wildlife rehabilitation, hunter education, boating safety education, statewide shooting range program and off highway vehicle education with several assignments as the Assistant Director for Information and Education. In 2004, Kerry retired from Game and Fish and joined Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation as the Assistant Director for Natural Resources. Kerry's focus has been developing the mechanisms and staffing to manage the new Open Space Lands acquired under the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP). Currently, the County has acquired fee title and grazing leases on over 100,000 acres and spent just $60 million of a 2004 $174 million bond.

Presentation: "Implementing the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan" Pima County's strategies for land use planning, land acquisition and land management fueled by a $174 million dollar Bond package. Kerry will expand on the area of ranch management agreements and discuss operational planning, property monitoring and the relationship of SDCP land acquisition to development of a Pima County Multi-Species Conservation Plan. - Co-presenter is Christine Curtis top of page

Bechtol, Vanessa, Project Director
Arizona Open Land Trust

Vanessa Bechtol has a Master of Science degree in Planning and is the Project Director for the Arizona Open Land Trust. Her work includes identifying habitat protection priorities in southern Arizona, researching conservation funding mechanisms, and conducting outreach with rural landowners and county officials. She assisted the Friends of the Sonoran Desert campaign manager with daily tasks of a campaign to pass the 2004 Pima County, AZ open space bond measure.

Presentation: "Land Protection Prioritization - Biodiversity at Regional Landscape Level & Successful Partnerships That Have Leveraged Private & Public Funding to Secure Protection of Those Lands" The Arizona Open Land Trust's land protection prioritization based on biodiversity at the regional landscape level and successful partnerships that have leveraged private and public funding to secure protection of those lands. Co-presenter is Diana Freshwater top of page

Cochran, Gary, Conservation Acquisition and Planning Administrator
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Gary is the Commission's chief staff liaison to the Acquisition and Restoration Council which serves as an advisory council to the Board of Trustees (Governor and Cabinet) on all state land acquisition, management and disposition matters. Chief among these is the Florida Forever land acquisition program that was established in 2000 and is the successor to the Preservation 2000 land acquisition program which ran from 1990 until 2000. Gary has over 25 years of public sector experience and service in natural resource conservation both in the land acquisition and management areas. Previously, he served as the Program Coordinator for the State of Florida's Land Management Advisory Council and Public Lands Arthropod Control Council while with the Florida Department of Natural Resources.

Gary holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Shenandoah University and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Administration from the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He is member of The American Society for Public Administrators and a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including an Outstanding Service and Dedication Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, an Outstanding Special Achievement and Service Award from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and a Florida Preservation Partnership Award from the Trust for Public Land. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity along with a number of other service organizations. Gary is married and the father of two daughters who are now in college. Gary enjoys spending as much time with his family as well as enjoying a variety of outdoor pursuits and hobbies as possible.

Presentation: "The Babcock Ranch Preserve Project-A Unique Florida Conservation Legacy" The Babcock Ranch preserve project is a unique Florida conservation legacy. The presentation will provide a profile of the resources of the project, its place within the Florida Ecology, and the innovative strategy for the long-term management of the Preserve. top of page

Curtis, Christine, Senior Acquisition Specialist
Pima County Parks & Recreation Department

Christine Curtis has been an Arizona resident since 1976, and graduated from the University of Arizona, College of Law in 1989. After graduation she went to work for Pima County, and has been there ever since, in various capacities, including Deputy County Attorney in the Civil Division, representing the Department of Transportation, the Flood Control District, and Real Property Services. Currently, Christine is a Senior Acquisition Agent in Real Property Services, working in Open Space acquisitions section for three years. Christine was the agent on several large working landscape conservation land acquisitions, including the 39,500 acre Rancho Seco in the southern Altar Valley, and the 41,000 acre A-7 Ranch east of Tucson along the San Pedro River.

Presentation: "Implementing the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan" Pima County's strategies for land use planning, land acquisition and land management fueled by a $174 million dollar Bond package. Christine will expand on the area of ranch management agreements and discuss operational planning, property monitoring and the relationship of SDCP land acquisition to development of a Pima County Multi-Species Conservation Plan. - Co-presenter is Kerry Baldwin top of page

Dodd, Norris, Research Biologist, Research Branch
Arizona Game & Fish Department

Norris Dodd is a lifelong resident of Arizona and has lived in Pinetop-Lakeside for 22 years. Norris has worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for 27 years, including as the Regional Supervisor for the Pinetop Region. For the past 11 years, Norris has been a Wildlife Research Biologist, focusing on wildlife relationships to forest restoration and highways. Norris holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Arizona State University. He is past president of the Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Norris and his wife, Rebecca, have 2 children, Rose (age 15) and Elizabeth (13).

Presentation: "Safe Passage (for wildlife and motorists alike!): Promoting Wildlife Permeability Across Arizona's Highways" The Arizona Department of Transportation is upgrading a 17-mile stretch of State Route 260 in central Arizona. When complete, the upgraded highway will include 11 sets of wildlife underpasses to facilitate wildlife passage and reduce the incidence of wildlife-vehicle collisions. This presentation reports the findings of research conducted since 2001 to evaluate the effectiveness of the wildlife underpasses, associated fencing, and other measures in making this a wildlife- and motorist-friendly highway. As part of this research, over 100 elk have been fitted with GPS satellite telemetry collars yielding >6,000 highway crossings and >8,000 animals have been captured on videotape crossing at 7 of the underpasses. top of page

Freshwater, Diane, Executive Director
Arizona Open Land Trust

Diana Freshwater has a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture and practiced land planning in the private sector from 1984 - 2004. She authored the Habitat Protection Priorities for Eastern Pima County, which prioritizes conservation lands for the county. Diana also served as Co-Chair for Friends of the Sonoran Desert, the committee organized to pass the 2004 Pima County, Arizona open space bond measure.

Presentation: "Land Protection Prioritization - Biodiversity at Regional Landscape Level & Successful Partnerships That Have Leveraged Private & Public Funding to Secure Protection of Those Lands" The Arizona Open Land Trust's land protection prioritization based on biodiversity at the regional landscape level and successful partnerships that have leveraged private and public funding to secure protection of those lands. Co-presenter is Vanessa Bechtol top of page

Glinski, Richard, Manager
Maricopa County's Desert Outdoor Center, Lake Pleasant

Rich Glinski has studied raptors throughout many parts of the globe, conducting investigations on a variety of rare species in the New World and Africa. He retired from service with the Arizona Game and Fish Department where he worked in programs involving research and management of endangered raptors and mammals, and habitat acquisition. He consults on a variety of land use issues in Arizona, and currently manages Maricopa County's Desert Outdoor Center at Lake Pleasant.

Presentation: "Raptor Conservation in Arizona Parks" Park and wildlife area lands comprise about 13% of the Nation's landscape. Using the raptors of Arizona as a model, Rich will discuss how conservation measures for raptors on these lands can contribute significantly to raptor management efforts. top of page

Hildebrandt, Tom, Wildlife Program Manager
Mesa Regional Office, Arizona Game & Fish Department

Tom Hildebrandt is responsible for implementation of the wildlife management program of the Arizona Game and Fish Department in central Arizona. This includes game management, nongame management, urban wildlife management, and management of the Department's properties and wildlife areas. Tom has held this position for 14 years. Tom received his Bachelor's degree in Biological Science from the University of Colorado and his Master's degree from Arizona State University, studying Arizona's native Bald Eagle population for his thesis. Tom has a keen interest in wildlife ecology and wildlife habitat relationships. He currently serves as President of the Arizona Riparian Council and has been active with the Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society, serving as an officer and board member.

Field Trip - Lower Gila River - Base and Meridian Wildlife Area Tom will lead the group to the Department's Base and Meridian (B&M) Wildlife Area, along the Gila River in the city of Avondale, in the SW quadrant of the Phoenix metropolitan area. This property was quite rural when acquired, but has now been nearly surrounded by housing. The rich wildlife values of this desert riparian zone remain, however, and the Department looks to focus attention on the wonderful Watchable Wildlife opportunities associated with this and similar properties. The site of the annual Tres Rios Nature Festival, the B&M Wildlife Area is an under-appreciated jewel along the Gila River. top of page

McKinney, Ted, Research Biologist
Research Branch, Arizona Game & Fish Department

Ted McKinney has worked for the past 14 years as a Research Biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. He received a Bachelor of Science in Range Management in 1961 from the University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Wildlife Management in 1966 from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology in 1969 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Ted did postdoctoral research in physiological aspects of population ecology at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Pennsylvania. He has worked during his 30+ year professional career as a university educator and research biologist. He has authored nearly 50 research publications, and his professional interests include ecology of predators and ungulates. For the last eight years, Ted has focused his research in Arizona on desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and gray and kit foxes.

Presentation 1: "Habitat Fragmentation - Requirements of Desert Bighorn Sheep" Desert bighorn sheep inhabit rugged mountain ranges in southwestern North America, and populations are naturally fragmented. Populations also are potentially fragmented due to human-related factors. Ted will present an overview of habitat requirements, and discuss factors affecting conservation of desert bighorns.

Presentation 2: "Mountain Lions and Urban Areas" Encounters between humans and mountain lions have increased during recent decades, but little is known about how the predators use residential and urban environments. Ted will present preliminary results of a study presently underway in Arizona regarding home ranges and movements of mountain lions in relation to residential, urban, and wildlife areas. top of page

Mitchell, Don, Fish Program Supervisor
Tucson Regional Office, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Don Mitchell graduated from the University of Arizona in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. Don recently completed his 15th year of service with the Arizona Game and Fish Department where he has worked his way up in the fish program in Tucson from a seasonal fish program assistant to his current position as Fish Program Supervisor. Don splits his time in the fish program working with both sportfish management and native fish management. Achieving balance in the management sportfish and native fish has become one of his biggest challenges of his career to date.

Presentation: "Coal Mine Springs Acquisition - An Acquisition of Partners!" The Gila topminnow was one of the first species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act when it was enacted in 1973. Since its listing, efforts to recover this species have largely failed, and the species throughout its range in Arizona continues to dwindle. Loss of habitat has been identified as one of the major factors in the loss of this species, and habitat protection and acquisition has been identified as vital to the recovery of this species. The acquisition of the Coal Mine Springs property in Southern Arizona greatly increased the protection of this species and was a great example of a multi partner acquisition that has provided positive impacts to the recovery of Gila topminnows. Co-presenter is Joan Scott. top of page

Scott, Joan, Habitat Program Manager
Tucson Regional Office, Arizona Game & Fish Department

Joan Scott received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences from California State Polytechnic University. She has worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department since 1987. For the last 10 years she has been the Habitat Program Manager in Tucson, working to conserve and restore wildlife habitat. Acquisitions are just a part of Joan's job, but the Coal Mine Spring acquisitions have been an important part of her work for the last several years.

Presentation: "Coal Mine Springs Acquisition - An Acquisition of Partners!" The acquisition of the Coal Mine Springs property in Southern Arizona was an acquisition rooted in partnerships. The Arizona Game & Fish Commission acquired the site with funding from a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Section 6 Grant. The USF&WS funds were matched by the Department with money from the Heritage Program and the lands are managed by the Arizona State Parks. The acquisition greatly increased the protection of the Gila topminnow and was a great example of a multi partner acquisition that has provided positive impacts to the recovery of Gila topminnows. Co-presented by Don Mitchell top of page

Thomas, Roxanne, Science and Policy Analyst
Environmental Law Institute

Roxanne Thomas is a Science and Policy Analyst at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). Since joining ELI in 2003, Ms. Thomas has worked within the Institute's Wetlands and State Biodiversity Programs. She plays a leading role in ELI's ongoing projects on open space land acquisition programs and state wetland programs and recently began directing ELI's Invasive Species Project. Before joining ELI, Ms. Thomas worked in numerous areas of environmental policy, including climate change and developing countries, economic valuation of recreation in the nation's parks and forests, and solid waste disposal in North Carolina. She holds a Masters of Environmental Management from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences and a B.S. from McGill University in Atmospheric and Environmental Science.

Presentation: "The Nature of Open Space Programs: Linking Land Protection and Biodiversity Conservation" Because the most pervasive threats to biodiversity in the United States are habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, purchasing land outright or protecting it through the acquisition of a conservation easement is a way to ensure that important lands are not destroyed, degraded, or fragmented. Indeed, land acquisition-both publicly and privately financed-is viewed as the surest and most effective tool in the biodiversity conservation toolbox. However, which lands are conserved-and in what pattern they are conserved-is equally important for maintaining habitat connectivity and minimizing the corrosive effects of habitat fragmentation. Determining which purchases will lead to the most effective protection of biodiversity, while meeting both the long-term and immediate needs of ecological communities, landscapes, and surrounding human populations, is fundamental to conservation decision-making. All land conservation programs should have a vision to guide and prioritize acquisition investments. ELI's research: examines major state open space programs across the U.S. to determine whether or not they have the legal authority to acquire lands in a biologically meaningful manner; sets out to determine whether and to what degree these programs take advantage of their authority to prioritize land protection for the biodiversity preservation; and highlights innovative state approaches that could be used as models by programs seeking to maximize the effectiveness of their conservation investments for the long-term sustainability of native plants, animals, and ecosystems. top of page

Weedman, Dave, Aquatic Habitat Coordinator
Habitat Branch, Arizona Game & Fish Department

Dave has been the Aquatic Habitat Coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the last 1.5 years. As a married father of 3 children, Dave works on management and restoration of Arizona's aquatic habitats and the diverse wildlife that those habitats support. Dave started his career with AGFD in 1991, where he worked on management of threatened and endangered fishes, primarily topminnow and pupfish recovery. He spent the next 5 years working out of the Mesa Regional office on management of riverine and reservoir populations of threatened/endangered fishes and non-native sportfish. During 2004, Dave was instrumental in planning and coordinating the salvage and renovation aspects of Fossil Creek Restoration in central Arizona.

Presentation: "Fossil Creek Renovation/Restoration - Decommissioning Two Power Plants & Restoring Full Flows & Native Fish Species to the Stream Channel" Fossil Creek is a tributary to the Verde River in central Arizona. After nearly a century of diverting Fossil Creek flow for hydropower, Arizona Public Service (APS) committed to decommissioning two power plants and restoring full flows to the stream channel. A barrier was constructed to prevent future non-native fish invasions while simultaneously preserving wilderness values. Chemical renovation of Fossil Creek was conducted to remove non-native fish and restore a native fish community. Extensive aquatic habitat mapping, logistical planning and innovative application techniques contributed to this successful native fish restoration project. top of page