What are Watershed Councils?

Watershed councils are local non-profit groups that strive to work with the public along with local, state, tribal, and federal agency staff to implement scientifically informed restoration, conservation, and education activities.

You can spot our beautiful office at 810 S Main Street in Milton-Freewater, OR, 97862


Stop in any time, call 541-938-2170, or email info@wwbwc.org to get in touch with us.

Head to our MEETING DOCUMENTS page for agendas, minutes, and recordings of our monthly board meetings.

The Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council is governed by a volunteer board.

Term End 12/31/2024 Term End 12/31/2025 Term End 12/31/2026
Council Chairman   John Zerba
Community   Jack Ferrise
CTUIR Jerimiah Bonifer
Dryland Agriculture   Ray Williams
Ecology   Caty Clifton
Economy   Ed Chesnut
Fisheries   Kevin Scribner
Forestry Ralph Perkins  
Industry Vern Rodighiero  
Irrigated Agriculture   Open
Milton-Freewater City Council Steve Irving  
Range     Joel Huesby
Recreation     Jeff Catlin
Upriver Agriculture Open  
Vineyard Irrigation & Industry     James Baker
Wildlife   Open  

We are always accepting applications to join our board. Fill out a form today and email it to our director: michelle.mcclellan@wwbwc.org.


APPLICATION

Meet the staff.

  • Michelle McClellan

  • Executive Director

  • Michelle leads organizational strategy at WWBWC, aligning the team around a vision of collaborative impact, and provides direction for fundraising, operations, and external relations. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit organization development, she has held management roles with several philanthropic organizations, including the Northwest Health Foundation and the Regence Foundation, and was a communications specialist and associate consultant at the firm Solid Ground Consulting, which serves conservation organizations and land trusts across the US. Before launching an independent consulting practice in 2018, she served as deputy communications director at a large state agency in Oregon. Michelle lives with her family on the South Fork Walla Walla River, having returned to the Valley nearly three decades after graduating from Whitman College in 1994, the same year the WWBWC incorporated. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Environmental Studies from Whitman and an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Portland.

  • Tara Patten

  • Deputy Director

  • Tara brings over 15 years of experience in watershed restoration, project management, and stakeholder engagement to her role as Deputy Director. Since joining the Council over ten years ago, she has played a key role in shaping and implementing science-based restoration and monitoring projects across the basin. With a strong foundation in biology—she holds a master’s degree from Walla Walla University—Tara is passionate about data-informed decision-making and collaborative partnerships. She has led watershed assessments, overseen complex monitoring programs, and fostered lasting relationships with landowners, agencies, and community members. A longtime resident of the region, Tara is committed to advancing the Council’s mission through transparent leadership, strategic project development, and hands-on experience in the field. Outside of work, Tara and her family enjoy outdoor adventures year-round, including camping, hiking, and exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.


  • Luke Adams

  • Monitoring Program Manager

  • Luke collects and processes surface water and groundwater data and assists with other WWBWC monitoring activities including water quality sampling and seepage runs. A Walla Walla native, he graduated from Walla Walla Community College in 2017 with a two-year degree in Watershed Ecology. Luke enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, rafting, playing guitar, and going to concerts.

  • Graham Banks

  • Science Educator

  • Graham coordinates our K-12 science and watershed education programs with an emphasis on hands-on and outdoor learning activities. He holds a BS in Biology from Oregon State University.




  • Cat Garza

  • Project Manager

  • With five years of experience in natural resources conservation, Cat provides a range of support for our assessment, monitoring, restoration, and agricultural support projects in the Walla Walla watershed. She grew up on a small farm in Umapine, Oregon, and in elementary school participated in the WWBWC’s educational outreach programs, raising Chinook salmon in the classroom for release and helping to plant a riparian buffer behind Ferndale School. These experiences ignited her passion for preserving and restoring natural resources. Cat holds an associate degree in Plant and Soil Science from Walla Walla Community College and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Systems. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, and picking huckleberries with her dogs in the summer, skiing in the winter, and spending quality time with her family when she's not off on an adventure.

  • Sara Harris

  • Outreach and Education Specialist

  • Sara organizes and implements outreach and education programs to enhance public awareness and understanding of natural resource conservation. She helps coordinate regional events like Pub Trivia and the Water & Wine Series, a collaboration with area wineries to engage Basin residents in conversations about water quality and quantity and the impacts on fisheries, agriculture, forestry, and indigenous culture. Born and raised in the Walla Walla Valley, she attended the University of Oregon and is pursuing a degree in Marketing at Eastern Oregon University. Before joining WWBWC, Sara worked in early childhood education. She enjoys coaching volleyball, traveling, reading, and volunteering.



  • Wendy Harris

  • Operations Manager

  • Wendy has been with the Council for over 15 years. Her areas of responsibility include budgeting and financial management, grants project management, operations, and human resources. She has been a member of the Milton-Freewater community for the majority of her life. She graduated from McLoughlin High School, went on to receive a diploma in accounting from Western Business College, and holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Oregon University. Previously, she worked as a fiscal technician for both the Walla Walla Department of Human Services and the Walla Walla Housing Authority.







  • Eric Hoverson

  • Restoration Specialist

  • Hailing from Wisconsin’s “Driftless Area,” famous for having the highest concentration of trout streams in the world, Eric has over three decades of experience enhancing habitat to support salmonid populations. Passionate about fish and wildlife management, he creates sustainable ecosystems for a wide variety of species, on and off the job, and previously served as the President-elect for Trout Unlimited Chapter 551. Eric has also developed curriculum and taught college courses in watershed restoration. In 2024, Eric’s work to restore a stretch of the North Fork Walla Walla River was recognized with a Stream Award from Oregon’s State Land Board, which honors “exceptional contributions to thriving Oregon waterways, wetlands, and lands.” He holds a BS degree in Biology with a minor in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He enjoys building and installing birdhouses with help from his Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

  • Colin Meister

  • Watershed Technician

  • Colin assists with the Council’s steelhead surveys, habitat assessment, and restoration projects. Growing up in Walla Walla, WA, he spent his formative years exploring the outdoors—fishing, hiking, and camping. With an innate interest in the natural sciences, he earned a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Oregon State University. After earning his degree, Colin worked on the Oregon Coast as a coordinator for the Smith River Watershed Council (SRWC). While working with SRWC, Colin gained experience designing and implementing in-stream habitat enhancement projects aimed at rehabilitating native coho, steelhead, and Chinook salmon populations. In 2020, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near North Pole, Alaska. During his four years in Alaska, he served on the board of directors for the Tanana Valley Watershed Association, continuing his dedication to fish conservation. Upon his return to the Walla Walla Valley, Colin joined the team at WWBWC.