Alpine Watershed Group
Working to protect, conserve, and restore the watersheds of Alpine County by promoting sustainable community and science-based collaborative solutions
Board of Directors
Carl Ruschmeyer, Chair
Carl was raised in the Tahoe basin and currently resides in the Round Hill General Improvement District in Douglas County, Nevada. He has a M.S. in Environmental Engineering from University of California, Davis, and is a licensed professional engineer and water rights surveyor in Nevada. Carl has over 30 years of experience focusing on environmental engineering and public works administration.
Since retiring from public service, Carl continues to pursue his interests and passion to promote and advocate for the protection and management of ecological resources within the Lake Tahoe and Carson River watersheds. In addition to his activities with AWG, he is a volunteer with the U.S. Forest Service Desolation Wilderness Volunteers, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Volunteers, League to Save Lake Tahoe, and U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
Robert H. Twiss, Vice Chair
Bob currently serves as a Director of the Markleeville Public Utility District and continues his long career as a Professor and Consultant. He has been a Professor at University of California, Berkeley in the College of Environmental Design for nearly 50 years. Bob also has nearly 50 years of consulting experience, largely in California, focusing on land management, ecosystem restoration, and watershed issues. He has also worked for the Forest Service and served in the Michigan Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. Among Bob’s many notable positions, he has served on national and regional Science Advisory Boards and acted as the Chairman of the California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board. Bob has a Ph.D. in Natural Resources, as well as an M.S. from the University of Michigan.
Zach Wood, Secretary
Zach has lived in the watersheds of the Great Basin for most of his life. The scarcity of water draws him to activities like skiing, and hanging out on the Carson River. He considers it a privilege to enjoy the mountains of Alpine County. Through the Alpine Watershed Group he can lend his efforts to the watersheds that have provided so much for him.
Mary Young, Treasurer
Mary grew up in the Midwest but moved to California upon graduation from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. She is a registered professional engineer with over 40 years' experience. For the last 20 years she’s worked for West Yost, a water resources consulting firm in Davis, working on water and sewage treatment, flood control, and restoration projects. Mary has owned a home in Marklee Village for over 30 years, moving to Alpine County full time in 2020. She currently serves as the President of the Markleeville Water Company Board of Directors and believes clean water the most important issue to which she can devote her time during her retirement. Mary loves hiking, skiing, and camping with her husband, Bill, and their dog, Neska.
Dr. Richard Harvey, Member at Large
Rich has been an active board member of the Alpine Watershed Group since 2005. He is a former Alpine County Public Health Officer and finds clean water essential to protecting public health. He has lived in Alpine County for over 25 years. He enjoys cycling, hiking, and cross country skiing with his wife Kate and their dog Sunny. He is "inspired" by the wildness and beauty of the Eastern Sierra. He is happy when working with others who share a sense of responsibility for protecting the natural environment.
Dan Kaffer, Member at Large
Dan has over 44 years of natural resource conservation volunteer work, and 32 years as a District Conservationist and Resource Conservation Development Coordinator for the USDA-Soil Conservation and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Dan has dedicated his life to conserving our precious watersheds. Dan has been a founding member or champion of 12 successful watershed groups in two states and 10 counties. He has organized and helped find funding to support over 25,000 volunteers completing "hands-on conservation projects" in CA/NV watersheds. He has been recognized with over 100 achievement awards from ranching, environmental, tribal, nonprofit, county, (three best in) state, and (two) national awards for excellence in applied conservation work. Dan is married to his girlfriend Dianne of 35 plus years, with son Ray and daughter Selena who are working towards graduate degrees in Psychology and Mechanical Engineering respectively. Special interests include spiritual growth and all things natural history and conservation.
January Riddle, Member at Large
January moved to Alpine County from San Diego in 2018 and became an active volunteer with AWG right away. She is a former Alpine County Supervisor and loves being a part of this beautiful environment and vibrant community. A retired university educator, she has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and an M.A. and B.A. in English Literature, with minors in life science and American Indian studies. She founded RGroup Public Relations and coaches writers and organizations in professional outreach. She loves the arts in all their forms and sees a link between natural beauty and creativity. Hiking and cooking are her hobbies, and she is happiest when sharing both with friends and family.
Advisory Council
John Barr
Michael Barton
Jim Donald
Devere Dressler
Stacey James
Bill Johnson
Peter Smith
Debbi Waldear