Erin serves as head of the management team of the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). She provides leadership for financial, personnel, program planning, education and outreach, and conservation project management and implementation.
Erin has a B.A in Environmental Geology and a MS in Natural Resources with a focus in Restoration Ecology. Erin moved to Bend in 2015 from Breckenridge, CO. She has worked with the US Forest Service in the Deschutes National Forest in the wildlife department and performed her thesis with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council analyzing available habitat for steelhead and Chinook salmon in Whychus Creek. Erin is passionate about rivers, wildlife, watershed management, and collaborating with several agencies to address natural resource concerns in central Oregon.
Contact Erin About: Funding for projects that address conservation concerns on your land, new project ideas, education and outreach opportunities, and any other questions about how the Soil and Water Conservation district can assist you.
Staci serves as the Financial Manager for the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), where she oversees the district’s financial operations, budgeting, and fiscal reporting. She brings over 15 years of experience working with Soil and Water Conservation Districts, giving her a deep understanding of the funding structures and administrative needs that support conservation work on the ground.
Staci grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where summers spent on her grandparents’ farm raising beef cattle and breeding Tennessee Walking horses instilled a lifelong connection to agriculture and the land. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management from Radford University. After serving as District Manager for Jefferson County SWCD and administering the Middle Deschutes Watershed Council, she made Central Oregon home in 2019. A brief stretch on the Oregon and California coasts only confirmed what she already knew: the high desert has a way of pulling you back.
Contact Staci about: Financial inquiries, billing questions, budget or grant funding questions, or general administrative needs.
Jena serves as the Communications and Development Specialist for the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), where she leads communication efforts, graphic design, and internal data management. She works closely with the district manager on program planning, education and outreach, marketing, and grant management — helping connect the district’s work to the people and landscapes it serves.
Jena holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and GIS from the University of Colorado-Boulder. A Colorado native, she made Central Oregon home in 2022 and quickly fell in love with the region’s communities and natural landscapes. She brings a genuine passion for storytelling, design, and helping residents understand how conservation programs can work for them.
Contact Jena about: Education and outreach opportunities, marketing inquiries, community partnerships, or questions about our programs.
Tom grew up on a small farm in Niagara County, NY. He has a BS in Ag. Technology from Cornell Univ. College of Agriculture. He has been an Oregonian since 1980. He spent 38 years helping Oregon land users conserve their land, soil, and water working for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service from Hood River through Moro, Heppner, and Condon, finally retiring here in Deschutes County. While here, he worked with irrigators and irrigation districts with financial and technical assistance to help conserve precious water. He worked with farmers to promote soil health, conservation, and local food. He worked with small forest owners on forest health and fire risk reduction.
Contact Tom About: Irrigation Water Management, On Farm improvements, and financial assistance with irrigation and energy efficiency projects.
Keli Moriarty
Natural Resource Specialist
Keli provides technical assistance to agricultural landowners and partner organizations to conserve natural resources in Jefferson and Deschutes County, Oregon. She is a close partner of the USDA-NRCS team, working with the District Conservationist to implement conservation programs.
Keli has a B.S. in Natural Resources, with a concentration in Natural Resource Education, from Oregon State University. She moved to Bend in 2022 from San Diego, California. During her time in Southern California, she worked with local nonprofits to improve the quality of their lagoon watersheds through invasive species management and wildlife habitat preservation. In Bend, she interned with Think Wild’s Beaver Works program to enhance habitat for beaver in Central Oregon. She also worked with Heart of Oregon Corps as a Land Stewardship Trainer, helping to educate young people in conservation through hands-on technical training. While there, her projects ranged from wildfire fuels reduction to trail construction/restoration and invasive plant removal. She is passionate about working with individuals to find a creative way to meet their conservation goals.
Contact Keli about: Conservation planning on your property and resources for implementing eco-friendly practices.
Adam provides technical assistance to forest landowners and partner organizations in Deschutes County. Originally from Jacksonville, Oregon, he found his way into forestry by way of theater and policy. He spent several sessions working in the Oregon Legislature and two years working for Lomakatsi Restoration Project. He specializes in helping landowners draft forest management plans, forest inventories, data and policy analysis, and program and budget management.
Adam holds a BA in Theater Studies, and Masters Degrees in Forestry and Environmental Management, specializing in Environmental Economics & Policy. He’s passionate about wildfire mitigation, wildlife conservation, and helping landowners translate science and policy into meaningful actions to restore and conserve our landscapes.
Contact Adam about: Forest management and planning, forest inventories, financial assistance, forestry and wildfire education resources, partner collaboration, and environmental monitoring.
Seth serves as the Agricultural Irrigation Specialist for the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District. He leads and manages the programs for water related conservation and efficiency for the district. He also facilitates education and training regarding irrigation water management for landowners and technical service providers.
Seth grew up in Central Oregon between Tumalo and Sisters. He earned a B.S. in Biology and a Masters in Environmental Science from Washington State University. Seth has seven years of experience working for soil and water conservation districts as a program lead and monitoring coordinator. He has a long history of working with private landholders and partners to implement conservation and restoration strategies. He is looking forward to bringing his skills and technical expertise to the residence of Central Oregon to help the land and landowner thrive.
Contact Seth About: Irrigation Water Management, financial assistance, partner collaborations, irrigation education resources, technical assistance, or environmental monitoring.