John Kirby is a retired Navy Captain with a BS in Fisheries Science and a Ph.D. in Humanities/Technology. He has been actively involved in environmental issues since his early college days. After retiring from the Navy, he served as a Conservation District Supervisor in Montana and was instrumental in the design, formation and implementation of the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council, a first in the United States.
John is a passionate fisherman who greatly enjoys spending time on the water and fishing – fly fishing being his most favorite – and delights in the many friends it has brought into his life. In addition to boating, he and his partner Susan travel extensively, both cruising and RV camping. During Oregon’s “wet’ season he can often be found working on his HO gauge model railroad (Great Northern RR in the 1950’s) or planning his next garden.
Mike Sinnott is a Fish Biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife with a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Science. During his 22-year career he has been an integral part of multiple research projects that have improved the methodologies used to calculate spawning escapement (how many adult fish successfully reproduce) for Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout. He now works in the North Coast Watershed District where his research background assist in managing and protecting the areas fish populations and habitat.
When not at work, Mike and his wife Jamie enjoy hunting, fishing, crabbing, clamming, and taking advantage of the amazing resources and scenery the North Coast has to offer.
Mark’s background is in agriculture and he has worked in various roles within the Dairy Sector.
CEO of the Oregon Humane Society, lifelong advocate for the welfare of companion and wild animals.
Born in Portland and raised in a Navy family, Bill has journeyed from Astoria to Pearl Harbor, Washington D.C., and San Diego. A proud Vietnam veteran, he served three and a half years on a destroyer out of Yokosuka, Japan, bravely enduring 12 typhoons at sea. Following that, he spent two years as a radar operator in a patrol squadron over the North Pacific.
After his service, Bill graduated from Oregon State University with a journalism degree and a minor in fish and wildlife. He spent eight years at the Corvallis Gazette-Times, covering various beats and writing outdoor articles. In 1981, he joined The Oregonian, where he continued his passion for hunting, fishing, and wildlife journalism.
Though officially retired in 2008, Bill remains active as a freelancer in both the sports and news sections. He’s also a past president of Outdoor Writers of America and Northwest Outdoor Writers, as well as a former chair of the Clackamas River Basin Council, where he continues to serve on the executive committee.
Tillamook resident for the past 18 years, retired from ODFW with 36 years.
Rebekah has spent her entire life in the Pacific Northwest, and for years visited Tillamook County dreaming of the day she could call it home. In 2018, she and her husband made that dream a reality, relocating from Lake Oswego to Rockaway Beach.
A graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, Rebekah earned her JD in Environmental Law in 2006. She brings that legal foundation to her commitment to protecting and preserving the ecosystems of the Oregon Coast for future generations — human and otherwise. Since settling in Tillamook County, she has channeled that commitment into local involvement, volunteering with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and Tillamook K9 Rescue.
Rebekah also has a background in art and writing, and finds no shortage of inspiration living where she does. When she’s not in her studio, she can be found walking the beach with her six dogs or getting her hands dirty tending her garden.
Dennis Lynch is a retired US Geological Survey (USGS) Hydrologist with over 40 years of experience investigating and collecting data on rivers, lakes, and estuaries in Virginia, Oregon, and California. He has a B.S. in Biology from University of Oregon and a Master’s in Environmental Science from University of Washington. Early investigations included the effects of acid deposition in Shenandoah National Park and the quality of drinking water in southeastern Virginia. In Oregon he led a team to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nation’s first application of the Total Maximum Daily Load provision of the Clean Water Act on the Tualatin River. From 1993 to 2010 Dennis was the USGS Oregon Science Center Director managing a group of scientist and technicians studying streams, lakes, estuaries, and groundwater throughout Oregon. From 2010 until retirement, Dennis was on special assignment for the Secretary of the Interior. He led a multiagency federal team to determine whether the removal of four large hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River (Oregon and California) was environmentally and fiscally feasible, and in the public interest. His team produced over 50 technical reports that were the foundation for the nation’s largest dam removal in 2024, which reopened hundreds of miles of historic river habitat for salmon and steelhead.
Dennis splits his time between Vancouver, Washington and Sun City, Arizona. His interests are many, including SCUBA diving, flyfishing, golf, wood working, kayaking, hiking, and travel. All these interests are shared with his wife, and best friend, Nancy.