Seems everyone from California is moving here to Portland! Check out Kendra Chan, a Bay Area native and graduate of UC Davis, who is now a temporary resident in the Portland/Vancouver metro area, working on a freshwater mussel project for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Kendra, one of seven individuals selected for the 2016 Directors Fellowship, is working here in the Pacific region, gaining experience, continuing her education and undertaking intricate field work and projects that benefit fish and wildlife.
As part of the 11 week program, Kendra jumped right in to design a regional citizen science program that will engage urban communities and educate the public about our freshwater mussel conservation efforts. She is using her degree in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity to create a study plan for native freshwater mussels, especially the Western Pearlshell, which is a surrogate species for the Willamette Valley. She is also identifying specific sites, logistics, protocols, and data management strategies to build a solid citizen science program that will enlist the help of students and local residents.
“Even though I’ve spent such a short time here, I’ve already been collaborating with many different people—from federal and state agencies to local non-profits,” says Kendra. “It’s been a great experience to network and connect with so many great people and organizations.”
Often overlooked, freshwater mussels are among the more understudied yet ecologically important organisms in aquatic ecosystems. They are hard-working filter feeders that improve water quality, provide physical structure for other living things, and are an important food source for other wildlife. However, freshwater mussel are the most endangered group of animals—with about 70% of species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. That’s why Kendra is working closely with Service staff and partners, such as the Xerces Society and the Pacific Northwest Native Freshwater Mussel Group, to use available geospatial data to map priority waterbodies for monitoring these declining species and create a plan for future monitoring efforts.
This is the third year that the Service has provided fellowship opportunities for undergraduate (rising seniors) and graduate students from the top schools around the country, with a focus on those schools that are Minority Serving Institutions. The Service’s ‘Directorate Resource Assistant Fellowship Program’ or DFP, enables the Service to achieve an all-inclusive workforce by reaching out to the next generation of conservationists; engaging youth and promoting conservation through science. The DFP allows us to provide a platform for recent graduates to work at National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish Hatcheries and other Service facilities during the summer season, preparing them for careers in natural resource management.
Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said “A critical part of my vision for the Service is to have a more diverse and inclusive organization. To remain relevant, it’s important that we develop and foster an organization where individual ideas and perspectives from diverse backgrounds are heard, and we empower our employees to deliver their best work. Our people are our most important resource and having a diverse and inclusive workplace will enable us to be more innovative, effective, engaged, and collaborative which results in connecting with the public we serve and increasing conservation.”
The DFP program does just that and fellows like Kendra are providing an essential benefit to resources in the Service’s Pacific region offices, refuges and fish hatcheries. After completing her intensive orientation at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia, she arrived in the Pacific Northwest where she is fulfilling 11 weeks of supervised work on the freshwater mussel project. After completing both the fellowship and college degree requirements, Directorate Fellows are eligible for a permanent position with the Service.
The Director’s Fellowship Program will continue to provide students like Kendra an understanding of the challenges involved in conserving fish and wildlife and a unique insight into Service’s programs. We hope that she enjoyed her summer working with us and that she continues her work in ecology and natural resources. Good luck and thanks for all the hard work you’ve done this summer.
Written by: Jane Chorazy, Pacific Region PAO
Photo Credit: USFWS