Micah Russell, Director

Micah Russell administers and directs the activities of CREST on behalf of member cities, counties and ports in the region: environmental planning and management, habitat restoration and assessment, and estuarine research and monitoring.  He works closely with partner agencies, universities and non-profits in striving to further CREST's mission and offer valuable services to the community. With expertise in coastal/estuarine ecology and fisheries, he is uniquely suited to oversee and implement CREST's research and monitoring programs, in addition to his directorial duties.

Alejandro Bancke, Coastal Planner/GIS Specialist

Alejandro Bancke is qualified to assist member jurisdictions with guidance and review of land use planning issues, permits, and other related planning items.  He also provides on-site assistance for planning departments.  In addition to his planning skills he has extensive experience with GIS mapping, database management, GIS analyses, and cartographic production. He earned his masters degree in urban and regional planning from Portland State University (PSU).

Amy Ammer, Habitat Restoration Specialist

Amy manages habitat restoration projects in the Columbia River estuary and greater Columbia Pacific region.  Her areas of expertise include land use and natural resource planning, resource management and environmental education and outreach. Her primary focus is the Gorley Springs Restoration Project in the Grays River. This project involves restoring river habitat forming processes to increase floodplain connectivity and channel complexity. Additionally, the project will focus on in-stream design to provide salmon habitat while reducing flood hazard risk to the valley. Amy is also working on the Fort Columbia Tidal Reconnection Project, Perkins Creek Restoration Project, Naselle/Grays River School District Native Plant Program, and assisting members as needed for small planning projects.

April Cameron, Biologist/Ecologist

April Cameron coordinates biological and ecological research activities, often in collaboration with other agencies.  She primarily monitors research along the Columbia River's tributaries, where dikes have been breached or tide-gates removed, for example, and vegetation rehabilitated, to restore tidal connectivity and habitat to their natural state.  She collects data on salmonids and other fish communities, water quality, prey, channel morphology, and vegetation, for example, to discern the effectiveness of restorative efforts.  In addition to her field duties, she obtains scientific collection permits, applies for grants, writes reports for various funding agencies, and processes data and lab samples.  These tasks highlight her fisheries biology and invertebrate zoology background, and data management and analysis abilities.

April Silva, Wetland Monitoring Specialist

April Silva participates in a variety of research and monitoring projects as primary field staff. Her duties include applying a variety of techniques to characterize salmon life history patterns in restoring tidal wetland habitats. Project involvement includes; Effectiveness Monitoring of the Chinook River Estuary Restoration Project, Chinook River Model Watershed Project, Big Creek Monitoring and Assessment Project, and Columbia River Estuary Tidal Wetland Restoration and Monitoring Project.

Holly Cook, Administrative/Financial Assistant

Holly works closely with the Finance Coordinator managing accounts payable and accounts receivable.  She is also responsible for maintaining the CREST website, coordinating council meetings, maintaining the CREST libraries and other administrative support as needed.

Madeline Dalton, Watershed Council Coordinator

Madeline Dalton manages and coordinates the activities of the North Coast Watershed Association - a partnership of organizations including the Ecola Creek, Youngs Bay, Skipanon, and Nicolai/Wickiup Watershed Councils. Madeline also acts as a liason between landowners, industry, and other stakeholders and works with the councils and CREST staff to identify, plan, obtain funds, and implement habitat projects. Examples of ongoing projects include tide gate improvements, fish barrier removal, stream realignment, and riparian restoration.  Madeline also proactively works to engage community members and volunteers in watershed awareness projects.

Paula Gerttula, Fiscal Administrator

Paula Gerttula manages the day to day financial management of CREST. Assists in preparation and participates in the annual budget process. Responsible for the financial tracking of all CREST grant and contract projects which average 30 open projects at any given time. Works closely with project managers to ensure all project expenses are within the requirements stated in the grants/contracts.  Administers employee benefits and other Human Resources duties.