From Top left to right: Peggy King, Tom Nixon, Teresa Mayorga, David Adams, Carolyn Ruttan, Rachel Avilla, Tracy Cline, Grant Coleman, Mark Roberts, Brianna Halstead and Will Evans. Holiday Party 2022
CLERC Fire and Forestry Staff, Executive Director and Operations and Outreach Coordinator.
Who We Are
Established in 2014 as a non-profit 501(c)3 entity, the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, fondly referred to as CLERC, embarked on a mission to unlock the secrets of Clear Lake and its encompassing watersheds. This ancient North American lake holds invaluable lessons waiting to be uncovered.
Yet, nature had different plans. CLERC stepped into a void within Lake County as wildfires wreaked havoc on our community. With visionary insight, our co-founders extended their helping hands to address pressing needs, unveiling a substantial mission: mitigating wildfire impact and charting a strategic course for Lake County's enhanced wildfire resilience.
Today finds us at a remarkable juncture. Through our joint efforts in Fire Prevention and Forest Health, we've become a valuable support and guide for community projects that enhance both the environment and the community. Our organization concentrates on key areas: leading wildfire readiness, bettering Clear Lake's ecosystem and its surroundings, renovating the Carnegie Library for environmental education, bolstering local partnerships, and setting up necessary systems and teams to achieve our mission.
From top left to right: Grant Coleman, Teresa Mayorga, Tracy Cline, Russ Cremer, Will Evans, Deborah Walker, Cindy Jassar and Rachel Avilla. Holiday Party 2023
Meet the Team
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David Adam
Board of Directors
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Eduardo Alatorre
Board of Directors
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Rachel Avilla
Operations and Outreach Coordinator
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Marcus Brown
Fire and Forestry Project Coordinator
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Julia Clickard
Biologist
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Tracy Cline
Fire and Forestry Program Manager
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Russ Cremer
Board of Directors
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Will Evans
Co-founder and Executive Director
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Briana Halstead
On-call Biologist
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Cindy Jassar
Fire and Forestry Project Coordinator
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Peyton May
On-Call UAV Pilot
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Teresa Mayorga
Administrative Manager
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Tom Nixon
Board of Directors
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Jacquelyn Popkoff
Board of Directors
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Mark Roberts
Fire and Forestry Project Coordinator
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Carolyn Ruttan
Co-founder and Lab Manager
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Rebekah Shane
Research Assistant
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Karen Suenram
Board of Directors
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Deborah Walker
Lab Assistant