Board of Directors and Staff

Staff

If you're interested in becoming a Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance intern, read more about intern opportunities here.

Nani Teves
Watershed Coordinator

In 1996, Nani earned her B.S. in Environmental Studies at CSU, Chico, and then in 2005 received a Masters of Science Degree in Watershed Science from Colorado State University. Nani has worked on waterways throughout the area and currently serve on Butte Counties Water Advisory Committee. In her position as Watershed Coordinator she will write articles, plant trees, submit grants, walk the creek, organize workshops and field trips, involve students, and welcome volunteers. It is through these efforts that we can increase awareness of the issues, implementation of solutions, and the opportunities for involvement.

Matthew Sloggy
Intern

An avid runner, Matthew Sloggy is an Environmental Economics Major at Chico State going into his third year. He has lived in Chico his whole life, and sees no reason to leave perfection. He runs track for the wildcats, specializing in the 400m dash, and is addicted to Herman Hesse novels. Matt usually spends his free time gallivanting around Bidwell Park, discussing matters of philosophical importance with whoever makes the mistake of listening to him.

Board of Directors

Paul Behr
Board Member

Paul is Chair of the Rock Creek Reclamation Board and a life-time resident of the Big Chico Creek watershed.  He farms almonds on Rock Creek and has a business evaluating and treating water quality problems in domestic groundwater supply.

Chris Colson
Board Member

Chris has a B.A. from California State University, Chico and a Master's degree in Rural and Town Planning, also from CSU, Chico. His Master's Thesis was on land use planning for the Sierra Nevada as a bioregion, in order to better protect biological diversity. In 1994, as an Environmental Planner Intern for Parks & Preserves Foundation (a non-profit conservation land trust organization), Chris researched landownership in the Big Chico Creek Watershed and provided a feasibility study for a watershed plan using conservation easements. He's hiked extensively throughout the entire Big Chico Creek Watershed for more than 25 years. Chris is currently employed as a Recreation Specialist and also works as a semi-professional photographer. He provided the photos of Lower and Upper Bidwell for the large murals at the new Chico Creek Nature Center.

Barbara Hennigan
Board Member

Barbara holds a Master's of Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is retired from her business researching land use history of real estate for environmental audits. She lives in the Rock Creek watershed (a tributary to Big Chico Creek) on Hennigan Farms, an almond and walnut ranch on land farmed by her husband's family since 1912. She is Natural Resources Chair on the League of Women Voters Board of Directors, focusing on water and land use. She is the Executive Director of the Butte-Sutter Basin Area Groundwater Users, an organization devoted to protecting the interests of farmers and domestic well owners who are totally dependent on groundwater.

Stuart King
Vice-Chair

Stuart has a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Chico. He is a long-time Chico resident and has been on the boards of many civic and governmental organizations, including CSU Chico Staff Council, Downtown Chico Business Association, Chico Aqua Jets, Chico Central Little League, City of Chico Parking Place Commission, and the Bidwell Park Centennial Committee. He is a CSU Chico employee and is also the caretaker of the Henning House at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.

John Merz
Chair, Communications Committee Chair

John was one of the co-founders of the Sacramento River Preservation Trust in 1984 and has served as the Chief Executive Officer of that organization since 1986. In addition to the BCCWA, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Altacal Audubon Society and Friends of Bidwell Park. In addition, John served as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee that was appointed by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD) Board of Directors to help in the recent update of their Recreation Master Management Plan. He is also a member of the Chico Planning Commission.

Michael Stauffer
Board Member, Founding Member

Michael is retired from an advertising and manufacturing career. He is a long-time Chico environmental activist, that included serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Streaminders and donating hundreds of hours to Streaminders stream restoration projects. He also volunteers with the Bidwell Park Vegetation Management Partners Program and is active in local politics.