Kara Caselas

Experience

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  Sonoma State University

  Jan 2010 - May 2010

  Research Assistant, Department of Biology
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  Sonoma Land Trust

  Jan 2010 - Sept 2014

  Assisted in the implementation and management of a study examining wildlife species movement within a 9-square mile project areaPrepared and updated management plans and invasive species control proposals for preserves, covering 900 acresAssisted in the development of annual work plans and associated budgets, drafted and managed contracts for a wide variety of functions and needs, including infrastructure and ecological services Created and led volunteer trail maintenance program through trainings, establishing annual work plans, tracking volunteer hours, and overseeing group workdays Show less

  • Pitkin Marsh Preserve Project Manager

    Nov 2013 - Sept 2014

  • Assistant Project Manager

    Jan 2011 - Sept 2014

  • Stewardship Intern

    Jun 2010 - Jan 2011

  • Student Intern

    Jan 2010 - May 2010
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  Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2016

  Conservation Project Manager

  Managed 8,523 acres of old and second growth redwood and Douglas fir forest to promote late seral forest conditions, improve forest health, water quality and wildlife habitat through timber harvest plans, and fuel reduction across the propertyCoordinated and supervised natural resource professionals, contractors, interns and consultants working on preserve maintenance and restoration projects, such as habitat improvements, erosion control, road maintenance, fire prevention, and water resource managementOversaw all aspects of a conservation easement stewardship program encompassing 13,094 acres, including coordinating annual monitoring visits and reporting, documenting easement violations and developing remediation strategies with landownersEnsured compliance of conservation easement stewardship program with Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Standards and PracticesManaged all aspects of the volunteer program, including oversight of program structure and improvement, volunteer recruitment and training, and coordination of projects and workdays Show less

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  Portland State University

  Sept 2016 - Jun 2018

  Graduate Student

  In partnership with the Columbia Land Trust, my graduate research evaluated the effectiveness of management release strategies on Oregon white oak systems within the Klickitat River watershed. While most oak systems in the Pacific Northwest are found on private lands, Klickitat County contains a significant percentage of oak resources under public ownership, which provides unparalleled opportunities for landscape level management of oak systems. One management strategy public agencies and private landowners have been using to restore oak woodlands and savannas is oak release, in which conifers are removed or doghair oak stands are thinned to enhance stand conditions, improve wildlife features, and reduce the risk of habitat destroying fire. I examined the response of Oregon white oak trees thirteen years post-treatment, evaluating oak growth, seedling and cut stump responses, fuel load accumulation and changes in snag abundance, and compared these findings to untreated areas. The results from my research help inform management strategies for future implementation and protocol modifications for subsequent monitoring to help evaluate long-term release impacts. Show less

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  Sandy River Basin Watershed Council

  Jun 2018 - Sept 2019

  Restoration Project Manager

  Managed a complex river restoration project, permanently restoring river access to 418-acres of historic floodplain channels, through levee removal and the installation of large woody structures and jamsWorked in partnership with Mount Hood Community College to implement salmon-safe certified projects on campus through the installation of rain gardens, bioswales and dry well systems in an effort to reduce stormwater runoff to nearby streamsDeveloped and manage contracts, including scopes of work, bid packages, permitting, and request for proposals; oversaw acquisition of staging material, and project and contract implementation Show less

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  Clean Water Services

  Oct 2019 - Apr 2022

  Water Resources Specialist

  Managed the Stream Operations Center and plant material program, working with nursery vendors to procure and distribute one million native plants for restoration projects and volunteer events throughout the Tualatin River basin on an annual basisPlanned, directed and scheduled contractors and community partners to implement enhancement activities and targeted invasive species treatmentsAssisted project managers and analysts with developing site design concepts, researching information, drafting scopes of work, gathering information for application for land use, District, state and federal permits Show less