Kevin Keller - Executive Director

I was born and raised in Novato, California. While growing up, I developed a love for Oregon, spending time with friends in Ashland, fishing and camping in the summer, and skiing in winter on Mt Ashland. I began a 29-year career in the Army when I enlisted in 1986 as a Flight Operations Coordinator. I retired from the Army in 2015 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Upon my retirement, I moved permanently to Roseburg, Oregon, where my wife and I completed building a house on property we own near Dixonville. My wife and I also volunteer and participate with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a program to teach veterans to fly fish. I am passionate about the outdoors, especially the Umpqua River, and the conservation and restoration of our watershed. I have been married to my wife, Marnie, for 25 years. She is a Wildlife Biologist with The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Indians. We have no children, but besides fishing on the Umpqua, we enjoy spending time with our two dogs, horses, family, and friends. You can contact Kevin at kevin@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext. 2

Sandy Lyon - Monitoring Coordinator

Sandy Lyon has been working as the Monitoring Coordinator since November 2003. With 20+ years in medical research and lab work, as well as with a degree in Biology from the University of California San Diego, Sandy has the skills and knowledge to design and implement basin-wide water quality monitoring programs and studies. She monitors the large number of completed and future projects for PUR. Furthermore, she trains and coordinates volunteers to participate in monitoring projects. You can contact Sandy at sandy@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext 5.

Cris Salazar - Restoration Coordinator

Cris Salazar joined PUR as the Restoration Coordinator in June 2023. Raised in the Umpqua Valley, he graduated from UCC in 2011 and Oregon State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science. Cris has worked on salmon recovery projects throughout Oregon, Washington, and Alaska for the past decade, including managing the habitat restoration program at the Calapooia Watershed Council for five years. He is excited to return to the Umpqua Basin and contribute to the health of the watershed. On weekends, he enjoys hiking, river snorkeling, rockhounding, and propagating native plants. You can contact Cris at cris@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext. 3.

Joe Carnes - Asst. Monitoring Coordinator/Technology Support

Joe started working for PUR June of 2012 as a part time summer Water Quality Monitoring Assistant for the Monitoring Coordinator. He worked part-time for about 1 ½ years, and was hired full-time for the summer of 2014, on an as-needed basis. Even though he was originally hired as a Water Quality Monitoring Assistant, Joe has become a key member of the PUR staff. He assists with everything from IT support, maintenance, and grant writing, to any field work needed; allowing for other staff members to focus more of their time on important matters, such as obtaining funding to keep the organization running, and accomplishing more great projects.  While Joe has been working for us he has continued to attend college. He currently has his Associates of Applied Science (AAS) in Computer Information Systems degree, and is working to finish his Associates of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree to transfer on to a four year college. In his free time, Joe enjoys backpacking, hiking, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. You can contact Joe at joe@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext 6.

Gilaine Wright - Fiscal Manager

Gilaine Wright joined PUR in April of 2011. She spends most of her time with accounting software and putting together fund requests. Gilaine completed the Umpqua Community College Accounting Program. When not working, Gilaine spends her time crafting or with her daughter, and friends enjoying all the benefits of Douglas County. You can contact Gilaine at gilaine@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext 1.

Julie Reed - Watershed Technician

Julie is our newly employed watershed technician. Julie has lived in Douglas County for 35 years. Before becoming a team member for PUR, she worked at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Biological Science Aide for five years. While at ODFW, Julie gained various experiences working with fish in and out of the field. She is very proficient at identifying native fish. Julie is highly passionate about the protection and improvement of Salmon and Steelhead populations that have been negatively impacted in the Umpqua Watershed. When she is not working, you can find Julie on the river fishing or hunting and camping with her two children and two dogs. You can contact Julie at Julie@umpquarivers.org or 541-673-5756, ext. 7.