California Department of Fish and Game, Hopland
John Deibner-Hanson enjoying handling a beautiful fish!
California Department of Fish and Game
4070 University Road
Hopland, California 95449
(707) 744-8713 Hopland office direct line
Mentors:
Derek Acomb, Associate Fisheries Biologist
Mentor Biography
dacomb@dfg.ca.gov
Dan Resnik, Fisheries Biologist
Mentor Biography
dresnik@dfg.ca.gov
Members:
Hannah Colton
Member Biography
Taylor Pool
Member Biography
Site Description:
Members will assist in watershed assessment and monitoring to determine the status of anadromous fish and their habitat throughout the Russian River basin, Napa River basin, southern Sonoma County and Marin County. Duties may include electrofishing, snorkeling surveys, spawner surveys, downstream migrant trapping, channel typing, habitat typing, large woody debris and riparian inventories, gravel sampling, data entry, standardized report writing, and planning and implementing instream and upslope fisheries habitat enhancement projects in cooperation with local landowners. Members also conduct public outreach activities and coordinate with local teachers to provide educational opportunities for students.
The Hopland office does not offer positions for field work only. Members are expected to enhance or learn office management skills along with learning habitat assessment skills. Office work may include data entry, report writing, developing landowner access, cartography, developing presentations, work related research, project development, contract development, permit development and education and outreach projects with local schools and community groups.
Brock Nedland dissecting a salmonid for a classroom of attentive students.
Time members spend on each of the following tasks at their site (WSP trainings and mandatory events not included in this breakdown):
Monitoring - 15%
Restoration - 10%
Field Surveys and Data Collection - 40%
Report Writing and Data Entry - 15%
Lab Work - 0%
Education - 10%
Outreach - 10%
Member comments:
“I never thought that a year spent in Hopland, California would rival all of the experiences that I have had in Alaska for the adventure of a lifetime. During my time here I have seen twin Mountain Lion cubs, mating rattle snakes, Pacific Lamprey and many other wonderful creatures that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see elsewhere in the world. The people whom I have worked with were some of the most kind and understanding professionals that I have met in my 29 years of living.”
- Brock Nedland, year 13 member
"What a surprise this year has been! As a first year member from a land far away, I really wasn't sure how I would fit into this line of work. I felt like each site had something cool and different to offer. It turns out the Department of Fish and Game in Hopland may quite possibly be one of the most flexible sites to work for. For Fish and Game I was able to taste a little bit of everything from teaching to surveying to writing to shadowing. What's more? There are a limitless number of daytrips in ALL directions like Humboldt, San Francisco, Tahoe and the Mendocino coast… all of which I've made every break from work and adventure! Hopland gives the perfect balance."
- John Deibner-Hanson, year 13 member
Mentor comments:
"I am lucky to work in a beautiful place with some fabulous folks. My favorite part of my job here has been being a mentor to the WSP members. I look forward to mentoring, learning from, and working with many more great WSP members."
- Dan Resnik, year 13 mentor
For a sample calendar of WSP member duties at this site, click HERE.
Rare snow at the Hopland site.
Habitat typing is done extensively throughout the summer months. 