Inland Deserts Fisheries Program

Nick Buckmaster moved to Bishop (and CDFW) in 2013, after finishing graduate school at the University of California, Davis. Nick has bachelors' degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Biology and Geology, as well as a master's degree in Ecology. Nick started his career with CDFW as a seasonal aid in 2008 and has worked on fisheries projects across California. He is an avid fish enthusiast, fisherman, and outdoorsman and enjoys living in the Eastern Sierra.

Contact Information

Bishop Field Office
787 North Main Street
Suite 220
Bishop, CA 93514
Nick.Buckmaster@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (760) 920-8391
Office: (760) 872-1171

James is an Environmental Scientist for CDFW in the Inland Desert Region, based out of Bishop, California. James received his bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He has been with CDFW since 2005 and he is involved in managing the recreational fisheries of Inyo and Mono Counties in the eastern Sierra. James is also the lead biologist for the High Mountain Lakes Project which involves the restoration and recovery of the Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog. James' passion is alpine ecology and the wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Ensure viable fisheries through a balance of stocking, maintaining wild trout populations, regulations and native species management. Collect data to inform management decisions. Adapt regulations to changing conditions. Ensure quality habitat for fish and other aquatic species.
• Restore and recover the Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog through habitat improvement, population monitoring, translocation, reintroduction, research, disease monitoring and treatment.
• Prepare, review, and improve annual stocking allotments, Pre-Stocking Evaluations (PSE's), Private Stocking Permit applications, Fishing Contest applications and fishing regulation changes.

High Mountain Lakes Links

• Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Life History and Distribution

Contact Information

Bishop Field Office
787 North Main Street
Suite 220
Bishop, CA 93514
James.Erdman@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (760) 873-6071
Office: (760) 567-0413

Rachel is an Environmental Scientist for CDFW in the Inland Desert Region, based out of Bishop, CA. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Since then, she has researched and worked with various fishes and macroinvertebrates throughout northern and eastern California. Rachel enjoys working with her fellow CDFW scientists to restore, conserve, and manage the fisheries of Region 6.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Protect and enhance the Eastern Sierra's heritage and wild trout resources, while providing opportunities for high quality wild trout fishing.
• Monitor designated wild trout waters and other wild trout populations in Inyo and Mono Counties.
• Undertake monitoring and research to inform wild trout management and planning.
• Conduct outreach and coordinate with other agencies on wild trout management.
• Monitor drought impacted waters containing fish and amphibian species of concern.
• Research and establish drought refuge habitats for native aquatic species.
• Perform rescues and translocations in response to drought impacts.
• Document drought concern reports for locations throughout the region.

Program Links

• Heritage and Wild Trout Program
• Designated Wild and Heritage Trout Waters
• Heritage Trout Challenge
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: Inyo County Stream Flow Information
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: Mono Basin Stream Flow Information
• Science Spotlight, September 2019 - Pulse Flows Expected to Boost Brown Trout Fishery in Owens River Gorge
• Drought Related Actions to Preserve and Protect the State's Fish and Wildlife Resources

Contact Information

Bishop Field Office
787 North Main Street
Suite 220
Bishop, CA 93514
Rachel.McConnell@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (760) 507- 6440

Julia Cherenzia is a Fish and Wildlife Interpreter I for the Eastern Sierra. Julia coordinates both the Classroom Aquarium Education Program (Trout in the Classroom) and Fishing in the City outreach events. Julia received her Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2014. She has since provided environmental education throughout California. As a Fish and Wildlife Interpreter, her passion is to interpret our natural resources, to help people connect with, care for, and protect our environment and the wildlife that inhabits it, so that these resources may be enjoyed for generations to come. Fun Fact: Julia participated in Trout in the Classroom as a student in 1999!

Project Goals and Objectives

Trout in the Classroom

• Trout in the Classroom will improve teacher and student understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of fishes, while creating an awareness of the needs of the aquatic environment through the use of classroom aquaria.
• Duties include providing permitting and authorization for participants to transport and rear eggs and fish, organizing and maintaining program equipment, providing technical assistance to program participants regarding the freshwater system and the hatching and releasing of fish, conducting trainings for qualified potential participants, and assisting with fish releases to ensure student safety and present information on aquatic ecosystems.
• Duties also include ensuring program compliance with state and federal guidelines, for the protection of natural aquatic ecosystems and California's native species.

Fishing in the City

• Fishing in the City works to inspire and encourage families and communities to learn to fish, while increasing understanding of local lakes, ponds, and aquatic resources.
• Duties include establishing community partnerships to provide public fishing instruction clinics that promote inland fisheries opportunities with a conservation message, coordinating trout events with local hatchery stocking schedules, providing road loans at fishing events, and providing public information related to CDFW at events.

Trout in the Classroom Links

• Inland Deserts Region Trout in the Classroom
• Forms and Guidelines
• Curriculum Aids
• Overview and History

Fishing in the City Links

• Eastern Sierra Fishing in the City Events
• Learn to Fish Videos
• Fishing in California

Contact Information

Bishop Field Office
787 North Main Street
Suite 220
Bishop, CA 93514
Julia.Cherenzia@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (760) 628-5244
Office: (760) 873-8968

Nikki is an Environmental Scientist for CDFW in the Inland Desert Region, based out of Bishop, California. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego earning a Bachelor of Science in General Biology. Since then, she has worked with macroinvertebrates, native trout, and desert fish throughout northern and eastern California. Nikki is passionate about working with her colleagues for the conservation and restoration of the vast biodiversity in Region 6, and enjoys birding, snorkeling, and exploring new places.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Monitor drought impacted waters containing fish and amphibian species of concern.
• Research and establish drought refuge habitats for native aquatic species.
• Perform rescues and translocations in response to drought impacts.
• Document drought concern reports for locations throughout the region.

Program

• Drought Related Actions to Preserve and Protect the State's Fish and Wildlife Resources

Contact Information

Bishop Field Office
787 North Main Street
Suite 220
Bishop, CA 93514
Office: (760) 872-1171

Sebastian is an Environmental Scientist for CDFW in the Inland Desert Region, based out of Bishop, California. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley earning a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology with an emphasis in fish ecology and conservation. Since graduating, Sebastian has worked in the conservation of native salmon, trout, and desert fishes throughout northern and eastern California. He is passionate about preserving and restoring freshwater biodiversity and enjoys recreational fishing, backpacking, and searching for critters.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Implement the conservation, recovery, and management of native inland fish species.
• Maintain habitats and refuge populations for native fish.
• Conduct field surveys to identify present status of native fish and expand their refugia while balancing game-fish management.
• Prepare and implement management plans for native fish species in collaboration with the public, other agencies, and stakeholders.

Contact Information

Russell Barabe grew up in the Bay Area where he obtained a BS degree from San Jose State University. From there he worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, and the US Bureau of Reclamation doing fisheries work around the country. After completing a master's degree in Fisheries Management at Mississippi State University, Russ began working at CDFW in 2009. He is an avid fisherman and enjoys the outdoors.

Contact Information

Quinn Granfors was born and raised in southern California fishing many of the lakes and reservoirs in the area. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries Biology. Quinn has been an Environmental Scientist with an emphasis as a Reservoir Fisheries Biologist, CDFW Inland Desert Region (Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties) since 2007.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Manage California's reservoir fishery resources through a balance of stocking, monitoring wild populations, habitat enhancement and regulations.
• Duties are primarily to monitor reservoir/ lake fisheries through the collection of data to make informed management decisions. Including evaluation of trout stocking programs, conducting various fishery surveys, enhancement of quality habitat for various lentic fishery species, and adapting regulations to changing conditions.
• Additional duties include preparation, review and approval of annual trout stocking allotments, Pre-Stocking Evaluations (PSEs), Private Stocking Permit applications, Fishing Contest applications and fishing regulation changes.

Program Links

• Fishing Contests, Tournaments and Derbies
• Trophy Black Bass Certificate Program
• Science Spotlight, April 2018 - Creating Habitat In A Drawn-Down Lake

Contact Info

Murrieta Field Office
Murrieta, CA 92562
Quinn.Granfors@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (909) 553-0735

Jen Hemmert is an Environmental Scientist in the Heritage and Wild Trout Program. She has worked as a Wild Trout Biologist for CDFW in the Inland Desert Region in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties since 2017. Prior to her wild trout work and within the Department, she was a Reservoir Fisheries Biologist for the same two counties, plus Imperial County since 2011. She has experience in riverine, lake, and mountain meadow ecosystems. Before working for CDFW, she moved to the Sierra Nevada to pursue a career in stream ecology and fisheries in 2007. She has conducted research related to anadromous fish species of steelhead, spring-run and fall-run chinook salmon in the Sierra Nevada, Bay-Delta, and Southern California. Jen graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and an emphasis in Freshwater Fisheries.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Manage and conserve wild trout resources within Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
• Conduct resource assessments to evaluate wild trout and their habitats in streams.
• Provide watershed planning by collecting wild trout data for streams within the sub-basins.
• Work on local wild trout water designations with the review of current management plans, assessing designated wild trout streams, and updating and preparing new management plans.
• Implement stakeholder involvement by using volunteers to assist with data collection and stream assessments. Present the results of assessments and identify wild trout angling opportunities.

Program Links

• Heritage and Wild Trout Program
• Designated Wild and Heritage Trout Waters
• Heritage Trout Challenge
• Jennifer Hemmert - Featured Scientist

Contact Information

Murrieta Field Office
Murrieta, CA 92562
Jennifer.Hemmert@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (951) 634-8793

Monica Burnett is an Environmental Scientist for CDFW. She primarily works with native non-game fish and amphibian species in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Monica was born and raised in the Inland Deserts Region and is passionate about its resources. She received her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (minor in watershed science) from UC Davis in 2020. She has also worked in Region 5 on drought monitoring for native nongame fishes, and Region 1 on the Heritage Wild Trout program.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Manage native non-game fish and amphibian species.
• Maintain habitats for native fish and amphibians to ensure continuous refuge populations of native species.
• Conduct field surveys to identify present status of native fish and amphibian populations.
• Prepare and implement management plans for native species in collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders.

Program Links

• Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog
• Mojave Tui Chub
• Inland Deserts Region Native Fish Conservation
• Fish Species of Special Concern

Contact Information

Murrieta Field Office
Murrieta, CA 92562
Monica.Burnett@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (760) 636-3528

Hillary Grez is a Fish and Wildlife Interpreter I, leading both the Fishing in the City Program and the Classroom Aquarium Education Program, for Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. She is a graduate of California Sate Polytechnic University, Pomona with a bachelor's degree in Zoology. Hillary grew up in a family of anglers and has been fishing since she was old enough to hold her own pole. Hillary began her career with CDFW as a Scientific Aid in 2012 assisting both the Fishing in the City Program and the Classroom Aquarium Education Program in the South Coast Region, serving Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Hillary loves that her programs help bridge a gap between the department and the public and she is excited to be a part of them.

Project Goals and Objectives

Trout in the Classroom

• Trout in the Classroom will improve teacher and student understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of fishes, while creating an awareness of the needs of the aquatic environment through the use of classroom aquaria.
• Duties include providing permitting and authorization for participants to transport and rear eggs and fish, organizing and maintaining program equipment, providing technical assistance to program participants regarding the freshwater system and the hatching and releasing of fish, conducting trainings for qualified potential participants, and assisting with fish releases to ensure student safety and present information on aquatic ecosystems.
• Duties also include ensuring program compliance with state and federal guidelines, for the protection of natural aquatic ecosystems and California's native species.

Fishing in the City

• Fishing in the City works to inspire and encourage families and communities to learn to fish, while increasing understanding of local lakes, ponds, and aquatic resources.
• Duties include establishing community partnerships to provide public fishing instruction clinics that promote inland fisheries opportunities with a conservation message, coordinating trout events with local hatchery stocking schedules, providing rod loans at fishing events, and providing public information related to CDFW at events.

Program Links

• Fishing in the City: San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties
• Inland Deserts Region Classroom Aquarium Education Program (Trout in the Classroom)

Contact Information

3602 Inland Empire Blvd.
Suite C-220
Ontario, CA 91764
Hillary.Grez@wildlife.ca.gov
Cell: (909) 315-1688
Office: (909) 944-0210