Karla joined the CU Maurice River team in 2015 as the Program Manager. At that time, she was responsible for planning, organizing, and managing programs and activities. From the ground up, she designed many outdoor education and recreation opportunities, developed new outreach initiatives, incorporated CUMR in national citizen science initiatives, and built the foundation for large-scale stewardship projects. In January of 2021, Karla began her new position as CU Maurice River’s Executive Director. 

In this presentation, Karla will highlight the nationally recognized outstanding natural resource values of the Maurice River and its tributaries. The character and integrity of these values led to the river's inclusion in the National Park Service's Wild and Scenic Program. The Maurice River benefits from high-quality, contiguous habitats that support the system's notable biodiversity and abundance.  Karla will end her talk with an overview of CU Maurice River's focus on engaging the public in resource protection and management, utilizing one example of a community-powered wetlands restoration project currently underway.