A proposed project that requires fieldwork demands a lot of meticulous and thought-through plans for how the data will be collected and how it will answer the proposed questions. When my coworker and I were brought into the project, everything was already set up for us – the kayaks and supplies, the iPads for data collection, the binoculars and scopes for spotting turtles, and then the survey protocol for observing turtles at ponds. What we did not predict would be all the obstacles that would come our way when working in an aquatic environment.

               Despite feeling so prepared, I realized I had a lot to learn when it came to knowing myself. I learned that I’m not on the ball first thing in the morning, so preparations must be done the night before. I learned that despite labels stating that the equipment is waterproof, it doesn’t mean it will always come out the other side of a rapid as waterproof. The iPad provided to me in a waterproof case almost fried after a particularly wet trip on the river. Ever since, I double waterproofed my electric equipment by keeping it in a clear, waterproof dry bag. It proved a bit cumbersome when viewing the screen and inputting data, in particular typing out comments. However, it was a reliable method to keeping the field iPad dry.

               My coworker and I planned out sections of the river to survey based on safety and viability. We received professional opinions about which sections were safe and not recommended. We looked at maps and note rapids that weren’t noted before. Even when prepared, there would be surprises that were out of our control. In retrospect, we called these “surprise rapids.” Surprise rapids would appear when water levels dropped and because nature is not constrained by what is on a map. Any rapids we could see from the road we would analyze and make a judgement call on whether we could do it, and how we would overcome the rapid. Otherwise, we would analyze and judge the rapid on the river. Looking back, I’m amazed with how I was able to get through most of the rapids. We had close calls when one of us flipped off the kayak, and it was always scary when it happened. If the safety course didn’t happen, we wouldn’t know what to do.

               Reflecting on my project, I am amazed by all the hard work that my coworker, my three supervisors, and I put in to make this project work. A team of women came together, focused on getting a better picture on where Western Pond Turtles live along the Klamath River, and came through with positive results. Overcoming the obstacles taught me how to know and understand myself. On top of that, forgive myself when I mess up, and come back with solutions to prevent future mistakes. It was a unique project that made me grow in ways I didn’t expect. I’ll always cherish this fellowship experience as happy memories.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

In the town called Happy Camp in California, there exists a museum that I went to after completing my river survey. It was at the Community Center in Happy Camp about the Karuk Tribe who resides in that area. I was greeted warmly by a lovely Karuk woman named Elaine who was working the front desk at the gift shop. She asked what I was there for, and I said that I came to look at the museum. She happily offered to give me a tour of the museum.

We talked about the health of the river, and how the water is running low and warmer than usual. I told her about my fellowship and how I look for Western Pond Turtles, which she was excited about, until I told her about the invasive bullfrogs taking over. She said that this was important to talk about, and that she is planning a River Health Talk, to discuss the health of the Klamath River. She wanted me to talk about my experiences on the Klamath River, and to talk about the bullfrogs and the turtles. I eagerly agreed to do so.

We continued the tour and she taught me about the Karuk Tribe’s basket weaving. Different baskets are weaved for different purposes such as carrying babies, cooking food, storage for ceremonial items, and as ceremonial caps to be worn for important events such as a girl's coming of age ceremony, the Flower Dance. The baskets looked amazing with intricate designs and beautiful handiwork. Then I met the tribe's master basket weaver, Verna, who would teach the women in the Happy Camp community how to weave baskets.

The week afterward, I ran into Verna as well as her family at the campsite I was staying at. They were at the creek gathering materials for basket weaving. We talked about turtles, and how great it is to see a hatchling on the river because of all the obstacles they must overcome be there. They told us about why they gathered the willows and fern for their basket weaving, and how they dye the material from the ferns with bark to make a beautiful red-brown color. Then they asked me and my coworker if we wanted to help them extract basket weaving materials from the fern. We gladly accepted and found each of ourselves a flat rock to help extract the fiber by smashing the fern with a flat rock. We had a lot of fun and shared good laughs and stories.

I really felt like I made a connection with some of the people in the tribe. Being invited to the events that they have such as a Flower Dance, their basket weaving gathering, and their Cultural Restoration Retreat really makes me feel involved. After making this connection, I feel as though it is best to continue moving forward with this connection, and not leave it behind after I complete this fellowship because they are so warm and kind.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

The Klamath River is home and provider to many animals that live in the Northern Californian and Southern Oregon wilderness such as beavers, otters, and black bears. It is also the home and provider to an animal that I has been my main focus of my fellowship - the Western Pond Turtle. The project of my fellowship is conducting a survey along the Klamath River to see where the turtles live, and get an assessment of their habitat range. Outside of surveys, my time in this fellowship has been an amazing crash course from both federal and state government experts about this beautiful species. I learned that Western Pond Turtles are gentle, and very often, elusive animals. They will dive in the water at the sight of you, and I've been told that I will only ever see about 30% of the population outside of the water. When handled for collecting data for the U.S. Forest Service's mark-recapture study, they are docile, and very rarely try to bite the handler.

When describing their appearance, the hatchlings or juveniles can have beautiful leopard-like patterns on their skin. Looking at the face of an adult male, they have white chins, and pointed noses, whereas females have flatter noses and a patterned face that is described often as "whispy mustaches." The drought has reduced the amount of their habitat, which is why I feel as though my work in this fellowship feels so important to me. Not only are the team and I getting an idea of where turtles live and the type of environment they live in along the Klamath River, but we are getting an idea of where they live during a drought. We are also getting an idea of where the turtles are living on the Klamath River before the Iron Gate Dam is removed. I hope that at the conclusion of data collection, the other fellow and I can provide some great comparative data.

What do you predict might happen to the range of the Western Pond Turtles after the Iron Gate Dam is removed? Will they expand or lessen? How do you think it would be in non-drought conditions with removal of the dam?

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office

Stephanie grew up in Los Angeles with an appreciation of the beauty in nature. In the spring evenings, she can be found in ponds and streams, collecting data on her research on how traffic noise can affect frog mating behavior. Her research interest involves the relationships between humans, nature, and how unseen pollution like anthropogenic noise can affect wildlife. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Science in Biology at California State University, Northridge. At the university, she teaches an introductory lab course to biology majors. She enjoys mentoring students and hopes that her work and presence in conservation biology will inspire girls and people of color to become scientists.