Restore the Delta has a new team of university students who are working on climate/water issues for the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. Funded by the Irvine Foundation and Mosaic Momentum, these leaders from the Delta region who are studying environmental science, forestry, geography, environmental studies, and geology, have already been to the State Water Resources Control Board to make the case for the State Water Board to implement and continue with their Bay-Delta Plan to restore water flows for the Delta and for further protection for the estuary from harmful algal blooms.
Vanessa (Vané) grew up in Oxnard, California. She received her B.S in Environmental Science with minors in Spanish and Computer Information Systems from California Lutheran University. She has experience working with non-profit organizations that focuses on environmental and social injustices as well as farm-worker rights in Ventura County. She has worked as an intern for the County of Ventura within the Sustainability Division as a Public Service Intern and was an intern for the U.S Department of Energy as an Energy Justice Intern. Some of her career goals is to work in the public sector either for the federal or local government. One of her professional goals is to publish a peer-reviewed article and creating a non-profit that would help high schools in low-income communities excel in STEM subjects. She currently works for RTD as the Carbon/Energy Research Intern where she partakes in carbon removal research. Currently, she is writing a white paper on direct air capture with a socioeconomic analysis within the Central Valley/SJ Delta.
Alexandra (Lexi) Yokomizo is a current Climate Water Advocate for Restore the Delta and pursuing a Master’s of Science at UC Davis in the Environmental Policy and Management Program. With a background of research in watersheds and freshwater science, Lexi has experience in developing and leading independent projects built on her interests in intersectional and interdisciplinary research to achieve actionable steps and knowledge. She hopes to utilize her research experience during her time at Restore the Delta to bridge the gap between science and policy and ensure equal and easy access to clean water for everyone.
Michelle Mendoza, a Stockton native, is passionate about environmental science, education, and equity. She currently works as a Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aid with the Central Valley Coded-Wire Tag Laboratory, supporting salmonid monitoring efforts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Michelle will begin her M.S. in Ecology at UC Davis in Fall 2025, where her research will explore phytoplankton dynamics and water quality in estuarine systems. Her academic interests are rooted in community outreach, science communication, and environmental justice. In her free time, Michelle enjoys practicing Pilates, running with the Sacramento Running Club, and walking along the Sacramento River.
Kaley Hamane was raised in Santa Cruz, California, and currently attends the University of California, Davis. She is currently a fourth year undergraduate studying Marine and Coastal Sciences, and hopes to fulfill a minor in Chinese as well. She is still exploring her career options, but hopes to integrate science communication/journalism and community work into her professional future. Outside of her coursework, she serves as a director for H2O Dance Crew, a student-run dance team at UC Davis, and works as an intern at the UC Davis Strategic Asian & Pacific-Islander Retention Initiative (SA&PIRI), which aims to foster academic excellence, connectedness, and empower leadership for A&PI-identifying students.
Living close to Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River, Lauren was inspired to pursue a career in environmental science due to her frequent visits and participation in the California Coastal Clean-up events held in that area. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor strolls by water bodies, indulges in a variety of teas, and cherishes quality time with her dog.
Deborah I Castillo is a Climate Water Advocate at Restore the Delta. She was raised in Stockton, California and enjoys learning about the history of the Bay-Delta. She is currently attending San Joaquin Delta College majoring in Civil Engineering with a focus on Environmental Engineering. Her interests include community outreach, harmful algal blooms, and green infrastructure. Her biggest goal is to improve accessibility to resources for the Bay-Delta communities and ensure that the public has more access to their water ways.
Madelyn, or Madie, Dreyer, a Bay Area native and Modesto-raised undergraduate student at Modesto Junior College, is deeply passionate about the conservation of Earth’s biodiversity. Currently, she is majoring in Biological Sciences, with the aspiration of becoming a wildlife biologist. Madie intends to transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno, where she will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution. Her area of interest centers on the conservation of Chinook Salmon, recognized for their role as a keystone species in the Pacific Northwest. Madie grew up fishing and boating alongside her father in the Delta and various lakes in California. In her free time, Madie enjoys hiking and painting.
Katherine Parrilla is an aspiring historian and ethnic studies advocate. She is a Stockton native and a student at Cal Poly Humboldt. Katherine will be working with the Smithsonian Institute to help bring the story of the Filipino community to a national stage. In addition, Katherine is a climate water intern for Restore the Delta and is passionate about environmental justice and the Bay-Delta region.