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.
Samantha (Sam) Little was raised in Lodi, California. She is currently attending Cal Poly Humboldt and majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Ecological Restoration and Management. Sam plans on having a regenerative organic farm, sustaining her family and her community. She is passionate about conservation, environmental justice, and social equity. Sam believes that it is crucial to respect and support one’s diverse environment to have accessible, clean, and nourishing water.
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.
Faye Victoria Soria Limas was born in Stockton, CA. Faye is currently attending CSU Stanislaus and is majoring in Geology with a focus in Applied Geology. She grew up in Stockton close to the Calaveras River and has always been concerned about water quality and preservation of what habitats we have left.
Taylor Huerta is a Bay-area born and Stockton raised environmental activist with a passion for preserving California’s natural spaces. She is a first-generation college student, pursuing degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies at California State University, East Bay. In her free time, she likes to go hiking and bake plant-based goodies for her friends and family. Taylor is excited to be a part of RTD because she understands the importance of the SF Bay-Delta to the health and biodiversity of California. Working with Restore the Delta also allows her to connect with communities all around Stockton. Taylor believes that participation and cooperation is the key to fighting environmental injustices within our community, and to maintaining a cleaner and safer environment for all to enjoy.
Cheyenne Celada is a Climate Water Advocate at Restore the Delta. She is majoring in Forestry with a concentration in Hydrology at Cal Poly Humboldt. Cheyenne grew up in the Bay Area and Lathrop where the Bay-Delta estuary was the center for much of her childhood recreation. Cheyenne has spent most of her adult life living between Humboldt, Shasta, and Siskiyou County where spending time on the surrounding watersheds furthered her interest in working towards a career in watershed restoration. Her interests include impacts of harmful algal blooms, nutrient loading, sedimentation, and the importance of public awareness regarding watershed issues.
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.
Olivia is from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is pursuing a Geological and Environmental Sciences degree at the University of the Pacific. Alongside academics, Olivia competes as a Division I student-athlete on UOP’s softball team. She chose to join the Restore the Delta team to better understand the environmental injustices and water quality efforts in her Northern California community. When she is not playing softball, Olivia enjoys going on hikes and baking.
Morgen Snyder was raised in Naperville, IL, and now calls Northern California home. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2017 with a degree in Political Science and Legal Studies, and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management at the University of California, Davis. Morgen is interested in water quality issues, both marine and freshwater, and hopes to develop sustainable and equitable water policies across California. She believes that community engagement and grassroots efforts are the key to creating continuous change. Morgen is excited to be a part of Restore the Delta’s mission of achieving water quality protections for critical habitats and communities across the Bay-Delta. In addition to working with Restore the Delta, Morgen serves as the Chief of Staff for Climate Tech Circle, where she applies her passion for the environment by promoting innovative technologies to solve the climate crisis. In her free time, Morgen enjoys hiking with her dog, Buster, cooking vegan goodies, and tending to her garden and ever-growing collection of house plants.
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.
Tristan Ordaz was born and raised in Stockton, California. Along with being a Climate Water Advocate he is also a part of the Estuary Youth Council. In his free time Tristan enjoys walking his two dogs along with taking notes of the environment. He is currently attending San Joaquin Delta College and has been accepted to Sacramento State University where he will pursue his Biological Science degree. His studies are centered on physician assistant and mastering in parasitology with great interest in virology and microbiology. He understands the importance of the environment’s health for the community and wildlife. Communication, participation, and education is key to creating a healthier environment and a safer future for communities and wildlife.