Power of SWCD’s: Natural Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience

Herb Winters is the District Manager for Gilliam County Soil and Water Conservation District. Born and raised in the Lower John Day Basin, he has worked for conservation districts there since 2008, joining Gilliam SWCD in 2017. He works with farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners to improve streams and rangelands while supporting the agricultural livelihoods that depend on them. His recent work includes wildfire recovery, virtual fencing, and stream restoration to help the landscape better withstand drought and fire. Herb brings a local perspective to the challenges facing rural communities and the practical role conservation districts play in helping landowners get work done. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting and fishing in the country that first sparked his interest in conservation.

Kyle Waggoner serves as District Manager for the Umatilla County Soil & Water Conservation District. He works with farmers and ranchers, helping them implement programs and strategies to achieve their individual resource goals. Kyle values conservation and believes his work makes a difference for the farmers and ranchers of Umatilla County. Under Kyle’s leadership, the SWCD responded to the 2019 and 2020 floods in Umatilla County by kickstarting recovery and mitigation systems that are still working towards recovery to this day. When not in the office, he can be found working on his family ranch, hunting, fishing, and camping in the great outdoors.

Cassi grew up in Wheeler County on a farm in the Kahler Creek Watershed and has a deep love for the rural Lower John Day Basin. She joined the Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in late 2019 as the Office Manager, bringing a background in business operations and accounting. In 2023, she accepted the role of District Manager. Her eagerness to learn and resourcefulness have been key to her rapid gain of knowledge regarding natural resources and conservation. Cassi has led the Wheeler SWCD in playing a critical role in wildfire response and recovery during the 2024 and 2026 extreme seasons while actively working on mitigation/resiliency efforts through restoration projects. When not assisting landowners and teaching kids in her role at the SWCD, or volunteering as a firefighter/EMT, she can be found exploring the outdoors with her young daughter.

Lily Leitermann grew up in rural Michigan in a farming family, surrounded by sugar beets, corn, soybeans, and the Great Lakes. She moved to the PNW with her family 18 years ago to raise her child and attend Oregon State University’s Natural Resources graduate program. She began her career with the Upper Willamette SWCD in 2015 as a watershed technician and became District Manager in 2025. At the UWSWCD, she has helped community members improve farming and rural livelihoods while protecting and restoring soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. In 2020, the Labor Day Fires affected much of Oregon, including the McKenzie Watershed. Lily served as a restoration specialist on a collaborative team called the Pure Water Partners, which mobilized to respond with post-fire revegetation and erosion control, assisting over 200 landowners after the Holiday Farm Fire. As District Manager, she draws on her experience in ecosystem resilience and conservation to lead her team in supporting farmers, ranchers, and all other local communities. Lily lives and works in Eugene with her family and loves everything about living in Oregon.