Our team.
The people behind the work.
Meet the team.
Watershed practitioners, foresters, and community organizers working across the basin.
ARWC’s team is based across the Arkansas River Basin — from our office in Salida to program managers in Lake County, Fremont County, and beyond. What started as an all-volunteer effort has grown into a dedicated staff doing big work across 28,000 square miles.
Jonathan Paklaian
Executive Director
Basin-wide
For over ten years, Jonathan has conducted fieldwork and managed environmental resource projects across the western U.S. This interdisciplinary experience includes working for multiple consulting firms and NGOs, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the USGS.
Jonathan is excited to continue his collaborative work in the Arkansas Basin, where he hopes to facilitate meaningful, watershed-wide projects for the communities and ecosystems of the region. In his free time, Jonathan can often be found exploring public lands, fishing, hunting, backpacking, cycling, or relaxing with some fiction. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Northern Arizona University.
[email protected]
Sam Kaelin
Upper Basin Program Manager
Upper Basin
Sam comes to ARWC with a strong passion for natural resources and watershed protection and brings a diverse set of experiences working in environmental non-profits and outdoor education. As a member of the Leadville community, Sam is keenly aware of the value that lies in a healthy, well managed, watershed and of the many challenges that this area faces.
He is excited to take on ARWC projects in Lake County, building meaningful partnerships and collaborating across organizations to continue to serve the growing needs of the Arkansas River Watershed. Sam received a Bachelor's Degree in Geology from Middlebury College and a Master's in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
[email protected]
Yates McConnell
Middle Basin Program Manager
Middle Basin
With a background in GIS and Watershed Resource Conservation, Yates McConnell joins ARWC extremely excited to continue working to protect Colorado's natural resources. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, he worked as a field geologist in the Appalachians before relocating to Colorado to pursue a career in conservation.
A hiker, runner, skier, and paddler, he spends his free time in all parts of the watershed with his dog, Etta. He is excited to work in the communities of the middle Arkansas river to protect this beautiful area for future generations to enjoy.
[email protected]
Mike Rung
Forester
Basin-wide
Mike joins ARWC from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. After graduating in 2015 from Southern Illinois Carbondale with a bachelor's degree in forestry, he has managed timber in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Washington.
Mike has worked for the US Forest Service, Washington Department of Natural Resources, and now he's excited to join the Colorado State Forest Service and ARWC. He is eager to work with our partners to complete projects mitigating catastrophic fire danger, increase timber stand resiliency to insects and disease, and improve water quality within the Arkansas River Watershed. Outside of work, Mike enjoys all the outdoors have to offer. He loves to ski, backpack, mountain bike, and fish.
[email protected]
Jacob Stewart
Communications & Outreach Associate
Basin-wide
Jacob Stewart joins ARWC as an Outreach & Communications Associate through River Corps, an AmeriCorps program led by River Science. A former raft guide with eight years on the Arkansas River, he brings firsthand knowledge of the river's hydrology, ecology, and recreation community.
Originally from Oklahoma, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Community Recreation from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2022. His connection to the watershed began through whitewater boating and fishing, experiences that continue to shape his commitment to conservation. Jacob is excited to transition from recreating on the river to helping protect it through education, outreach, and water quality efforts across the basin. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the central Rockies and spending as much time on the water as possible.
[email protected]
Cecilia Timberg
Communications Coordinator
Basin-wide
Cecilia began work with ARWC directly following her graduation from Colorado College. In college, she focused her studies and field research on community water management, law, and policy.
She has worked with the USGS, Costilla County Conservation District, the Denver Gazette, and State of the Rockies Project to connect Colorado residents with the state's climate history and current water management infrastructure. Originally from Washington, DC, Cecilia has fallen in love with the Arkansas River during her four years in Colorado. She is excited to work on projects that support the watershed's community and ecology. When she has the time, Cecilia loves to write music, climb, watercolor, and slackline.
[email protected]
Want to join us?
We’re growing — and we’re looking for people who care about this basin.
Check out our current openings and learn what it’s like to work at ARWC.