There was a chance that it was already too late for coho salmon in the Russian River. 

Fish biologist Mariska Obedzinski had been working in Maine, helping to recover endangered Atlantic salmon. Now, as a newly-hired California Sea Grant researcher, she was turning her attention to Russian River coho — a fish that lay a mere whisker away from extinction itself.

Recent decades have been hard on Fort Bragg, California. The local sawmill shuttered in 2002, wiping out many jobs, and leaving behind a swath of underutilized coastline. Thanks to a welcoming small-town atmosphere and stunning ocean views, tourism remained one key economic lifeline — until the coronavirus arrived.

Michael Wells never intended on a career in environmental or coastal issues. As an undergraduate, he studied economics, then worked in finance and the tech industries. But being an avid outdoorsman who enjoys surfing and camping as well as fly fishing and snowboarding, Wells couldn’t help but notice how climate change increasingly impacted his favorite places and hobbies. 

California Sea Grant is excited to announce that Alex Harper has joined its extension team. As a Climate Resilience Specialist Harper will focus on strengthening coastal resilience and growing the Blue Economy through high-quality ocean information sharing.