Sam Rizza
Presentation Topic: How to conjure genetic data from a fish fin

Sam’s interests focus on study design and the rapidly evolving field of fisheries genetics. He is particularly excited about recent advances in genotyping that allow the integration of genetic information into management decisions. Previous work with academic institutions and federal and state agencies, performing a wide variety of fish and habitat assessments, has shaped his field skills. Sam has spent countless hours capturing and counting fish at night, and is continually amazed by the effectiveness of this sampling method. In his free time, Sam enjoys fishing, boating, or foraging for wild food.

Samantha Kannry
Presentation Topic: Totally RAD Impassable Barriers: How geologic features influence steelhead distributions on the north coast and beyond

Samantha has been monitoring, studying, and swimming with summer-run steelhead in the Eel River and other rivers of Northwestern California for the past fifteen years. While it has been clear to the native peoples of the region since time immemorial that summer-run steelhead and the congeneric spring Chinook are separate populations, not everyone else sees it so clearly. Her research has focused on using conservation genetic tools to elucidate the distinction between summer and winter-run steelhead. When not minking (a combination of hiking, swimming, snorkeling, sliding, shimmying, and boulder jumping) down rivers, she is usually growing and eating fruit, moving manure at Caudal Fin Farm, or bikepacking distances large and small. All working towards re-establishing the inherent continuity between rivers, land, and people.