Board & Staff
Larry Hanson
Graduate of Sonoma State University with a degree in physical sciences and mathematics. After getting a teaching credential there, he taught elementary school for over 30 years focusing subject matter on environmental and outdoor education. He is also involved in other organizations on forestry and watershed issues.
Lisa Mador
Mador, a legal assistant, is active in the Sonoma County environmental movement by supporting legal means to achieve environmental goals.
Bob Rawson
Bob Rawson is a wastewater consultant with 26 years experience. Bob holds a California Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators license, and an Industrial Wastewater Inspectors Certification. He has a Life and Physical Science degree from the University of San Jose State and a California State Teaching Credential. He has been an instructor in Wastewater Treatment at Santa Rosa Junior College for the last 18 years. Bob sits on the Board of Directors of a number of community non-profit and environmental organizations. Bob is currently President of International Wastewater Solutions Corporation, (IWS).
Julio C. Gutierrez
Julio C. Gutierrez is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. He has lived in California for twenty-five years. As a conscious citizen of the world, he volunteers his spare time cleaning beaches and teaching young individuals the basics of music theory. Mr. Gutierrez believes that the people of the world will someday exist as one unit, through cooperation and redeveloped social and political policies, and after bold mighty young heroes have successfully opposed destructive political agendas with solutions, bypassing their destructive influence. Music is always essential when a generation screams out for change and Mr. Gutierrez writes music that provides solutions as oppose to singing “the blues”. He believes in River Watch’s mission and is happy to show his full support in any way that the organization may need from him in the future.
Cary Sparks
Cary Sparks is a writer, educator and consultant. She is Director of The Institute for Holotropics, Inc. and has managed their Holotropic Breathwork® training program since 1998. Cary’s passions, In addition to her work, are spending time in nature, and with her family, friends, and cats. In the past few years, she has become an avid birder. In addition to California River Watch, Cary serves on the Board of Directors for SoulCollage® Institute and Marin Audubon Society.
Gilbert Paul Carrasco
Gilbert Paul Carrasco is a tenured Professor of Law at Willamette University College of Law in Oregon, where has taught Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Litigation, and Mediation and Mediation Advocacy for two decades. He was previously tenured at Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania. He holds degrees in Philosophy (University of San Diego), Law (Santa Clara), and Constitutional Law (LL.M., Georgetown). He successfully argued the environmental justice case, Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living v. Seif, 132 F. 3d 925 (3d Cir. 1997), summarily dism’d as moot, 524 U.S. 974 (1998). Professor Carrasco is the author of many books and other publications, including an article that appeared in the Villanova Environmental Law Journal. He is an active member of the California and D.C. Bars. Professor Carrasco lives with his wife, Iryna, in Portland, Oregon and Huntington Beach, California.
Aaron Goldstein
Aaron Goldstein is a multi-generational native Northern Californian as well as an amateur naturalist. His grandparents moved to Marin from San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. His father grew up riding horses and hiking, what was then, the “wild lands” of Marin County. His passion for nature and the outdoors influenced him to commit to a life of natural science and academia. Fathers do indeed live in sons – this passion and curiosity of the natural world was passed on to Aaron. To this day Aaron feeds the wild Jays, Crows and Squirrels in his neighborhood. Due to his deep love of and connection to the abundant natural spaces in the Bay Area, he is deeply concerned about the often thoughtless human incursion and degradation of the natural environment that has occurred during his lifetime. Professionally, he has worked in many capacities; previously touring the world for many years with bands such as Journey and Ringo Starr and the All Starrs. Currently he works as a “genius” in a local Apple Store.
Legal Counsel to Board
Jack Silver
Jack Silver received a BA in microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley. Following his undergraduate study at Berkeley Jack completed a Master’s program in microbiology at Sonoma State University. After college Jack worked in the biotech/bioprocess industry for 16 years. While still working full time Jack attended Empire College School of Law at night and received his JD in 1992. In 1996 he helped found River Watch. He has been happily married to his wife Kate, a local artist, since 1972.