Bryce Andrews, Ranchlands Program Manager

Bryce was hired as our Ranchlands Program Manager in May 2009 to oversee our 2,300-acre working ranch in Deer Lodge, Montana.  He maintains a field office on the ranch, and works toward achieving innovative and environmentally sustainable land management practices on our deeded and leased land.  When he's not handling daily tasks such as herding cattle, fixing fence, and making hay, Bryce works on community building and outreach related to Superfund Cleanup in the Deer Lodge Valley and posts a blog on the Clark Fork Coalition website.  Bryce comes to us with experience ranching in the Madison Valley, on the doorstep of Yellowstone Park, where he worked on finding a balance between the needs of livestock and wildlife.  He holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies from The University of Montana, and has written freelance articles for environmental magazines and journals.  When he's off the clock, Bryce heads uphill to jog, hike, or camp in the mountains. Email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 208.

Jill Beauchesne, Assoc. Director of Development and Communications

Jill joined the CFC team in June 2008 to handle online communications and development.  Her writing skills lend a fresh voice to our ramped-up website as well as our online and written newsletters, grant proposals, reports, brochures, and other communications.  She’s also helping maintain and strengthen our important base of supporting members and foundations.  Jill received a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Virginia, followed by an M.F.A. in Creative Writing-Poetry and M.A. in Literature from the University of Montana.   Jill comes to us most recently from the Office for Civic Engagement at the University of Montana.  Her other employment highlights include: teaching English Composition at The University of Montana, and working in public relations and marketing in the sports and entertainment field while living in Washington DC.  In Missoula, Jill serves on the founding board of the Open Field Artists, and also teaches yoga at the Yoga Fitness Center.  Between yoga classes and the office, Jill's other hobbies include theater, writing poetry, hiking, running, fly-fishing, and backpacking.  Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 206.

Chris Brick, PhD, Science Director

Chris started with the Coalition as a board member, serving for four years until we tapped her in 2001 for the job as science director. A hydrogeologist and water quality specialist by training, Chris knows metals and arsenic and what they do to rivers and groundwater. She’s our go-to for gauging the health of the mining waste-plagued Clark Fork and figuring out restoration solutions. Her career odyssey started with a B.A. in geology at Carleton College, followed by a stint as an exploration geologist in the mining industry. A desire to study impacts from mining landed her at University of Montana for a master’s degree in Environmental Studies, a doctoral degree in Geology, and a post-doctoral focus on science education, including teaching for several years at the University.  Lately Chris’s interests have veered toward sustainable ranching and she oversees operations on the Coalition’s ranch in the Deer Lodge valley, working to improve our ecological bottom line while trying to make a profit on our cattle operation.  Whenever she gets the chance, she heads to the hills for running, climbing, biking or skiing.  Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 202.

Katie Gaut, Monitoring Coordinator/GIS Analyst
Hired in 2010, Katie brings invaluable GIS and monitoring experience to the Coalition. She manages the monitoring aspects of the Vital Rivers Initiative and assists in identifying and evaluating streamflow restoration projects.  Before joining the Coalition, Katie worked for the Montana Water Trust in a similar capacity.  She was born and raised in Ninemile, Montana, and returned in 2006 after ten years exploring the marine and fresh waters of Oregon, Alaska, Australia, and Hawai'i. Katie received her B.S. in Marine Biology from Southern Oregon University, focusing on water quality and invasive species research. After spending years as a marine biologist in Alaska, she traded in her drysuit for the warmer waters of Hawai'i. There she obtained her 100-Ton US Coast Guard license, captained a 50' sailboat on the Big Island for 2 years and earned her M.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.  Her thesis focused on hydrologic modeling of non-point source pollution to aid land use planning and resource management. Katie's hobbies include sailing, fly fishing, skiing, rock-climbing, and riding her motorcycle.  Question for Katie?  Try This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 209.

Barbara Hall, Legal Director
Barbara joined the Coalition in 2010. She previously worked for Montana Water Trust as the executive director, and before that as a project manager where she was involved in all aspects of program work, including developing water transactions, building relationships with stakeholders across Montana, and navigating through the intricacies of Montana water law in analyzing water rights and preparing water right change applications. Barbara also worked as a public finance attorney where she assisted the State of Montana, cities, towns, school districts, irrigation districts and other local governments in obtaining financing for public improvement projects. As the Coalition's legal director, Barbara coordinates our Water Watch program, including our efforts to ensure that restoration projects in the basin are up-to-par and that new industry proposals follow strict environmental guidelines.  Barbara also conducts research and interpretation of water rights and water law, and advises the Coalition Board on policy and strategy. Barbara holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law. Contact Barbara at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 211.

Rankin Holmes, Flow Restoration Manager

Also new to the Coalition in 2010, Rankin's position involves working closely with water right holders, irrigation companies, watershed groups, and agencies to develop streamflow restoration agreements. His role includes negotiations, water right research, flow monitoring, and identification of potential instream flow restoration opportunities. Before joining the Coalition, Rankin was a Project Manager for the Montana Water Trust, and also worked in GIS mapping and river and land restoration. Additionally, he has taught GIS mapping and Field Techniques at the University of Montana-Western and University of Montana in Missoula. He holds a B.S. in Forestry and a M.A. in Geography from the University of Montana.  Contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 210.

Karen Knudsen, Executive Director

Karen was hired as director in April 2007.  She has worked with the Coalition for 15 years in a variety of capacities, including business manager, education and outreach coordinator, campaign director, and communications director.  Karen has also been the Coalition’s point person on growth issues in the basin, working with other staff to promote policies that deliver high-quality, river-sensitive growth.  Karen serves as chair of the City of Missoula’s Open Space Advisory Committee, and is on the board of the Watershed Restoration Coalition, a land-owner group working to conserve natural resources in the Deer Lodge Valley.  Prior to joining the Coalition in 1993, Karen worked as a research associate for a forestry/economics research firm in Portland, where she conducted economic, policy, and financial research on national forest management issues.  She holds a B.A. in Economics from Colorado College and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University.  Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 203.

Beth Lillstrom, Business Manager

Beth joined the Coalition in July 2005 and makes the Coalition tick, anchoring our office with her organizational skills. From fielding phone calls and coaxing good behavior out of office equipment, to creating balance sheets and income statements, or managing an inventory of merchandise, she tackles all tasks with equal amounts of gusto and common sense. Beth’s upbeat centeredness is probably no surprise, given her double major in kinesiology and psychology from the Univ. of Colorado. Her move to Montana in Sept. 2004 came after a year in Tacoma, WA. Beth, her husband Cody and their new daughter, Greta, have a “seize the day” approach to life in Missoula, and spend spare moments road biking, backpacking, hiking and alpine skiing. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 200.

William McDowell, Stream Restoration Director

As point-person for our newest program, the Vital Rivers Initiative, Will heads up our efforts to build networks and technical capacity among our partners, with the goal of repairing degraded tributaries throughout the Clark Fork. This Initiative will be carefully coordinated to augment the government's Superfund cleanup project focused on the main stem of the river, and geared toward creating long-term resilience in feeder creeks and streams to the impacts of climate change and urbanization.  Will comes to the Coalition with a wealth of experience in stream restoration.  Most recently, he served as the Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Program Coordinator for the Tri-State Water Quality Council, coordinating the watershed-wide effort to reduce nutrient pollution and noxious algae in the Clark Fork River.  He's also worked in restoration and river planning on the international stage, including stints in Armenia, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, and China.  He lives with his family in Missoula.  Contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 204.

Brianna Randall, Water Policy Director

Brianna joined the staff in June 2007 and is making a seamless transition as a key player in the Coalition’s programs and personality structure. We were already well acquainted with her work, as Brianna came to us via Montana Water Trust where she diversified funding sources, facilitated instream flow projects, conducted public relations, and wrote outreach materials, all while writing freelance for various publications.  At the Coalition, she navigates the intricate world of state, federal and local water policies, ensuring these water quality and quantity rules are working on behalf of a clean and healthy river.  Brianna is also our liaison to the foundation world. She holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego, and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. She is now walking the tricky and exhilarating tight rope of dividing time between work at the Coalition, the numerous boards on which she serves, the usual Montana necessities of hiking, snowboarding and mountain biking, as well as keeping up with dance classes, yoga, and sailing on Flathead Lake. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 542-0539, ext. 201.

Stacy Senterfeit, Development Director

140 4th St. W., Unit #1
Missoula, MT 59801

Mail:
PO Box 7593
Missoula, MT 59807

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

T 406/542-0539

F 406/542-5632