Our Staff

Sarah Hutmacher is the Chief Operating Officer, and works with her awesome team on restoration projects, preserve management, research, clean river program, and tackling complex policy issues related to homelessness. Sarah graduated from UC San Diego and found her true calling at SDRPF in 2008. She thrives on working with passionate people, developing creative environmental solutions, and—best of all—getting outside as part of the job.

As our primary resources manager for the San Diego River Watershed Natalie cares for over 2,600 acres of open space habitat and collaborates with other land managers and stakeholders throughout the remainder of the watershed. Natalie designs, leads, and supervises staff, interns and volunteers in invasive removal, habitat restoration and species-specific research programs designed to conserve our valuable resources. Natalie is especially inspired by the volunteers that she has the privilege of working alongside to care for our community.

Shawn’s adventurous spirit has led her to explore the world’s rivers, canyons, and oceans. She is passionate about fostering a sense of wonder and emphasizing the importance of caring for our natural world. She develops interactive educational programs to inspire a connection with the flora and fauna in our ecosystem. Shawn is committed to enhancing environmental education, believing that true happiness comes from giving back to the community.

Shane Conta is a San Diego local, born and raised. Avid hiker, camper, and backpacker, Shane spent his childhood exploring Mission Trails Regional Park, discovering his passion for the environment early on. Graduating with a B.A. in Sustainability from SDSU, Shane interned with our Clean River Team in 2020 before being hired as Field Associate in 2021. Shane is passionate about environmental field work and community engagement.

Rachel Downing leads the Clean River Program, empowering staff, interns, and volunteers to work toward a trash-free river.  She attended Oregon State University and began her career as a zookeeper caring for primates, where she developed a deep passion for wildlife and community engagement.  She’s all about community, conservation, and making a real impact—one cleanup, one connection, and one river mile at a time.

I am a biologist specializing in aquatic ecology with 8+ years of experience in environmental project management, research, and science communication. As Coordinator of Restoration and Research, I lead studies on ecosystem health, species recovery, and data-driven restoration strategies. What I love most is connecting people with nature while advancing biodiversity conservation. My work spans Ecuador, Finland, Kenya, Spain, and the U.S., focusing on ecological research, restoration, and community engagement.

Laura Trucco-Dick is the Contracts and Administrative Specialist for The San Diego River Park Foundation, working behind the scenes to support the amazing team members who are creating a better future for our river. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking in the mountains, working in her yard, or trying to convince her dog to go for a walk.

Born and raised in San Diego, Kendall first got involved with SDRPF as a volunteer helping with native plant gardening and mural restoration. In 2024, she was hired as the Education and Outreach Coordinator, leading students on field trips to the river where they have a chance to enjoy fun, hands-on, outdoor education. She enjoys studying native plants through botanical illustration and her favorite part of her job is inspiring the next generation to care about their local ecology by sharing her passion for nature.

Emily first volunteered with The San Diego River Park Foundation in 2013. She started volunteering more often in 2021 at Grant Park following her retirement. She was hired on staff as a part-time administrative associate in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

Liam was born and raised in the College Area neighborhood of San Diego. Having spent his childhood outside connecting with and learning from the region’s unique ecosystems, he understands that all humans are inherently connected with nature. While pursuing a degree in International Affairs and Asian Studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon he developed a deep interest in how cultures, societies, and worldviews related to the natural world, with a particular focus on how that shapes the built environment. After graduating in 2023, he came home to serve as a CivicSpark Americorps Fellow at the City of La Mesa where he advanced City and regional sustainability programs while implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan.

As a Field Associate in the Clean River Program, he is grateful to be able to facilitate volunteer clean-ups, lead intern GIS surveys, work with outreach partners, and build a sense of community around the River. When he is not working, he enjoys exploring hidden hiking spots, gardening, learning block printing, cooking, and nerding out about Star Wars.

As a passionate explorer, nature lover, and Mission Valley resident, our Administrative Coordinator Blanca Osorio enjoys spending time along the river. When she’s not in the SDRPF office, you can find her bird watching, doing clean-ups, or walking her two leash-trained cats on the Mission Valley River Trail. She advocates for leash training domestic cats as a means to prevent cat predation on local wildlife through her side business, Purrfashion.

I hold a Master’s in Biology from UC San Diego, where I researched how microbiomes shape phytoplankton communities and ecosystem health under climate stress. Currently, I serve as the Field Coordinator for the Clean River Program and Public Engagement Coordinator here at SDRPF. I am passionate about applying my research background to protect the biodiversity of the San Diego River and raising community awareness. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, nature photography, and traveling!

Leah, a Northern California native, graduated UC Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolution. She has fallen in love with environmental education and strives to create a bridge between science and the general public. Her passion to protect the flora and fauna around us is also shown in one of her beloved hobbies, falconry. Her work with raptors over the last 4 years is what led her down the path of education. Leah believes that every child’s innate curiosity about the world around us should be fostered in a safe and explorative way, which is why she has joined our Education Team as one of our Education Associates.