Dr. Devon Pearse is FOR’s Lead Scientist, working to develop and advance sound, science-based positions and advocate for sustainable solutions to manage California’s rivers, water, and fisheries resources. Before coming to FOR, Devon worked at the NOAA/NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center for more than 20 years, where he conducted research to better understand and manage Salmon and Steelhead populations in California.
Devon is also an Adjunct Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, where he mentors students and builds connections through the Fisheries Collaborative Program.
Devon was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA, and is lucky enough to still live there in the house he grew up in. He loves kayaking and rafting adventures on free-flowing rivers with family and friends new and old and occasionally plays upright bass in honky-tonk bands.