Technical Staff
In 2012 the Trustee Council chartered the Technical
Staff. This team is comprised of various natural resource specialists and technicians from multiple
agencies. These professionals work with one another and with their respective agencies on an ongoing
basis in order to achieve the Technical Staff’s mission, which is:
Develop and implement a restoration plan to restore the health, productivity and diversity of injured natural resources and the services they provide in the Coeur d’Alene Basin for present and future generations.
As a group of professionals, the Technical Staff provides technical expertise to the Trustee Council in the development and subsequent implementation of the Restoration Plan.
Technical Staff Members
Rebecca Stevens, Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Rebecca is the Program Manager for the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department-Hazardous Waste Management Program. She also serves the role as the Restoration Coordinator with the Restoration Partnership. Rebecca has been working on water quality related issues for over 10 years and in 2009, she was co-author of the Coeur d'Alene Lake Management Plan. Rebecca represents the Tribe in the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Superfund Site remedial work and she participates in a variety of public outreach efforts throughout the Basin. She enjoys snowboarding, kayaking, Frisbee golf, and spending time with her friends and blue heeler. Rebecca is very honored to work with her fellow Restoration Partnership team members and is looking forward to being a part of implementing restoration in the Coeur d'Alene Basin.
Rebecca Stevens rstevens@cdatribe-nsn.gov (208)667-5772
Dave Leptich, Idaho Fish and Game
Dave is a wildlife biologist and represents the state of Idaho within the Restoration Partnership. He has lived and worked in the Coeur d’Alene Basin for more than 20 years. His professional experience includes both research and management of big game, upland game and waterfowl, and non-game wildlife and he has published peer-reviewed scientific articles in each of these areas. Although most of his career has been spent with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game he has also worked internationally and taught at the university level. He regularly enjoys hunting and fishing as well as a broad assortment of other outdoor recreational pursuits.
Dave Leptich David.leptich@idfg.idaho.gov (208)769-1414
Robert “Bob” Steed, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Robert “Bob” Steed, is a surface water ecologist representing the State of Idaho on the Technical Staff. He has a degree in Geology from the Boise State University and more than 30 years of experience in water quality, aquatic ecology, fisheries science and management, and watershed restoration. Currently with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in Coeur d’Alene, Bob works with Watershed Advisory Groups in Idaho’s 5 northern counties to plan and implement water quality improvement projects. His previous experience includes: forest practices water quality, implementation of the State of Idaho Bull Trout plan, Harmful Algae Blooms, and Limnology. Bob likes exploring the outdoors through hiking, camping, fishing, biking, and especially whitewater rafting.
Robert Steed Robert.steed@deq.idaho.gov (208)769-1422
Wade Jerome, Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Wade is a biologist representing the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management for the Restoration Partnership. He is a life-long Silver Valley native and has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho. He has acquired 25 years of technical and project management experience in hillslope and stream restoration in the Coeur d’Alene Basin. When the opportunity exists, you may find him assisting with wildland fires as a heavy equipment boss, resource advisor, or conducting fire repair work. Wade believes a prosperous resource-based community can co-exist with abundant natural resources for future generations. He participates in numerous outdoor activities, but odds are he is either fishing or hunting.
Wade Jerome Terry.Jerome@usda.gov (208) 783-2363 x2127
Elise Brown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Elise is a Restoration Coordinator with the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, representing the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the Restoration Partnership Technical Staff. For nearly 14 years, she has worked with multiple stakeholders on a variety of natural resources restoration projects in Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. Activities range from project design, field implementation, wildlife and botanical surveys, crew supervision, and post-action monitoring. Most recently, Elise’s work in Idaho focuses on supporting remediation in the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Superfund Site and other restoration projects in the Coeur d’Alene Basin. If she’s not outside enjoying hunting, fishing, or gardening, she’ll be inside cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Elise Brown Elise_brown@fws.gov (208) 576-1256
