Rob Hutsel is the executive director and one of the founders of The San Diego River Park Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2001 with a mission of working to create a better future for the San Diego River and the communities it flows through. Annually, the organization coordinates more than 7000 volunteers who provide in excess of 25,000 hours of service. To date, this volunteer program has removed more than 1.7 million lbs. of trash from this 52 mile long river, primarily from the urban reaches of the river.

 

At our March meeting, Rob will be talking about some of the background and restoration projects in the San Diego River Watershed.  In particular, he will address habitat restoration work at the old "Fisherman's Camp" on Boulder Creek and at the new Walker Property Ponds in Santee.  He will also present his plans for the new San Diego River Discovery Center in Mission Valley and our cooperative "Trout in the Classroom" project on site.

 

More about Rob:

 

Rob attended UC San Diego where he studied Urban Studies and Planning with an emphasis in Environmental Design. He also worked in the Mayor’s Office of the City of San Diego for 7 years including serving as a senior policy advisor on a variety of issues. He is a regular guest lecturer at UCSD and SDSU and has been invited to speak at several national and state conferences.

 

Rob was named the 2008 National River Hero by the River Network for his leadership with the River Park Foundation and his more than 20 years of volunteering in San Diego. In 2009, he was honored with the President’s Award by San Diego State University, and in 2011 went to the White House to accept the National Take Pride in America Award which recognized the outstanding volunteer programs of the organization. The organization has also received two national Keep America Beautiful Awards and international recognition.

 

Rob currently serves as the Vice Chair of the California Watershed Network, is a member of the Southern California Open Space Council and is Supervisor Ron Roberts appointment to the County of San Diego’s Park Advisory Board.

 

Rob is known by many as “River Rob” for his passion and dedication to creating a better future for the San Diego River and his work to improve the quality of life in San Diego.