Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project, Holly Swan

Holly Swan is a Regional Manager for the Lassen Region of California Trout, a nonprofit organization working to revitalize waters for resilient wild fish and a better California. Holly has a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Environmental Planning and Resource Management, both from Chico State.  Her research involved understanding the barriers and constraints with policy changes around utilizing translocated beavers for ecosystem services and ecological health. Professionally, Holly comes from a background in environmental program management working in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.  One of her current projects is located on Big Chico Creek, restoring fish passage in Iron Canyon.  Holly has lived in Chico for 20 years and has strong ties to the local and surrounding communities. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking, canoeing the Sacramento River, and dreaming of her next international trip.

Gayland Taylor received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries from Humboldt State in 1970. He began working for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife soon after graduating. He was a game warden in the CDFW originally assigned to Ventura County, (Ojai). Along with his traditional warden duties and after transferring to Butte County in 1976, Gayland developed   a specialty in protection and restoration of anadromous fisheries and pollution enforcement.   He also served CDFW as Supervisor of the Environmental Enforcement before retiring after 30 years.

Gayland has served as a Member and Past Chair of the CDFW Fisheries Restoration Grants Program where he reviewed and oversaw the granting of millions of dollars of restoration grants focused on salmon and steelhead protection and enhancement throughout the State.  For the past 15+ years he has served as a legislative appointee for the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead.

Gayland is married to Nancy, (50+ years) and has two sons, Brooks a biologist with Cal Trans and Bryan, a State Park Ranger.

Gayland’s many years working in Butte County and the North Valley on salmon protection and restoration has guided him to be a lifelong advocate for actions in Butte County that protect or restore salmon and steelhead populations.