Staff
Steven Chappell
Executive Director
Education: B.S., Biological Science, Minor in Chemistry, Concentration in Zoology, Stanislaus State University, 1993
Experience: Mr. Chappell has worked in the Suisun Marsh for over 20 years assisting private landowner in wetland habitat management, wetland enhancement and protection. As the Executive Director of SRCD he oversees daily duties of the District including grant administration, coordination with local landowners, Agencies, and stakeholder groups, and the implementation of monitoring and scientific studies. Mr. Chappell has participated in numerous Suisun Marsh planning and regulatory programs including annual U.S. Army Corp’s of Engineers wetland permitting activities, the Baylands Ecosystem Goals Project and the 2015 update for Climate Change, the Suisun Ecological Workshop, Suisun Marsh Environmental Coordination Advisory Team, and Delta Vision Process, and currently serves as a liaison adviser to the Delta Conservancy. Mr. Chappell was a negotiator of the Suisun Marsh Preservation Agreement and was Agency Principal in preparation of the 30 year Suisun Marsh Management, Preservation, and Restoration Plan (PEIR/ EIS).
Desmond Mackell
Operations Manager
Education: M.S. Avian Sciences, UC Davis; B.A. Environmental Studies and Biology, UC Santa Cruz
Experience: Desmond Mackell serves as the Operations Manager at the Suisun Resource Conservation District, where he supports wetland conservation and habitat management throughout the Suisun Marsh. With over a decade of experience in waterfowl and wetland ecology, Desmond brings both scientific expertise and practical field knowledge to the role. Prior to joining SRCD, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey, researching bird migration, habitat use, and marsh health across California. He has extensive experience in GIS mapping, habitat assessment, and collaborative conservation planning. Desmond holds an M.S. in Avian Sciences from UC Davis and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from UC Santa Cruz. Whether coordinating with public agencies, conservation partners, or local landowners and duck clubs, he’s committed to supporting the long-term health of the Marsh and the people and wildlife that depend on it.
Caitlin Perez
Administrative Assistant
Education: Santa Rosa Junior College Veterinary Technician Program; Casa Grande High School
Experience: Caitlin began working with SRCD part-time in September 2023 and moved to full time in July 2024. Caitlin will oversee Billing & Accounting, Human Resources, and general finances. She has a passion for hunting, since her father formerly hunted at Mallard Inn Duck Club. She has an education from Casa Granda High School and Santa Rosa Junior College in its Veterinary Technician Program
Jeff Taylor 
Senior Water Manager/Biologist – Zone 1
Education: B. S. Biology, California State University Monterey Bay, 2009
Experience: After 16 years as a SRCD Water Manager, Jeff Taylor has now advanced to the position of Senior Water Manager. He is tasked with leading the water manager program and scheduling the activities of the group. Jeff began working at SRCD in 2009 and he has spent most of his time supporting landowners on the west side of the Marsh. Prior to SRCD, Jeff worked as a Scientific Aid for the Department of Fish and Game at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, conducting waterfowl/pheasant brood surveys, elk population surveys, hands on habitat management and general maintenance. He also worked as a part-time employee with California Waterfowl Association, working with landowners by developing and following up on habitat improvement projects.
Tim Edmunds
Water Manager/Biologist – Zone 2
Education: B.S., Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, 2002
Experience: Tim has been a Suisun Resource Conservation District Water Manager/Biologist since 2007. Prior to joining SRCD, Tim worked for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) under the Resource Assessment Program (RAP), verifying California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) in the southern Cascade Mountains. He spent time collecting inventory of mammal populations and vegetation communities on Department of Fish & Wildlife lands in Los Banos and the southern San Joaquin Valley. Tim also worked as a Scientific Aid for the Department of Fish & Game at the Los Banos Wildlife Area, restoring riparian areas and managing wood duck boxes, water, and habitat. In 2006, Tim worked on a grad project investigating water quality and Swamp Timothy production.
Marina Guzman
Water Manager/Biologist – Zone 3
Education: B.S., Wildlife Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, 2017
Experience: Marina started her journey with the Marsh in 2016 as waterfowl banding volunteer. She has spent the last 5 years running waterfowl projects out of the Suisun/Sacramento Valley region. She has worked with a variety of organizations like USGS, CWA, CDFW and USFWS. With those organizations, Marina has worked with many of waterfowl species arriving on the Marsh including Pintail, Mallards, Teal and Canvasback. Her background extends into tracking migrating species like White Fronts and Cackling Geese, commercial crabbing out of Sausalito, California and spent a summer in the Alaskan Bush researching Spectacle Eiders and Emperor Geese. She is a true hunting and fishing sportswoman and now joins the SRCD team to aid the marsh’s landowners in wetland habitat management.
Marque Mouton 
Lower Joice Island Resident Caretaker
Education: A.A., Cartography, National Imagery and Mapping Association, 1999; B.A., General Studies, Northwestern State University, 2011.
Experience: Marque Mouton is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a lifetime hunter and fisherman. He has experience as a hunting guide in south Louisiana and is an all-around accomplished outdoorsman. Marque worked over ten years in the oil and gas industry before becoming a charter captain in southwestern Louisiana. Marque has made a valuable edition to our SRCD staff since September 2017.
Jesirae Collins 
Biologist
Education: B.S. Marine Science, California State University Monterey Bay, 2016
Experience: Jesirae began working for SRCD in August 2019. She helped facilitate the 2022 update of the Individual Ownership Adaptive Habitat Management Plans for 124 privately owned managed wetlands in Suisun Marsh and continues to update the Plans annually. She also helps support several ongoing ecological research projects by using advanced tools such as GIS and drone imagery to analyze habitats, track changes, and support data-driven management in Suisun Marsh. Most of all, she enjoys collaborating with landowners, agencies, and researchers to achieve shared conservation and habitat management goals. In her spare time, Jesirae also volunteers as the Education Committee Co-Chair for the Sawfish Conservation Society.
