Associate Board
Debra Bogar
Debra Bogar is a Region Representative for the National Association of Conservation Districts based in Littleton, Colorado. She has worked with conservation districts since 1981, including being the Administrator for the Grand Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District in northern Michigan; the Executive Director for the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts; and as a region representative for the National Association of Conservation Districts since 1992. During her years with NACD, Debra has also been the staff advisor for the NACD Urban, Community and Coastal Resources subcommittee as well as other committees and task forces. Debra has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Central Michigan University and a Masters Degree in NonProfit Management from Regis University.
JeffCo Staff
To best serve the county, the Jefferson Conservation District has a written agreement with the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation District). The NRCS provides the District with technical expertise, office space, and equipment and in return, the District provides leadership in setting conservation priorities within watershed boundaries and provides administrative support for the office and NRCS staff.
Jonas Feinstein- Conservation Forester
Jonas is a native to Colorado, hailing from Colorado Springs. He has been a forestry and wildlife specialist for 10 years. Prior to his current position as Conservation Forester for the Jefferson Conservation District, he has worked in several exciting job positions and locations such as working on a landmark study of northern goshawks on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, designing and implementing a study of aspen ages in Rocky Mountain National Park, served as an adjunct instructor for Fire Ecology at Front Range Community College, completed Master thesis work on recruitment of lodgepole pine on different levels of compaction following clearcutting a, and a brief stints as a PhD student at the Univeristy of Wyoming and as a Stewardship Forester with the Colorado State Forest Service in Golden. He has also contributed significantly to fire history studies in Montana and Colorado, and tropical forest ecology in Hawaii. He holds a B.S. in Forest Biology, and a M.S. in Forest Sciences, both from Colorado State University. He lives in Fort Collins with his wife of 4 years and their dog Hayduke. He is an avid river rafter, fly fisher, backcountry skier, birder, and gardener.
Edward Spence- NRCS District Conservationist
Edward Spence grew up in San Diego County, California where he was always disappearing into the “back country” to explore and observe wildlife and avoid doing chores and school work. In 1997 Ed earned a B.S. in Agriculture from New Mexico State University where he majored in Wildlife Science. He worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Carson City, Nevada, as a Range Conservationist from 1979 to 1983 where he inventoried, mapped vegetation types, and calculated livestock stocking rates. Ed then went to work for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in Colorado Springs and spent 10 years there as a Soil Conservationist; writing conservation plans, and working with the county on urban growth issues. In 1993 he transferred to the Lakewood Metro Office as the Soil Conservationist. In 2004 Ed was appointed the NRCS District Conservationist. During Ed’s time with the Jefferson Conservation District he has assisted with the Emergency Watershed Protection Program in the town of Buffalo Creek by implementing measures to protect the town’s water source. After the Hi Meadow Fire in 2000, he helped supervise a 25 man work crew to install conservation measures to reduce erosion after the fire on 5000 acres of privateland. The work was sponsored by the District under the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program. After the expansive Hayman fire Ed collaborated with USFS as a liaison with the private landowners that were affected by the fire. Ed has also worked with personnel from the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) to supervise groups of volunteers. Ed is an avid outdoor photographer and when not in the office can be found hiking.
