Tom Ring

Tom is a hydrogeologist with the Water Resources Program of the Yakama Nation.  He has held this position since 1990 and, in that role, has worked on a variety of projects involving groundwater and surface water quantity and quality, water rights, irrigation and fisheries issues and planning for future water needs.  Previously he worked for the Water Resources Program at the Washington Department of Ecology.

Larry Wasserman

1976: B. A. Biology State University of New York at Buffalo

1984. M.S. Fisheries University of Washington School of Fisheries.  Thesis:  The effects of Mount St. Helens on coho salmon habitat in the Toutle River Basin. 

From 1991-2207  I was employed as Environmental Services Director by the Skagit River System Cooperative (“SRSC”), which represents the fisheries interest of the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and the

Tom has Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in geology from Central Washington University and Northern Arizona University respectively.  He has taught geology and hydrogeology classes at Central Washington University and is a licensed geologist and hydrogeologist in Washington State. 

Tom has worked with CELP since its inception, as a member of its first advisory group and when his employer contracted with CELP for services.  When not working, he enjoys hiking, climbing, and skiing in the mountains of the west.

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. This work entailed advocating for the protection of natural resources and specifically for the protection and restoration of habitat essential for anadromous fish . From 1982-1991 I was employed in a similar capacity by the Yakama Indian Nation. In 2007, I began work exclusively for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, however my duties still encompass similar work as part of daily SRSC operations.

A significant portion of my work over the last 25 years has entailed advocacy for the protection of Tribal water rights and the protection of instream flows which benefit all citizens in the State of Washington. I served on the Water Resources Forum established by Governor Booth Gardner in 1993. I have been quite active at the local level in the development of the 2001 Skagit Instream Flow rule and the negotiated agreement that led to its formation. I am currently involved as part of the Swinomish Tribe’s increased efforts to protect instream flows in the Skagit River that have been due to the Department of Ecology’s 2006 amendments to that rule that provided for  additional out of stream uses.  I also am actively involved in the review and development of  rules and regulations adopted at the State and local levels with regard to all aspects of  fisheries habitat protection. 

I am currently Vice-Chairman of  the Skagit Watershed Council,  a watershed based  organization which has developed a voluntary restoration and protection strategy for anadromous fish within the Skagit Basin.  This strategy was based on in-depth inventories and analysis of fish habitat throughout the Skagit and Samish River basins, and was adopted by all 39 member organizations of the Council.  The Council’s current focus is to assist in the implementation of the Skagit chapter of the Puget Sound Chinook Recovery Plan. In addition to my current employment at Swinomish, I am Vice-President of the Center for Natural Resource Policy, a non-profit organization that evaluates the legal, technical and policy implications of State and Federal law on natural resources. Most of the time I spend on the water is in the weekly pursuit of anadromous fish using hooks embellished  fur and feathers.

Science Advisory Board