Jennifer Back retired from the National Park Service (NPS) in 2021 after working for 21 years as a Hydrologist in the Water Resources Division. Beginning in 2016, she served as the Co-chair of the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers Steering Committee and as Science Lead for the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. She was responsible for developing policy, legal and technical strategies to protect water and water-dependent resources of wild and scenic rivers, and providing guidance on wild and scenic river policy, stewardship and management. Her prior experience includes work as an Analytic Chemist analyzing water quality samples, and work as a Senior Environmental Analyst overseeing stream restoration projects. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys biking and hiking with her husband.

Roy Smith, BLM Colorado Lead, has become a part of the institutional history of BLM Colorado, working in the Colorado State Office since 1992. Roy has guided BLM Colorado through thousands of water rights cases, secured instream flow protection on major rivers managed by BLM, managed the completion of Wild and Scenic River studies for most of Colorado’s field offices, and led projects to purchase large numbers of water rights from willing sellers for use in BLM Colorado’s aquatic habitat program. Even though Roy is a state office employee, he strongly believes that field work and vigorously supporting field offices is critical to BLM’s mission. He is often on travel status to complete instream flow surveys, collect data for water right applications, or meet with river-oriented stakeholder groups. Roy supplements his field time with a laser focus on mountain biking during the warmer months and skiing during winter months. Roy has received an award for BLM Outstanding Technical Employee from the Public Lands Foundation, and Career Contribution to River Management Award from the River Management Society. Roy grew up in rural southwestern Idaho and graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR with a degree in biology and communication. He holds a master’s degree in natural resource management from University of Michigan. He just completed paying for his two daughters’ college educations, placing him in position to potentially retire in 2025.

Mike Eberle (National Water Uses and Rights Program Leader with the USDA Forest Service) works in Hydrology at the U.S. Forest Service where he spends his days protecting watershed health and helping the National Forests produce quality waters. He's been active in water his whole life. He's involved with Boys Scouts of America and enjoys hiking and camping “ the closer to water, the better. He has a Master's degree in Civil Engineering focused in Hydraulic and Hydrologic Modeling.