Sara J. Nicholas, a former American Rivers administrator who has overseen wide-ranging conservation efforts with private and federal organizations, has been named executive director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Wild Resource Conservation Program.

Nicholas leaves a position with American Rivers Mid-Atlantic region where she partnered with local conservation groups to improve waterways through small dam removals, storm water management and watershed protection. She succeeds Dr. Ronald A. Stanley, who retired.

Before American Rivers, Nicholas worked as watershed stewardship coordinator for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and as senior advisor for wetlands and conservation education with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. She also edited Environmental Law Institute publications and specialized in policy and publications addressing Superfund issues with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Housed within DCNR's Office of Conservation Science, the Wild Resource Conservation Program works to protect endangered and threatened species - both plants and animals - and strives to educate the public on recognition and preservation of Pennsylvania's most sensitive flora and fauna.

The Wild Resource Conservation Program has reintroduced river otters to Pennsylvania's waterways and ospreys to its skies, while awarding grants to projects studying and protecting plants, birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and other species.

For more information, visit the Wild Resource Conservation Program webpage.

11/18/2005