ABOUT FAR
MISSION STATEMENT
We seek to engage local residents, community groups, farmers, ranchers, water districts, government agencies, land developers, and Native American Tribal Councils in collaborative efforts to protect and enhance natural habitats in the watersheds of western Placer and Sutter Counties in such a way that human uses of the landscape can continue and grow.
We seek to be good stewards of the watersheds for the benefit of all.
Friends of Auburn Ravine Code of Conduct
(Effective November 12, 2025)
We conduct our daily interactions with honesty and integrity. This applies to everything we do. We hold ourselves and each other to a high standard of ethical behavior. This includes respect for and kindness towards people of all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, political views, ages, genders, and abilities whether or not they are members of the extended Friends of Auburn Ravine team.
Because we adhere to this code, government agencies, water districts, news organizations, educational institutions, other non-profit organizations, and the public are able to trust what we say and do. We take personal responsibility for meeting the goals we share and keeping our commitments.
We use electronic communications responsibly. Communication, in its many forms, including social media, should be professional, appropriate, and respectful. We strive to ensure that everything we communicate is not only the whole truth as we know it, but also accurately depicts reality as best we can determine.
Conflicts of interest can undermine our judgment, threaten our reputation, and expose us to risk. We avoid conflicts of interest, disclose and resolve them promptly if they arise, and strive to avoid even the appearance of such conflicts. We do not allow our decisions to be influenced by gifts, favors, or hospitality from others.
When advocating policies or actions, we try to ensure that the policy or action is fair to all concerned, will build goodwill and better friendships, and that it will be beneficial to all concerned.
When we make a mistake, we admit it and take action to prevent its recurrence.
Credits: This Code of Conduct is based on the AT&T Code of Conduct, and the Guiding Principles of Rotary International.
Downloadable version of the Code of Conduct here
The Board of Directors of Friends of Auburn Ravine (FAR)
James Haufler
President
Retired from AT&T in 2014. After doing volunteer work for other organizations concerned with the preservation of wildlife, and coordinating a Citizen Science Program along Auburn Ravine, Jim was one of the founders of Friends of Auburn Ravine.
Steve Hubbard
Vice President
Photojournalist and filmmaker who specializes in environmentally related topics. His film, “Saving Auburn Ravine,” highlighted the need to get the Hemphill Dam removed and replaced with a modern water diversion system that will provide ongoing water deliveries and totally unimpeded fish passage at the site.
David Wilson
Treasurer
Retired from Contract Transportation Services after 32 years as co-founder and CFO of this CA trucking and logistics company. Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from SJSU. He is active in several community service groups, such as Adopt-A-Creek and Placer Food Bank Food Give-Away.
Paul Vose
Secretary
Paul began working on water-related issues shortly after coming to California in the late 80s. After retiring, giving back to the community became his goal. He started volunteering for Friends of Auburn Ravine in 2019. Since then, he has managed the team that maintains our Salmon Cameras in Lincoln. He is also a key member of the Adopt-A-Creek team in Lincoln.
Shelly Swift
Project Manager
Since joining our volunteer team in the fall of 2019, Shelly has quickly become a key member of our leadership team. She diligently studied our goals and methods, and then began to suggest improvements. In addition to her project management skills, her ability to gather complete and accurate data is positioning us well for future grant applications.
Laura Peters
Project Manager
After 30 years of public service as a civil engineer specializing in water-resources projects, the Friends of Auburn Ravine came onto Laura’s radar when she was championing the removal of the Hemphill Dam as an elected director of Nevada Irrigation District. Once fully retired, Laura has dedicated much of her time to working on all aspects of the Auburn Ravine environment to improve the riparian habitat of this amazing waterway.
Cathleen Hedges
Project Manager
Cathleen Hedges is a retired nurse with a 42-year tenure of helping others to attain healthy outcomes. She lives near Auburn Ravine where healthy outcomes have taken on a new meaning. Cathleen is a hiking, birding and environmental enthusiast, and is a third generation California native. She has witnessed firsthand the challenges that development can bring to the habitat and ecology of our rural spaces. Her passion is to contribute to improvements in ecosystem health through evidence-based actions and community outreach.
Kayla Wolak
Media Manager
Keira Janiga
Website Manager
Keira has lived by the Auburn Ravine since 2012. Her family began volunteering with FAR around 2017, which led to her volunteering as FAR's website manager beginning in 2022. She is currently majoring in Ancient Near East and Egyptology at UCLA with a minor in History.
Our Partners
With grateful thanks to our partners, without whose invaluable contributions, our conservation work would not be possible:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation
