Douglas Zehner

Doug Zehner is a member of Vermont's Mad Dog Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Addison County River Watch Collaborative, Green Mountain Fly Tiers and the New Haven River Anglers’ Association. Doug retired from a career in in USDA, Soil Conservation Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In his last post, Doug served as the National Watershed Operations Manager in Washington DC. Prior to that position, he was NRCS State Conservationist in Connecticut and Assistant State Conservationist in Ohio for Operations, Liaison to Ohio EPA among other NRCS and SCS field positions in land management conservation before moving to Vermont with his wife, Julia, in retirement. Doug is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS degree in Natural Resources and served in the US Peace Corps in South America. Doug loves to cross-country ski, hike, fly fish, tie flies and plant trees. He is a past member of Ohio's Madmen Chapter, Connecticut's Thames Valley Chapter, Potomac Chapter in Washington DC and Vermont's Central Chapter and attended many other Chapter meetings across the nation. He volunteers with the "Trout in the Classroom" project and has taught fly casting, fly tying, stream ecology to 3rd graders through adults alike. Ultimately, Doug hopes to leave this world in better condition than he found it through being a life-long practitioner of sound conservation practices and ecological principles. Doug's keen interest and life-long devotion to conservation and environmental issues, keeps him involved with many groups in his community and as a conservation practitioner. Doug is a skilled fly-casting instructor, fly-tying coach and mentor for anyone interested in fly fishing and loves to cross-country ski, hike, fly fish, tie flies, manage their 5.5 acres of Vermont heaven and plant trees. Noteable Award: “Two Chiefs Partnership Award” - by USDA July 2013, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the success of the Connecticut Joint Forestry Team – presented by USDA Forest Service - Chief Tidwell and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Chief Jason Weller.