June - Orlando Rocha - CA Fish & Game

My Name is Orlando Rocha, I work for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department), and I am the Environmental Scientist at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. I was born in the Sacramento area and always enjoyed being outside when I was growing up, camping, fishing, and such. I began working for the Department at the American River Trout Hatchery when I was still in high school at the age of 17. I spent my time there, mostly raising, and planting catchable Rainbow Trout into public waters, but I was also involved in spawning several species of fish including Chinook salmon and Steelhead. I worked at the hatchery while attending Sierra Junior College until I transferred to Humboldt State University in 2002. I received my B.S. in Wildlife Management in 2005 and went back to work for the Department as a scientific aid on the North Coast Wildlife Areas. This is where I really got interested in waterfowl and wetland management, which led me to working in the Suisun Marsh. In 2007 I left the North Coast to take a job as a biologist in the Suisun Marsh for the Suisun Resource Conservation District, they are a special district of the state that acts as an interface between private duck clubs (approximately 150 in the Marsh) and the many governing agencies. I essentially helped landowners manage their properties to provide the best habitat possible. I had always liked working for the Department so in 2013 when the Environmental Scientist position at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area became available, I jumped at the chance to help manage a large public Wildlife Area Complex. My focus is to manage our land as best as possible to provide habitat for our resident and migratory species while also providing for use and enjoyment by the public.