Water Resources & Conservation Staff
Tamara Lawless - Water Conservation Manager aka Conservation Pirate
Tamara has been with the City of Flagstaff since 2013, working on Water Conservation and Sustainability. She currently manages the Water Conservation Program staff, policies, rebate programs and public outreach events. Her passion for the environmental field was sparked in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin where she earned a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She also holds an M.S. in Environmental Education from the Expedition Education Institute and a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Arizona State University.
Kate Miele - Water Conservation Specialist aka Conservation Ninja
Kate started as the Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Flagstaff Water Services Division in September 2019. In this role, she manages and develops outreach programs and initiatives to help citizens, businesses, and schools, use water wisely. She has a BA in Applied Biological Sciences, Applied Psychology and received a Certificate of Distinction in Environmental Education from Arizona State University. Prior to Kate joining our team she worked in the field of environmental education with non-profits and city agencies, taught middle school science and 4th grade. Alongside her work with the City of Flagstaff, Kate utilizes her extensive background in natural resource conservation to work closely with other agencies to keep her knowledge fresh and offer conservation and ecology courses in the Phoenix area. Kate is passionate about education, science, the art of tripping over air, her furry misfits and exploring this wonderful city she now calls home.
Bob Rukavina - Water Conservation Enforcement Officer aka GTO
Bob has served as a water conversation aide with Flagstaff's Water Services Department since 2014. In his position, he enjoys educating Flagstaff's citizens about the City's water conversation efforts which include policy enforcement and implementation of water conservation incentive programs. He appreciates the opportunity to work outdoors, discuss water conservation, and help preserve our community's water resources.Since 1976 Bob has worked in various water resource fields including water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water reclamation, as well as having coordinated numerous projects with public utilities and governmental agencies in Minnesota and Arizona. In his current position with Flagstaff, Bob brings a strong history of water resource management.
Erin Young - Water Resources Manager
Erin Young, the Water Resources Manager for the City of Flagstaff, oversees the Water Resources Section of Water Services. Her work includes managing all aspects of water supply planning from water demand accounting and demand forecasting to monitoring water supplies, developing new water supplies, and securing water rights for the City. She has a B.S. in Geology from Arizona State University (2000) and an M.S. in Geology from Northern Arizona University (2006). Prior to being hired by the City Erin had spent 11 years working as a hydrologist for consulting firms focused mostly on groundwater development and recharge projects, as well as regulatory permitting assistance under numerous ADWR and ADEQ programs. Erin is a registered geologist in Arizona (AZ Reg. No. 49661). Aside from work life, Erin is a mom, plays hockey, loves to ski and recently started playing tennis. Erin traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, in January 2018, with her daughter. The experience of the water crisis was surreal and ever solidified the tenets of water management in Erin's work for Flagstaff.