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. As her appetite for adventure sometimes gets carried away, she can often be found wearing a cast or brace on one or more of her limbs.

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.

Emily Melhorn - Water Conservation Aide aka Conservation Rapscallion

Emily started as the Water Conservation Aide in June 2020. In this position, Emily enjoys educating the public about water conservation techniques and city resources. She has a BA in Creative Writing from Hamilton College, an MA in Sustainable Communities and MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University. Alongside her work with the City of Flagstaff, Emily also works in sustainable gardening as a Master Gardener and plastics reduction and zero waste programs. Prior to joining the team, Emily has also worked in active transportation, the arts community, tourism, and land use planning and advocacy in Flagstaff. She thinks that a generalist or "jack of all trades" approach to conservation and sustainability is important for most efficient use of our resources. Outside of work, Emily enjoys travel, being outdoors, writing, and laughing at very bad movies.

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.

Cara Corbin - Water Conservation Aide aka Rain Barrel Empress

Cara moved to Flagstaff in 2010 to get her Masters degree in Sustainable Communities from NAU. Since that time, she has worked on a variety of sustainable initiatives from local food systems to renewable energy. She currently works for the City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Program conducting outreach for the Water Wise Business Program and she is spearheading the program to convert empty barrels into rainwater catchment receptacles.

Laura Garcia - Water Conservation Aide aka Groundwater Gaurdian

Laura just graduated from NAU, with an Environmental Engineering degree. In her previous role as an intern with the Water Resource Manager, Laura learned about technical and administrative functions of the job and she was in charge of selecting and deploying water level monitoring equipment for wells in the Lake Mary Watershed, she assisted with developing outreach materials, and she provided project management support. Laura now works for the City as a Water Conservation Aide where she assists in monitoring actual conservation results following program implementation – such as the rebate and water check-up programs. Her latest project involves re-purposing empty barrels for rainwater harvesting containers. She is working with Bob this summer to help enforce Flagstaff's watering code around town.

Audrey Kruse - Water Conservation Specialist aka Water Wookie

Audrey started as the Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Flagstaff Water Services Division in January 2018. In this role, she manages and develops outreach programs and initiatives to help citizens, businesses, schools, and tourists use water wisely. She has a BA in Anthropology from The George Washington University and an MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy from NAU. She previously taught high school environmental science and ecology classes in New York and Colorado. Alongside her work with the City of Flagstaff, Audrey has a background in experiential education and instructs wilderness medicine courses. Audrey is passionate about rock climbing, golden retrievers, pie baking (and eating), and science puns.

Shannon Maho - Water Conservation Aide aka Water Saving Warrior

Shannon has lived in Flagstaff for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and recently completed the Sustainable Green Building and Alternative Energy program at Coconino Community College. She has worked with the County’s Sustainable Building Program as an intern through AmeriCorps and she currently works with the City’s Water Conservation Program conducting water check-ups for Flagstaff residents to help them find ways to conserve water in their homes.

Madeleine Stoll - Water Conservation Officer

Madeleine is currently a student at NAU pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. Having grown up in Tucson, she understands the importance of conserving our precious water resources. Prior to her position with the City of Flagstaff, she worked at Pima County Natural Resources. There she learned about properly managing our natural resources, and how to balance the water needs of community members and those of the surrounding ecosystem. In her current position as Water Conservation Enforcement Officer, she hopes to use her growing knowledge about water resources to incite positive change in the Flagstaff community.

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.