Q&A with Meg Belais, Northwest Programs Director

Briefly tell us what you do at The Freshwater Trust.
I am responsible for overseeing our restoration programs in the Pacific Northwest, focused in the Rogue, Sandy and Upper Willamette basins. My core objectives are to ensure that we’re doing ecologically meaningful work that informs questions of scale and replicability, deliver our projects and programs on time and on budget, and make sure the team has what they need to be successful.

What’s the most important thing you’re working on right now?
Right now, I am working on a supply analysis for potential shade sites in a temperature mitigation program where we plant trees to help keep streams cool. We are around halfway through recruitment and need to better understand where to direct our energy to secure the most impactful restoration sites and achieve our shade target in the next couple of years. When I’m not focused on specific programs, I pull together lessons learned from across our programs that can then help policy and funding initiatives become more practical and actionable.

What’s something that’s happening at the organization right now that you are very excited about?
One of the most exciting parts of my job is getting to see water quality trading programs at different stages in their 20-year lifespans. These programs are still fairly novel in the compliance world, so we’re constantly learning on the fly from our own experiences. Encountering challenges in a Rogue program that is halfway complete and applying those lessons to a new program in the Upper Willamette allows us to get smarter in each iteration. Of course, we keep discovering new challenges and nuances to program design and management that keep us on our toes.

What do you love about working for The Freshwater Trust?
The opportunity for interdisciplinary learning. This group also knows how to have fun, which is important.

What was the last book you read or movie you watched?
I wish I had more time to read, but right now, I am enjoying Housemates by my college roommate(!), Emma Eisenberg. It’s full of human connection, love, and road trips—which we all need more of in our days. The last movie I watched was The Fall Guy—a perfect choice if you’re looking for a lighthearted Friday night.

Where was the last place you traveled?
This summer, we took our two girls (ages 3 and 5) on their first multi-night backpacking trip in the Washington Cascades. Even though I was sick, it was a really great time—and everyone came out dirty and tired, so success!

Meg on a backpacking adventure.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Going on adventures that the kids will actually remember. And I plan to have eliminated all the invasive ivy and blackberries from my yard.

What’s your best advice for someone considering a job in your field?
Patience. Building experience takes time, and while early years in entry positions can feel long, a deep understanding of fieldwork, program coordination, or grant administration will ground you as you move through your career toward your ideal position.