Scott working on the Mississippi River Watershed collecting Mussels

Scott Yess, Assistant Project Leader at the La Crosse Fishery Resource Office, was recently tapped as the new Upper Mississippi River Resource Conservation Committee (UMRCC) Coordinator.   

Jon Duyvejonck, the former UMRCC Coordinator, from the Rock Island Field Office passed his baton to Scott after the March annual meeting of the organization.  Jon provided his skills and energies to this highly regarded position for the last 13 years.

The member states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin joined forces in 1943 and have been an active voice in conservation through cooperation ever since.  The major objective of the UMRCC is to promote the preservation and wise use of the natural and recreational resources of the UMR.  The UMRCC activities and business are administered through the Chairman, Executive Board, and Coordinator.  Sub-committees of state and cooperating agency representatives comprise technical work groups for fisheries, water quality, wildlife, recreation and water use, and law enforcement.

Scott’s experience, talents, and demeanor are a natural fit for his new river coordinator role with other dedicated River Rats.  He has almost 25 years with the Service; 16 of those years on the Upper Mississippi River System.   He has also worked on river issues in the Colorado and Red river basins.  Scott throughout his career has worked cooperatively and effectively with States, Tribes, other Federal agencies, the private sector, and the public for the benefit of the resource. 

Scott’s desire to work with and for others comes from a long list of life experiences.  He was a Fish Culture Extension Agent for the Peace Corps in Zaire, Africa.  He is a Big Brother with the Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Greater Winona.  Scott recently volunteered for a detail with FEMA to assist with the restoration of the Gulf Coast in Pass Christian, Mississippi and joined one of his daughters in a civic volunteer effort on the Gulf Coast over her spring break.  Scott is an asset to any group he is affiliated with and will be a valued member of the UMRCC team.