Staff Spotlight: Alex Sharp
How did your childhood influence your decision to work in sustainability?
I was born into a ranching family in the Klamath Basin in the early 2000’s. That was around the time the ‘water wars’ began in the basin. Water levels were extremely low, the short-nose sucker fish population had shown a massive decline in the Klamath Lake, and water was shut off for farmers and ranchers in the Upper Klamath Basin for the first time since the Klamath Irrigation Project had been built in 1905.
My parents are the 3rd generation on the family ranch and 6th generation ranchers in Klamath County. The ranch runs cow-calf pairs on about 500 acres at the home place, and they lease out another 2,500 acres during the summer. Growing up, we talked about water all the time, and it was a front and foremost concern. We watched neighbors get their water shut off and have to sell out. I was 12 when the second shut-off happened, and all water users along the Sprague, Williamson, and Wood were told they couldn’t pump from the river. A few weeks later, a family that we were very close with came over for dinner one night and told us that they were selling out and moving; they couldn’t make it with no water. That was impactful. Seeing that firsthand made me realize this is what my life’s work will focus on. I still ranch at my family's place and I have a small herd but growing.
How did your educational and career path lead you to Sustainable Northwest?
I started as an agricultural sciences major because I thought I wanted to be an Ag teacher. But I quickly realized that was not my path. I was more interested in being in the field – in the wildlife habitat, working with my hands. I got a conservation resources job at the Klamath Soil and Water Conservation District when I was a senior in college. I started as an administrative assistant. I was someone who knew a little bit and could staff the phones and answer basic questions. Quickly after, my degree and background with landowners led me to land a job as a program manager, where I managed various conservation projects. That led me to work with Kelley Delpit, Sustainable Northwest’s Klamath Basin Manager, and of course, I wanted to work with her. So when this job working with her in the Klamath Basin became available, I applied.
What do you like most about your position at Sustainable Northwest?
This job allows me to work independently but also with a team. It’s also more broad – I can focus on and address larger challenges to Klamath Basin water conservation in a way that I could not before. I have more freedom and can work on several projects that tie together – and I can also be creative and bring new approaches to the table to create lasting solutions for the area I love and the community I care about.
Passions outside of work: Photography. I take a lot of photos of wildlife and the ranching lifestyle. I coach little league baseball in the spring.
Something you think is overrated: Winter and snow.
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Read or ride my horse
Favorite place in the PNW: Sycan Marsh. It’s in the Upper Klamath Basin and it’s a very diverse system full of wildlife. You can find all kinds of artifacts, it has pretty views, and there are wildflowers pretty much year round.
Book recommendation: Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West
Cats or dogs?: Dogs
