Gerald Maschmann

Growing up in Iowa I’ve always had an interest in nature and the environment. Being raised in a rural setting, plants, animals, and the land were a big part of my life. My grandmother was especially influential as an avid bird watcher and outdoorswoman. As a child we would often take walks and observe nature. She would bring her binoculars and identify the different bird species we encountered. My family enjoyed camping and fishing at local lakes during the summer months, and deer and pheasant hunting with my step-father was an autumn tradition. These experiences led me to study fish and wildlife biology at Iowa State and Environment Science at the University of North Texas.

After graduating I spent a few years working in the North Texas area in the environmental compliance field. However, the heat and humidity and suburbia was beginning to wear on me and I was feeling called back to my first love of fisheries. So one day I decided to quit my job and head out west. Fortunately, right about that time, there were a lot of fisheries opportunities in Central and Northern California and I got a great entry level job at the Red Bluff U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office counting salmon on tributaries of the Sacramento River. I spent about one year at the Red Bluff Office before securing permanent employment in Alaska with the Fairbanks Field Office.

I'm the assistant federal in-season salmon manager for the Yukon River. Basically, I count salmon. I have been doing this since 2004 and it has afforded me the opportunity to see a large swath of the Alaskan bush. Witnessing the significance of salmon on Alaskan culture and being able to participate in maintaining that significance has been and continues to be a gratifying experience.

In my free time I enjoy home improvement projects, listening to podcasts, Toastmasters, and improv. During the winter months I enjoy downhill skiing and I’ve started traveling more. Additionally, I have a strong desire to be more self-sufficient and like to take courses offered around town and at the local community college.