Kings River Conservancy names new leadership, plans to expand public access

• Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative. 

A new Executive Director has taken the helm of the Kings River Conservancy with a focus on community engagement and conservation.

Molly Schnur-Salimbene was named the new executive director of the conservancy in its monthly “Kings River Currents” newsletter. Schnur-Salimbene first joined the conservancy as an education director about seven months ago. 

She took on the role April 1 after previous executive director Vernon Crowder announced his retirement in January. 

Schnur-Salimbene hopes to “create more of a sense of community with our local communities along the Kings and increase our visibility” in her new role.

“One of Kings River Conservancy’s biggest areas of interest is to reach more community members,” Schnur-Salimbene said.

Schnur-Salimbene plans to reach the community through free events that can be publicly accessed, instead of hosting events at a private property and educational programs.

“I want to make sure that we are serving the people who use the Kings River and those who aren’t using it currently: let’s let them know that it’s out there.” 

Schnur-Salimbene, a Michigan native, has a background in environmental work. Schnur-Salimbene joined AmeriCorps, a federal agency that offers stipends for volunteer work, after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in environmental biology/zoology then landed a job at the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the lower Kings River, offers several community programs such as monthly river clean ups, nature walks and an education program.

Events can be found on the conservancy’s event page.

“A lot of people don’t know who we are or what we do, or what properties we’re managing for public access,” she said. “We’re also increasing the amount of conservation that we are able to complete.”

The conservancy manages North Riverside Access Park, near the northern bank of the Kings River, Thorborn River Access Park, in Sanger off Highway 180, Rio Vista Road Thorborn Preserve, a privately owned preserve, and Kings River Wildlife Area, in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers.

A new education director was also announced. Erica Chaffee will take Schnur-Salimbene’s former role. Born and raised in Fresno, Chaffee has a Master’s Degree in early childhood education with a focus in special education.

“Our new education director, Erica, is fantastic and she’s going to continue to grow the education programs,” Schnur-Salimbene said.

Chaffee could not be reached as she was out of the office. 

“I want to have as many people know who we (the conservancy) are and understand the value of the Kings River itself, and that goes for the economic value as well as environmental, natural resource value and recreational value,” Schnur-Salimbene said. “And that we’re all viewing it as the gem that it is, because it’s so gorgeous.”

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