The Idaho Conservation League welcomes Matt Nykiel, our new conservation associate  in the North Idaho field office.  Matt recently joined the ICL  team to fill the vacancy left by Susan Drumheller, focusing on the following  responsibilities:

  • Improving and protecting the quality of North Idaho waterways
  • Ensuring that in-stream flows support healthy populations of native fish
  • Reducing Idaho’s dependence on fossil fuels
  • Improving and protecting regional air quality
  • Engaging  in superfund cleanup efforts in the Coeur d’Alene Basin
  • Promoting the development of bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in local communities
  • Promoting the sustainability and quality of life of local communities

Matt hails from Colorado Springs and  earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Montana. For four seasons, Matt worked as a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. Witnessing the effects of climate change on the fire line encouraged Matt to pursue a law degree at the University of Colorado in the goal  of becoming an environmental advocate.

Law degree in hand, Matt has interned for organizations such as The Wilderness Society, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and WildEarth Guardians. Having most recently completed a judicial clerkship with a Colorado trial court, Matt is excited to now be protecting Idaho’s clean air, clean water and special places.

When he’s not at the office, you can find Matt and his partner Ruth trail running, cooking  or  rafting.