About Confluence
Founded in 2002, Confluence provides comprehensive ecological restoration services across the varied landscapes of the San Francisco Bay area. With years of hands-on experience, our skilled team has developed expertise in every stage of ecological restoration—from in-depth planning and innovative design to efficient implementation and sustainable maintenance. Renowned for our commitment to quality, Confluence has built strong partnerships with a diverse array of clients and collaborators across both public and private sectors. These partnerships have not only led to successful project outcomes but have further established Confluence as a trusted leader in ecological restoration, dedicated to fostering resilient and thriving ecosystems.
Meet the team
Ryan Yarbrough
Principal / Project Manger, Administrative Lead
Over the last two decades, Ryan has managed numerous successful restoration projects for over a dozen agencies in California. His multi-disciplinary background, with expertise in fisheries biology, ecology, and hydrology, gives him a set of unique tools to offer practical solutions to dynamic problems confronted in long-term habitat restoration projects. As owner/operator of the business he plays an essential role as project manager for all of Confluence’s fisheries biology and hydrology work with various consultants and agencies. Ryan is also a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and oversees all erosion control aspects of projects.
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Doug Sommerville
Principal / Site Manager, Environmental Specialist
Starting his career in the Peace Corps as an Aquaculture Program Director, Doug helped to develop a program to educate local populations on natural resource management and fundamentals of water quality. From this experience he brings a unique perspective to habitat restoration work and natural resource management. Doug has extensive local native plant knowledge and expertise with irrigation system design and maintenance. He maintains close control of project oversight and business administration as well as field equipment operations and logistics to maintain the high standards of excellence Confluence is known for. Doug is a qualified pesticide applicator and performs all chemical weed control activities.
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Matt Quinn
Senior Restoration Ecologist
Matt has been working regionally as a consulting restoration and soil ecologist for both public and private sector clients for over 20 years. Matt has extensive project management experience leading multidisciplinary teams, as well as technical expertise gained from managing and working on over 200 projects. He has worked in riparian, seasonal and perennial wetland, oak woodland, native and nonnative grassland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and arid desert habitats. His technical expertise includes initial site and impact assessments, conceptual restoration design, detailed plans and specifications, construction monitoring, preparation of biological as-built reports, and long-term monitoring and reporting. Matt is also a licensed, bonded and insured general contractor.
Kevin Leopold
Project Foreman
Kevin began working with Confluence in 2008 as a field technician and has always shown a thirst for knowledge and a desire to find the most efficient solutions. Kevin’s ability to communicate effectively with those around him, along with his creative and technical skills, make him an irreplaceable asset for the Confluence team. Over the last 15 years he has installed and maintained landscape projects for countless private residences, several universities, and many public agencies. Kevin remains motivated by the ability to apply his technical science background to the study and protection of our natural resources.
- BS, Earth Science, UC Santa Cruz,
- AA, Liberal Arts, Cabrillo College
Devin Stewart
Restoration Technician
- BS, Earth Science, UC Santa Cruz
Nora E. Grant
Ecologist/Administrative Assistant
- AS, Landscape Hor6culture, Cabrillo College, 2013-‐current
- MS, Marine Science, CSUMMB/Moss Landing Marine Labs, 2009
- BS, Marine Biology, UC Santa Cruz, 2001