Christopher Estes

Mr. Estes has been contributing to the interdisciplinary science, legal, institutional, and public involvement training and implementation of instream flow and water level conservation (IFWLC) since the early 1970s. After Estes’ 2010 retirement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Fisheries Scientist and Chief of its Statewide Aquatic Resources Coordination Unit, he entered into private IFWLC consultation as principal of Chalk Board Enterprises, LLC. He is a co-founder of the Instream Flow Council and served as one its Directors-at-Large since its formation in 1998. He has authored numerous IFWLC and related publications. He has held several national leadership positions including the development and implementation of the 2006 National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP). NFHAP was codified as the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) in 2020 by Title II of PL 116-188. Estes serves on several science and technical committees for professional societies and organizations. Current priorities are providing Alaska based water rights training with an emphasis on IFWLC for governmental, NGO, academic, and private sector clients and developing a global IFWLC Training Center for all water stakeholders. Estes has received several awards for his professional contributions throughout his career and received the 2021 Stanley A. Moberly Award co-sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, NFHP, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration for his Outstanding Lifetime Achievements and Contributions to Fish Habitat Conservation. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science from Prescott College, Prescott, Arizona and his master’s degree in environmental science from Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.