Daniel grew up in Missouri, spending his childhood exploring the woods and creeks on his family’s farm. Every spring, he was captivated by the powerful flooding of local rivers and creeks, witnessing how water could sweep away entire fields, forests, roads, and homes—a force that commanded respect.
His passion for river conservation began along the Missouri River, where he worked with the nonprofit Missouri River Relief to organize large-scale river cleanups and foster a deeper connection between communities and the river. Daniel pursued a degree in Geography and Mapping at the University of Missouri-Columbia, which would take him abroad working in ocean and river surveying. His interest in the cultures of river-adjacent communities led him to study rivers such as the Mississippi, Mekong, Nile, and Amazon.
In 2016, Daniel relocated to the Yuba River watershed in California, where he turned his focus to community engagement for the protection and restoration of the Yuba and Bear Rivers. He remains deeply passionate about connecting people to nature and protecting the rivers that nourish the land.