Merritt Frey

Merritt Frey is River Network's Habitat Program Director, and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Merritt brings fifteen years of Clean Water Act experience on the federal and state levels to her position, with a focus on water quality standards, 401 water quality certification, pollution control permits, habitat restoration, drinking source water protection, and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

Before joining River Network's staff in 2008, Merritt spent nearly 5 years as the Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council, where in addition to serving as the lead fundraiser and manager, she led the organization's successful water quality project. Previously, Merritt worked on Clean Water Act policy for both the Clean Water Network and the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington DC. She also spent time working for West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Union of Concerned Scientists, and National Tree Trust.

Merritt has authored publications such as The Ripple Effect: A Guide to Making Waves in the Turbulent World of TMDLs and Source Water Stewardship, and co-authored Permitting an End to Pollution.

In 2005, Merritt was one of ten western watershed leaders to receive a 3-year W.C. Kenney Foundation Leadership Grant to support outstanding work in the water community. In 2007, Merritt was appointed by Utah's Governor to the Utah Water Quality Board. In 2010, she was proud to join the board of Western Resource Advocates. Just this year, Merritt was appointed by the Governor to the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Council.

When Merritt is not working, she enjoys running, exploring Utah's mountains and deserts with her dog Zoe, fly-fishing as an excuse to stand in or near a river for hours, and reading just about anything she can get her hands on.