John “JJ” Gonsalves
Sr. Implementation Specialist

JJ comes to The Freshwater Trust with many years of experience in environmental and agricultural fields. He spent over a decade in soil and groundwater remediation constructing treatment facilities, modeling groundwater, performing environmental assessments, and evaluating compromised ecosystems throughout the western U.S. Later he worked as a viticultural technical manager at a winery, helping winegrape growers improve fruit quality through various cultural practices. He’s managed a vineyard himself, providing high-quality fruit for luxury wine labels, and farmed a variety of other crops, including strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, and walnuts. His bachelor’s degree is in soil science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. When not working, he enjoys making furniture, welding, and tending to his own eco-landscapes. His second home is on the wrestling mat as youth wrestling coach for over two decades. And he is a huge fan of bumble bees and native bees.

Home River: Mokelumne River, California