Dave Murcia is a Naturalist and Director of the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center for Scott County Conservation. Dave manages the operations and education programs along the Wapsipinicon River, as a Certified Interpretive Guide (National Association for Interpretation), Leave No Trace Master Educator, and Naturalist (Iowa Association of Naturalists). Dave’s paddle began in the Parks & Preserves Division of the Iowa DNR at Wild Cat Den State Park and continued downstream to Port Lousia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), eventually serving at the Rock Island Field Office (USFWS) to work with threatened and endangered species, permits, and habitat restoration.

It was at DeSoto NWR where Dave felt the strong current of education as a Supervisory Park Ranger that has led him to his current focus- keeping grounded in our environment through sustainable and healthy lifestyles while sharing the freedom and wonder of the natural world. Dave lives in the Lower Duck Creek Watershed.