San Rafael, CA

Bill Kier died November 14th in San Rafael, California, at the age of 89. Born in Berkeley to Clarence and Mary Dean Kier, he spent his early years on his family’s ranch east of Walnut Creek. As a young boy, he loved to roam the Mt. Diablo foothills and fish in the creek. These early experiences fostered his love of the outdoors and would inspire his life’s work.

The Kiers moved to Orangevale in eastern Sacramento County in 1946. Bill graduated from San Juan High School in 1953. In 1957, Bill married college classmate Helen Douarin. Bill and Helen graduated from Sacramento State, and they had three children in the next five years.

Bill began work for the California Department of Fish and Game as a district biologist, then in 1964 became Fish and Game’s water projects coordinator. In 1967, Bill left Fish &Game to serve as a consultant to the California State Senate’s Natural Resources Committee. Three years later, he joined the State Senate Office of Research and Policy Development. He became the office’s director and held that position for the next nine years. In 1983, his sixteen years of state service came to a close.

After a short stint as inn keepers of Strawberry Lodge, Bill and Helen moved to Mill Valley so Bill could help an old friend with an environmental non-profit, The Bay Institute. This led to requests for help with a number of other environmental challenges and the launch of his consulting firm, Kier Associates, Fisheries and Watershed Professionals.

In 2006, Bill and Helen moved to Blue Lake, CA to be closer to the youngest grandkids, and Kier Associates continued to be involved in conservation projects on the East and West Coasts, as well as in Europe and Australia. They moved again, this time to San Rafael, where Bill remained at the helm of his company until his death.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Helen, and his siblings Andy and Mary Lou. He is survived by his children, Robert Kier (Sandi), Kathryn Kier (Didier Gincig) and Mary Claire Kier (Michael Edwards), his siblings Sam Kier and Kitty Kier, and his five grandchildren, Will Kier, Thaddeus Gincig, Emilie Gincig Robinson, Noah “Zeke” Edwards and Kieran Edwards.

Bill was greatly heartened in his last days by the return of salmon to their historic spawning grounds in the Klamath River basin.

A family gathering is anticipated; any other memorial hasyettobeplanned.ForatributetoBillgotohttps://www.c-win.org/cwin-water-blog/2024/12/2/farewell-bill-kier

In lieu of flowers simply keep up the good fight for salmon and water.

Assisted by Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, CA.