Camila Bautista

Camila Bautista is the Salton Sea and Desert Program Manager with Audubon California where she leads conservation initiatives, youth education, and community engagement efforts to protect the unique ecosystems and wildlife of the Salton Sea and surrounding desert areas. Beginning as an intern with the Salton Sea Program in 2020, her exceptional work led to a part-time Program Coordinator position in 2021, a full-time role as Senior Program Coordinator in 2022, and a promotion to Program Manager in April 2024. Throughout her career at Audubon California, Camila has demonstrated leadership in key projects, including the Bombay Beach Wetland Project, and has significantly contributed to community engagement and development.

Camila grew up in the city of Coachella, only 30 minutes north of the Salton Sea, so her lifelong connection to the region deeply informs her commitment to driving impactful environmental change in her native area. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UCLA and is in the final stages of obtaining a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from California State University, Los Angeles. Her master's thesis, which won the Farvolden Scholarship at the National Groundwater Association (NGWA) Groundwater Week 2023 conference, focuses on analyzing water sources feeding the Bombay Beach Wetland Project through isotopic analysis.

Outside of work, she enjoys running, baking, and weightlifting. At home, she’s kept company by her two cats, including one named George Michael after the character in Arrested Development, not the singer. Her favorite birds, the Greater Roadrunner and the Snowy Plover, reflect her love for the desert and the Salton Sea she’s dedicated to preserving.