Getting to Know our New Administrator: Will Lytle

Posted: 09/30/25

The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District is thrilled to introduce our new Administrator, Will Lytle

The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) opened an exciting chapter under the leadership of our new Administrator, Will Lytle. Will assumed the role in April 2025 and quickly rolled up his sleeves to lead administration and strategic oversight for the LMRWD. His responsibilities include management of operations, oversight of the 10-year Watershed Management Planning process, coordination with partners and consultants, and process improvement.

Will is a systems thinker with more than 15 years of experience in stakeholder engagement, sustainability, policy, and resource management. He has worked across academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations to address complex environmental challenges through innovative strategies. As founder of Evergreen International Sustainability Solutions, Will has advised a range of clients on goals for decarbonization, water quantity, water quality, and ecosystem health. He is known for employing strategic research, providing executive leadership to teams, researching policy and processes, and incorporating technology into resource management.

In addition to his professional background, Will’s connection to natural systems runs deep. He once paddled past alligators in Louisiana at the end of a solo kayak journey down the entire Mississippi River and backpacked moose skulls on Isle Royale as part of the renowned Wolf/Moose Project. His fieldwork has taken him from tracking Siberian tigers in Russia to reporting urgent needs to the United Nations during COP 25. These hands-on experiences reflect the curiosity, dedication, and global perspective he brings to environmental leadership.

Will has a PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy from Michigan Technological University where his work focused on Perceptions, Practices, and Policies governing food, energy, and water consumption in the average U.S. home.

As we welcome Will into his new role, we want to acknowledge that earlier this year, Linda Loomis announced her retirement from her role as District Administrator, which she has held since 2013. Linda continues to provide experienced and steady leadership, applying her practical and friendly approach that has shaped many years of coalition building with partners all along the Minnesota River, both upstream and down.