After graduating from Northern Michigan University in Marquette in 1998, I moved back to my hometown of Marshall, Michigan and began my career as an Americorp Member for the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. In this position, I provided groundwater education to homeowners in Branch and Calhoun counties. I then served as a Groundwater Technician for an additional 2 years and conducted on-site farmstead groundwater risk assessments, emergency planning, and abandon well closures with area farmers. In June 2002, I accepted a position as the Battle Creek River Watershed Project Coordinator for the Calhoun Conservation District (www.calhouncd.org). I continue to serve as Watershed Project Coordinator and am working on a diverse number of issues; however a substantial portion of my time is studying stream geomorphology using the Rosgen Level IV geomorphic assessments in order to determine stream types and stability. Further, considerable time and resources have been focused on social and technical issues surrounding dam removals throughout the watershed and fish passage projects on the Battle Creek River. Lastly, the most critical component of my job includes stakeholder education and involvement to improve water quality in the watershed, as well as fostering partnerships with other agencies and organizations.

I have a passion for rivers. They are dynamic and move at will. When they are restricted or changed by human intervention, they adamantly tell us we have done them wrong. I believe the better we understand the river and it’s processes; the better we understand where they are at and where they would like to go. Once we have this understanding, we can then develop management objectives for our rivers and improve habitat, stability, and water quality.

When I am not in the river, I enjoy snow shoeing (although I must say the UP has a much better environment for that), camping, playing outside, and spending time with my family.