Resume

Earth Scientist

Dedicated to healthier, resilient watersheds through clean water, robust agriculture, fishable/swimmable streams, and sustainable communities.

Core Competencies

  • Stream Corridor Restoration
    Holistic, watershed approaches combining improved land management with riparian (streamside) and instream habitat restoration. Project Manager for the Upper Colorado River Watershed Group (UCRWG).

  • Water-Related Infrastructure
    Expertise in fish-friendly irrigation diversions, municipal water and wastewater systems, flood recovery assessments, restoration planning, road and utility crossings, docks, boathouses, and water rights due diligence.

  • Cost-Effective Project Management
    Hands-on field scientist guiding projects from site assessments through resource planning, permitting, construction oversight, and adaptive management.

  • Regulatory Analysis & Technical Writing
    Extensive experience in regulatory compliance (NEPA, Clean Water Act), watershed best management practices, community outreach, and technical reporting for water and sanitation projects.

  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration
    Skilled in inter-agency and construction team settings, adept at working with engineers, attorneys, environmentalists, and accountants. Safety-minded with OSHA certification (May 2020).

Professional Experience

Grand Environmental Services
Principal Earth Scientist, Installation Foreman, Ranch Manager
Grand Lake, CO | 1994–Present

  • Led numerous watershed restoration projects and supervised diverse interdisciplinary teams.

  • Delivered impactful environmental consulting services, including adaptive land management and restoration oversight.

Shipley Associates
Workshop Trainer in NEPA Process and Compliance Reporting
1991–1993

  • Conducted NEPA workshops across 11 states, improving regulatory compliance in government and private sectors.

Wasatch Geotechnical
Project Geologist
1989–1991

  • Delivered geological assessments and project support for geotechnical engineering firms.

Freelance Writer
1987–1989

  • Authored technical and scientific publications on environmental topics.

U.S. Geological Survey
Geologic Field Assistant
1980–1986

  • Contributed to federal geological research and data collection efforts.

Awards & Recognition

  • Colorado Lottery Starburst Award (2014)

  • Congressional Recognition for Responsible Use of Public Funds (~2011)

  • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Project of the Year, advanced to USEPA Region 8 consideration (2010)

  • U.S. Forest Service Certificate of Appreciation for “Best Environmental Assessment Supporting a Land Exchange in the U.S.” (2003)

  • National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Committee of the Year (1994)

Education

  • B.Sc. Earth Science (1980)

  • M.Sc. Geology (1986)

  • Continuing education in watershed science, erosion control, and stream corridor assessment.

Certifications & Skills

  • Certification for Professional Permaculture Design, Oregon State Univerisity June 2024

  • Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (#5082)

  • Wetland delineation, surveys, and GPS mapping

  • Rotary E-Club for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Club President 2024-2025

Key Strengths

  • Adaptive management practices ensuring long-term success of environmental projects

  • Strong technical and regulatory writing skills for diverse stakeholders

  • Hands-on leadership fostering interdisciplinary team collaboration

  • Extensive knowledge of watershed science and sustainable land management practices

1998-2008:

Ski Resort Maintenance and Upgrades for Winter Park Resort

  • Site assessments, design recommendations, and special use permitting on National Forest System lands for various projects, including ski lifts, trails, access roads, and pump-back augmentation planning throughout the resort (Swede's Ridge, Vasquez Cirque, Zephyr Lodge, Corona, and North Bench).

1998-2010:

Water and Wastewater System Improvements for Winter Park Water and Sanitation Department

  • Site assessments, design recommendations, special use permitting on National Forest System lands, environmental oversight, and reporting for water tanks, L-Line and A-Line improvements, fen wetland restoration, and creek restoration at "Swamp Lot," including willow-friendly wastewater return to Fraser River.

2000-2002:

Winter Park Land Exchange

  • Site assessment of 1,750 acres of land across seven inholding parcels surrounded by National Forest System lands, including wetlands and species of concern. Impact assessment for a trade by Winter Park Recreational Association for ~17 acres at the West Portal of the Moffat Tunnel. Recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation by Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth.

2000-Present:

Technical Advisor for 10+ Boathouse Projects and Associated Shoreline Restoration

  • Consultation for feasibility studies during property transfers, wetland and shoreline assessments, design recommendations, permitting, construction oversight, shoreline erosion and sediment control, and landscaping.

2001-2012:

Broome Hut at Tree Line near Berthoud Pass

  • Environmental assessment, planning, permitting, and construction oversight for the Grand Huts Association’s reconstruction of a cabin in Second Creek Drainage. Now one of the most popular huts in the 10th Mountain System.

2003-2014:

Pedestrian Bridge over the Colorado River in Hot Sulphur Springs

  • Site assessments, initial designs, public scoping, and master planning funded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and National Fish and Wildlife Federation grants. Secured additional funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation and GOCO for riparian park-related amenities. Installed in 2013, with a Colorado Lottery Starburst Award in 2014.

2006-2011:

Program Manager for Water Treatment Plant, Intake, and Colorado River Restoration in Hot Sulphur Springs

  • Managed ARRA Stimulus-funded projects, including assessment, design, and installation of a state-of-the-art water treatment plant. Recognized with Congressional Recognition and named CDPHE Water Project of the Year in 2010.

2012-Present:

Ranch Manager for Fly-Fishing Property on the Colorado River

  • Restored in-stream habitat, including fish-friendly irrigation diversions, bank stabilization, and micro-habitat boulder clusters. Improved ditch systems, riparian lands, and hayfields, producing regular hay crops while maintaining agricultural tax status.

2012-2014:

Water Augmentation Intake and Related Bank Stabilization on the Fraser River

  • Site assessments, fish-friendly diversion design, Corps of Engineers permitting, and construction oversight. Successfully installed in September 2014, withstanding multiple runoff seasons.

2013:

Rotary Sabbatical in Highlands of Ecuador

  • Worked with local water-system managers to design and install a new “gravel burrito” intake filter for agricultural and household water distribution in Malingua Pamba, Cotopaxi Province.

2013:

Rapid Assessment for Big Thompson River Restoration

  • Completed a 22-mile stream assessment using the NRCS Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP2) for the Big Thompson River Restoration Coalition. Findings integrated into the watershed master plan.

2014-2019:

Stream Restoration Masterplan for the Fraser River Headwaters

  • Designed trout-friendly restoration solutions for a 1/4 mile of creek, protecting sensitive sub-alpine forested wetlands while enhancing cutthroat trout habitat.

2014-2018:

Riparian Groundwater Monitoring and Advocacy

  • Conducted groundwater monitoring to evaluate wetland impacts from the Moffat-Gross transmountain project. Presented findings in 2014 to Grand and Boulder County Commissioners on behalf of environmental advocacy groups.

2014-2018:

Riparian Repair Projects and Wetland Permitting

  • Designed and permitted five flood-recovery projects along the Big Thompson and North Fork Big Thompson Rivers, including habitat restoration for flood-impacted areas near Loveland, Drake, and Glen Haven.

2016-Present:

Project Scientist for the Upper Colorado River Watershed Group

  • Technical team leader helping establish a 501(c)(3) watershed organization under the US Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. Currently focusing on the North Fork Colorado River Watershed, including Rocky Mountain National Park and Shadow Mountain Reservoir.

2017-2018:

Project Scientist for Town of Fraser Cozens Ranch Open Space Master Plan

  • Conducted technical evaluations for wetlands and river systems. Assisted THK Associates with watershed best management practices, approved by the Town Council in Spring 2018.

Past projects