EDWARD SCHENK LLC
EASTPOINTE, MI

As a USGS research scientist I was responsible for developing, managing, and communicating projects involving hydrological, biological, and chemical components related to stream, wetland, and watershed restoration projects. Projects included the impacts of dam regulation on the river ecosystem (bank erosion/floodplain sediment dynamics; Roanoke River), large woody debris transport and fisheries impacts (Roanoke River, various small streams), channel restoration (Kissimmee and Pocomoke Rivers), impacts of climate change on hydrology, soils, and riparian forests (Atchafalaya River), water quality (sediment and nutrient loading) downstream of various Best Management Practices (BMPs, Difficult Run), and tidal forest sediment dynamics (Savannah River, several Mid-Atlantic streams). Studies required the creation and implementation of multi-agency study plans and field implementation including installing networks of surface water streamgages, monitoring groundwater wells, water quality datasondes, and repeat surveys (total station and conventional surveying). Data, including soils inventories and assessment, water quality and quantity, and landscape morphology was used to further the state of the science, develop watershed restoration plans, and to develop local, land unit (e.g. Park, Forest, or Refuge) scale, and regional policy. I authored peer-reviewed articles (16), presented results to professional audiences at conferences and workshops (>20 first authored published abstracts), and provide technical expertise to resource managers at the Federal, state, corporate, and local level. Many of the workshops were held to develop resource management plans for specific Federal land units including Congaree National Park, Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, and the National Capital Parks Unit. I have created press releases detailing our work, web features for the USGS website, and I have spoken with local and regional media outlets. As a program and budget manager I created and managed cooperative hydrologic and watershed projects that included up to seven accounts (>$1,000,000) that were managed for current year, end-of-year, and out year expenditures and scope of work. I have developed the scope of work, time table, and budget for several projects including a river channel morphology study in the Southeastern US, flood studies on the Missouri River, an aquatic plant restoration project in the Anacostia River, an aquatic plant survey in the Potomac River, a soils study in Congaree National Park, and a floodplain sediment project on the Kissimmee River. Communication and problem solving skills are crucial with this position as many studies require close cooperation with private landowners and with government and NGO partners that may have different missions, goals, or values. Projects included a significant amount of collaboration with the Army Corps. of Engineers, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, South Florida Water Management District, North Dakota Water Commission, Dominion Power, and various other state agencies, non-profits, and universities. As a Fellow I developed city policy concerning aquatic nuisance species removal and lake sediment management on a 100 acre reservoir and a separate brownfield redevelopment project. I also performed preliminary site surveys on private and public lands (200+ acres) for fish and macroinvertebrate habitat suitability and ecological disturbance (including EPA rapid bioassessment protocols). I worked with volunteer, non-profit, and prison groups to provide outdoor education classes, remove invasive weeds, and for community events (5k runs, bike to work day, etc). The work program with the prison netted over 700 volunteer hours for stream and watershed cleanup including invasive shrub removal.