Christopher Collier Email & Phone Number

Green Bay, Wi, Us

Northeast Wisconsin

My responsibilities focus on collaborating with state and federal agencies and local communities to address aquatic organism passage and flood resiliency concerns on public and private lands. Projects are designed to improve and reconnect coldwater habitat for brook trout and other native species while also improving flood resiliency of roadway infrastructure, creating safer and more climate resilient communities.To accomplish these goals I foster relationships with federal, state, tribal, and local partners; identify priority projects; apply for and manage grant funding; coordinate project implementation; organize education and outreach activities; engage TU chapters; and oversee full-time and seasonal staff. These activities include using traditional conservation practices and funding along with exploring emerging and innovative conservation finance opportunities. This helps TU and our partners create a more robust funding portfolio that can address stream health and hazard risks across northern Wisconsin.These projects involve applying for and managing a variety of funding sources; federal, state, and private focused on improving habitat for coldwater species and/or adapting to climate change to improve ecosystem or community resiliency. Examples of funding sources include; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Sustain Our Great Lakes and 5 Star Urban Waters), FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water Grants and Trout Stamp Funding, US Fish and Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program and National Fish Habitat Partnership, Trout and Salmon Foundation, and various grants from private foundations.

Falls Church, Va

Sales associate in the camping, climbing, and paddling department. Provided product/gear recommendations and outfitted customers for a variety of activities and destinations. Tested gear and participated in store training for new paddling and climbing gear.

Perrysburg, Oh

This promotion includes the responsibilities of the land protection specialist along with supervision of conservation staff and interns, development of conservation programs, management of grant funds, coordination of strategic planning, leading project outreach, and participation in the Land Trust Alliance’s Advocacy Days. I have taken on more outreach responsibilities in the organization which includes advocacy for conservation programs; communicating our conservation efforts to the public, elected officials, and project partners; and engaging local communities to help with stewardship of our protected lands. This has also provided me with the opportunity to explore potential collaborations across our service area to address regional conservation concerns, with a special focus on improving the health of the Western Lake Erie Basin.In 2018 we received funding to launch a new farmland preservation program that is focused on getting new farmers on the ground. The average age of farmers in Ohio continues to climb, and while we see a growing interest from young people in farming, land prices often keep them from getting their start. Through this new program we will acquire farms, lease them to young farmers at affordable rates with an option to purchase, and ultimately protect these farms through conservation easements. This model will protect northwest Ohio's agricultural heritage and environmental health by transferring farmland to the next generation, using sustainable production practices to improve soil health and water quality, protect prime farm soils, and provide healthy food to our communities.

Perrysburg, Oh

Responsibilities included initiating and managing land protection protects, grant writing to support and fund land protection projects, landowner relations, create and maintain baseline documentation reports, conservation easement monitoring, conducting ecological management of conservancy owned properties, and oversee volunteers, staff, and contractors working on maintenance and management of conservancy owned properties. As the land protection specialist I will also serve as the staff representative to the conservancy's stewardship committee, prepare reports for the conservancy's board and executive committee, give public presentations, and assist the conservancy staff with various conservancy events.

Defiance, Oh

In 2017, I was contacted by the Trustees of the Thoreau Wildlife Reserve in Defiance, Ohio. They were looking for help developing a plan to better manage habitat on their property and to make it an educational resource for the community. Over the six months, I met with the trustees to develop a long-term vision for the property and create a management plan to help them take care of the property and improve on their community outreach efforts.The resulting plan included detailed management and restoration strategies for short-term and long-term care of the property. I also included alternative practices that could be used to improve the property if the suggested strategies were beyond the organization's capacity. Contact information for local businesses and consultants that could help implement the proposed strategies were included in the plan. Land use/habitat types included in the plan were; agricultural fields, prairies, mature oak-hickory woods, successional grassland/forest, open water and emergent wetlands, drainage ditches, pine plantation, and a large pond.The second part of the plan was focused on building community engagement on the property. This included outreach activity proposals (nature walks, birding tours, hunting and fishing education, school field trips, volunteer stewardship days, etc.) and a list of groups in the Defiance area that might be interested in each activity.

Toledo, Ohio Area

Taught two sections of the Environmental Problems lab and one section of Biodiversity lab. Was in charge of preparing the lab each week along with conducting the lab, lecturing students on lab material, creating course materials, and grading homework and quizzes.I worked as a research assistant in the Ecosystem and Soil Ecology Lab helping to run various analyses ranging from enzyme activity to soil nutrient cycling. I also work on researching the impacts of Nitrogen Deposition on biological soil crusts in Arches National Park with the United States Geological Survey as part of a grant from the National Park Service. As part of this nitrogen deposition research project, I organized field sampling, completed laboratory analysis of collected samples, coordinated review of results, and am leading publication of the study.Field ExperienceLed multi-day sampling trips in Arches National Park (Moab, UT) and Kitty Todd Nature Preserve (Toledo, OH)Collected soil samplesMeasured biological crust soil respiration ratesInstalled and removed ion and cation resin strips to measure potential leaching ratesDetermined soil stability using a Jornada Experimental Range Soil Stability Test KitLab ExperienceSupervised lab members and undergraduate staffCoordinated lab schedules, managed disposal of hazardous waste, and kept track of lab inventoryReviewed and revised lab protocolsExtracted soil samples for analysisDesigned incubation experiments to determine microbial activity under controlled conditionsMeasured enzyme production, nutrient concentrations and mineralization rates using high-throughput colorimetric and fluorometric assaysDetermined in vitro microbial respirationUsed a Total Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Analyzer to measure microbial biomassExtracted samples to determine potential denitrification rates in soils

Perrysburg, Oh

Contracted consultant brought in to help the Black Swamp Conservancy apply farms for protection under agricultural easements.

Toledo, Ohio Area

Ran day to day operation in the Park Operations department. Managed parking lot and special events staff, handled money, and provided customer service to visitors.

Staff leader for Park Operations parking lot staff. Set daily assignments, handled money, and provided customer service to visitors.

Worked with landowners on applying their farms for protection through the agricultural easement purchase programs offered by the state of Ohio. After this I helped to restore a property to a more natural prairie and helped to organize a farmland protection summit. The last few months I spent with Black Swamp I helped to monitor a number of properties to make sure that the landowners were not violating the terms or their easements.

Master Of Science - Ms, Ecology

Master's of Science in Biology with a focus in Ecology. Master's Thesis: What are the Impacts of Anthropogenic Nitrogen Deposition.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Environmental Science, Gpa: 3.65 Out Of 4.00, Cum Laude

Major in Environmental Science, Specialization in Watershed Management, Cum Laude.