As owner and senior biologist and owner, I prepare proposals, meet with clients, complete field work, and prepare reports and Auto Computer Aided Design (AutoCAD) documents for critical area assessments, wetland delineations, wetland mitigation, monitoring wetland mitigation sites, wetland violation investigations, and biological permitting. I follow local, state, and federal codes and guidance to complete the before-mentioned activities. Field work involves documenting the physical and biological features of landscape by collecting data. The data recorded includes information on the vegetation, soils, hydrology, landscape features, habitat features, and fish and wildlife presence. Wetland boundaries are determined based on the presence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, and wetland hydrology. Mitigation involves determining the impacts of a project to wetlands and mitigating for those impacts which may include wetland creation, restoration, rehabilitation, or enhancement. Based on those standards established in mitigation plans, I monitor mitigation sites to determine their success status by collecting information on plant survival/mortality rates and percent cover, invasive species, vandalism, and fish and wildlife presence. In documenting wetland violations, we investigate conditions prior to the violation in order to restore the wetland to its pre-disturbance condition. I am also responsible for planting and maintaining mitigation sites.

I was responsible for performing salmonid spawning ground surveys and carcass recovery on lowland streams of Whatcom County that were NSEA restoration sites. Walking reaches of Nooksack River tributaries and other independent tributaries, I followed Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sampling protocols to identify and record information on freshwater adult salmonids. I tabulated redd counts, live and dead fish counts, and made habitat observations. I collected biological samples from Coho carcasses which included scale and DNA tissue samples and recorded other information such as sex, length, presence or absence of adipose fin, and spawning activity. On those fish whose DNA was sampled, notes were taken on gill color, eye clarity, and the presence or absence of rigormortis. Fish were checked for Coded Wire Tags (CWT) and upon detection, the heads were collected for WDFW. I trained, coordinated, and worked with volunteers and Washington Conservation Corps employees and was responsible for their safety and performance in the field. I was in contact with members of WDFW, NSEA, and landowners on a regular basis. As supplementary work, I performed surveys on streams that had barrier culvert projects implemented to determine if fish were getting past the previously removed barrier. All data collected was entered into Excel spreadsheets.

I performed salmonid spawning ground surveys and carcass recovery in remote areas of Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Walking and/or pontoon boating reaches of the Nooksack and Samish Rivers and other independent tributaries, I identified and sampled Spring and Fall Chinook, Coho, Pink, and Sockeye and other anadromous species following WDFW’s protocols. Data observations were reviewed, organized, and entered into Excel spreadsheets. Collaboration occurred on a regular basis with members of WDFW, NSEA, tribal co-managers, the public, and landowners. I assisted the Lummi Nation by seining the South Fork Nooksack River for Spring Chinook. I seined and dip-netted portions of Bertrand and Fishtrap Creeks to identify, sample scales, and tabulate data for several species of juvenile salmonids, crayfish, and amphibian larvae. I also helped by flow gaging and thalweg-depth profiling riffle/run habitats. I assisted in dip-netting Kokanee from a tributary of Lake Cavanaugh to acquire biological samples and run various virology analyses.

I attended an In-Stream Monitoring Workshop which explained the proper protocols to monitor streams that have undergone restoration projects. In the classroom and on Child's Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River, we were taught to perform WDFW's Reference Point Survey by measuring and recording cumulative distance, bankfull width, bankfull depth, canopy closure, and photo reference points. We were trained to conduct WDFW's Spawning Habitat Availability Transect Survey to measure and record the substrate size found along the bankfull width. We also learned how to use the SFEG's Structure Monitoring protocol to obtain data on the structures used in stream restoration which included full spanning weirs, deflector logs, rock barbs, rootwads, toe logs, cover logs, log jams, riprap, and culverts. The data recorded were dominate substrate, particle packing, depth to streambed, pool development, and condition of structure. All of these protocols were exercised in the field at a SFEG restoration sight on the Samish River.

I operated a fence weir smolt trap located in Mannser Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River. I identified, counted, and released specimens caught which included Coho, Chub, Cutthroat, Steelhead, stickleback, sculpin, catfish, suckers, crayfish, and frogs. Wild Steelhead parr were euthanized for future lab analysis. Coho smolts were anesthetized, ventral fin clipped, measured, and released unharmed. I provided assistance to the operators of the Skagit River fish traps by raising and lowering the scoop and screw traps, sampling day and night catches, and releasing dyed fish upstream. The fish identified and counted included Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, Cutthroat, Steelhead, and lamprey. They occurred in all different life stages and had the presence or absence of CWT’s, adipose fins, and/or left ventral fins. I also ran the CWT operation at Puget Sound Energy's trapping facility located at the Upper Baker Lake Dam. I anesthetized wild Coho smolts, inserted CWT’s, recorded lengths, and released the fish. On a weekly basis, I accurately entered all recorded data into Excel spreadsheets and a juvenile catch database.

I attended the Native Plant Steward’s, Educational Training Retreat where I learned about topics such as native plant identification and communities, soils, restoration and monitoring, and plant propagation techniques in which I planted native vegetation. I also participated in an Invasive Species Workshop. The subject areas taught included the edible and medicinal uses of native and non-native vegetation, the ecology and economics of invasive species, weed identification, and a field portion in which I removed non-native invasive species from Ross Lake. After training, on several different occasions, I removed invasive species and replanted native species within North Cascades National Park.

As Marketing Director, I managed Whatcom Pathology’s Sterilizer Monitoring Service. I was responsible for marketing our autoclave sterility test kits to clients. I purchased the biological spore test strips and logged them in to an Access database of over 600 clients. In order to determine proper sterilization, I cultured the biologically active spore test strips in a nutrient broth. I prepared the general growth media, set the tests for culture, and determined results during and after a seven day incubation period. I cross-trained co-workers, re-wrote our standard operating procedures, and designed an advertisement that was displayed in Crave Magazine. I focused on customer service by greeting clients and answering general and technical questions as an Administrative Assistant. State and Federal regulations were followed for receiving environmental samples (water, wastewater, bio-solids, soil, etc.) and reporting certified confidential results to our clients. I followed OSHA safety procedures for preserving samples, shipping samples to reference laboratories, and transporting samples on our extensive courier route. I prepared and shipped project quotes, supplies, Excel generated reports, and billing statements. I handled a multi-line telephone system and provided informative answers to inquiries and directed calls to appropriate departments. I also supported the metals, general chemistry, and microbiology departments. I developed a reference laboratory spreadsheet in Excel and organized our company’s active participation in the Island County Drinking Water Symposium.

As a Spawning Salmon Observer along Whatcom Creek, I identified, counted, and recorded observations on the freshwater anadromous species present which included Chum salmon. I used a variety of educational tools to educate the public and reported illegal fishing and/or mistreatment of fish. My responsibilities as a Work Party Assistant encompassed picking up donations; compiling, loading, and setting up necessary work party materials such as food and beverages, NSEA information, tools, and plants; greeting and signing in volunteers; giving planting, mulching, caging, blue tube, and invasive species removal demonstrations; and participating in the work parties by planting native potted and bare root plants, mulching, removing invasive species, and potting bare root plants. I removed invasive species and planted native species along Squalicum and Whatcom Creeks. I attended a smolt trapping demonstration on Terrell Creek which introduced me to juvenile salmonid identification.

As part of a field crew of professors and students, we traversed through the backcountry carrying heavy equipment while encountering inclement weather. We located sample plots in the watersheds and collected data on the location and the vegetation to assess the structure of the forest.