Michael Thai Email and Phone Number

- Ecological lead on capital project teams in planning, design, permitting, and implementation of large river habitat restoration projects. - Manages project effectiveness monitoring of river restoration projects

- Supports capital project teams in the planning, design, permitting, and implementation of habitat restoration and mitigation projects. - Organizes and conducts field surveys (fisheries surveys, stream/river assessments, wood and vegetation surveys)

- Support and guide municipalities through updates of Shoreline Master Programs and critical areas regulations• Modernize and develop environmental policy based on state-wide legislative updates, best available science, and coordination with state agencies and tribal governments to ensure municipalities have regionally applicable regulations to protect local natural resources• Present at and attend public meetings to explain the update processes and regulation changes to the public and… Show more - Support and guide municipalities through updates of Shoreline Master Programs and critical areas regulations• Modernize and develop environmental policy based on state-wide legislative updates, best available science, and coordination with state agencies and tribal governments to ensure municipalities have regionally applicable regulations to protect local natural resources• Present at and attend public meetings to explain the update processes and regulation changes to the public and planning commissioners- Prepare environmental permit documents and applications which may include biological assessment/evaluations, critical areas reports, JARPAs, HPAs, and project monitoring protocols for public and private clients that evaluate development impacts on fish and wildlife habitat in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and marine systems- Design project mitigation and fish exclusion plans for development projects that protect and benefit fish and wildlife- Coordinate and collaborate with local and state agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and tribal governments to ensure sustainable development and comprehensive mitigation plans Show less

- Contributed to the Farm-Fish-Flood Buffer Task Force’s Technical Team:• Searched for and reviewed scientific literature related to riparian buffer ecological functions and salmon habitat conditions• Authored portions of a “buffer synthesis” report on the topics of riparian history and water quality status as well as three of the six “riparian function” sections titled: Water Quality – Sediment, Nutrients, Pesticides; Water Temperature/Riparian Shade; and Riparian Corridor… Show more - Contributed to the Farm-Fish-Flood Buffer Task Force’s Technical Team:• Searched for and reviewed scientific literature related to riparian buffer ecological functions and salmon habitat conditions• Authored portions of a “buffer synthesis” report on the topics of riparian history and water quality status as well as three of the six “riparian function” sections titled: Water Quality – Sediment, Nutrients, Pesticides; Water Temperature/Riparian Shade; and Riparian Corridor Microclimate• Discussed our document’s scope, content, and future implications with community and governmental partners- Conducted Chinook salmon and large-woody-debris surveys in Lake Washington tributaries.• Organized and trained interns for several Chinook salmon surveys.- Operated weirs on Lake Sammamish tributaries to collect kokanee for population supplementation- Wrote a technical operating plan for the proposed new Marymoor ‘Dog Boom’ systems- Collected, organized, and input detailed stream habitat and fish data to assess the effectiveness of King County’s Critical Areas Ordinance. Fish data was collected using 3-pass backpack electrofishing.- Assisted in conducting project effectiveness monitoring by night-cataraft-electrofishing and edge-mapping low-velocity habitat- Queried state databases to obtain compliance data for the Marine Shoreline Monitoring and Compliance Project. Organized and summarized the state compliance data.- Cedar River fish toxicology collection: coordinated collection and processing of sockeye salmon at the Cedar River Fish Hatchery; helped collect several fish species via cataraft electrofishing- Trainings completed at King County: CPR, ArcGIS Fundamentals Course, Swift Water Safety, Equity and Social Justice Show less

- Researches, investigates, and evaluates environmental health and safety concerns regarding the state’s natural resources- Conducts inspections and monitors pollution sources to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws- Provides notice of non-compliance and/or identifies potential problem areas; initiates enforcement actions or provides recommendations for resolution- Prepares reports of investigations, findings, analyses, and other pertinent documents for… Show more - Researches, investigates, and evaluates environmental health and safety concerns regarding the state’s natural resources- Conducts inspections and monitors pollution sources to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws- Provides notice of non-compliance and/or identifies potential problem areas; initiates enforcement actions or provides recommendations for resolution- Prepares reports of investigations, findings, analyses, and other pertinent documents for interpretation and presentation of data- Communicates exposures, risks, and related issues to the public, officials, and other interested parties- Explains laws, regulations, contract specifications, program requirements, and practical applications to officials, facility owners and operators, and the public- Evaluates and discusses difficult environmental emergencies/problems with representatives of public/private interests and provides recommendations and/or preventative measures ensuring sound environmental practices and protection of the public’s health Show less

- Conducted original research analyzing macroecological drivers of riverine fish community structure. Used multivariate matrix analyses/ordinations and structural equation modeling- Coordinated and organized equipment and logistics for a 5-week expedition to the Great Basin, USA to study 3 rivers with a large international group (from 7 universities and 3 countries)- Oral presentation of research at a professional conference: Society for Freshwater Science, Raleigh, NC, June 2017

2016: Biometry (graduate level statistics course)- Presented formal classroom lectures on complex statistical theory and application- Conducted one-on-one student tutoring outside of class, lead weekly review sessions, and facilitated whole course review sessions for exams2015-2016: Introductory Biology for majors- Presented mini-lectures (20-45 min) and guided 3-hour labs- Student reviews described me as a very clear communicator of the material, a mentor, and a… Show more 2016: Biometry (graduate level statistics course)- Presented formal classroom lectures on complex statistical theory and application- Conducted one-on-one student tutoring outside of class, lead weekly review sessions, and facilitated whole course review sessions for exams2015-2016: Introductory Biology for majors- Presented mini-lectures (20-45 min) and guided 3-hour labs- Student reviews described me as a very clear communicator of the material, a mentor, and a teaching assistant who “actually” cared about the performance and wellbeing of the students Show less

- Strengthened merchandising practices, delegated daily tasks to sales associates, and motivated the on floor sales team to achieve daily and weekly sales goals- Reviewed daily/weekly cash income, balanced store safe, and oversaw cash bank deposits

Project: Environmental Assessments of an Impaired Trout Stream- Analyzed stream temperature variability- Researched the correlation between nitrate concentrations from in stream locations and agricultural drainage tiles- Completed a stream habitat assessment

- Worked alongside a fisheries biologist assisting in lake population assessments, special lake assessments, and Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) sampling- Assisted in organizing and carrying out community educational events with the Fishing in the Neighborhood (FIN) program- Aided in a 3-week stream restoration project.