Peter Whitcomb Email & Phone Number

New Hampshire

Member of a Northeast Climate Hub team, including the US Forest Service, Agricultural Research Service, Natural Resources Conversation Service, Land Grant University partners, and other natural resource professionals to provide information, education, outreach, and data for the national weather station network. Supports the Soil Climate and Analysis Network (SCAN) and the Tribal Soil Climate and Analysis Network (TSCAN). Provides outreach to the Northeast Tribes, agricultural producers, and conservation planners to improve the accessibility and understanding of the TSCAN and SCAN data and determine the need for additional climate-smart tools that use data from the climate networks. Engage with the local tribes to integrate indigenous knowledge for adaptative strategies and mitigation as related to the land and a changing environment. Proposes and develops new tools and other educational resources based on agricultural and forestry practices, soil health, and carbon management, for developing climate related information, improved climate resiliency, and informed decision making. Educational resources include manuals, guides, videos, reports, articles, meetings, workshops, and listening sessions with the various northeastern tribes, local and state governments, farmers, foresters, conservation groups, and landowners.

Concord, Nh

Provided state-wide expertise and leadership for the NRCS in a multi-faceted role. Served as the Assistant State Soil Scientist for New Hampshire. Responsible for developing, revising and maintaining technical documents, manuals, and reports. Implemented Soil Health testing, Environmental workshops and demonstrations, and developed training guides. Provided Technical Soil Services and program assistance to field and State Office employees, Conservation Districts, State agencies, cooperators, universities, and the general public. Served as the NH database manager. Responsible for the population, maintenance, and integrity of the New Hampshire soil data. Proficient with National Soils Information System (NASIS), statewide data calculations, validations and data downloads to the Soil Data Warehouse, provides soils data for Toolkit, provides training and technical support for Web Soil Survey.Served as the NH Conservation Compliance lead for state and national programs. Performed wetland delineations and determinations. Worked with farmers and other cooperators to ensure environmental compliance. Served as the State Resource Inventory Coordinator. Responsible for work plans, protocols, and data collection for the National Resources Inventory (NRI). Served as the Cultural Resources Coordinator. Worked with NH SHPO to ensure all NRCS programs, practices, and policies adhered to national standards and followed Section 106 guidelines. Soil Scientist and NH liaison to the Soil Science Division. Coordinated and maintained active contacts with the MLRA Regional Office, disseminates National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and updates to NH soil scientists. Responsible for the mapping, classification, and correlation of over a million acres in New Hampshire and while on detail in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Navajo Area Office

Started my career as an entry level Soil Scientist and quickly became the Party Leader of a soil and range inventory crew. Supervised a staff of soil scientists, range conservationists, and interns. Projects include Water Rights Inventory, Soil Survey, and on-site investigations on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Worked with Navajo tribal officials, made management recommendations, and collected soil samples for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) in San Juan County, NM.Held meetings with local work groups, Chapters, and tribal leaders to provide information and guidance on land use, soil properties, environmental issues and government programs.Mapped more than 200,000 acres and supervised the mapping of over a million acres across six different temperature and moisture regimes.Organized correlation conferences, progress field reviews, field assists, and laboratory characterization studies. Prepared the Soil Survey manuscript. Conducted performance appraisals, field reviews, training, and maintained optimum working conditions while maintaining crew morale in an arid and desolate working environment. Coordinated operations between soil scientists, range conservationists, archaeologists, and tribal personnel for maximum productivity and efficiency.

Environmental Conservation, Soil Science

Soil Science, Soil Chemistry, Soil Physics, Geomorphology