I joined ODFW in 2019 as the Section Manager for Native Fish Investigations. I work with section staff and partners to plan and carry out applied research and monitoring projects to support the conservation of Oregon's native freshwater fish. Some recent projects include updating a genetic assessment of Umpqua Chub, developing eDNA monitoring tools for Warner Sucker, and investigating hatchling survival for lab-reared Bull Trout. Prior to joining ODFW, I worked as a fish conservation geneticist in the American Southwest, researched visual communication and behavioral ecology in Anolis lizards in Central America, and trapped small mammals to detect trends in zoonotic disease, among other adventures. Outside of work, I enjoy woodworking, hiking, and watching construction projects with my toddler.
I have led the Upper Willamette Bull Trout Project since 2008. The goal of this project is to promote conservation of ESA-listed Bull Trout in the upper Willamette Basin. Our work includes monitoring population trends, assessing Bull Trout entrainment through dams, and supporting upstream passage efforts to increase the number of spawning adults. We also conduct and evaluate reintroduction efforts, assess potential future reintroduction sites, and investigate other limiting factors such as pathogens and angling-related mortality. Prior to joining ODFW, I worked on various desert fishes in New Mexico, Bull Trout in the lower Clark Fork drainage in Montana and Idaho, salmonids in southeast Alaska, white sturgeon in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, and groundwater in Wisconsin. These experiences have provided the awesome opportunity to promote conservation of species of concern by learning more about them and their habitat.
I conduct applied research and monitoring efforts aimed at conservation and recovery of Oregon's native freshwater fishes. My research focus lies within the broad context of native fish conservation with a specific emphasis on application of ecological theory to address topics of conservation and management concern. Within the Native Fish Investigations Section, I am currently evaluating habitat use and survival of juvenile Bull Trout in the Odell Creek subwatersheds, modeling the distribution of char in Northeastern Oregon, quantifying hybridization rates between Bull Trout and Brook Trout in Northeastern Oregon, and evaluating the efficacy of a Trojan-Y chromosome strategy as a tool to manage a non-native Brook Trout. My past research has covered a variety of topics including population genetics, landscape ecology, food web ecology, competitive interactions between native and nonnative species, thermal ecology, and population assessment and monitoring techniques.
I have been a fish biologist with ODFW since 1996 and currently serve as a Project Leader with Native Fish Investigations. Over my career I have led research and monitoring projects across Oregon focused on the population status, habitat use, and movement patterns of Bull Trout, Redband Trout, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and Pacific Lamprey. My current projects include monitoring Bull Trout reintroduced into the Clackamas River basin, evaluating spawning habitat enhancement in the Odell Lake basin, and assessing Lahontan Cutthroat Trout status in the Willow-Whitehorse basin. In my free time, I like to travel and camp with my family and volunteer with local sustainability and civic groups.
I've worked for ODFW as a fish biologist since 2000, conducting research across multiple regions of the state. Before joining Native Fish Investigations my research focused on anadromous salmonids, including studies of early life-history in streams of eastern Oregon, juvenile Chinook salmon survival through hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River, and juvenile salmonid behavior in large reservoirs in the Willamette Valley. With Native Fish Investigations, I work on the conservation and recovery of fish species in Oregon's high desert, including Foskett Speckled Dace and Borax Lake Chub. A major current focus is the recovery of Warner Suckers in the Warner Basin in SE Oregon. Throughout my career, my research has been focused on providing the scientific knowledge and information needed to help in the conservation and recovery of our native fish species.
I work on Bull Trout reintroduction and recovery upstream of Hills Creek Dam in the Middle Fork Willamette River, and contribute to Bull Trout population monitoring across the upper Willamette Basin. Prior to that, I worked in the South Fork McKenzie River to minimize the risk to a bull trout population during the construction phase of the water temperature control feature at Cougar Dam. I have previously worked on hatchery and harvest issues in Upper Columbia River with NOAA, and conducted a spring Chinook salmon early life history project in the Grande Ronde River Basin for ODFW. I received a M.S. in Natural Resource Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where my thesis examined the genetic relationships among bluegill populations in the upper Midwest. Since 2001, I have been developing PIT tag detection systems designed for larger river systems, where native fish like Bull Trout undertake long, complex migrations that would otherwise be nearly impossible to study. Outside of work, I enjoy paragliding, whitewater kayaking, underwater photography, and rock climbing.
I am a Project Biologist with Native Fish Investigations, supporting applied research and monitoring projects across the section. I began working for ODFW in 2013, completing my B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Oregon State University the following year. After working in seasonal and permanent positions across western and central Oregon, I joined the Oregon Chub project with NFI in 2018. That work focused on monitoring native fish populations across the Willamette Valley, with a particular emphasis on Oregon Chub recovery and post-delisting monitoring. In 2024 I shifted to a position that supports a broader range of projects across NFI, though I continue to work with Oregon Chub. I am conservation focused and committed to working with others to responsibly and mindfully manage our precious wildlife resources. Outside of work, I can usually be found hunting, fishing, or spending time with my family, friends, and dogs.