Category: Senior Biologists

Senior Ecologist

B.S. Aquatic Biology; Ph.D. Marine Ecology

Phone: (888) 224-1221

 

West Sacramento, California

Avery is an aquatic ecologist with 10 years of experience working in diverse ecosystems, from streams in eastern Kentucky and Hawaii to oyster and coral reefs in south Texas and the Caribbean. Her research interests include predator prey relationships, trophic cascades, and the influence of species interactions on ecosystem structure and function. She is also interested in science communication and outreach; she has experience in informal science education programs as well as with science writing and social media. As an ecologist at CFS, Avery helps to design and conduct research on the role of stream ecology in the efficacy of river restoration for salmon and steelhead.

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Restoration Engineer

M.S. Environmental Engineering

Phone: (888) 224-1221

 

West Sacramento, California

Johnny is a restoration engineer with a background in environmental remediation, water resources, and habitat restoration. His experience includes aquatic habitat restoration design, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, groundwater recharge design, topographic data collection, and construction monitoring. Through this work he has developed a fundamental understanding of surface water and groundwater interaction, restoration design, and project implementation across a variety of scales. Additionally, Johnny is proficient in a wide variety of computer-based tools including AutoCAD Civil 3D, ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS, XPStorm, and MODFLOW. These skills along with his experience conducting topographic surveys and measuring discharge with Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers underscore Johnny’s ability to serve in a variety of technical roles. This technical basis and a diverse background allows Johnny to perform a wide variety of tasks at a high level, while bringing a holistic approach to restoration design.

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Senior Biologist
B.A. Ecology; M.S. Marine Resource Management

Phone: (503) 850-9610

 

Portland, Oregon 

Ryan is an exceptional fisheries biologist with over a decade of experience conducting and leading a variety of sampling and monitoring projects. Ryan has extensive field experience that includes deployment and operation of biotelemetry equipment, collection of juvenile outmigrant data (rotary screw and incline plane traps, PIT tagging, snorkeling), water quality sampling, boat operations, and assessment of aquatic and riparian habitats. Prior to joining Cramer Fish Sciences, Ryan worked on studies evaluating survival rates of juvenile salmonid passage through hydroelectric projects and estimating the exposure of ESA-listed salmonids to harmful levels of total dissolved gas. As a graduate student, Ryan researched how genetics-based tools can be used to identify catch distributions for Chinook salmon at refined space-time scales that are beyond the capacity of traditionally reported coded-wire tag data. Ryan is well versed in managing and analyzing complex data sets in R and GIS, developing web-based applications to host and visualize data, and preparing and editing technical reports and publications.  

Selected Publications

 

Arntzen, E. V., R. J. Flaherty, A. H. Colotelo, R. D. Harnish, J. Vavrinec, S. A. Zimmerman, J. D. Tagestad, and K. Stertz. 2018. Assessment of the effects of total dissolved gas exposure of upper Willamette River Chinook salmon and steelhead below Foster Dam. PNNL-27325. Final report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, Oregon, by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

 

Liss, S. A., J. S. Hughes, E. F. Fischer, R. J. Flaherty, and J. P. Duncan. 2017. Willamette Valley high head bypass downstream passage prototype evaluation: radio telemetry evaluation of the connecting and bypass pipes at Green Peter Dam, 2016. PNNL-26198. Final report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, Oregon, by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

 

Hughes, J. S., S. A. Liss, R. J. Flaherty, E. S. Fischer, B. J. Bellgraph, C. V. Vernon, and G. E. Johnson. 2017. Evaluation of juvenile salmonid passage and behavior at Foster Dam using radio telemetry, 2016. PNNL-26416. Final report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, Oregon, Portland, Oregon, by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

 

Flaherty, R. J. 2015. Tags versus genetics: identifying which tool provides the best information about Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) distributions in the California Current. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis.

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Senior Ecologist

B.S. Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, M.S. Restoration Ecology, Ph.D. Restoration Ecology

Phone: (206) 960-4591

 

Issaquah, Washington

Sean is a senior ecologist specializing in fisheries and aquatic ecology, ecohydraulics, fluvial geomorphology, hydrologic analysis, watershed management, and environmental policy. His research interests focus on juvenile and adult salmon foraging and migratory behavior and habitat usage in the contexts of watershed management and restoration planning and design. Sean has taken the lead on multiple salmonid drift forage modelling efforts to inform restoration design and effectiveness evaluation in CA Central Valley rivers. He also manages an ongoing habitat assessment on the Bogachiel River to identify and prioritize river restoration opportunities. Other projects include riparian vegetation assessments in the Columbia River basin using remote sensing techniques, and fish trapping and tissue collection surveys in the Nooksack basin to assess juvenile rearing distribution. Sean is well versed in a variety of survey tools including RTK GPS, velocity meters, single-beam echosounders, dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON), acoustic doppler current profilers, and water quality analytics. His other field skills include field safety, boat handling/trailering, snorkeling, SCUBA, seine netting, fyke trapping, data logger installation, and field equipment fabrication. Sean’s quantitative analytical experience includes modeling approaches using generalized linear models, machine learning algorithms, and other statistical methods and he is experienced in developing novel workflows and analyses. Prior to his work at CFS, Sean served for five years on active duty in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), operating oceanographic research vessels on the East and West coasts, and Gulf of Mexico and evaluating fisheries conservation policy actions under the Endangered Species Act in California.

Selected Publications

 

Luis, S., G. Pasternack, N. Fangue, and A. Rypel. In Prep. Abiotic variables are often neglected in studies of homing and straying in anadromous salmonids. 

 

Luis, S., and G. Pasternack. In Prep. Modeled hydraulic microhabitats for migrating adult Chinook salmon at a regulated river confluence may influence migratory routing in drought scenarios.  

 

Luis, S., R. Brown, K. Sellheim, and J. Merz. In Review. A spatially explicit drift foraging model quantifies salmon foraging habitat enhancement via side channel construction.   

 

Luis, S., and G. Pasternack. 2023. Local hydraulics influence habitat selection and swimming behavior in adult California Central Valley Chinook salmon at a large river confluence. Fisheries Research, 261, 106634. 

 

Luis, S., and P. Roni. 2022. Assessment of Baseline Riparian Vegetation Conditions within the Columbia River System. Report prepared for the Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR.   

 

Heublein, J., R. Bellmer, R. D. Chase, P. Doukakis, M. Gingras, D. Hampton, J. A. Israel, Z. J. Jackson, R. C. Johnson, O. P. Langness, and S. Luis. 2017. Improved fisheries management through life stage monitoring: The case for the southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon and the Sacramento- San Joaquin River white sturgeon. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SWFSC-588. 35p.

 

Luis, S. 2016. National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion for the Miner Slough Bridge Replacement Project. U.S. Department of Commerce. WCR-2016-4900. 68p.

 

Luis, S. 2015. National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion for the Lower American River Anadromous Fish Habitat Restoration Program. U.S. Department of Commerce. WCR-2015-2703. 96p.

 

Fowler, C. and S. Luis. 2014. We are not asking management questions. U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA Technical Memo. NMFS-AFSC-267. 48 p.

 

Pool, T. K., S. Luis, and J. D. Olden. 2013. Assessing lethal dissolved oxygen tolerance for invasive tunicate Ciona savignyi in Puget Sound. Northwest Science 87(2): 106-113.

 

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Senior Biologist
B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology/Environmental Science
Phone: (206) 905-6600

 

Issaquah, Washington

Shelby is skilled in collecting, processing, and analyzing data for a variety of monitoring and assessment projects throughout the Northwest, with an emphasis in the Columbia River Basin. She has experience surveying streams for physical and biological attributes, such as stream topography, large woody debris, and fish abundance observed via snorkel survey and other fish capture techniques. She is experienced in survey methods to map habitats and measure substrate composition, flow, slope, channel conditions, and riparian composition and shading. Shelby helps to plan and lead field crews in large-scale habitat assessments and restoration monitoring projects. Prior to her work at CFS, Shelby worked on multiple projects investigating salmon survival and abundance in the Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and Alaska. Shelby is skilled in GIS and R programming and performs analysis, mapping, QA/QC, and data management. She contributes to many aspects of projects, including, generating and refining protocols, leading data analysis and reporting, and presenting at conferences and to stakeholders. 

Selected Publications

 

Roni, P., C. Clark, M. Krall, S. Burgess, and K. Ross. 2020. Bonneville Power Administration Action Effectiveness Monitoring Program – 2019 Annual Report. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Project Number 2016-001-00, Portland, Oregon.

 

Clark, C., P. Roni, and S. Burgess. 2019. Response of juvenile salmonids to large wood placement in Columbia River tributaries. Hydrobiologia 842(1):173-190.

 

Burgess, S., K. Ross, C. Clark, M. Krall, D. Arterburn, and J. Hall. 2019. Lower Mainstem Nooksack River salmon habitat assessment. Draft Report to Whatcom County Public Works Department, Bellingham, WA.

 

Hall, J. E., K. Ceder, S. Burgess, D. Arterburn, C. Clark, K. Ross, and P. Roni. 2019. Upper Wenatchee pilot project: aquatic habitat assessment and restoration strategy. Final Report to the United States Forest Service, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth, WA.

 

Roni, P., C. Clark, M. Krall, S. Burgess, and K. Ross. 2019. Bonneville Power Administration Action Effectiveness Monitoring Program – 2018 Annual Report. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Project Number 2016-001-00, Portland, Oregon.

 

Roni, R., T. De Boer, C. Clark, and S. Burgess. 2018. Spring Chinook egg-to-fry survival in the Twisp river basin. Final Report to Douglas County Public Utility District, East Wenatchee, Washington.

 

Burgess, S., E. W. Jackson, L. Schwarzman, N. Gezon, and J. T. Lehman. 2015. Improved estimates of calanoid copepod biomass in the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research 41: 484-491.

 

Dethier, M. N., A. Brown, S. Burgess, M. E. Eisenlord, A. W. E. Galloway, J. Kimber, A. T. Lowe, C. M. O’Neil, W. R. Raymond, E. A. Sosik, and D. O. Duggins. 2014. Degrading detritus: Changes in food quality of aging kelp tissue varies with species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 460:72-79.

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Restoration Engineer II

B.S. Civil/Environmental Engineering, M.S. Hydrology

Phone: (888) 224-1221

Boise, Idaho

Tyler is a Restoration Engineer with extensive experience in water resources and hydraulic engineering in the Pacific Northwest. His experience includes aquatic habitat restoration design, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, sediment modeling, large wood design, floodplain mapping, geomorphic and habitat assessment, and hydrometric surveying. Tyler’s diverse background includes experience at every step of a project from prioritization and planning to site assessment, literature review, data collection and surveying, modeling and design, permitting, and construction. This experience allows for an interdisciplinary, process-based understanding of project delivery. He has experience developing hydrologic and hydraulic models such as HEC-RAS, SRH-2D, River2D, HEC-HMS, HPSF, MGSFlood, HY-8, SWAT, WMS, SWMM, and StormShed.  He is an experienced jet boat and raft operator in lakes, rivers, and deltas, including for the purposes of topobathymetric and hydrometric surveys. Tyler has experience working on a broad range of river engineering projects such as culvert replacements, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, floodplain mapping, and bank erosion/scour protection.

Selected Publications

 

Collins, V. and T. Rockhill. 2021. Oso Landslide Memorial Site Hydraulic Analysis, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for Snohomish County Parks and Recreation.

 

Collins, V., Payne, J., Rockhill, T., Nelson, A., Dufficy, A., and M. Ohrt. 2021. Abbott Levee Habitat Improvement Project: 100% Basis of Design Report, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District.

 

Collins, T., Brown, J. and T. Rockhill. 2021. Ferndale Levee Improvement Project Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Geomorphology Existing Conditions Report, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District.

 

Dillon, P., Brooks, P. and T. Rockhill. 2020. Avondale Road Erosion Existing Hydrologic and Hydraulic Conditions, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for City of Redmond.

 

Collins, V., Leytham, M. and T. Rockhill. 2020. Coweeman River Levee Raise Hydrograph Development Memorandum, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for Shannon & Wilson.

 

Bennett, T., Rockhill, T., and D. Jones. 2020. Maddox Creek/Big Ditch Alternatives Evaluation, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc, prepared for Skagit County Drainage and Irrigation District #17

 

Washington State Department of Transportation. 2018. SR 529 Steamboat Slough Mitigation Site.

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2017. Wyoming Stream Quantification Tool (WSQT) User Manual and Spreadsheet. Beta Version.

 

Meixner, T., Papuga S.A., Luketich, A.M., Rockhill, T., Gallo, E.L., Anderson, J., Salgado, L. Pope, K. Gupta, N., Korgaonkar, Y., Guertin, D.P. 2017. Green Infrastructure Increases Biogeochemical Responsiveness, Vegetation Growth and Decreases Runoff in a Semi-Arid City, Tucson, AZ, USA.  American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2017, abstract #H34H-06.

 

Tyler Rockhill.  2017. Influence of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties on Soil CO2 Efflux in Semi-Arid Green Stormwater Infrastructure.  Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. University of Arizona. Master’s Thesis.

 

Chatel, J., and Vouno, S., 2012 Sawtooth Bull Trout Management Indicator Species Monitoring Report, United States Forest Service

 

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