SUMMER 2018 - SURVEY OF WESTERN U.S. STREAMS

In summer 2018, I am leading a new team of research assistants on my second 2.5 week stream survey and road trip. This time, we're visiting three high-elevation streams between northeast Washington and northeast California, stopping midway at the H.J. Andrews Forest along the McKenzie Highway. Scroll down for a map and some images.

At each of the three locations, we'll complete a full survey of local fishes, stream invertebrates, and in-stream physical habitat. As part of an all-minority group, each member of this new 2018 Team is gaining an immersive, hands-on experience in stream ecology while bonding with some new peers and figuring out if he/she may be interested in pursuing further studies in ecology or environmental science.

We're live! Click here to follow the adventure. . .

The 2018 Team

Felisha Walls

Felisha re-joins the Team after helping lead the 2017 Team and completing the first year of her PhD studies in the Integrative Life Sciences program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Felisha has a lot of prior experience in applied stream ecology and riparian restoration, but is now transitioning to new research on the co-drivers of environmental and human health, with a particular emphasis on environmental justice. She consistently impresses with her motivation, maturity and patience, and she is changing the public persona of a high level environmental scientist.

Vanessa Czeszynski

Vanessa is a 2nd year McNair Scholar at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, majoring in Biology (Aquatic Science emphasis) and minoring in Chemistry and Spanish. She is currently working for the U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, studying water quality along the Upper Mississippi River. She is well on her way to graduate studies in freshwater ecology and/or fish biology, but keep things real with personal interests in running, camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and gardening.

Adriana Diaz

Adriana is entering the final year of her undergraduate studies in Environmental Sciences at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has prior experience studying water quality in the Rio Grande delta, but also assists in taphonomic research on bird skeletal structure. She is also preparing to begin graduate studies in ecology or environmental science and has taught elementary students about water quality and wetland ecology. When she has time, she enjoys reading, hiking, birding and photography.

Khalil Carson

Khalil is on track to complete his Bachelor's degree in Biology this Fall at Georgia Southern University. He has a lot of prior experience working in southern Coastal Plain streams and is psyched to see some western mountain streams. He is interested in a variety of career paths, including university-level teaching and work as an applied freshwater ecologist. As a former D-1 basketball player, Khalil is literally the 'Big' on the 2018 Team.

The Route

First stop, Falls Creek, a 2nd order tributary to the Chewuch/Methow Rivers in eastern Washington. To access the site, we'll drive through North Cascades Park, past Liberty Bell peak, and down to the colorful, historical town of Winthrop. Falls Creek is a gorgeous stream with an abundance of cutthroat trout and the things they like to eat.

Next, we'll visit Lookout Creek at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, up past Blue River on the McKenzie Highway and not too far from the incredible McKenzie Pass Observatory. This site is part of the new National Ecological Observatory Network and has a long history of outstanding fieldwork, orchestrated by Oregon State U.

Finally, we'll move on to Sagehen Creek at the Sagehen Field Station, just north of Lake Tahoe. This beautiful, eastern Sierra stream has been tracked closely over the years by legendary fish ecologist Peter Moyle and will provide a perfect, final destination for the trip. Lots of fish and invertebrates swimming around up here!