Seth Wenger, Associate Director
swenger@uga.edu
(706) 207-0440

Curriculum vitae

Seth Wenger conducts applied ecological research and environmental policy development. Current areas of research include:

• Developing predictive models of fish occurrence and abundance to guide species management policies of the US Fish and Wildlife Service;
• Developing novel methods for estimating abundances of fish in rivers;
• Investigating the use of surrogate species and Bayesian statistical methods to model rare species;
• Estimating the impacts of proposed reservoirs on imperiled fish species;
• Developing new policies for local governments to meet state regulations limiting impervious area in water supply watersheds.

Past projects have included:

• Coordinating the development of the Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan;
• Developing volume-based stormwater management performance standards;
• Developing scientifically-based guidelines for riparian buffer regulations;
• Coauthoring a greenspace protection plan for Gwinnett County , GA ;
• Coauthoring a guidebook on conservation subdivisions for Georgia .

Seth holds MS and PhD degrees in Ecology from the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology. He has worked with the River Basin Center and its predecessors since 1999.

Tim Carter, Urban Ecologist
tlcarter@gmail.com
(706) 542-7665

Tim Carter works on the Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan, the Initiative for Watershed Excellence: Upper Altamaha Pilot Project, and various coastal issues. He received his PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia. His dissertation research focused on the use of green roofs for stormwater management.

Christine Rodick, Coordinator, Initiative for Watershed Excellence Upper Altamaha Pilot Project
christine.rodick@gmail.com
(706) 542-9745

Christine Rodick is the Coordinator of the Initiative for Watershed Excellence, Upper Altamaha Pilot Project. Christine works directly with stakeholders to support efforts that restore and protect rivers, while strengthening the infrastructure that fosters community involvement in the protection of aquatic resources. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Biology. Her research focused on forest regeneration after hurricanes, with a special focus on floodplain forests.

Beth Gavrilles, Web Manager
bethgav@uga.edu
(706) 542-7247

Beth Gavrilles is the Web Manager for the River Basin Center. She received her MFA from the University of Georgia.

Maggie Nettles, Administrative Associate
mnettles@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Maggie Nettles is the Administrative Associate for the River Basin Center. She received her PhD in English at the University of Georgia.

Tammy Andros, Graduate Assistant
andros@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Tammy Andros is pursuing a Masters in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development under the direction of Ron Carroll. She received her BA from the University of Georgia. Her interests include green roofs, native plant communities (GA and Piedmont), human effects on the environment and sustainable development practices. She is particularly interested in the potential use of granite outcrop plant communities in a green roof environment and its application to conservation and sustainable development.

Dean Hardy, Graduate Assistant
rdhardy@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Dean Hardy is pursuing an MS in Ecology under the direction of Laurie Fowler. He received his BS in Ecology and Biology from the University of Georgia in 2003. Dean spent his time between his undergrad and graduate careers working with the US EPA and US NPS working in the areas of stream ecology (specifically assisting with research focused on effects of urbanization on streams) and application of GIS to park natural resource management. His research at RBC involves mapping ecosystems services of the upper Oconee River watershed for use by local land trusts in their prioritization of private lands for new easement purchases and reevaluation of currently held easements. His project is funded through the Georgia Forestry Commission's Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program.

Danny O'Brien, Graduate Assistant
dannyob@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Danny O'Brien is currently pursuing an MS in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Developlment under the direction of Laurie Fowler. He received a BA in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State University. He is interested in watershed and riparian habitat protection, water quality, environmental planning, and fostering sustainable communities. His research at UGA is funded through the Initiative for Watershed Excellence: Upper Altamaha Pilot Project. He is working on a guidebook for local strategies to help communities manage nonpoint sources of water pollution.

Jennifer Pahl, Graduate Assistant
jplourde@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Jennifer Pahl is pursuing a Masters in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development under the direction of Ron Carroll. She received her B.S. in Integrated Natural Resources from the University of Vermont, with a minor in Plant and Soil Science. Jennifer is interested in how flow dynamics, climate change and herbivory influence the productivity of submerged macrophytes and periphyton in the shoal habitat of southeastern rivers. Her work focuses specifically on Podostemum ceratophyllum (riverweed), and its associated periphyton. Her research at UGA is funded through the Initiative for Watershed Excellence: Upper Altamaha Pilot Project.

Kelly Siragusa, Graduate Assistant
ksiragus@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

Kelly Siragusa is a pursuing a Masters in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development at the UGA Odum School of Ecology. Her thesis research is on assessing the performance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ecological benefits of varying approaches of Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation. She will be completing her Masters in May, 2008. Kelly is also assisting with the Initiative for Watershed Excellence: Upper Altamaha Pilot Project. She has a B.S. in Biology from Oglethorpe University.