Tyra Byers, Sustainability Coordinator
tyrab@uga.edu
(706) 542-7615

Tyra Byers is the sustainability coordinator for the River Basin Center. She is currently working with UGA on water sustainability for the protection and restoration of the Oconee River. Her past experience includes sustainability at the University of New Hampshire, environmental education and management for the San Juan Islands Conservation District, and county planning. She holds a Masters of Environmental Science and Management from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she investigated the watershed impacts of land use change, and a Bachelors of Science in conservation and resource studies from the University of California at Berkeley.

Tim Carter, Urban Ecologist
tlcarter@gmail.com
(706) 542-6821

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.

Katie Sheehan, Legal Fellow
katiesheehan80@gmail.com
706-542-7615

Katie Sheehan is the Legal Fellow at the River Basin Center. Her work has thus far focused on developing law and policy related solutions to environmental issues faced by local Georgia governments. Katie has developed model ordinances for wetlands protection in coastal Georgia, conducted community code reviews and revisions to promote sustainable site design standards, and written various memos for local and state agencies, including those focused on federal laws. She is interested in developing guidance and regulatory models designed to assist communities address issues with failing septic systems and utilize alternative wastewater technology. Katie received her J.D. cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2008.

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.

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 at UGA under the direction of Ron Carroll. She received her BA from the University of Georgia . Between her undergraduate and graduate careers, Tammy spent a decade in academic research financial administration, dabbling in horticulture and landscape architecture studies along the way. Her interests include human effects on the environment and sustainable development methods, green roofs in particular. She is currently working on a project with UGA faculty from Bio & Ag Engineering, the Odum School of Ecology, and the School of Environmental Design along with a private corporation, Industrial Developments International, Inc. (IDI). IDI is an industrial real estate firm based in Atlanta that initiated a project with UGA for assistance with increasing their sustainable development practices. The project focuses on a site currently under development in Jefferson , GA. Tammy intends to create a case study of the project for her thesis. Her work is funded through a grant from IDI.

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.

Casey Hill, Graduate Assistant
hill@uga.edu
(706) 583-0463

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.