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Executive Director, Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) kwallace@umrba.org

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I've worked for UMRBA since 2008. Through UMRBA, the five Upper Miss basin states develop joint regional positions, advocate their collective interests before Congress and the federal agencies, and facilitate and foster interagency coordination, cooperation, and

communication. One of the best perks of this job is watching all of UMRR's tremendous accomplishments every year.

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I joined the Bellevue LTRM in spring of 2021. I currently serve as the aquatic vegetation component lead.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Monitoring Coordinator, Office of Great Waters, WDNR, madeline.magee@wisconsin.gov

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I've lived my whole life in some part of the Mississippi River Basin. My background is hydrodynamic and water quality modeling and climate change impacts to water resources. I've been the Mississippi River and Great Lakes monitoring coordinator at WDNR since 2018. Before joining WDNR, I did a PhD (Engineering) and postdoc (Center for Limnology) at UW Madison.

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USACE Rock Island District. Environmental Geologist, UMRR - monitoring, reporting, research on District HREPs. Also deal with contaminants/HTRW issues....and whatever else comes up...gypsum dissolution under dams, sediments, nutrients, forested berm macro/micronutrients.

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(Menominee River Lake Sturgeon) Fish and Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, Southern Illinois Sub-Office, matthew_mangan@fws.gov

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I started working with the USFWS on threatened and endangered species recovery and Mississippi River coordination in 2007 and have been actively engaged with UMR restoration and planning since that time.  I am originally from Southern MN and currently am stationed in Southern Illinois.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Urbana, IL

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I have been a hydrologist at the USGS since 2016. My background is in fluvial geomorphology and I am involved in research aimed at mitigating the spread of invasive carps in the Midwest. I am also interested in fluvial erosion hazards.

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Originally from Anoka, MN, I grew up swimming and boating on the Mississippi River. Currently, I am a Research Ecologist with USGS in La Crosse, WI and the PI for the Water Quality Component of LTRM, where I've been since 2016.  I feel privileged to work with this great group to collect important long-term data on the Upper Mississippi and do research that helps us better understand and manage the river.  My research focuses on aquatic productivity, winter ecology and habitat, and nutrients.

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Cultural Worker & Interdisciplinary artist. Lives & works as a guest on Cahuilla & Yuhaviatam/Maarenga'yam land. www.blancasvillalobos.com

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Hi ya'll, I'll be supporting Stephanie Dashiell on tech & facilitation for your science meeting!

I am a cultural worker & interdisciplinary artist; in the last 4 years I have had the opportunity of leading hikes & creating outdoor programming across the PNW and Southern CA as a backcountry guide and CA Naturalist. I've recently returned to academia to study Natural Resources to develop a more holistic lens in my conservation work. Excited to be here and learn about your work! Please don't hesitate to reach out for tech support along the way.

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Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul

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UMR restoration planning, environmental assessment, coordination, and research for 14 years. Study areas of interest include forest soil ecology and freshwater mussels.

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LTRM Aquatic Vegetation Specialist, MN DNR

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I have been a part of the UMRR-LTRM since the summer of 2016 and really enjoy working on The River. Previously I worked in the Pacific Northwest where much of my research and monitoring experiences were in the fields of herpetology, disturbance ecology, and GIS.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Forester, US Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office St Louis District, brian.w.stoff@usace.army.mil

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I grew up in southwestern Illinois and started working on the river in 2009 doing forest monitoring and habitat management. I joined the US Army Corps of Engineers Rivers Project - St Louis District in 2018 as a forester. I currently oversee forest management on USACE owned areas within Mississippi River pools 24-26 and the lower Illinois River.

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Project Manager, USACE-MVR, Rock Island, IL

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I joined the Rock Island USACE team as a project manager just four weeks ago. I previously studied integrative biology at the University of Iowa. I'm excited to be involved in my first science meeting with UMRR and learn more about ecosystem restoration from all of you!

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I am an assistant professor of biology and zoology at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Formerly, I was the WQ specialist for the Open River reach from 2018-2021. I'm interested in water quality, restoration, and invertebrates

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I've lived and worked in four of the five UMRB states (WI, IA, IL, and MN). I joined the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) as Policy and Programs Director in Fall 2018. In my position, I facilitate interagency coordination related to ecosystem and navigation issues including floodplain management, channel maintenance and sediment management, flood risk, and ecosystem restoration.

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Born and raised in Illinois near the confluence of the Rock and the Mississippi, I gained an appreciation for The River at an early age. I am fascinated with the ecology of Midwestern forests and how their production subsidizes the food webs of one of the world’s largest river systems. Since 2018, I have been one of the fortunate few to have an influence on the forest management and ecological knowledge in the URMS. I currently reside with my small family near the confluence of the Black River and Mississippi Rivers in Wisconsin.

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I've been working on the river as a terrestrial ecologist at the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center since 2005. My interests are in the area of floodplain forest ecology and management.

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I have worked at the Bellevue LTRM station since 2008. This year I transition to a new role as the fish component lead, before that I was the water quality component lead.

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Big Rivers Science Unit Supervisor, MDC, Cape Girardeau, MO (image circa 2003: Pallid Sturgeon) dave.herzog@mdc.mo.gov 

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LTRM was the beginning of my professional biologist career as a Fisheries component assistant in 1991. The Big Rivers science unit now engages in diverse, science informed, management evaluations and research projects to inform regulatory and applied management decisions.

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Mississippi River Habitat Coordinator, Iowa DNR

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I've worked on the river since 2005. I work with our partners in implementing UMRR HREPs and with channel maintenance activities.

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Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, UMESC.

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I’ve conducted research on birds on and near the UMR since 1991. I began my work in the UMR documenting Double Crested Cormorant abundance and distribution. Other earlier work included secretive marsh bird surveys and Heron and Egret habitat and fish associations. Most of my work has been on a wide range of studies of wet meadow and floodplain forest songbirds, including breeding and spring migration season habitat use and community composition.

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I am a fisheries biologist for the Iowa DNR for nearly the past 34 years presently at Bellevue, Iowa. I serve on numerous committees on the River such as the Mussel Conservation Team and the FWIC. Presently I am chairperson of the A-team and also the chairperson of the UMRCC Mussel Technical Section.

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Lead Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, brian.r.miranda@usda.gov

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I work on forest simulation modeling with the US Forest Service as a model user and developer of the LANDIS-II simulation model. I have been involved in some collaborative work with USGS UMESC on modeling projects in the past. As I recently relocated to La Crosse, WI, I am seeking more opportunities to collaborate on forest modeling projects.

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One of many Nov. sampling events to learn about backwater fish habitat use prior to ice up.

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I've been working on the Mississippi River since 1990 as the Mississippi River Habitat Specialist for the Wisconsin DNR -La Crosse.  I have worked on 35+ HREPs from start to finish, reviewed all of the EMP/UMRR reports to congress, facilitated 15 Miss. R. teacher workshops and fast approaching more time in meetings during my career than hours out on the River.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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I started as the MDC Open River LTRM WQ specialist in 2012 and moved in the Systems Ecologist position in 2017. My work has focused predominantly on off-channel habitats and zooplankton so far.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Water Quality Specialist Manager-LTE, WDNR, LTRM, La Crosse, WI

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I have worked with the WDNR since 2019 based out of La Crosse as a water quality manager specialist-LTE for the Mississippi river covering pools 3-11. I now have a two LTE positions the other working for the LTRM water quality monitoring program in Pool 8.

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Pool 4 LTRM Water Quality Specialist and original member of the Lake City Field Station. Started in January of 1990, back when we would navigate to sites with maps and landmarks.

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I am the Branch Chief of the Geospatial Sciences & Technologies Branch at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. I have been with the Center since 1996. I enjoy gardening, hiking, fishing, and spending time with my kids.

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Biologist, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. jdelaney@usgs.gov

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I have worked with the USGS since 2019. My research interests are climate change adaptation, community ecology, restoration, and species and habitat distribution modeling.

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Assistant Professor of fisheries science- have worked on Mississippi River fisheries issues over the last 15 years- what a cool river!

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USACE Biologist. I grew up hunting/fishing the Miss just outside of St Louis in Alton, IL. I joined the Corps in 2016 while in grad school, where I investigated Neotropical migrant bird use of floodplain forest in Pools 24-26. I currently work in the Rock Island District and live in Dixon, IL.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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I have worked on the UMR since 2019 when I started with Audubon. My work involves all things bird science up and down the river, including conservation plans, monitoring, analyses and more. My main focus being bottomland forest bird species and relaying their detections and habitat preferences to active habitat management and restoration.

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I have worked for the Lake City field station since 2016 as a Natural Resource Specialist. I mainly assist the LTRM fisheries specialist but also help the other two components. My current research interests include zooplankton population dynamics and fish diet compositions.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Hello everyone! I am an independent consultant and facilitator and will be supporting your 2022 Science Meeting. I am based in Joshua Tree, CA and have worked in desert ecosystem conservation for over a decade. My educational background is in ecology and evolutionary biology and conservation planning. Honored to be joining you all this week and looking forward to learning about the UMRS!

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I started working on the UMRS as a student intern with the Corps in 2014 and was introduced to LTRM WQ data while working on my thesis, investigating adaptive management effects on nutrient dynamics in HREP backwaters.  I also had the great fortune to do a temporary interagency detail at the USGS-UMESC, where I collected and analyzed a variety of LTRM component data with field and laboratory staff.  I currently serve as the Rock Island District’s LTRM liaison and serve as the lead environmental planner on several HREPs.

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Biologist/GIS Analyst, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, jrohweder@usgs.gov

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I have worked at UMESC since 1996 primarily with decision support tool development, spatial analysis, and database management. I have been involved recently with the development of several UMR-specific products including weighted wind fetch, submersed aquatic vegetation, and forest succession models.

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Lead Forester, US Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District, La Crescent, MN.

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I oversee the operational forest management program for Corps-owned lands in Mississippi River pools 1-10 and provide technical support for forest management and restoration to the UMRR program.

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I have been working on the UMR since 1999. My first summer job was collecting submersed aquatic vegetation in Pool 8, and I instantly became a river rat. Lately, my research has focused on understanding biogeochemical processing in the river corridor to help managers improve water quality.

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Supervisory Wildlife Biologist with the Rivers Project Office, MVS, USACE. I started working on the UMRS in 1994 as a technician with the LTRM Program at the Alton Field Station. Joined the USACE in 2009. My interests are in habitat management in a large river ecosystem.

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Pool 4 LTRM Fisheries Specialist with the MN DNR since 1993.  

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LTRM Water Quality Specialist La Crosse 

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I have been doing LTRM water quality monitoring in Pool 8 since 2012. Other projects/interest include backwater sedimentation rate monitoring, identifying constraints on aquatic vegetation, and understanding how ice and under ice/ habitat conditions vary within the winter season across backwaters.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Hydrologist, USGS-UMESC, La Crosse, WI. aavaughan@usgs.gov

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I joined USGS-UMESC last year and have been enjoying learning about the UMR and exploring the Driftless area and its rivers. My work in the UMR is focused on mapping hydrogeomorphic settings and understanding geomorphic change in the system.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Fishery Biologist with the Corps, St. Paul District. Been here since 2009. I do a lot of armchair biology, but itching to get out.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Pool 8 LTRM Fish Specialist with Wisconsin DNR since June, 1989.  I'm starting to like fish.

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Research Scientist at Missouri State University. My research interests broadly focuses on large rivers. Specifically, I am interested in using basic and applied biology and ecology to inform management.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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I have been an LTRM fisheries specialist with MDC since 2013. My interests include music, hiking, mushroom hunting, and good conversation.

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UMRR LTRM project manager,
Rock Island District Corps of Engineers.

I've worked in LTRM since 2006 and love the collaboration of all the people working to understand and restore our rivers.

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Hydraulic Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District

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I have worked as a hydraulic engineer for USACE Rock Island District for 6 years. I support ecosystem restoration and flood risk management projects with hydraulic and hydrologic analysis and modeling.

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I have worked as a civil-hydraulic engineer for the Rock Island District USACE largely in support of the UMRR program, evaluating and designing HREPs, for the last 15 years.  I am interested in understanding how the river is changing under changing hydrometeorological conditions and land use, and how this impacts the way we do restoration and management.

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Biologist, US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, IL

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I started with USACE about a year ago as a Biologist in Environmental Planning in Rock Island. I am a Fisheries Biologist by training but worked in LTRM as the Vegetation Specialist in Pool 13 for 4 years.

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I have worked within the LTRM element of UMRR for the Wisconsin DNR since 2002. First as a WQ Technician, then a Fisheries Technician and finally my current position as a Mississippi River Field Operations Specialist.

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I work as the Miss. River Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Lake City MN. I have been working on the Mississippi River since 2019.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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42" 27.75 lb Northern Pike from Lake Pepin

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I work as the Large Lake Specialist for Lake Pepin/Pool 4 with the Minnesota DNR in Lake City MN. Each of the 10 largest lakes in Minnesota has an assigned biologist conducting annual monitoring, and I have now worked on four of them (Lake of the Woods 2006-2008, Rainy and Kabetogama 2008-2011, and Pepin 2011- present). Our annual sampling is primarily focused on gamefish species, but my position provides the flexibility to explore my interests in other areas as well. I also am the Minnesota representative and former chair for the UMRCC Fisheries Technical Committee and the A-Team.

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LTRM Fish Component Specialist, INHS-IRBS Havana, IL. kmaxs87@illinois.edu

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I work for the Illinois Natural History Survey as an UMRR-LTRM Fish Component Specialist at the Illinois River Biological Station (IRBS). From 2009-2013 I worked on the LTRM Fish and Water Quality projects as a technician at the Great Rivers Field Station on Pool 26 before joining IRBS in 2016. I have broad interests in aquatic communities including fisheries, herpetology, and zooplankton.

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I work for the Illinois Natural History Survey as the LTRM Water Quality Component Specialist (since 2000).

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I have been working at UMESC for ~10 years. I mostly study nutrient biogeochemistry, harmful algal blooms and invasive species.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Aquatic Vegetation Specialist, WI DNR, La Crosse, alicia.carhart@wisconsin.gov

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I have worked within the UMRR-LTRM program since 2014 and have been the Aquatic Vegetation Specialist in La Crosse since 2021. My background is in water quality, macrophyte dynamics, and GIS.

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I am a fish biologist at USGS UMESC. My focuses are spatial ecology and ecological niche modeling. My research at UMESC has primarily focused on native freshwater mussel conservation.

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Supervisory Ecologist, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI. cchurchi@usgs.gov. With a diamondback water snake (Nerodia rhombifer).

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I worked as a Supervisory Hydrologist at the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center North Texas Branch in Fort Worth, TX (Water Mission Area) from 2009 until June 2021, when I joined the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in La Crosse, WI (Ecosystem Mission Area). As a researcher, I study invasion ecology, aquatic toxicology, and water quality. Currently, I serve as Chief of the Ecological Sciences Branch at UMESC.

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Supervisory Research Hydrologist, Columbia Environmental Research Center

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I facilitate a research team of 30 scientists engaged in interdisciplinary research on large-river ecology. My background is in geomorphology, hydrology, habitat dynamics, and applications of science in decision making.

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I have been a biologist at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center since 1990. Early in my career, I helped design the LTRM invertebrate monitoring component and conducted research on a variety of benthos including Hexagenia mayflies and fingernail clams. More recent research has focused on the conservation of native freshwater mussels and understanding the effects of contaminants on mussels.

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For the past 3 years, I have been a large river ecologist and the field station director for the Illinois River Biological Station, Illinois Natural History and the UMRR LTRM project lead for the La Grange Reach. I cut my teeth on the LTRM program back in 2000-2007 as a technician at the INHS Great Rivers Field Station (Pool 26). Interested in trends in fish and water quality in large rivers, invasive fish management, and drivers of sportfish growth and recruitment. I will be leading the macroinvertebrate work group this science meeting.

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Biologist, USGS-UMESC, La Crosse, WI; jstrange@usgs.gov

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Hey all, I've been with USGS-UMESC for about 8 years working mostly on elevation datasets (lidar, bathymetry & topobathy). My background is in biology and GIS. I lead our hydroacoustic team in the Geospatial Sciences and Technologies branch and also manage our GIS lab. My research and passion is in topographic and bathymetric mapping.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Upper Mississippi River Fisheries Biologist-IL DNR

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I've been in my position since June 2019, managing the fishery in Pools 12-17. I am also wrapping up my term at the UMRCC Fish Technical Session Chairperson this Spring. This is my first Science Meeting.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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I am a geographer with USGS-UMESC in La Crosse, Wisconsin. My primary interests are land use/land cover mapping and aquatic vegetation. I am also a graduate student at UW-La Crosse focusing on emergent aquatic vegetation.

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I work for the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association on water quality and ecosystem restoration projects (specifically WLM).
I'm a Momma as of August 2021 :)

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Water Quality Specialist at Iowa DNR in Bellevue, IA ashley.johnson@dnr.iowa.gov

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I have been the LTRM water quality specialist in Bellevue, IA since July 2021. So far I love working on pool 13 and am thrilled to be a part of LTRM. My research interests include phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms, and zooplankton. This will be my first science meeting.

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I work for the Illinois Natural History Survey as the LTRM Fish Component Specialist at the Great River's Field Station (GRFS) in Alton, IL.  I started as a technician at IRBS in Havana, IL doing LTRM work in 1995 and have been at the GRFS primarily doing LTRM fisheries work since 2000.

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I was born and raised in Nebraska but my family frequently vacationed in Minnesota - I think my photo is from a vacation to Leech Lake and was probably my first trip to the state I now live in.  In the photo I'm guessing someone took my binky and I was upset.

I work for the USFWS Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge as a Wildlife Biologist in the refuge's HQ office.  I work with the UMRRR and other partnerships in multiple ways - FWWG representative, A-team representative, and multiple HREP planning teams, to name a few.

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I've been with LTRM only a short time. I worked at the Lake City Field Station over the summer and now work at the La Crosse Field Station. I am particularly interested in water plants. This will be my first science meeting.

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Lake City Field Station LTRM Supervisor, MN Dept of Natural Resources, nicole.ward@state.mn.us

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I just joined UMRR program about a month ago. My primary research interest is in interactions between ecosystem change and human decision-making. I'm originally from SE Minnesota and worked for the MN DNR on native mussel research from 2006 - 2013. Then, I left the upper Midwest to complete a masters at the University of Idaho and a PhD at Virginia Tech. I returned to the Midwest in Aug 2021 for a short post-doc w/Madeline Magee at WDNR. I'm excited to be back "home" on the Mighty Mississippi!

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Associate Professor in Silviculture, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. mwind@umn.edu

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I am a silviculturist and applied forest ecologist who explores climate adaptive forest management, as well as, considering management for multiple objectives. I have been at Minnesota since the fall of 2015. This will be my first Science meeting.

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Operations GIS Support and Navigation Chart Lead, Rock Island District US Army Corps of Engineers. daniel.j.mcbride@usace.army.mil

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I've been with the Corps of Engineers at Rock Island since 2000 doing mainly GIS work for various offices. Since 2010 I've been responsible for navigation charts and supported dredging operations with hydrographic survey mapping. My main focus is in topographic and bathymetric data collection, sharing, and mapping.

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Fluvial Geomorphologist, Department of Geography and Earth Science, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. cbelby@uwlax.edu

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I am a geomorphologist that has taught at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse since 2009. My research has included human impacts on the Mississippi River, including backwater sedimentation, carbon and phosphorus accumulation, and heavy metal contamination.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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2020 UWL Colin Belby Virtual Field Trip Geography 0156

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Postdoctoral researcher, University of Wisconsin - Madison, rjmooney@wisc.edu

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My research focuses on how spatial and temporal factors combine to affect water quality in freshwater ecosystems throughout the Midwest. I've been working with LTRM for the last year, and my main project has focused on modeling habitat suitability in backwaters throughout the UMRS.

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Research Hydrologist, USGS-Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Madison, WI fafitzpa@usgs.gov
My favorite thing to do is to try and listen and help rivers tell their story -- where they've been, what's ailing them, where they want to go, and how we might help them get there (diagnostic geomorphology).  And I get to do it for a job.

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With UMRR/LTRM for 20+ years. Team Leader at Iowa DNR LTRM field office since 2008. WQ component specialist here for 6 years prior to that. River Rat since I could walk.

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Biologist, USGS-UMESC, La Crosse, WI Astrassman@usgs.gov

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I’ve been with USGS-UMESC for about 12 years working on vegetation mapping and aerial imagery interpretation. I have a history in field ecology including 5+ years at the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program surveying for RTE species and communities. I’m currently leading the UMESC team mapping the UMRR 2020 LCU.

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I'm a Large River Fisheries Ecologist at Great Rivers Field Station (Illinois Natural History Survey). There, I am the field station leader for the Long-term Survey and Assessment of Large-River Fishes in Illinois (LTEF) project but also assist with both the Fish and Water Quality components of LTRM. This will only be my second UMRR Science meeting since I took this position in 2019 and I'm excited to see where our collaboration goes.

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Fish & Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Illinois-Iowa Ecological Services Field Office, lauren_larson@fws.gov

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I have worked on the UMRS since beginning my M.Sc. in 2019. My research interests include migratory bird ecology, invertebrate dynamics, and remote sensing.

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Ecologist, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, La Crosse WI

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I joined LTRM in 2016. My research spans community ecology, geography, hydrology & hydraulics, and geomorphology. I'm particularly fond of floodplain forest ecosystems.

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Assistant Professor, Biology Department, University of Wisconsin La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. rvandervorste@uwlax.edu

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Studying macroinvertebrates throughout the Upper Mississippi River in field and lab-based projects. Two current projects include looking at differences in invertebrate communities across side-channels and identifying environmental factors that drive insect emergence.

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Fish and Wildlife Biologist. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois-Iowa Ecological Services Field Office. sara_schmuecker@fws.gov

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I have worked on UMR resource conservation and recovery since 2014. Although I enjoy the diversity of habitats and resources that comprise the river system, I am particularly interested in freshwater mussel resources and landscape-scale conservation.

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I am a Fish Component Specialist on the La Grange pool of the Illinois River with the Illinois Natural History Survey. I have been in this role since 2011, but I have been with the LTRM since 2006. My interests include invasive species impacts on existing fish communities and status/trends/life history of sport and commercial fishes.

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Director Forbes Biological Station, Assistant Research Scientist Illinois Natural History Survey. Based in Havana, IL. auriel@illinois.edu

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We work on broad range of projects at Forbes focused on waterfowl, wetland birds and wetland management along the IL and MS rivers.

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Supervisory Biologist, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), La Crosse, WI. jsauer@usgs.gov

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Have to admit, I am an "old-timer" with LTRM! Started in 1991 as a field technician doing WQ, veg., and mussel work; transitioned into an "acting" position for 10-years as macroinvertebrate component lead, and am now Branch Chief for the LTRM Branch at UMESC.

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Senior Ecologist, US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, MN

I am a long-time Senior Ecologist and Environmental Planner for the Corps of Engineers and have been involved with the UMRR LTRM Program for the last 2 and a half years. I am a big picture Ecologist and a Wetland Specialist, and I especially love working in the Upper Mississippi River.

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UMRR LTRM Fish Component lead, USGS, La Crosse, WI bickes@usgs.gov

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Great rivers are the center of freshwater fish diversity on Earth. Future conservation will depend, in large part, on the effectiveness of Great River research, and the efficacy of Great River management.

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I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at INHS-Great Rivers Field Station who started in 2020.  My research interests include population dynamics, community assembly, and recruitment of fish populations. I am also interested in the anthropogenic stressors that influence these processes. I am still fairly new to the program so any discussion on how the UMRS functions is greatly appreciated.

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Research Ecologist, USGS.  Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program's Long Term Resource Monitoring Element. jhouser@usgs.gov

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I have worked on UMRS since 2003, first as the LTRM Water Quality component lead and now as LTRM science director.  My background is in limnology, ecosystem ecology, nutrient cycling, ecosystem metabolism, and large river ecology.

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Research Ecologist, USGS. Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring and Research Lead. dmlarson@usgs.gov

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I love all aspects of the river. Plants are a particular favorite.

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Research Ecologist, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI.

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I have worked within the LTRM element of the UMRR program since late 2015. My research focuses on large river ecology, ecological resilience, community ecology, and climate change impacts and adaptation.