Dylan Monahan
Lafayette
Summary
Aquatic ecologist who translates scientific monitoring to real world solutions. Excellent leader, communicator, and mentor to early career scientists. Over 20 years of research experience in understanding the stressors to fresh water in the Western United States. Currently working on business development for stream restoration work.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Rocky Mountain Stream Restoration Lead
Tetra Tech
03.2024 - Current
- Responsible for developing Tetra Tech’s Colorado stream restoration program. Develop contacts in the world of stream restoration and watershed health assessments in Colorado. Develop proposals and marketing materials.
- Project manage scope, budget, and schedules for proposal projects.
- Aquatic ecologist on supporting transmission line permitting relevant to aquatic organisms in Eastern Oregon.
- Aquatic ecologist, lake sediment metals data review to advise on dredging for fish habitat in New Mexico
- Lead fish biologist for NEPA consultation.
Fish Biologist
OtterTail Inc
06.2011 - Current
- Fish biologist on a habitat and fish presence survey of Canyon Creek in the Olympic National Forest. Assessment of fish presence via snorkel surveys. Habitat assessment and mapping using Haskin and Reeves protocols.
- Lead field data collection events in remote Alaska to collect data on fish species presence, channel morphology, and salmon habitat conditions for the permitting of a proposed natural gas pipeline.
- Fish biologist collecting and analyzing data to monitor the long-term effects of proposed gold mining in the Crooked Creek watershed. Bio-monitoring responsibilities included identifying fish species and collecting data on species diversity and population.
- Aquatic biologist assisting with the installation and operation of a resistance board fish weir equipped with video.
- Aquatic biologist helping to design and implement a baseline habitat and macroinvertebrate study designed to pinpoint potential stressors identified using the State of Colorado’s proposed nutrient standard for the City of Pueblo’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Modified EPA habitat and macro-invertebrate stressor protocols to assess possible stressors to aquatic life criteria in the Arkansas River.
- Stream and Fish Survey, Olympic National Forest
- Natural Gas Pipeline Aquatics Study, Alaska
- Crooked Creek Baseline Aquatic Monitoring, Alaska
- Resistance Board Fish Weir, Crooked Creek, Alaska
- Habitat Assessment Arkansas River, Pueblo,
Aquatic Scientist
Battelle
05.2019 - 08.2023
- Fish biologist for all fish sampling across NEON, a continental-scale environmental monitoring observatory network funded by the National Science Foundation.
- Data quality control for microbe, fish, and riparian vegetation data. Data analysis through R script development. Data control management for fish genetic samples.
- Collaberation with the scientific community on how best to use and interpret NEON aquatic biological data.
- Trained and advised field scientists in the implementation of field data collection protocols.
Staff Scientist
Battelle
01.2017 - 05.2019
- Supervised construction crews installing run-of-the-river long-term aquatic water chemistry monitoring instruments and shallow groundwater monitoring wells.
- Developed protocols and preventive maintenance documents, and presentations for field ecologists on how to use water chemistry instruments and how to collect geomorphology data.
Watershed Scientist
Redfish Environmental
09.2014 - 03.2015
- Designed and implemented salmon habitat-mapping project for Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe on the Dungeness River in the Olympic Peninsula.
Oil and Gas Clearance Biologist
EPG Inc.
04.2014 - 09.2014
- Responsible for composing and collecting survey data in accordance with state regulatory requirements to clear proposed oil and gas development in Wyoming and Colorado.
Fish Biologist
PG Environmental
06.2013 - 09.2013
- Responsible for watershed health data collection using EPA protocols in Colorado and Wyoming. The data collected included physical habitat, fish community, invertebrates, water quality, and fish tissue samples. EPA-certified fish taxonomist for both Colorado and Wyoming.
Senior Aquatic Ecologist
Washington State Department of Ecology
05.2005 - 05.2011
- Developed Fish biologist on a habitat and fish presence survey of Canyon Creek in the Olympic National Forest. Assessment of fish presence via snorkel surveys. Habitat assessment and mapping using Haskin and Reeves protocols.
- Lead field data collection events in remote Alaska to collect data on fish species presence, channel morphology, and salmon habitat conditions for the permitting of a proposed natural gas pipeline.
- Fish biologist collecting and analyzing data to monitor the long-term effects of proposed gold mining in the Crooked Creek watershed. Bio-monitoring responsibilities included identifying fish species and collecting data on species diversity and population.
- Aquatic biologist assisting with the installation and operation of a resistance board fish weir equipped with video.
- Aquatic biologist helping to design and implement a baseline habitat and macroinvertebrate study designed to pinpoint potential stressors identified using the State of Colorado’s proposed nutrient standard for the City of Pueblo’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Modified EPA habitat and macro-invertebrate stressor protocols to assess possible stressors to aquatic life criteria in the Arkansas River.
- Stream and Fish Survey, Olympic National Forest
- Natural Gas Pipeline Aquatics Study, Alaska
- Crooked Creek Baseline Aquatic Monitoring, Alaska
- Resistance Board Fish Weir, Crooked Creek, Alaska
- Habitat Assessment Arkansas River, Pueblolong-term statewide watershed health status and trend assessment of salmon rivers and streams. Co-author on a protocol for the assessment of watershed health on large rivers that includes methodologies for physical, biological and chemical data collection. Senior biologist on field survey crews responsible for data collection on both small and large rivers in Eastern Washington that were often located in remote backcountry areas.
- Principle Department of Ecology scientist on a five-year collaborative Bonneville Power Authority study, designed to assess the health of, and restoration needs of Wenatchee Basin rivers and streams.
- Advisor to the Washington State Department of Ecology’s work group on dissolved oxygen water quality guidelines. Responsible for designing a study to assess status of dissolved oxygen levels in inter-gravel spawning areas.
- Principle Washington State aquatic ecologist for the National River and Stream Assessment Program developed by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Responsible for data collection often in remote sites and on large rivers. Data collection included physical habitat, fish community, invertebrate, water quality, and fish tissue samples. EPA certified fish taxonomist for Washington state fish collected during this study.
- Status and Trend Monitoring for Watershed Health and Salmon Recovery, Olympia, WA
- Wenatchee Basin Integrated Status and Trend Monitoring Project, Wenatchee Basin, WA
- Inter-gravel Dissolved Oxygen Technical Advisor, WA
- National River and Stream Assessment, WA
Aquatic Ecologist
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
11.2003 - 01.2004
- Collected spawning data on the listed chum salmon runs for the Lower Columbia Chum Salmon Spawning Study, Grey’s River, WA.
Aquatic Ecologist
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
06.2003 - 10.2003
- Key aquatic scientist on a collaborative pilot study with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, monitoring the health of large rivers.
- Idaho Large River Assessment, Clearwater Drainage, ID
Education
Master of Environmental Studies - Watershed Management
Evergreen State College
Olympia, Washington01.2006
Bachelor of Arts - U.S. History
University of Maine
Orono, Maine01.1992
Skills
- Permitting
- Protocol Development
- Proposal Development
- Instrument Calibration and Maintenance
- Data Quality Control
- R Script Development
- Fish Taxonomy
- Watershed Health Data Collection
- Fish community metrics
- Fish/physical habitat assessment
- Electrofishing
- Groundwater Sampling Well Installation
- In-stream Instrumentation Installation
- Remote Backcountry Working Experience
- Class IV White Water Rafter
- Small Boat Expertise
Accomplishments
AWARDS
American Fishery Society Climate Ambassador Fellow, 2023 – 2025
2021 Battelle Big Idea Finalist
2023 Top Six Research and Development Ideas
Editorial Board for Case Studies in the Environment
VOLUNTEER
Communication Secretary/Board Member
Boulder Flycasters January 2024 to Present
AWARDS
American Fishery Society Climate Ambassador Fellow, 2023 – 2025
2021 Battelle Big Idea Finalist
2023 Top Six Research and Development Ideas
Editorial Board for Case Studies in the Environment
VOLUNTEER
Communication Secretary/Board Member
Boulder Flycasters January 2024 to Present
OUTREACH
Monahan, D.; Wesner, J.S.; Parker, S.M.; Schartel, H. Spatial Patterns in Fish Assemblages across the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON): The First Six Years. Fishes 2023, 8, 552.
Film developed as outreach material for The Watershed Center, Boulder, CO- “EVEN THE SMALLEST DROP: Working to Help Fish and People Thrive in a Drier Left Hand Creek”
American Fisheries Society 2022 Conference, Spokane, WA. Presentation. "An Example How to Use NEON Fish Data: Assessing Prairie Stream Health."
Society of Conservation Biology 2020 Conference, Virtual. Poster. "NEON Fish Sampling Detects Invasive Fish Species Colonization in High Plains Native Fish Community."
Affiliations
American Fisheries Society
Colorado Trout Unlimited- Boulder Flycasters
Timeline
Rocky Mountain Stream Restoration Lead
Tetra Tech
03.2024 - Current
Aquatic Scientist
Battelle
05.2019 - 08.2023
Staff Scientist
Battelle
01.2017 - 05.2019
Watershed Scientist
Redfish Environmental
09.2014 - 03.2015
Oil and Gas Clearance Biologist
EPG Inc.
04.2014 - 09.2014
Fish Biologist
PG Environmental
06.2013 - 09.2013
Fish Biologist
OtterTail Inc
06.2011 - Current
Senior Aquatic Ecologist
Washington State Department of Ecology
05.2005 - 05.2011
Aquatic Ecologist
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
11.2003 - 01.2004
Aquatic Ecologist
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
06.2003 - 10.2003
Bachelor of Arts - U.S. History
University of Maine
Master of Environmental Studies - Watershed Management
Evergreen State College
Publications
- American Fisheries Society 2022 Conference, Spokane, WA. Presentation. "An Example How to Use NEON Fish Data: Assessing Prairie Stream Health."
- Society of Conservation Biology 2020 Conference, Virtual. Poster. "NEON Fish Sampling Detects Invasive Fish Species Colonization in High Plains Native Fish Community."
OUTREACH
- Monahan, D.; Wesner, J.S.; Parker, S.M.; Schartel, H. Spatial Patterns in Fish Assemblages across the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON): The First Six Years. Fishes 2023, 8, 552.
- Film developed as outreach material for The Watershed Center, Boulder, CO. “EVEN THE SMALLEST DROP: Working to Help Fish and People Thrive in a Drier Left Hand Creek”
Awards
American Fishery Society Climate Ambassador Fellow, 2023 – 2025, 2021 Battelle Big Idea Finalist, 2023 Top Six Research and Development Ideas, Editorial Board for Case Studies in the Environment
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