S.W.I.M Presenters Biographies
2012 SWIM Workshop Registation Form
2012 Workshop Agenda
The Stream and Watershed Integrated Management (SWIM) workshop is designed to train individuals who work with stream/watershed principles and practices. It includes presentations by watershed and stream management professionals from Iowa State University, Iowa DNR, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship - Division of Soil Conservation, and the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Classroom instruction in stream and watershed management is augmented with field trips and exercises where participants develop project plans for management of a local site. A Certificate of Participation for continuing education purposes is provided to participants for satisfactory completion of 24 hours of training.
Workshop Goals
- provide the scientific basis for understanding streams, stream corridors, and watershed functions;
- identify Best Management Practices for streams, stream corridors, and watersheds; and
- provide access to the tools of assessment of these functions where feasible.
For more information, contact Jacklyn Gautsch, 319-335-1761.
If you would like to help spread the word about the 2012 SWIM workshop please use our flyer:2012 SWIM Workshop Flyer.
Stream and Watershed Integrated Management Workshop (S.W.I.M) Presenters
Marty Adkins
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Water Resources
Assistant State Conservationist
210 Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-284-4769
martin.adkins@ia.usda.gov
Marty Adkins serves the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa as Assistant State Conservationist for Water Resources. In this position he manages NRCS watershed planning and project implementation work in Iowa. Marty also manages NRCS work in sustainable resource-based development through the Resource Conservation and Development Program. Adkins has served in several other state and local capacities for NRCS across Iowa since 1979. He was raised on a mixed grain-livestock farm near Council Bluffs and is a graduate of Iowa State University. Marty and his wife Carol live with their family in Knoxville.
Jessie Brown
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Communications Bureau
Information Specialist
502 E 9th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-5131
jessie.brown@dnr.iowa.gov
Jess is an information specialist for the DNR, working primarily with water quality and nonpoint source pollution issues. She produces brochures, news releases, displays, fact sheets, and other communication products to encourage Iowans to take a watershed approach in improving their streams and lakes. In addition, Jess writes for Iowa Outdoors magazine. She has worked with the DNR since 2003. Originally from Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jess earned degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication and Communication Studies from the University of Iowa.
Gregory T. Gelwicks
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Bureau
Interior Rivers and Streams Research Biologist
22693 205th Ave.
Manchester, IA 52057
563-927-3276
gregory.gelwicks@dnr.iowa.gov
Greg is the Interior Rivers and Streams Research Biologist for the Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau. He received a B.S. degree in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution from the University of Illinois and an M.S. degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri. Following graduate school, Greg spent four years working for the Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri on several research projects on the Missouri River and smaller streams in Missouri. Greg has been in his current position as leader of the Interior Rivers Fisheries Research Program since 1999. He is responsible for a variety of research projects being conducted on fish and fish habitat in Iowa's interior rivers.
Jason Hart
Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservationist
1000 School Street
Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115
jason.hart@ia.usda.gov
Jason is a 2001 graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Ag Education and a minor in Forestry. He been working with the NRCS for the last 10 years as a Soil Conservationist. He has worked in 13 of Iowa’s 100 NRCS field offices. His primary job is to develop conservation plans with private landowners and address their resource concerns. He has experience developing and implementing conservation practices on pastures, cropland, woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. Jason also works many federal conservation programs to assist landowners in the implementation of conservation programs on private lands. He has experience working with EQIP, GRP, CSP, WHIP, CRP, and WRP.
Tom Isenhart
Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management
339 Science II, Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-3221
isenhart@iastate.edu
Link to Bio: http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/old/fac_staff/isenhart.html
Kevin Kuhn
Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservationist
kevin.kuhn@ia.usda.gov
Rebecca Ohrtman
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Watershed Improvement Section
502 E 9th St.
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
515-281-0932
rebecca.ohrtman@dnr.iowa.gov
Becky has served on the SWIM team since it originated in 2000. In 2006 Becky became the Source Water Protection Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Her role is to provide oversight of SWP plan development and provide assistance in implementation of SWP practices in a watershed based approach. Before coming to the IDNR, Becky worked for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) as a watershed project coordinator covering 16 counties in central and southern Iowa. In addition, she spent one year working in the IDNR Non-Point Source - EPA 319 program. After working 6 years as a project coordinator, she transferred to Des Moines to work as the IDALS/DSC Regional Coordinator covering the state of Iowa.
Becky was born and raised near Pomeroy, Iowa. She received her bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Iowa State University in 1989. In addition, she completed graduate credits in plant breeding/statistics. Becky spent five years in plant breeding research before transferring into the water resource arena. She enjoys working with Ag Commodity groups, local, state, and federal agencies/groups, and farmers in addressing watershed concerns. She is a member of the Soil & Water Conservation Society (SWCS). Becky's interests are bike riding, horseback riding, hiking, and winter skiing
Keith E. Schilling
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Research Geologist
109 Trowbridge Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-1575
keith.schilling@dnr.iowa.gov
Keith is a research geologist at the Iowa Geological and Water Survey. He received a B.A. degree in Geology from Knox College and an M.S. degree in Water Resources from Iowa State University. Keith joined the Iowa Geological Survey in 1997 after working as a Senior Hydrogeologist for an environmental engineering firm where he specialized in contaminated site investigation and remediation. Keith is currently responsible for Walnut Creek Watershed Restoration and Water Quality Monitoring Project in Jasper County, the site of a large-scale conversion of row crop to prairie at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Keith also conducts research on a variety of other water-related issues in Iowa, including surface and groundwater interactions, groundwater flow and quality, and watershed processes. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles related to Iowa's water resources.
Greg Simmons
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Bureau
Interior Rivers and Streams Technician
22693 205th Ave.
Manchester, IA 52057
563-927-3276
greg.simmons@dnr.iowa.gov
Greg is a Fisheries Research Technician for the Iowa DNR. He has held that position since October 1997. Greg received a B.S. degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University. His primary responsibilities are to conduct research projects on Iowa's interior rivers and streams.
Tom Wilton
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Section
Geological and Water Survey Bureau
Environmental Services Division
502 East 9th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-8867
tom.wilton@dnr.iowa.gov
Tom has worked on a variety of surface water quality projects and initiatives since joining the Iowa DNR in 1990. His main responsibility is coordinating the stream biological assessment program, which monitors the status of Iowa’s streams using fish and benthic macroinvertebrates as health indicators. Tom is a member of the interdisciplinary team that has conducted training workshops in Stream and Watershed Integrated Management (S.W.I.M.) since 2000. He was a member of the Nutrient Science Advisors committee that developed nutrient eutrophication criteria recommendations for the protection of lake recreational uses, and is currently serving as DNR’s technical leader for the development of stream nutrient criteria. Tom has a B.S. degree in Agronomy from Iowa State University and M.S. degree in Water Resources from the University of Minnesota.