Tom Murdoch, Executive Director:
Tom has over 25 years of experience as a stream ecologist and environmental educator. He has directed over 200 small-scale habitat rehabilitation projects. He is co-author of A Streamkeeper’s Field Guide and editor of Adopting a Stream: A Northwest Handbook and Adopting A Wetland: A Northwest Guide. Tom wrote the script for The Streamkeeper Video, featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy. Prior to joining the Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, Tom was the Water Resource Supervisor for Snohomish County’s Public Works and Planning Departments. He was the principal author of Snohomish County’s first Drainage Ordinance and Storm Water Utility Rate Ordinance; organized Snohomish County’s first Aquatic Resource Protection Program and directed the production of the County’s Stream and Wetland Atlas. He has an M.A. in Human Relations from Pacific Lutheran University and M.P.A. in Natural Resources from the University of Washington. He currently serves as an adjunct professor in Stream and Wetland Ecology at Western Washington University. He is also a licensed pilot and is accomplished in aerial photography.

Tom Hardy, Senior Ecologist: Tom has a BA in Ecological Studies from Seattle University and has completed additional training in wetland monitoring and delineation at the University of Washington. Tom has an extremely versatile range of skills and expertise in stream and wetland rehabilitation and restoration, environmental regulatory compliance and permitting, stream surveying, including the WDFW Fish Barrier Assessment Protocol, Arc View GIS analysis and mapping. He is trained in the WDOT procedure for Best Management Practices. Tom functions as project manager on our stream restoration projects, coordinating field crews from AASF and other public and private groups. He is able to resolve issues proactively and creatively and maintains an excellent working relationship with permitting agencies. Tom is highly skilled in use of both scientific instruments and construction tools and machinery used in stream restoration. Tom has success securing grant funding, designing and completing cooperative projects in collaboration with other local private and public groups such as Snohomish County Surface Water Management, the Snohomish Conservation District, the Lake Forest Park Community Association, private property owners and school groups.

Jennifer Jones, Ecologist II: Jennifer has a BS in Ecology and a BA in English from the University of Washington. She has worked on several watershed-scale projects with different Federal agencies, focusing on studies related to endangered species. She is skilled in field research, including stream habitat survey methods, spawner surveys, manipulative experiments and monitoring protocols. Field tools include GPS units, compass and topographic maps, and survey transit-levels. Jennifer excels in working with different data types, including Access database management, ArcView GIS mapping and VectorWorks CAD to draw conceptual restoration plans. With a background in ecology and conservation biology, Jennifer has developed expertise in site assessments and providing restoration recommendations.

Amanda Mintz, Ecologist I: Amanda has a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Washington with a certificate in Restoration Ecology, an study toward an MS in Aquatic Ecology from Western Washington University. She spent two summers as a research assistant for Earthwatch Institute teaching volunteers how to perform salmon habitat surveys upstream of barrier culverts in the Skagit Valley, and collecting vegetation information in an old-growth forest plot for a long-term large woody debris recruitment study. She has extensive knowledge of native plants and experience with water quality testing and data analysis. Additionally, Amanda has a decade of teaching experience in both formal and informal settings, including a year with the Science on Wheels program at the Pacific Science Center, and currently volunteers as a naturalist at the Washington Park Arboretum.

Loren Brokaw, Ecologist I: Loren came to AASF from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife where much of his work focused on trapping fish at the Ballard Locks and interacting with the public. He is an expert at conducting salmon spawning surveys and proficient at using acoustic monitoring equipment tracking fish. Loren earned a BS in Fisheries Biology with a major in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and as hundreds of tourists visiting the Ballard Locks will attest, he is very good at public relations on fisheries issues.

Sarah Wilkins, Ecologist I: A former staff scientist from KAS, Inc. in Vermont, Sarah is experienced at managing and conducting field analysis of petroleum-contaminated sites, monitoring groundwater wells and treatment systems. She also is experienced at monitoring lakes, creating GIS watershed maps, and conducting geomorphic stream assessments. Sarah also designed ecosystem curriculum and conducted workshops for K-5 audiences at a nature camp. She earned a BS in Environmental Sciences at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

John Ucciferri, Senior Fish and Wildlife Technician: Before joining AASF, John was employed as a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service for 20 years where he gained experience and training in silvaculture, surveying, forest fire fighting and watershed restoration. John is a key on-the-ground staff member on our restoration projects. He has a Class B commercial drivers license, extensive experience working with all types of hand and power tools (including gas, air, and hydraulic based tools), and experience working with heavy equipment, helicopters, and explosives. He is a USFS certified Class C chainsaw operator. He acts as our construction site materials coordinator during our restoration projects. John has expertise in stream survey including the WDFW fish Barrier Assessment Protocol and in-stream and on slope structure placement.

Walter Rung, Fish and Wildlife Technician: Walter has an Associate of Science in Fishery Technology from Bellingham Technical College and is currently working on his Associate of Science from Edmonds Community College. His broad spectrum of volunteer work has trained him in spawning surveys, spawning adult salmon and fish collection. Walter’s experience includes juvenile Dungeness Crab surveys, beach creosote log inventory, and multiple techniques in sampling salmon carcasses. Walter has become adept with on-the-ground restoration techniques required for bank stabilization projects, riparian restoration, and in-stream LWD placement while at AASF.

Lori Powlas, Accountant: Lori has dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas, and completed three years of Streamkeeper Academy classes. She has 25 years of experience in project and managerial accounting. Lori utilizes a variety of software tools including desktop publishing, database and spreadsheet management, as well as being our in-house web site manager for the Foundation. In addition, she has evolved into an excellent naturalist and assists with teaching a variety of Streamkeeper Academy classes.

Marlene Eiseman, Office Manager: Marlene has 18 years of experience providing administrative and accounting support in the construction industry (M.A. Mortenson Company) and college environments (Bastyr University and the University of Washington). She provides AASF with accounting support for payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable and in addition coordinates advertising, promotions, and scheduling for the Streamkeeper Academy environmental education classes. Marlene currently volunteers as a Native Plant Steward for the Washington Native Plant Society's Salal Chapter in Mt. Vernon and for the Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division (Stillaguamish Watershed).

Phil Noppe, Hydrologist (Contract Associate): Phil is a hydrologist with over 13 years of experience in water resource planning, engineering, and management in western Washington. Phil has a B.S. in Environmental Science and a M.S. in Hydrology from the University of Arizona. Prior to joining AASF, Phil has held positions in the public and private sectors and has completed numerous projects as a principal scientist/project manager. He has extensive experience in river engineering, flood hazard management, hydrologic/hydraulic modeling, stream restoration, water quality monitoring (program development, sampling/monitoring, analysis), design and analysis related to storm water quality and quantity control, and watershed management/basin planning.

Tom Noland, Ecologist (Contract Associate): Tom has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Washington. He provides AASF with skills and expertise in riparian restoration, field water quality monitoring and laboratory analysis, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, identification and analysis, botany, and wetland delineation. He is experienced in monitoring and technical report writing. He also teaches a wide range of natural science courses at AASF. Tom has completed advanced studies in wetland ecology at the University of Washington, having received a professional certificate in Wetland Science and Management.

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