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About Me
I am a graduate research assistant at the University of Tennessee studying the conservation and recovery of endangered mussel populations in the Southeast. Growing up in East Tennessee, I had a deep care for the natural world around us fostered from a very young age. This passion has grown from an interest to a career, and I have had the chance to work in many incredible spots- from right in our backyard in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. I am dedicated to continuing this trend of working to protect our freshwater resources as I further my career.
I am currently based out of Maryville, Tennessee where I live with my wife Rebekah, my son Samuel, and our cat named Suds. Any given weekend you can find us climbing a rock bluff, hiking in the Smokies, sitting in a turkey blind, or cheering on the Vols!
Current Projects
Abrams Creek is a watershed that is entirely contained in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This pristine watershed seems untouched until a you take a closer look at its history. In 1957 Abrams Creek was treated with rotenone in an attempt to create a trout fishery, then was impounded later the same year. The fish community had no chance to recover, and the mussel community soon followed. The fish community in Abrams Creek has been successfully restored, including several threatened and endangered species. Now, it is time to restore the remaining pieces of this damaged aquatic community. I am supporting this effort in three ways:
Abrams Creek is a watershed that is entirely contained in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This pristine watershed seems untouched until a you take a closer look at its history. In 1957 Abrams Creek was treated with rotenone in an attempt to create a trout fishery, then was impounded later the same year. The fish community had no chance to recover, and the mussel community soon followed. The fish community in Abrams Creek has been successfully restored, including several threatened and endangered species. Now, it is time to restore the remaining pieces of this damaged aquatic community. I am supporting this effort in three ways:
Surveying Mussel Communities
Surveying Mussel Communities
Abrams Creek has never been fully surveyed for mussels. Completely characterizing the mussel community of Abrams Creek will provide insight to biologists on what is necessary to restore the mussel community.
Testing Translocation Potential
Testing Translocation Potential
To determine the feasibility of using translocation from populations outside of the study stream when restoring mussel communities, captive populations will be kept in sediment cages and mussel silos within the study stream to observe long-term health of introduced mussel populations.
Developing Reintroduction Plans
Developing Reintroduction Plans
Based on our results of the Abrams Creek community surveys and the success of the captive populations, paired with historical surveys and archaeological data, a reintroduction plan will be developed for the complete restoration of the damaged mussel community within Abrams Creek.
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