Our Team

Staff

	Josh Howard President Email: jhoward@aquaticresources.us Mr. Howard’s primary duties are to oversee development of the United States Army Corps of Engineers 404 permitting process, 401 Kentucky Water Quality Certification (WQC), and the 402 Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (KPDES) permits. His daily duties entail overseeing all aspects of the permitting process. He stays highly involved in each detail of each project to ensure his experience reflects in each step. His experience is vast regarding aquatic biology and restoration covering many areas of environmental biology. Mr. Howard has more than eight (8) years of experience in the environmental field. During this time, he has conducted environmental assessments on many different types of projects including private development, residential development, hard rock mining, coal mining, and logging. Within these projects the following types of assessments or analysis have been conducted: Field Macroinvertebrate Assessments Taxonomic Identification Field Fish Assessments Taxonomic Identification Jurisdictional Determinations (Waters of the US) Stream Habitat Assessments Physiochemical Water Quality Monitoring Multivariate Ordination Analysis EDUCATION Eastern Kentucky University B.S. in Environmental Studies, 2004 CERTIFICATIONS Rosgen Levels I, II, III, and IV EXTENDED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 2008 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Taxonomy Workshop 2007 AutoCAD use for Stream Monitoring and Restoration 2007 River Restoration and Natural Channel Design 2006 River Assessment & Monitoring Course Completion 2006 River Morphology & Applications Course Completion 2006 Applied Fluvial Geomorphology Course Completion 2006 Cumulative Impacts Analysis Course Completion
	Nick Baker Vice President Email: nbaker@aquaticresources.us Nick is experienced in stream restoration, construction, and design implementation. He possesses expertise in geomorphology of streams and extrapolation and prediction of hydrologic characteristics, such as providing hydraulic geometry relationships, describing basin character and discharge relationships, and providing stream channel morphology as a prediction. He also has experience in prediction of sedimentation from hydrologic characteristics such as providing sediment rating curves, providing analysis prediction of sedimentation, and preparing and submitting construction plans and natural design methodology for stream restoration projects. EDUCATION University of Kentucky B.S. in Nature Resource Conservation and Management, 2006 CERTIFICATIONS Rosgen Levels I, II, III, and IV
	Tony Miller Senior Ecologist Email: tmiller@aquaticresources.us Tony’s primary interest lies in the ecological assessment of streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Experienced in the identification of macroinvertebrates, fish, zooplankton, and freshwater mussels combined with the ability to determine the environmental factors that influence their presence and abundance. He possesses PADI SCUBA open water diver certification in NITROX diving and, as a result, participated in several large freshwater mussel survey and relocation projects. Tony is highly experienced with terrestrial biology through endangered species surveys for a variety of bats and plants and watershed land use assessments. Knowledgeable of wetland delineation and design as well as the water quality certification process for 401 and 404 permits, Tony also conducts wetland delineations per guidelines provided by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He facilitates ecological data analysis services such as aquatic and terrestrial surveys through the use of Microsoft Excel, CANOCO, and PC-ORD as well as various other univariate and multivariate methods. Highly experienced and proficient benthic macroinvertebrate identification including chironomidae to lowest feasible taxonomic resolution. EDUCATION Murray State University B.A. in Biology, 1997 North Dakota State University M.S. in Zoology, 2001 CERTIFICATIONS Enriched Air Diver Certification (NITROX) Wetland Training Institute, Wetland Delineator Certification Program Flora of the Southeast US Wetlands, Three-Day Workshop and Certification Water Beetles of the Southeast US, Taxonomy and Identification Certification
	Robert Oney Environmental Biologist Email: roney@aquaticresources.us Robert’s primary interest and duties are ecological assessments for both terrestrial and aquatic (stream, rivers, and wetlands) systems. His field and natural history experience and skills include ecological surveys and identification of: herbaceous and woody vegetation, macroinvertebrate sampling (quantitative, qualitative), freshwater mussel surveys (quantitative, qualitative), fish sampling (seining, electro-shocking), amphibians and reptiles identification, stream habitat assessments (USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols), water chemistry sampling, wetland determination/delineations (USACE 1987 Manual and supplements), jurisdictional waters determinations, and federal and state listed species surveys including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and gray bat (Myotis grisescens). Robert's primary duties at ARM are benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and identification which is used to calculate multiple community metrics to assess in-stream biological integrity as part of Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (KPDES) 402 permits. These metrics include total taxa richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Richness (EPT), Modified Percent EPT Abundance (m%EPT), Percent Ephemeroptera (%Ephem), Percent Chironomidae and Oligochaeta (%Chir+%Olig), Percent Primary Clingers (%Clingers), and the Modified Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (mHBI). Additionally, Robert performs stream habitat assessments using the USEPA’s rapid bioassessment protocols, and threatened, endangered, and candidate species surveys for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected bat species. EDUCATION Eastern Kentucky University B.S. in Wildlife Management, 2002 CERTIFICATIONS North American Benthological Society Family Level All Phyla The Wildlife Society Certified Wildlife Biologist Wetland Training Institute, Wetland Delineator Certification Program
	Jason Butler Environmental Biologist Email: jbutler@aquaticresources.us Jason is experienced at a myriad of aquatic sampling techniques and stream ecological methodologies including macroinvertebrate, fish, amphibian, and reptile surveys. He continues to increase his knowledge in taxonomy, especially in Kentucky and southeastern North America. Jason has experience with section 404 of the Clean Water Act and 402 Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting processes. He has performed in-depth GIS analyses including landscape-level phylogeography and distribution modeling and remote delineation of aquatic resources. He has over five years of experience in the collection and preservation of genetic materials and curation of biological specimens. Jason has conducted large-scale, aquatic mark-recapture studies and installed, maintained and operated in-stream passive integrated transponder systems. Jason authors peer-reviewed, scientific manuscripts annually and presents at international and regional scientific symposiums. He is experienced in grant writing and has received multiple grants, scholarships and other scientific awards. Currently, Jason is examining affects of watershed disturbance on aquatic functionality and ecosystem assemblages through GIS and mutlimetric procedures. He is incorporating land use, water quality parameters and macroinvertebrate data to explain and predict ecological changes in stream systems. Jason also serves an integral role insuring USACE 404 and KPDES 402 accuracy and efficiency. EDUCATION Western Kentucky University B.S. in Biology, 2005 University of Florida M.S. in Wildlife Ecology, 2008 CERTIFICATIONS National Safety Council, First Aid CPR US Forest Service, Wildland Firefighting
	Shane Tonning Environmental Biologist Email: stonning@aquaticresources.us Shane has extensive experience in macroinvertebrate identification and habitat assessment as well as with KDOW standard operating procedure and EPA assessment protocols. He participated in the federal 2009 National Rivers and Streams Assessment and 2010 National Coastal Condition Assessment and is a certified PADI Open Water diver. Interests include aquatic entomology, botany, and incorporating technology into hydrologic and biological analysis. At Aquatic Resources, Shane is responsible for determining United States Army Core of Engineers' jurisdiction of streams for 404 permits using federal guidances, sampling macroinvertebrates for 402 permits using Kentucky Division of Water protocols. He also assesses Functional Capacity Indices according to USACE protocol, and is proficient in mapping and exhibiting data using GIS software. EDUCATION Morehead State University B.S. in Biology, 2010 CERTIFICATIONS PADI Open Water
	Lee Moser Environmental Biologist Email: lmoser@aquaticresources.us Lee has previously participated in a variety of environmental projects, resulting in experience in wetland restoration ecology, plant taxonomy, hydrology, fish monitoring, and ArcGIS processing and mapping. Through his experience with stream assessments, Lee has become pivotal in ARM stream delineations and functional assessments. He is also one of the primary ArcGIS technicians facilitating expedient transfer of field-collected data at Aquatic Resources. EDUCATION University of Kentucky B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and Management, 2007 University of Kentucky M.S. in Forestry, 2009 CERTIFICATIONS Wildland Firefighter Type II
	Josiah Frey Environmental Biologist Email: jfrey@aquaticresources.us Josiah is a highly relational, team-oriented, bilingual communicator with a passion and aptitude for holistic solutions to environmental problems. He is interested in land management, stream ecology and soils; relevant experience includes agricultural research data collection and analysis, plant production and management in a commercial greenhouse, and undergraduate land management consultation for the USDA Forest Service. Josiah has additional experience in conveying procedural and organizational objectives through Spanish translation in a commercial greenhouse setting. Scholastic fieldwork includes stream surveying, water quality testing, plant identification, soil testing, and forestry data collection and analysis. Josiah’s primary responsibilities at Aquatic Resources include water chemistry sample collection, water quality assessment through Rapid Bioassessment Protocols, laboratory based sample processing, and assisting in administrative needs. EDUCATION University of Kentucky B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and Management, 2009
	Robin Bernal Environmental Biologist Email: rbernal@aquaticresources.us Robin’s primary interests are associated with the ecological assessment of aquatic systems ranging from streams and rivers to lakes and wetlands. She is experienced in macroinvertebrate, crayfish, and fish identification as well as a variety of field sampling techniques and habitat assessment procedures. In addition to the biological aspect, Robin has extensive experience with an array of chemical analysis techniques and modern instrumentation methods. Robin’s primary responsibilities at ARM pertain to biological sampling in accordance with the permitting process of Sections 404 and 402 (KPDES) of the Clean Water Act. One of her principal tasks include benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and identification, which is used to calculate multiple community metrics necessary to determine in-stream biological integrity as part of KPDES 402 permits. These metric include total taxa richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera Richness (EPT), Modified Percent EPT Abundance (m%EPT), Percent Ephemeroptera (%Ephem), Percent Chironomidae and Oligochaeta (%Chir+%Olig), Percent Primary Clingers (%Clingers), and the Modified Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (mHBI). EDUCATION Western Kentucky University B.S. in Biology/Chemistry, 2006 Western Kentucky University M.S. in Aquatic Biology, 2010
	Courtney Rockafellow Environmental Scientist Email: crockafellow@aquaticresources.us Courtney's background is in the field of Aquatic Toxicology with an emphasis on water chemistry testing, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and processing, and acute and chronic toxicity testing. She has also conducted bioaccumulation and growth studies using Asian Clams. At Aquatic Resources, Courtney’s primary responsibilities include assisting with stream and wetland jurisdictional delineations, processing macroinvertebrate samples, and compiling 402 and 404 permit information. EDUCATION Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University B.S. in Environmental Science, 2011
	Rebecca Ramsey Environmental Biologist Email: rramsey@aquaticresources.us Rebecca’s interests have always involved the environment particularly its aquatic regions and inhabitants. Her experience has had her working in a wide variety of systems including but not limited to streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal brackish wetlands. These systems encouraged the progression of her expertise in macroinvertebrate identification, ichthyology, wetland vegetation identification, limnology, biogeochemistry, and the hydrology of watersheds. Her expertise opened doors to many opportunities to present her research at multiple international and regional scientific conferences resulting in awards for her skilled presentations. Her knowledge in grant writing resulted in many scholarships and fellowships used for her work in the environment. Rebecca’s primary responsibilities at Aquatic Resources have her involved with benthic macroinvertebrate identifications, and water quality analysis as related to section 402 & 404 permitting under the Clean Water Act. She is also intimately involved with detailed 402 permit auditing as related to Section 402 Clean Water Act. EDUCATION Murray State University B.S. in Biology, 2007 University of Alabama M.S. in Biology, 2009 CERTIFICATIONS PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
	Kasey Cowart Environmental Technician Email: kcowart@aquaticresources.us Kasey is concurrently pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Science at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and a High School Diploma from Lafayette Senior High School. After the completion of both degrees she plans to start working toward obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, a Master’s in Biogenetics, and finally a PhD in Biogenetic Engineering. Kasey’s duties at Aquatic Resources include macroinvertebrate sample processing, printing and assembling 401, 402, and 404 permits, and other general office work.
	Matthew Dunn Environmental Technician Matt started college at the age of 16 with the help of the Opportunity Middle College. Since then, he has maintained a 3.8 GPA and has accumulated an overwhelming 48 college credits while still in high school. He will graduate high school in May 2011 only to graduate Bluegrass Community & Technical College the following December with an Associate’s Degree in Science. Matt has been featured in Business Lexington magazine in an exclusive interview and biography concerning academic success. After receiving his A.S. degree, he plans to transfer to University of Kentucky in order to pursue a B.S. in Aquatic Restoration. At Aquatic Resources, Matt’s responsibilities include macroinvertebrate and sediment sample processing and general office work.