Restoration Ecology

We research ecological restoration to revive damaged ecosystems, identifying causes, mitigating climate impacts, and designing sustainable strategies.

When an ecosystem has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed, ecological restoration can initiate or accelerate its recovery. Our faculty focus on research that helps revive  ecosystems with respect to their health and integrity and the sustainability of the natural resources they provide. We identify and track the changes and the causes of ecosystem damage, whether they’re natural events such as wildfire and floods or due to human activities, direct or indirect. Our research has applications to the management of rangelands, wetlands, and other natural areas. We also research ways to mitigate the effects of climate change and to design financially and logistically feasible restoration strategies.

Faculty

Kai Enright

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Robert Steidl and Dr. Theresa Crimmins
Pronouns:
he/him

Ňkwi Flores

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Ecology, Management, and Restoration of Rangelands Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Johnson
Pronouns:
sibling/hir

Marlana Hinkley

MS Student
Dual Degree MS Water, Society, and Policy / Master of Public Administration
Faculty Co-Advisors: Dr. Gregg Garfin and Dr. Kathy Jacobs
Pronouns:
she/her

Seth Irwin

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Flurin Babst
Pronouns:
he/him

Justin Lamb

MS Natural Resources, Ecology, Management and Restoration of Rangelands
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elise Gornish
Pronouns:
he/him

Rachel Laura

Pronouns: she/her
PhD Student - Natural Resources - Wildlife Conservation and Management
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Katy Prudic and Dr. Michael Bogan

Ola Lundemo

Assistant Professor of Practice
Assistant Director for International Tourism in Hospitality, Career and Academic Services
Program Chair for Tourism Education

Caleb Milford

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons & Dr. Scott Bonar
Pronouns:
he/him

Nikki Reck

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bret Pasch
Pronouns:
she/her

Dani Steinberg

MS Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. David Moore and Dr. Margaret Evans
Pronouns:
she/her

Martha Whitaker

Associate Professor of Practice, Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology programs
Undergraduate Coordinator, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

Ameng Zou

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shang Gao
Pronouns:
he/him

Erin Zylstra

Research Scientist
USA-NPN - Crimmins Lab
Pronouns:
she/her

Research Staff

Kai Enright

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Robert Steidl and Dr. Theresa Crimmins
Pronouns:
he/him

Ňkwi Flores

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Ecology, Management, and Restoration of Rangelands Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Johnson
Pronouns:
sibling/hir

Marlana Hinkley

MS Student
Dual Degree MS Water, Society, and Policy / Master of Public Administration
Faculty Co-Advisors: Dr. Gregg Garfin and Dr. Kathy Jacobs
Pronouns:
she/her

Seth Irwin

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Flurin Babst
Pronouns:
he/him

Justin Lamb

MS Natural Resources, Ecology, Management and Restoration of Rangelands
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elise Gornish
Pronouns:
he/him

Rachel Laura

Pronouns: she/her
PhD Student - Natural Resources - Wildlife Conservation and Management
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Katy Prudic and Dr. Michael Bogan

Ola Lundemo

Assistant Professor of Practice
Assistant Director for International Tourism in Hospitality, Career and Academic Services
Program Chair for Tourism Education

Caleb Milford

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons & Dr. Scott Bonar
Pronouns:
he/him

Nikki Reck

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bret Pasch
Pronouns:
she/her

Dani Steinberg

MS Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. David Moore and Dr. Margaret Evans
Pronouns:
she/her

Martha Whitaker

Associate Professor of Practice, Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology programs
Undergraduate Coordinator, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

Ameng Zou

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shang Gao
Pronouns:
he/him

Erin Zylstra

Research Scientist
USA-NPN - Crimmins Lab
Pronouns:
she/her