A Day in the Life of Your Dream River Career

Emma is a Natural Resource Specialist with the National Park Service working in the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. Based in New Hampshire, she works with local organizations and Wild and Scenic River communities to protect and enhance their outstanding rivers and river-related resources through a collaborative approach.

Tom first got his start paddling and playing in the water during early childhood canoe trips to the Adirondacks in upstate New York. After a brief diversion as a competitive swimmer and water polo player through high school and college, Tom came back to paddling and began his first serious whitewater while on a trip to Japan in 1992 and shortly thereafter became a full-fledged fanatic with the University of Wisconsin Hoofers. Tom has traveled across the country and around the globe in search of great rivers; in 2003 he completed a final descent of the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges, before the gates were closed on the world's largest dam.
Tom began work with American Whitewater in a volunteer capacity in 1995 and served as a Regional Coordinator in the Pacific Northwest before joining the staff in 2005. Tom received his undergraduate degree at Cornell University before completing his graduate work in aquatic ecology at the University of Wisconsin where he received his PhD in Zoology. Tom worked at the University of Washington where he coordinated research projects focused on the dynamics of nutrients returning salmon bring to river ecosystems and the structural development of riparian forests along large floodplain rivers. Through his work as a river ecologist, Tom gained experience working with resource agencies including the National Park Service and Forest Service as many of his research projects were conducted on public land. Tom has also taught courses in aquatic ecology, including watershed ecology and management, both at the university level and for youth programs. Bringing a wealth of experience to the organization, Tom contributes skills in river and fisheries ecology, teaching and outreach, grant writing, multimedia, web development, and inspiring local volunteers to help build American Whitewater's stewardship program. He is based in Seattle, WA and works closely with volunteers throughout the Pacific Northwest region on projects in Coastal WA/OR, the Columbia River watershed, Puget Sound, Fraser River watershed, coastal BC, and Alaska. In addition Tom covers project work in the Upper Midwest. And when the water's up, Tom still finds time to play on the water with family and friends.