Meet John Monahan
  
Title
Associate Fisheries Scientist

Expertise
River restoration
Watershed management
Salmon recovery
Instream flows
Water rights/law
Permitting


Location
Bellingham, WA

Hired
2006

John spent a lot of time exploring local creeks, wetlands, ponds and lakes as a child. Later he spent two summers immersed in the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s summer ecology workshop program for high school students, where he was first exposed to ecology and other conservation-related scientific disciplines. “I was really hooked and knew I’d pursue more in-depth studies in college, and if possible, a career in at least one of the fields,” John relates.

At GeoEngineers, John is an aquatic/fisheries scientist who works to protect, restore and manage natural resources, with an emphasis on aquatics. He also provides local, state and federal permitting, environmental monitoring and compliance services. John is active in marketing and business development in the water and natural resources market.

John is proud of how GeoEngineers’ diverse Puget Sound service providers have come together as the Water Group’s cohesive team. He says, “Some refer to us as the ‘River Team,’ but the Water Group does so much more than just rivers. What impresses me is the adaptability of folks in the group, interacting with other teams to put the best talent forward to deliver high-quality aquatic resource projects.”

John is still drawn to water and wild places. Among his hobbies are reading, fly-fishing and bird hunting. He finds great joy in being with his wife and kids. “Our family loves music. If we’re not playing at home, we might be found at the Mt. Baker Theater taking in a concert or show.”

Awards


  • ACEC-Washington Engineering Excellence Program Bronze Award, Knapp-Wham Irrigation Diversion Improvement, 2010

  • Western Division, American Fisheries Society, Watershed/Riparian Challenge Award (with Entiat Watershed Planning Unit, EWPU), 2005

  • Washington Department of Ecology Award Recognition - Watershed Planning and Instream Flow Setting,” August 2005

  • USDA Forest Service, Spirit Award - National Award Recognition (with EWPU), 2002

  • Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, Board of Directors – Salmon Summit Award (with EWPU), 2002

Presentations & Articles

“Watershed-Scale Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Resource Protection and Restoration: Ecosystem-based Management Case Study,” presented at the AWRA National Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2008