Featured Scientist

Simpson surveying Guthrie Creek in Humboldt County to determine the extent of existing and restorable fish habitat. Photo by CDFW’s Dan Hansen.

Nicholas “Nick” Simpson is a senior environmental scientist (specialist) with CDFW’s Northern Region, based in Eureka. He works in the Timberland Conservation Program helping to manage natural communities on privately owned timberlands. He is responsible for ensuring that timber operations will not lead to significant or long-term negative impacts on aquatic communities. Simpson’s work includes technical support for CDFW timber staff reviewing timber harvesting plans, lake and streambed alteration agreements, threatened/endangered species consultations, incidental take permits, and habitat conservation plans. Nick is also conducting studies to evaluate the effects of timber operations such as water diversions, road construction and riparian zone management on aquatic communities.

Nick earned his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in freshwater fisheries and natural resources at Humboldt State University. Prior to coming to CDFW in 2013, he worked in the private and public sectors as a hydrologist and fisheries biologist, where he evaluated past and current timber harvesting effects on aquatic communities on the North Coast.

Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?

My father and grandfather introduced me to fishing and diving at a young age, and I became fascinated with all things swimming. Exploration led to questions, which ultimately formed a drive to conduct scientific evaluations. Later, as a Fisheries major at Humboldt State University, I became intrigued by the extensive network of local salmon-bearing rivers and streams on private timberlands. Under the context of historical and current logging practices, as well as recent salmonid population declines, I wanted to study the effectiveness of conservation strategies being applied in these watersheds.

What is a typical day like for you at work?

A typical day may include a variety of field inspections including proposed timber harvesting plan reviews, sensitive species or lake and streambed alteration agreement consultations, or compliance/effectiveness inspections of completed projects. My day consists of meeting with foresters and other agency representatives at the closest location we can drive to with a truck, then utilizing all-terrain vehicles and hiking to access remote forest locations. Inspections help ensure that fish and amphibian habitat were delineated accurately, and appropriate riparian buffers are clearly flagged in the field. In addition, watercourse crossings are commonly evaluated to assess their appropriateness and functionality and whether reconstruction, removal or maintenance is required. The following day is usually spent writing reports to record my field observations and to support my recommendations.

What is most challenging about your work?

The most challenging aspect of the job is balancing permit review, scientific study/research and landowner outreach. Permit review, in the form of timber harvesting plans and lake and streambed alteration agreements can be intense, especially when timber is selling at a higher price and more permits are in need of review than normal. I find it important to keep a landscape-level perspective, through research and landowner outreach to ensure conservation efforts are maximized in watersheds with critical habitat for sensitive species.

What is the most rewarding project that you have worked on for CDFW?

I recently completed a pilot study evaluating the effects of water diversion on macroinvertebrates in headwater streams. It was a great experience to generate a scientific study to support protective measures used in Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements. The project also ended up winning the “Early Career Scientist Best Poster” award at the 2017 CDFW science symposium.

I have also been involved with reviewing multiple logging road crossings and fish barrier projects, which, after execution, have ultimately allowed fish access to formerly blocked habitat. It is always rewarding to facilitate the expansion of salmon range and the restoration of habitat.

What is your favorite species to interact with or study?

My favorite species is Coho salmon. Coho’s life history includes a juvenile winter rearing period, which makes this species highly susceptible to logging impacts such as increases in turbidity and sedimentation. Any recent Coho reoccupation of formerly unoccupied habitats (usually after barrier removal, or stream quality restoration) is the ultimate indicator of the effectiveness of forest conservation and restoration efforts. However, we are still learning about the dynamic aspects of streams and salmon, such as juvenile winter rearing and stream limiting factors.

What is it about the work you do that you would most like us to know?

Our website is regularly updated, and is a great resource for those who want to know more about the Timberland Conservation Program. It is located at www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/timber.

If you had free reign and unlimited funding, what scientific project would you most like to do?

Large woody debris (LWD) is an important stream component for Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). In a recent analysis, we found that 73 percent of Humboldt County Coho streams are depleted in LWD due to historical “stream cleaning” (log harvesting from streams) and past logging practices. It would be great to develop a model to assess the best restoration strategies based on stream channel type and condition.

Do you have any advice for people considering careers in science or natural resources?

I would consider gaining experience in the field you are interested in as early and often as possible. A common misconception in college is that you go to school for four years, graduate, and then obtain your dream job right away. In reality, employers are looking for someone with experience, in addition to the basic academic knowledge. It is worth putting in the time as a seasonal technician or volunteer while in school to gain that valuable experience.

CDFW Photos. Top Photo: Simpson performing a survey of a tributary to Big River in Mendocino County. It was determined that the waterfall was not a barrier to adult steelhead. Photo by CDFW's Jon Hendrix.

Erin Chappell is an Environmental Program Manager in CDFW’s Wildlife Branch, overseeing the department’s Nongame Wildlife Program. Until recently, she worked for the Fish and Game Commission, where she served as Wildlife Advisor. In her new position with CDFW, which she’s held since February, Erin oversees a staff of 13 scientists who work with CDFW’s regional offices to help conserve and manage California’s nongame and threatened and endangered wildlife species. She is also responsible for managing two critical grant programs: the State Wildlife Grant Program, which directs federal funds to benefit nongame species in California, and the Endangered Species Act Section 6 grant funding for research, recovery and land acquisition for endangered species. Erin is a graduate of Humboldt State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biological oceanography.

Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?

I grew up mostly in California but I have also lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Germany. My dad was my inspiration. He was a high school biology teacher, both in Germany where he taught at an American school that was part of the Department of Defense Dependent Schools system and in California. He was always exposing us to wildlife. What got me hooked was when he took me tide-pooling in Monterey when I was 10. I was fascinated by the variety of animals all using and sharing such a unique habitat. I wanted to learn more about the species and their interaction with the ocean.

Did you originally plan to pursue oceanography, then?

Yes, I originally planned to be a marine biologist specializing in marine invertebrates but ended up getting a scientific aid position with CDFW’s Stockton office, identifying freshwater zooplankton and larval fish. I also assisted with two diet analysis studies, one for juvenile striped bass and one for Delta smelt. My job was to identify the zooplankton in their stomachs and intestines.

From there, my career path shifted inland. I spent 10 years tracking juvenile Chinook salmon in the Delta for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), two more years working on a Habitat Expansion Agreement for spring-run Chinook and then six years working for DWR’s climate change program, where I focused on climate change adaptation for the water sector. I joined the Fish and Game Commission in 2016.

How did your work experience lead you to your current job?

Starting in 2010, I had opportunities to work on a number of efforts that involved the concept of integrated resource management. A key aspect of my work was integrating environmental stewardship and ecosystem services into cross-sector planning in a meaningful way.

For example, I worked on ways to use green infrastructure, such as wetland restoration, as way to buffer storm surge, improve water quality, provide habitat for species and recreational opportunities, reduce operation and maintenance costs and improve public health and safety. Another example is restoring mountain meadows as a way to not only provide habitat for species, but also to increase water retention, decrease erosion and improve water quality.

While I was able to gain a lot of experience in fisheries and water management, I was missing an integral piece: wildlife management. So, I began looking for opportunities to work more specifically on wildlife. That’s what ultimately brought me to the Fish and Game Commission as its Wildlife Advisor.

What exactly does the wildlife advisor do for the commission?

My job was to advise the Commission on wildlife and inland fisheries management issues and potential regulatory changes. I had to consider biological, societal and political factors for almost every issue. The advisor also facilitates the Wildlife Resources Committee as a forum for discussions among the Commission, CDFW and stakeholders on wildlife and inland fisheries issues, as well as other stakeholder forums as necessary.

What brought you to CDFW?

As the Commission’s wildlife advisor, I had the pleasure of working and interacting with staff throughout CDFW. Across the board, I was impressed by their expertise and dedication to the protection and enhancement of California’s natural resources. It made me want to become part of the team. My new position will also allow me to expand on the knowledge I gained at the Commission.

What is special about working in the Wildlife Branch’s Nongame Program?

Working in the Wildlife Branch allows me to coordinate and collaborate not just with staff within the branch but with staff throughout the entire department. Being able to capitalize on all that knowledge and experience is essential for effectively conserving and managing species and their habitats against sometimes seemingly overwhelming odds. Finding new ways to help species adapt to and thrive in the face of population growth, land conversion, and climate change is a challenge I just can’t pass up.

What sort of projects are you working on right now?

Most of my time right now is being spent on getting to know my staff and learning as much as possible about all the things they are doing. As far as projects go, we have three big priorities. The first is the California Endangered Species Act. Our staff completed a status review of the tricolored blackbird earlier this year, and the Commission listed it as threatened, consistent with our recommendation.. We are now finalizing the status review for the Humboldt martin, leading development of status reviews for the foothill yellow-legged frog and the Cascades frog, and working to prioritize five-year status reviews.<

Scientific collecting permits are another priority. New regulations were approved earlier this year and will go into effect on Oct. 1. This includes a new online system for applications, so we are working on developing that and preparing guidance documents for permitees to help them make the transition.

And, lastly, we are actively working on a number of conservation strategies – for Mojave ground squirrel, great gray owl and willow flycatcher, and planning for another one on Sierra Nevada red fox. Also in development is the Bat Conservation Plan and an update to the Mammal Species of Special Concern report.

When you look back at your career so far, what project are you the most proud of?

The project I’m most proud of is my work with juvenile Chinook salmon. I was part of an interagency team that designed a decision matrix that could be used in real-time to make operational decisions for the state and federal water projects to protect listed winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon and improve water supply reliability. The project demonstrated how real-time monitoring data could be used to inform management decisions while balancing multiple needs. In thinking about it, salmon are probably my favorite – their life history diversity is amazing and their resiliency is inspiring.

If you had free reign and unlimited funding, what scientific project would you most like to do?

I’d like to take on a comprehensive, multi-species, statewide monitoring project. Uncertainty abounds in too many of the management decisions we’re asked to make every day because we lack the basic species data necessary to answer key questions.

What is the best thing about being a wildlife scientist?

Playing an active role in helping to ensure that current and future generations are able to enjoy all that the natural world has to offer.

Do you have any advice for people considering careers in science or natural resources?

Create a broad network of colleagues from as many disciplines as possible – modelers, engineers, social scientists and others can provide valuable perspectives and help you find some of the missing pieces in Mother Nature’s elaborate puzzle.

Photos courtesy of Erin Chappell.