Center for Ecosystem Restoration

Thomas C. Ardito

President, Center for Ecosystem Restoration

Qualifications

Success in developing, leading and coordinating partnerships among governmental, non-governmental, academic, private-sector and stakeholder-based organizations to accomplish environmental restoration and conservation. Skill in communications and facilitation to achieve restoration objectives. Experience in environmental planning, policy and management. Advanced knowledge of applied coastal science, ecological restoration and estuarine environmental management.

Core Competencies

· Leading, managing and advising interagency and stakeholder-based programs and projects to restore estuaries, rivers, wetlands and other coastal habitats;

· Incorporating social, cultural and economic values into restoration, benefiting communities as well as ecology;

· Implementing estuarine policy and management at federal, state and local levels;

· Developing funding for restoration projects and programs from public and private sources;

· Communicating environmental concepts, plans and projects to technical and non-technical audiences;

· Public administration and management of non-profit organizations;

· Award, management and oversight of contracts and grants;

· Facilitation and dispute resolution.

Prior Experience

Director of Policy and Communications, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program,

URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI (1999 to present)

Key Responsibilities and Accomplishments:

Restore Natural Resources and Ecosystems: Lead, manage and coordinate public/private partnerships to natural resources and associated human uses. Responsibilities and accomplishments:

· Town Pond Wetland Restoration: A $5.75 million project to restore 40 acres of coastal wetlands and associated habitats in Portsmouth , RI , now under construction.

· Ten Mile River Fisheries Restoration: A $1.8 million project to restore historic migratory fish runs in East Providence , RI and Seekonk , Mass.

· Lower Pawtuxet River Restoration: A $500,000 project to restore native fish runs and other ecological and cultural values, working collaboratively with a local community, on Narragansett Bay ’s third-largest tributary.

· Lower Blackstone River Restoration: A $3.5 million project to restore fish runs and other values on the Bay’s second-largest tributary, working with hydroelectric facilities and other river stakeholders.

· R.I. Habitat Restoration Team: Established and co-chair interagency technical team to promote and coordinate habitat restoration statewide.

· R.I. Habitat Restoration Trust Fund: Developed program, serve on oversight committee to administer $250,000 annually in non-federal grants for restoration.

· Restoration Technical Assistance: Provide information and technical assistance to stakeholders and policy-makers to promote and support restoration activities.

· Restoration Portal: Developed and co-managed $250,000 statewide restoration plan and information resource, in partnership with NOAA Coastal Services Center .

Manage Program Communications: Oversee and accomplish effective public, stakeholder and legislative communications. Responsibilities:

· Narragansett Bay Journal: Publish thrice-annual newspaper about the Bay with an annual budget of $100,000 and distribution of up to 300,000:

o Developed publication, established and chair editorial board;

o Supervise staff and contractors; manage publication budget;

o Edit publication; serve as lead writer and art editor.

· Oversee Program Communications:

o Represent NBEP at public, professional, technical and legislative events;

o Develop reports, press releases, legislative briefings, PowerPoint presentations, outreach products, websites, etc.

Support Program Administration: Engage in strategic planning, budget development, program reporting, personnel management and other aspects of program operations.

Restoration Specialist, NOAA Restoration Center , Silver Spring , MD (1997-1999)

Key Responsibilities and Accomplishments:

Restored Natural Resources and Ecosystems: Coordinated and staffed case teams to assess, respond to and restore natural resources damaged by oil spills and hazardous materials. Represented federal resource trustee interests under Superfund, Oil Pollution Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act and other laws and policies. Examples:

· New Bedford Harbor Restoration: Staffed and coordinated New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council, an intergovernmental council that oversees $20 million in restoration funding and activities; co-authored Harbor Restoration Plan/EIS; managed NEPA compliance; managed restoration projects (land acquisition, sea grass restoration, wetland restoration, etc.); developed and administered contracts and grants; developed outreach materials; assisted in legislative affairs.

· North Cape Oil Spill Restoration: Served on intergovernmental Trustee Council; co-authored Restoration Plan/EA; represented NOAA as lead federal trustee; coordinated with co-trustees; assisted in damage assessment; supported negotiations with responsible party; provided contractor oversight; developed outreach materials.

· World Prodigy Oil Spill Restoration: Engaged in restoration planning and project development; co-authored Restoration Plan/EA; managed NEPA compliance; managed restoration projects (reef restoration, wetland restoration, etc.); managed contracts and grants; represented NOAA as lead federal trustee; developed outreach materials.

Policy and Program Administration: Supported NOAA/RC strategic planning and budget development, program reporting, public and legislative affairs, fiscal and grants management, etc.

Outreach and Communications: Wrote and edited public and technical reports, outreach materials, websites, briefing documents, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Represented NOAA/RC at professional conferences, technical workshops, interagency meetings, etc.

International Affairs Specialist, NOAA Headquarters, Washington , DC (1996-1997)

As National Sea Grant Fellow, participated in international negotiations and reporting concerning Arctic pollution and other international environmental issues.

Boatbuilder and Commercial Fisherman, Rhode Island and Connecticut (1986-1996)

Various employers and self-employed: Responsible for marina operations, commercial fishing, small business management, etc.

Shellfish Aquaculturist, Mulberry Farm Bivalve Aquaculture, Guilford , CT (1986-1992)

Engaged in all aspects of growing hard-shell clam, Mercenaria mercenaria.

Education

University of Connecticut , Storrs , CT. B.A., English, 1985.

University of Rhode Island , Kingston , RI . M.A., Marine Affairs, 1995.

University of Rhode Island , Kingston , RI . Ongoing Ph.D.-level coursework in wetland ecology and other subjects pertaining to environmental science and natural resource management.

Professional Awards And Honors

· Board of Directors, Saugatucket River Heritage Corridor Coalition (2006-Present)

· Senior Fellow, Coastal Institute (2002-Present)

· Conference Planning Committee, Third National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration (2006)

· Governor’s Narragansett Bay and Watershed Commission, Advisory Panel (2003-2004)

· NOAA Dean John A. Knauss National Sea Grant Fellow, 1995

· Rhode Island Senate Fiscal & Policy Fellow, 1994

Thomas E. Kutcher

Scientific Director, Center for Ecosystem Restoration

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

• Landscape/wetland ecological processes, including physical and ecological interactions of upland, wetland, and coastal systems
• Geospatial ecological landscape characterizations and their applications to environmental conservation and management
• Conservation-driven research

2000-2003 B.S. in Environmental Science and Management, Cum Laude, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island

1983-1986 B.A. candidate in Secondary Education, University of Rhode Island

2007-Pres Technical Consultant

NOAA/NOS/OCRM/Estuarine Reserves Division

Work as an independent contractor under a grant from the Estuarine Reserves Division as a technical consultant on various aspects of the National Estuarine Research Reserve’s (NERRS) System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP), Phase III, Habitat and Land Use Change. Deliverables include the final documentation of a land cover classification scheme developed for the high-resolution geospatial characterization of coastal land covers for the NERRS, piloting support of remote-sensed and automatically classified high-resolution data with NOAA Coastal Services Center , and an implementation plan for land cover mapping and inventory in the NERRS.

2007-Pres Wetlands Scientist

Rhode Island Natural History Survey

Develop and pilot a protocol to assess and characterize wetland relative condition and value of freshwater wetlands for the State of Rhode Island under a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Vet the resulting protocol through various State and Federal Agencies for Statewide application. Assist and supply technical support to various other agency programs.

2003-2007 Natural Resources Specialist / Stewardship Coordinator

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Incorporate natural resource and stewardship initiatives into system programs. Monitor natural resources, analyze ecological interactions, and plan and implement stewardship actions for Reserve properties and the Narragansett Bay watershed through professional partnerships. Work locally and nationally to plan, design, write, and revise protocols, program strategies, and guiding documents.

2002-2003 Research Assistant

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Research support in designing and conducting ecological research and monitoring, including GPS mapping, biological sampling, and habitat inventory

PROFESSIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

2005-Pres Development Team, Coastal/Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), NOAA/CSC and Natureserve

Work as a technical advisor to the executive development committee in developing a mapping strategy and structural format to the CMECS scheme; includes meetings, presentations, and consultation.

2004-Pres NERRS Chair, Habitat Mapping and Change Technical Committee, National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NOAA/NOS/OCRM)

Develop, organize, and act as lead author of the NERRS Classification system based on the Cowardin et al. wetlands standard. Develop strategies, protocols, and partnerships to implement and promote geospatial land cover inventory and analysis programs throughout the Reserve System.

2006-2007 Stewardship Coordinator Representative, National Strategic Planning Committee, National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NOAA/NOS/OCRM)

Assess and prioritize initiatives for program changes or new projects within the Reserve System.

Kutcher, T.E. 2006. A Comparison of Functionality in Two Habitat Classification Schemes developed within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Technical report prepared for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, US Department of Commerce, 1305 East West Highway - N/ORM5, Silver Spring , MD , 5 pp.

Kutcher, T.E. 2006. Human Impacts to Narragansett Bay : a chapter in the site profile of the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. [Draft] Technical report prepared for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, US Department of Commerce, 1305 East West Highway - N/ORM5, Silver Spring , MD (unpublished manuscript).

Kutcher, T.E., Garfield , N.H. , and Raposa, K.B. 2005. A recommendation for a comprehensive habitat and land use classification system for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Technical report prepared for Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 26 pp. plus appendices.

Kutcher, T.E. 2005. Flora and vegetation communities: a chapter in the site profile of the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. [Draft] Technical report prepared for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, US Department of Commerce, 1305 East West Highway - N/ORM5, Silver Spring , MD (unpublished manuscript).

Kutcher, T.E., K.B. Raposa, and F. Golet. 2004. Habitat classification and inventory for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Technical report prepared for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 55 South Reserve Drive , Prudence Island, R.I. (unpublished manuscript).

Kutcher, T.E. 2006. Applying the NERRS Classification to Your Land Cover. PowerPoint presentation and exercise prepared and presented for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Stewardship Coordinators meeting, Homer, AK, and distributed to the Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 26 pp.

Kutcher, T.E. 2006. Selection an Effective Classification Scheme. PowerPoint presentation and exercise prepared and presented for the State of South Carolina and distributed to the National Estuarine Research Reserves, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 14 pp.

Kutcher, T.E. 2005. A recommendation for a comprehensive habitat and land use classification system for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. PowerPoint presentation prepared and presented for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Stewardship Coordinators meeting, Sapelo Island , GA , and distributed to the Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 42 pp.

Kutcher, T.E. and N. Garfield 2007. National Estuarine Research Reserve habitat mapping and change program; perspective, updates, and more perspective. PowerPoint presentation prepared and presented for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Coastal Training Program Coordinators/Stewardship Coordinators meeting, Hudson , NY , and distributed to the Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 21 pp.

Kutcher, T.E. and N. Garfield . 2005. NERR Habitat Mapping and Change Initiative: accomplishments and future direction. PowerPoint presentation presented at the National Estuarine Research Reserve System National Meeting, Naples , FL , and distributed to the Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA/NOS/OCRM, Silver Spring , MD , 32 pp.

Kutcher, T.E., K.B. Raposa, F. Golet, and R.W. Enser. 2004. Habitat classification and inventory for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Professional poster prepared and presented for the Rhode Island Natural History Survey Annual Meeting, Cranston , RI , and for the NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting, Kennebunkport , ME.

Raposa, K.B., R. McKinney, and T.E. Kutcher. 2006. Factors affecting wading bird use within an urbanized matrix. Professional poster presented at the NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting, Huron, OH.

2005-Pres Researcher, wading bird salt marsh use investigation, US Environmental Protection Agency/ NBNERR

Using GIS, photointerpretated, delineated, field-checked, classified, and inventoried 17 estuarine wetlands and surrounding 500-m upland, cultural, wetland, and deepwater buffers for application to quantifying and analyzing various effects of land use and habitat availability on wading bird abundance within an urbanized sub-estuary in Narragansett Bay.

2005-2006 Research Assistant, eastern box turtle telemetry project, NBNERR under a grant from RI Natural History Survey

Plotted animals movements using radio-telemetry equipment, GPS and GIS for application to home range analyses and habitat use over previously classified habitat datasets.

2004 Principal Investigator, Atlantic coastal pitch pine barren line intercept/point intercept vegetation assessment, NBNERR

Designed and implemented a comparative ground-cover survey of various habitats within an Atlantic pitch pine barren mosaic. Applied line and point transects and photointerpretation of various habitats to quantify various relative indicators of ecological function.

2005 Principal Investigator, Habitat Classification and Inventory of Prudence Island upland and wetland land covers and habitats, NBNERR.

Photointerpretated, delineated, field-checked, classified, and inventoried 1600 acres of non-Reserve properties on Prudence Island to supplement NBNERR habitat inventory data (see below).

2003 Principal Investigator, Habitat Classification and Inventory of the Properties of the NBNERR, NBNERR/University of Rhode Island

Developed a classification scheme and photointerpretated, delineated, field-checked, classified, and inventoried 2600 acres of wetland, upland, and deepwater habitats, and culturally dominated land covers for the NBNERR under the supervision of Frank Golet.

2002-2003 Research Assistant, GPS delineation of Prudence Island fringe marshes, NBNERR

Used GPS and GIS to delineate, field-check, and inventory fringe marshes occurring on Prudence Island .