Matt Tobler

Experience

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  Momrows Dairy Farm

  Jan 1977 - Aug 1987

  Farm Hand

  Growing up on a small New York dairy farm, I assisted with daily chores and seasonal crop work. Summers and part time.• Assisted with all aspects of dairy farm operation including daily chores, herd health, seasonal crop harvesting• Assisted with feeding, milking, bedding milking cows, replacement heifers and calves • Assisted with field preparation, planting and harvest of hay, oats, corn, alfalfa• Assisted with herd health and veterinary practices, calving, production records • Responsible for safely operating a wide array of farm equipment including hand tools, trucks, trailers, tractors, front end loaders and farm implements, performed maintenance and repairs as necessary• Maintained farm infrastructure including buildings, fences, etc. Show less

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  Clean Harbors

  Dec 1991 - Aug 1992

  Environmental Remediation Specialist

  • Involved in all aspects of hazardous waste remediation including industrial hygiene, emergency spill response, waste disposal and long-term site remediation• Utilized mechanical and chemical means to recover aqueous and non-aqueous contaminants from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems• Installed, monitored and maintained long term remediation facilities designed to remove contaminants from soil and ground water or control hazardous substances within federally designated Superfund sites • Prepared and labeled hazardous materials, collected air, water and soil samples, prepared confined space entry permits and bills of lading • Responsible for strict compliance to federal, state, and cooperate operational and health and safety standards • Worked with caustic, combustible, flammable, volatile, explosive, carcinogenic materials and biohazards • Operated a wide variety of industry specific equipment such as Vactors, vacuum trucks, portable filtration units, explosion proof ventilation systems and equipment• Worked in confined and unconfined spaces with Occupational Safety and Health Administration personal protection equipment at Level D (steel toe boots, hardhat, safety glasses), Level C (air purifying respirator) and Level B (supplied air) in conjunction with Tyvek suits and other protective equipment• Completed Occupational Safety and Health Administration 40 hour HAZWHOPER training• Frequently recognized by crew foreman for being highly productive and requested on jobs Show less

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  USDA Farm Service Agency

  Jul 1993 - Nov 1993

  Program Assistant

  The Farm Service Agency is customer-driven federal agency with a diverse and multi-talented work force, dedicated to achieving an economically and environmentally sound future for American Agriculture. As a Program Assistant I helped farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs. • Worked in conjunction with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and local Cooperative Extension offices to promote federally funded Farm Bill conservation programs• Administered the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Program, crop disaster and other programs• Staffed office and visited farms to explain conservation programs, answer questions, and promote programs• Compiling crop rotation histories, computed entitlement reports and issued payments after program requirements were met• Prepared correspondence, maintained files and processed necessary forms in computer and updated database • Used aerial photographs and digitizer to assess program allotments and producer compliance• Presented environmental education programs to schoolchildren on conservation field days Show less

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  USDA

  Aug 1995 - Dec 1995

  Soil Conservation Technician

  The Natural Resource Conservation Service provides technical expertise and conservation planning for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners wanting to make conservation improvements to their land. With NRCS, I assisted staff layout and check Farm Bill conservation practices and worked as a restoration team foreman to implement biotechnical practices designed to protect water quality by preventing erosion and sedimentation.• Practices included rotational grazing systems, manure storage, farm pond construction, wildlife habitat enhancement, filter strips, critical area seeding, contour farming, barnyard practices, stripcropping, diversion ditches, stream protection, crop residue and nutrient management • Implemented revegetation projects including grassy waterways, seeding projects, revegetation of mined lands and mulching; tested soil pH and nutrient content, applied soil amendments and utilized broadcast and seed drilling methods • Implemented structural practices including slope grading, diversions ditches, rock channel and slope protection, stream bank protection, silt fences, straw fences and application of Erosion Mats• Utilized soil survey reports to determine optimal nutrient application rates for use in comprehensive nutrient management plans• Supervised a crew of three workers, operated and maintained district equipment; increased crew productivity by 60% Show less

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  National Park Service

  Apr 1996 - Sept 1996

  Ranger Naturalist

  The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. As an interpretative ranger with the National Park Service, I assisted the general public with park orientation pertaining to interpretative themes including geology, ecology and cultural history and resources.• Conducted public outreach activities by communicated with age and culturally diverse audiences regarding Park resources, recreational opportunities, infrastructure and safety • Researched, prepared and presented thematic interpretive walks and campfire programs; engaged the general public throughout the Park while conducted roving interpretation• Promoted conservation and resource ethics by delivering hundreds of interpretative programs to small and large groups and unstructured outreach to thousands of visitors• Operated visitor center, sold merchandise, staffed busy information desk, issued backcountry permits and completed assigned duties• Monitored water quality, vegetation and ambient sound levels to assess park health and visitor impact for use in the Visitor Experience Resource Protection (VERP) planning• Completed over 120 hours in thematic communications training; versed in multimedia presentations• Received many complementary letters from park visitors Show less

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  Amazon Environmental Research Institute, IPAM

  Sept 1997 - Jan 1998

  Research Associate

  The Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) is a scientific, non-governmental, nonpartisan and non-profit organization that since 1995 works for the sustainable development of the Amazon. The purpose of IPAM is to consolidate the model of tropical Amazonian development, through the production of knowledge, implementation of local initiatives and influence in public policies, in a way that impacts economic development, social equality and environmental preservation. While with IPAM, I participated in the design and implementation of original research to assess the fire susceptibility of seasonally dry primary tropical rain forest along the arc of deforestation in the eastern Amazon of Brazil to guide international policy on tropical deforestation, fire susceptibility, biodiversity and climate change.• Project findings were featured in Time Magazine, the New York Times and numerous peer reviewed scientific journals and used to influence international policy at the United Nations• Examined the fundamental relationships affecting flammability and forest fragmentation with various experiments which evaluated fuel load, moisture, canopy density, tree sap flow, soil moisture, climate and other parameters in a variety of different forest environments• Maintained micro-meteorological station and operated a wide variety of ecological monitoring equipment including a Granier Sap flow experiment, Hobo Data Loggers, LAI 2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer; measured leaf turgor pressure and soil moisture, evaluated fuel moisture with leaf fall traps and fuel sticks, conducted fuel load inventories, managed project data• Mapped the spatial extent of local escaped land conversion fires• Trained Brazilian researchers and successfully facilitated project in a multicultural third world setting Show less

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  U.S. Forest Service

  Jan 1998 - Aug 2000

  Research Associate

  The Rocky Mountain Research Station works at the forefront of science to improve the health and use of our Nation's forests and grasslands. While with the forest and Range Experiment Station I conducted original research regarding forest distribution and assisted with dendro-chronological (fire scar) and fuel load studies to guide the forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects within the South Platte basin and similar ecological systems. • Independently designed and implemented thesis research to examine causes of “Spatial Heterogeneity in a Protected Pinus ponderosa Forest” near Deckers, Colorado by evaluating forest conditions and associated variances in the soil and vegetation• Assessed vegetative species composition, species richness and abundance with Modified-Whittaker sampling methods and evaluated soil horizons, Munsell soil color, texture, carbon and nitrogen content for various topographic classes• Utilized field studies and statistical analysis to quantify differences between forest communities and vegetative responses to fire, analyzed data in SAS, prepared thesis for publication• Completed an exhaustive literature review on ecosystem management and the ecology of ponderosa pine forest ecology (structure, composition, fire regimes), collated and managed extensive legacy data sets and spatial data• Implemented research to establish ecological “reference conditions” for ponderosa pine forests in Colorado that described forest structure, fire history, fuel loading, and understory vegetative characteristics for various topographic and structural classes to guide ecological restoration treatments• Collected fire scar samples and prepared for dendrochronological analysis • Conducted fuel load inventories in disturbed and undisturbed ponderosa pine forests of southern Colorado with the Planar Intersection Technique for fire behavior models • Prepared reports and manuscripts suitable for publication in peer reviewed literature Show less

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  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

  Mar 2001 - Feb 2002

  Research Associate

  U.S. Geological Survey we develop and disseminate research-based information and tools needed for understanding the Nation’s biological resources in support of effective decision making. While with the USGS Mid-Continent Ecological Science Center, I managed and implemented forage utilization studies in the Teton Valley and aided in the development of wild horse and burro programmatic guidelines. • Participated in the planning organization and implementation of complex studies designed to address ecological processes and their effect on wildlife populations• Conducted an elk, moose and bison carrying capacity survey in Grand Teton National Park, John D. Rockefeller Parkway and Yellowstone National Park• Assisted in the development of a long term strategic plan for the management of wild horses and burros on federal lands and developed and implemented research studies to examine the effect of herbivore distribution on aspen communities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem• Evaluated forage production and utilization to determine carrying capacity for domestic stock and wildlife• Evaluated grazing impacts on vegetative composition and diversity with Modified-Whittaker methods, evaluated forage production and utilization with grazing cages and clipping procedures• Supervised field crews, trained personnel, organized project, administered program • Compiled data for analysis in SysStat, identified trends provided summaries for publication • Compiled and edited technical documents, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness Show less

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  Colorado State Forest Service

  Jul 2002 - Jan 2003

  Forester

  The Colorado State Forest Service provides technical forestry assistance, wildfire mitigation expertise and outreach and education to help landowners and communities achieve their forest management goals. As a forester with CSFS, I administered and implemented community forest management plans with partners including landowners, homeowners’ associations, the US Forest Service, Denver Water, and others to mitigate wildfire, control insect and disease infestations and restore ecosystem function.• Implemented the Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Agricultural Tax Program and Defensible Space Grants• Monitored contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to state regulations• Planed forest management and fuels reduction activities by designating and mapping treatment areas, inventorying forest composition, marking stands and managing timber sales from harvested areas • Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources • Provide advice and recommendations on forestry issues to stakeholders, private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies and companies • Developed oral presentations for school groups• Conducted fuels reduction activities by thinning forests, piling slash, removing merchantable material, operating heavy equipment and burning slash piles Show less

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  Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting

  Jan 2003 - now

  Director / Natural Resource Specialist

  Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting brings a scientific and comprehensive approach to environmental management via integrated planning and applied management. I formed Blue Mountain to better meet the natural resource management and conservation planning needs public, private and non-profit sectors clients. Beginning with depth understanding of client needs, I blend historical environmental conditions, existing conditions and desired future conditions in the context of our regulatory framework to produce functional, client focused and environmentally sustainable plans or programmatic results. I provide services in the below categories: • Natural Resource Management and Conservation Planning: Ecosystem Management Plans, Open Space Plans, Stewardship Plans, Rural Land Use Plans, Conservation Easement Baseline Reports• Forestry and Wildfire Mitigation: State and Federally approved Forest Management Plans, Home Ignition Zone Assessments and Defensible Space Layouts, forest inventory and management planning for reservoir watersheds and residential communities• Environmental Regulatory Compliance: Threatened and Endangered Species surveys and compliance, Ecological Characterization Studies, Phase 1 Environmental Assessments (ASTM 1527, 1528, 2247), National Environmental Policy Act environmental Impact Statement, Biological Assessments / Evaluations• Ecological Restoration, Agriculture and Rangelands: Quantitative and qualitative botanical inventories and analysis, Natural Resource Conservation Service Grazing Plans, Noxious Weed Inventory and Management • Watershed, Wetland and Riparian Area Management: Watershed Resilience Planning, ACOE Wetland Delineations, Permitting and Functional Assessments, Proper Functioning Condition Surveys and Analysis, Rosgen Channel Evaluations, Stormwater Management Plans, Aquatic Habitat Inventories, Sedimentation and Erosion Control, Riparian Restoration Representative project are provided below Show less

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  AECOM / EDAW

  Apr 2003 - Nov 2003

  Project Ecologist

  AECOM / EDAW is a private environmental consulting group that provides a varitey of services focusing on environmental design, planning and regulatory compliance. While with EDAW I participated in numerous National Environmental Policy (NEPA) projects across western states that addressed oil and gas infrastructure development, water development and conveyance. In this capacity, I conducted wetland delineations, threatened and endangered species surveys, ecological assessments and prepared documentation per NEPA, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.REX West Gas Pipeline NEPA Assessment, SD and NE • Conducted raptor surveys for NEPA and MBTA compliance along project corridor to quantify avian impacts along portions of a proposed 1,100 mile corridor• Utilized Trimble GeoXT to locate corridor and record featuresMoffat Water Development and Conveyance NEPA Assessment, Western Slope, CO • Conducted riparian and wetland investigations for NEPA compliance along 105 miles of five western slope rivers to assess the impact of flow depletions and augmentations for the development of Front Range municipal supply systems• Integrated ecological field investigations and CDOW spatial data with geomorphologic and hydrological information to predict project outcomesBasin Electric Transmission Corridor NEPA Assessment, Gillette, WY • Conducted environmental surveys along a proposed 180 mile 230 kV transmission line connecting new and existing substations in eastern Wyoming• Field investigations and subsequent resource reports detailed aspects of the biotic and abiotic features of the project area and baseline conditions including ecological composition and avian use• Documented the affected environment, special status species surveys and delineated disturbed (atypical) wetlands Show less