Will Pruitt

Experience

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  Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

  May 2008 - Aug 2008

  Research Technician

  Research technician performing occupancy and mark-recapture surveys for Georgia's rare fishes and freshwater mussels.

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  University of Tennessee

  Mar 2009 - Aug 2009

  Research Technician

  Research technician performing surveys for rare fishes, crayfish, and aquatic salamander (e.g., eastern hellbender) in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. Included capture and relocation of rare species, collection of broodstock for rare fishes, captive rearing and propagation of federally listed fish species (e.g., sicklefin redhorse).

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  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

  Jan 2010 - Mar 2013

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Research Assistant performing long-term occupancy studies for Catostomids in a hydropower-influenced riverine system with a focus on robust redhorse. Included tagging, tracking, and collecting robust redhorse, occupancy analysis and technical reporting. Other studies include capture efficiency of collection gear (i.e., boat electrofishing, BPEF, hoop nets, gill nets, seining) on various fish species, bathymetric mapping and side-scanning sonar imagery of impoundments and riverine systems to quantify underwater habitats. Show less

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  Georgia Department of Transportation

  Mar 2013 - Nov 2013

  Ecologist

  Led wetland and stream delineations, protected species surveys and habitat assessments, performed 404 permitting, stream buffer variances, and reviewed consultant ecology and protected species survey reports.

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  Corblu Ecology Group, LLC

  Dec 2013 - Aug 2019

  Aquatic Ecologist / Discipline Leader

  Discipline leader and project lead for aquatic-related projects including biological assessments, biological monitoring, protected species surveys (fish and mussels), watershed assessments and protection plans. Performed fisheries and stock assessments on streams, rivers, reservoirs, and other lakes, ponds, and impoundments, collected water quality data, sampled ichtyoplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates, as well as performed stream geomorphic surveys and vegetative monitoring. Included collection and processing of fish tissues for contaminant testing, pond sediment surveys, and compliance with authorized fills to jurisdictional waters of the U.S. Led stream and wetland delineations, Section 404 CWA permitting, and stream buffer variances. Duties included data analysis, QAQC, preparation of technical reports for clients and submittal to state and federal agencies. Show less

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  Pond & Company

  Aug 2019 - Feb 2021

  Senior Scientist

  Environmental consultant leading project tasks such as jurisdictional waters delineations, protected species habitat assessments, Section 404 permitting, stream buffer variances, as well as erosion and sediment pollution control plans, NPDES permitting and inspections, water quality studies, and providing environmental consultation for various energy, transportation, private, and federal clients.

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  Kleinschmidt Associates

  Mar 2021 - now

  Project Biologist / Discipline Leader

  Discipline Leader for Kleinschmidt's Terrestrial, Wetlands, and Wildlife discipline group. Project Scientist leading various environmental and natural resource studies, developing and executing relicensing studies, preparing technical reports, environmental permitting, and providing consultation regarding natural resources to numerous energy clients. Projects focus on FERC licensing process, dam removal, fish passage and migratory fish studies, fisheries; rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species; wetlands; wildlife; water quality; and other natural resources in surrounding landscapes influenced by hydropower operation. Show less