Mike Robinson, M.Sc, R.P.Bio

Senior Project Manager/Agrologist

Scott is a Senior Aquatic Technician and Project Manager with over four years of experience in the environmental science field. After completing his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Sciences (University of Lethbridge), Scott has gained diverse background in environmental monitoring and reclamation working as an Environmental Scientist in Alberta. His work has included: oil and gas reclamation environmental monitoring, detailed site assessments, phase I and II environmental site assessments, invasive species inspections, vegetation and soil assessments, environmental monitoring, hydrological fieldwork, water quality sampling, topographical surveys, and conducting calcite assessments. Scott also has experience working in fisheries and has led fish habitat assessments, fish salvages, spawning surveys, PIT tagging and monitoring, dewatering and fish stranding surveys. Currently, Scott is managing various Effectiveness Monitoring, calcite remediation, and dewatering projects.  

Senior Hydrologist

Dr. MacDonald (MacDonald Hydrology Consultants Ltd.) has been conducting research and working in the hydrological sciences for over eleven years. He is currently an independent consultant based in Cranbrook, B.C. and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge. His work focuses on hydrological processes, modelling, and aquatic ecosystems. He has worked throughout western Canada and has an excellent understanding of key issues facing water resources in this region. He has been a lead modeller for multi-stakeholder collaborative modelling initiatives looking at large-scale water management in Alberta. Ryan has played a technical advisor role in the Columbia River Treaty Collaborative Modelling Work Group. He has also led several watershed-scale assessments looking at the interface between human land use, climate, and the natural environment, particularly focusing in British Columbia and Alberta. His background in process-based hydrology, modelling, and inter-disciplinary studies enables him to pursue research questions that can be applied in a practical management context. 

ryan.macdonald@machydro.ca

 403.892.4

Senior Aquatic Biologist  

Mia has been working in the field of freshwater ecology for 12 years. Mia completed a PhD in Aquatic Ecology focused on assessing diatom ecology across ecological gradients in Southern Africa which, for the first time in Africa and only a second internationally, successfully linked diatom distribution to Ecoregion Classification. In 2019 she joined the team at Lotic Environmental, BC. Mia has experience with a wide range of large-scale, multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder environmental projects. She has worked in 10 countries. Since joining Lotic Environmental she has been the project manager for 2 Environmental Impact Assessments for new mining proponents perusing licensing in BC. She has managed and conducted the fieldwork components as well as written multiple reports, including Fish and Fish Habitat Effects Assessments, Conceptual Offsetting plans and a multitude of baseline assessments for fish, water quality and aquatic health. With her background in riparian assessment (Master’s Degree) she has experience with designing and implementing restoration and monitoring programs. She also has 3 years’ experience with policy and framework development and implementation at a subnational government level. She was the Project manager for organizing the 13thCBD COP’s subnational event in Mexico during 2017, and a co-author on the strategic targets that were adopted for achieving the international biodiversity targets. With strong scientific ecological training, and on-the-ground working knowledge and experience of developmental and conservation challenges, she is well suited to bridge the gap between science and implementation. She is experienced in project management, project design, report writing, data collection and interpretation, aquatic ecosystem monitoring and assessment, and multivariate statistical approaches to large scale ecological data interpretation. She is an asset in the field, boardroom and in reporting and communicating key information to a wide range of audiences.

mia.otto@lotic.co 

2504649531

Senior Reclamation Specialist 

Thor Smestad is a Canadian ecosystem restoration specialist. He began this career in 1981 as a tree planter in the mountains of western Canada, and then later, after completing a bachelor’s degree in forest resources management, continued there as a silvicultural forester. In 1997 he returned to university to complete a Master of Science degree, specializing in soil science. His master’s study was in western Kenya; here he examined the soil fertility changes associated with short-duration agroforestry fallows.

Since completing his masters in 2002, Thor has worked throughout western Canada in the fields of reforestation & ecosystem restoration, and soil erosion control. For a short period (2012 to 2016) he also operated his own native plant nursery and ecosystem restoration company. Many of the projects completed during this period were in shoreline and riverbank restoration, and he is now known as a specialist in this area in BC. One of the most exciting projects during this period was the ecological restoration of a small peninsula near Nelson, BC. Here, for a three-day period in each of five consecutive years (2011 to 2015), Thor co-led the local College’s Integrated Environmental Planning Program annual ecological restoration field-school.

At present he works seasonally (April-Nov.) as a Senior Ecosystem Restoration Specialist for Lotic Environmental (Cranbrook, BC), and since 2020 has been spending the winter (Jan.-April) in Brazil.

Email: thor.smestad@lotic.co

Tel: 250-777-1293

Aquatic Biologist 

Rick is an Aquatic Biologist with over three years of experience with aquatic ecosystems. After completing his Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology (University of Alberta), Rick has gained valuable experience working as a consultant in Alberta and British Columbia. His work has included: fish inventory/stock assessments, fish habitat assessments, spawning assessments, angling surveys, telemetry tracking, invertebrate sampling, water quality collection, hydrological field work, calcite surveys, and culvert and fish passage assessments. Rick has acted as an Environmental Monitor, Crew Lead, Crew Coordinator and Project Manager. Rick also has gained valuable experience in managing data, technical writing, scheduling and creating cost estimates. Rick’s personal strengths include his positive attitude, ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams and attention to detail. 

GIS Analyst and Hydrogeologist

Isabelle (Purcell Mapping Ltd.) is a Registered Professional Agrologist with ten years of experience in environmental sciences. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and a Master of Science in Hydrogeology. Over the last decade, she also worked as an environmental monitoring technician in industrial environments, managed sampling programs in remote locations and produced a wide range of mapping products. Isabelle provides mapping and GIS services for Lotic Environmental as well as manages groundwater monitoring programs.

 Technician

Daniel earned his B.Sc. in Renewable Resource Management with a Minor in Soil Science and obtained a Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Saskatchewan. He has environmental consulting experience in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, including water quality sampling, fish handling, electrofishing, mark-recapture, spawning surveys, fish salvages. He made the move to BC two years ago and loves it here. When he’s not working, he enjoys snowboarding, playing hockey and spending time with friends.