Biography

Sherri has over 25 years of experience as an aquatic biologist, working for the past 15 years in the Southern Interior of BC/Kootenay Region. Sherri is experienced in a full range of project delivery including project planning, field data collection, data analysis, and reporting. Sherri has routinely demonstrated her ability to work with various stakeholders/groups including government, non-government, industry, contractor, and private landowner organizations. Over her career, Sherri has developed management plans for various projects including Foreshore Integrated Management Planning for five lakes (including 10-year review of change for Windermere and Kootenay lakes), Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping for four official community plan areas, and the Elk River Flood Strategy and Valley Bottom Assessment. Sherri has helped numerous stewardship groups prepare their Columbia Basin Water Quality Monitoring Project reports.

Since 2014, Sherri has been a dedicated project manager and the lead biologist for the City of Cranbrook Wastewater Treatment System monitoring program, which involves monitoring: effluent, surface and groundwater quality and quantity; invertebrate communities; and sediment, crop tissue and soil quality. In addition, since 2013, she has been the project manager and lead biologist for the Kootenay Region Forest Service Road Maintenance Program, where is responsible for environmental planning, permitting and construction monitoring of bridges, culverts and flood protection works. Sherri has also successfully obtained environmental permits and monitored construction for municipalities and private landowners (e.g., including bank protection, dike extension, floodgate installation, and marina maintenance dredging). Furthermore, Sherri has applied her expertise to conducting environmental assessments for several mining projects and the Aberfeldie hydropower development. 

Sherri is also skilled in facilitation and has guided the development of the Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park Fisheries Management Plan, Kootenay Lake Action Plan, and Kootenay Region Angling Management Plan Review. Prior to moving to the Kootenay Region, Sherri worked as an employee with the Ministry of Environment in the Vancouver Island Region for 8 years. During this time, she held positions with the Watershed Restoration Program at a regional level, and the Environmental Assessment Division at a provincial level.

Areas of Expertise

• Fish and fish habitat inventory, assessment, and evaluation
• Environmental monitoring of construction projects
• Federal and provincial permitting
• Project management 
• Process facilitation and working with multidisciplinary teams

B.Sc., Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC (1994)

Safety and Training 

• WCB Occupational First Aid – Level 1 (2020)
• Soil bioengineering for streambank slope and riparian site rehabilitation (2016)
• Erosion and sediment control (2016)
• Swiftwater Safety Rescue Technician - Level 2 (2016)
• Backpack electrofishing, crew supervisor (May 2011)

Professional Experience

• 2010 - present. Lotic Environmental Ltd., Cranbrook BC. Aquatic Biologist
• 2007 - 2010. Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd., Cranbrook, BC. Aquatic Biologist
• 2003 - 2006. Self-employed consultant, Nanaimo, BC. Aquatic Biologist
• 1994 - 1999 & 2000 - 2001. Ministry of Environment (MoE), Nanaimo BC. Watershed Restoration Program Habitat Technician and Fisheries Specialist. 
• 1999-2000. MoE, Victoria BC. Environmental Assessment Division, Project Review Manager.

Publications and Technical Reports

McPherson, S (with various staff). 2013-present. Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Monitoring Reports for over 75 stream crossing replacements and erosion protection projects. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd., for the Ministry of Forests Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. 

McPherson, S. 2015 - present. City of Cranbrook Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System –Annual Reports. Prepared for the City of Cranbrook, by Lotic Environmental Ltd.

Schleppe, J.1, and S. McPherson2. 2022. Kootenay Lake Foreshore Integrated Management Planning. Prepared for Living Lakes Canada. Prepared by: Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.1, and Lotic Environmental Ltd.2

Schleppe, J.1, and S. McPherson2. 2021. Windermere Lake Foreshore Integrated Management Planning. Prepared for Living Lakes Canada. Prepared by: Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.1, and Lotic Environmental Ltd.2

McPherson S. 2021. Timber Ridge Marina Dredge – Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management Plan. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd. for the Timber Ridge Property Owners Association and Terridian Utilities.

McPherson S, and L. Lasmanis. 2021. Fairmont Creek Sediment Removal, Environmental Monitoring Report, June 21 – July 13, 2021. Letter report prepared by Lotic Environmental for the Regional District of East Kootenay.

Schleppe, J.1, S. McPherson2, L. Porto3, and B. Mason4. 2020. Foreshore Integrated Management Plan Methods (update). Prepared for Living Lakes Canada. Prepared by: Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.1, Lotic Environmental Ltd.2, Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions3, and BC Community Mapping Network4.

McPherson, S. 2019. Maiden Lake Dike Improvement Project - Environmental Protection Plan and Environmental Monitoring Bi-weekly Reports. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd., for McElhanney Ltd. and BA Blacktop.

McPherson, S1., D. Paton2, and I. Larocque3. 2019. Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping, Steamboat-Jubilee Mountain Official Community Plan Area. Consultant report prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd1, Anatum Ecological Ltd2, and Purcell Mapping Ltd3. Prepared for the Regional District of East Kootenay.

McPherson, S. 2019. Highway 3 Lizard Creek Bridge Replacement (No. 1181) and Approaches - Construction Environmental Management Plan and Environmental Monitoring Bi-weekly Reports. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd., for PROJEX Infrastructure Group Ltd.

McPherson, S., K. Baranowska, and L. Duncan. 2018. Columbia River Watersheds, Water Quality Monitoring Reports (nine creeks). A Columbia Basin Water Quality Monitoring Project. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd. for the Columbia Basin Water Quality Monitoring Project.

McPherson, S. 2018 and 2015. Kootenay Lake Fisheries Advisory Team Facilitation and Action Plan Report. Prepared for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, by Lotic Environmental Ltd.

McPherson, S. and K. Heidt. 2018 and 2014. Kootenay Angling Management Plan Review, Recommendations Report. Prepared by Lotic Environmental and Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

McPherson, S., B. Roulston and M. Robinson. 2017. Fish passage assessments and fish habitat confirmation checks, St. Mary River Watershed. Prepared by Lotic Environmental for BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, BC Timber Sales, Nelson, BC.

McPherson, S1. and D. Marcotte1. 2016. Environmentally Sensitive Area Mapping, Fairmont Hot Springs & Columbia Lake Official Community Plan Area. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd and Anatum Ecological Ltd. for the Regional District of East Kootenay.

McPherson, S1. D. Paton2, A. McKay1. D. Marcotte1. 2015. Environmentally sensitive area mapping, proposed steeples Official Community Plan area – methods report. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd and Anatum Ecological Ltd. for the Regional District of East Kootenay.

McPherson, S1., G. Duke2, M. Robinson1, K. Grant2, and L. Walker3. 2014. Elk River Watershed, Valley Bottom Assessment – Report to Residents on River Health, Phase 1. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd.1, GranDuke Geomatics Ldt.2 and Elk River Alliance3 for the Columbia Basin Trust.

McPherson, S. and M Robinson. 2013. Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park Fisheries Management Plan. Prepared by Lotic Environmental Ltd. for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.