Environmental Colloquium Speaker Series

Past Sessions

• November 16, 2022

  As an addendum to the film seen the previous Monday, please come and meet Bill Sapp, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Bill is featured in the film Sacred Waters, and when he visits us, he will give us an update about the efforts to save the Okefenokee. Bill will also give us a review of the scope of work at the Southern Environmental Law Center and the importance of citizen scientists, activists and educators being active to save our natural resources for the next generation.

• November 14, 2022

  Join us in watching the documentary called Sacred Waters. The film is about how our Georgia Okefenokee is in peril. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, but it is a fragile ecosystem under constant threat. The film is co-produced by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Part of the film outlines how Ga activists, with key help from the Southern Environmental Law Center, have been in an epic battle with a mining company that is threatening to destroy the Okefenokee. It's a story of nature, culture, development, activism and preservation. southernenvironment.org

• November 11, 2022

  Come and meet J.D. McCrary, the Executive Director of the Georgia Forest Watch. JD has twenty-five years of experience domestically and internationally. He has degrees from Tulane, GA State and Harvard's Business School, focusing on Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. He has served in the U.S. Peace Corps and served refugees and victims of human trafficking and worked to safely settle immigrants. His talents are now applied to enhancing the health of the 867,000 acres of federal forests in Georgia. He and his team monitor the many streams and forests that supply water to millions of Georgians and works closely with the U.S. Forest Service to ensure the protection of our watersheds, native plants and wildfire.

• November 9, 2022

  Come and thank Kristen Howard for the clean drinking water in our town. Kristen is a Water Conservation Specialist in the City of Gainesville's Department of Water Resources. The department is responsible for drinking water plants, wastewater plants, fire hydrants, environmental monitoring, storm water, and it maintains hundreds of miles of pipes with a large team of dedicated professionals. Kristen promotes public awareness of safe drinking water and educates the community on Gainesville's role in providing such.

• October 28, 2022

  Come and meet Russell Lundstrum from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Russ is a Ranger at the Lake Lanier project who specializes in the use of GIS, geography, high-speed sonar, underwater maps, depth finders and guiding underwater emergency diving. He is currently working on a new LiDAR project to focus on some severe erosion issues as various parks on the lake. Russ has also been a consultant on national projects far afield, such as the Lake Isabella dam reconstruction project in California. He will give an overview of his position, how he uses GIS in this position, and how he is using LiDAR to solve problems currently.

• October 26, 2022
  The Buford Dam Project at Lake Lanier
  Timothy Rainey, Senior Operations Project Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers.
  Full Description

  The key missions of the Buford Dam Project are: Environmental Stewardship, Flood Risk Management, and Recreation. Timothy will share how his role adapts to fulfill these objectives throughout the year; coordinating with local jurisdictions, providing counsel to state agencies, and garnering attention from federal agencies all to advance public safety around the Lake and surrounding Chattahoochee river.

• October 24, 2022
  Natural Resource Management in the Corps of Engineers
  Troy Cain, Ranger, Natural Resource Management Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Full Description

  Come listen to the firsthand accounts covering the life of a USACE Ranger. Troy will speak of the intruiging experiences defending the balance between our outdoor recreational sites along with their surrounding natural resources; navigating the interconnected interests of private stakeholders, federal-, state-, and local agencies while giving dedicated regard to the concerns of the fish and wildlife sector.

• October 19, 2022
  Opportunities in the State Department of Natural Resources
  Kathy Church, Wildlife Interpretive Specialist, Game Management Unit, Wildlife Resources Division, GA-DNR
  Full Description

  Kathy will introduce you to the specialized divisions of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; illuminating current state interests while revealing helpful volunteer and research opportunities that can add a gold star to your CV. With her 20 years of teaching experience, Master's in Secondary Education from Piedmont College, and Bachelor's in Wildlife Management from the Warnell School of Forest Resources (UGA), anticipate to be inspired.

• October 12, 2022
  Oakwood Watershed and Sedimentation Challenges and Plans
  B.R. White - Oakwood City Manager, Graduate of Urban and Economic Geography
• September 28, 2022
  Gwinnett's Growing GIS Needs
  Lee Irminger - Administrator of Gwinnett County GIS
• September 28, 2022
  Local Parks: their importance and how you help
  Kate Mattison - Director of Gainesville Parks and Rec. System
• September 26, 2022
  CCL: Citizen Lobbying for Climate Reform
  Dr. Vernon Dixon - President of CCL, Georgia Chapter
• September 19, 2022
  Goals of the Elachee Nature Center and Preserve
  Kirstin Love - Director of Elachee Nature Center Ops and Resources
• September 19, 2022
  Local Water Issues, Challenges and Opportunities
  Dale Caldwell - Director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's Headwaters
• September 12, 2022
  Chattahoochee Watershed Issues and Recovery
  Becca Risser - Executive Director of the Soque River Watershed Assoc.