Ethan Daviau

I was referred to GFT by my now-colleague Jason Alwine, PE, a family friend who made a connection between my interests and GFT’s work. I appreciate how much I have learned here in the past two years, the variety of projects I’ve been involved with, and the people I work with.

GFT provided me the opportunity to attend wetland delineation training and present at the National Stream Restoration Conference this past August. My presentation, “Implementing Vernal Pools in Mid-Atlantic Stream Restoration Projects,” focused on GFT’s collaboration with the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. In two stream restoration projects, we implemented vernal pools to enhance habitat diversity, ecological function, and flood storage on the floodplain.

I am a board member, operations director, and funding coordinator for the Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organized by the Cumberland Valley Trout Unlimited chapter. The week-long summer camp for 24 high school students from across the country features collegiate-level lectures about every facet of cold-water conservation, including:

• Geology.
• Riparian buffers.
• Water quality.
• Wetlands.
• Land use.
• Stream restoration.
• And more.

Students also learn to fly fish in a classroom setting and get to fish with mentors twice a day. I volunteer for the full week of camp, and this year, I will teach the watersheds class for the third year.

I am a proud graduate of this camp. My experience there sparked my interest in a career in stream restoration, and it is the reason I am at GFT today. Many graduates become community leaders and have successful careers in biology, engineering, and environmental science.

I am also the vice president of the Codorus chapter of Trout Unlimited and a board member of the Watershed Alliance of York.

I am playing a significant role in developing a grant application on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The grant seeks funding from NOAA Fisheries, an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for the removal of dams and implementation of fish passage at multiple dams in the Piscataquog and Merrimack River watersheds. The project has complex community and stakeholder interests.

Restoring or stabilizing streams and improving water quality contribute significantly to creating a better future. Clean water is essential for all living things, and I am proud to contribute to the effort through my work.

Some of the best advice I’ve received, particularly this early in my career, has been to say “yes” as often as possible. Taking that advice to heart, I’ve worked on various projects outside my current experience or in a different discipline, including public transportation, roadways, dam removal, and utility services. Being willing to stretch myself has improved my skills and continues to develop my abilities.

Fly fishing, fly tying, cooking, attending Penn State football games, and volunteering for conservation organizations are all at the top of my list of hobbies.

Growing up, we never vacationed at the same place twice, which allowed me to see many parts of the United States. On a recent trip to Las Vegas and southern Utah, we enjoyed hiking in national and state parks and forests. We also rented utility task vehicles and had fun keeping up with each other on mountain trails.

I like fishing or cooking while listening to country music. A recent favorite weeknight meal was potato gnocchi with a pesto cream sauce and summer squash. I also recently discovered the joys of cooking with a smoker.

My grandparents gifted my brother and me their 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II convertible. We hope to have it back on the road next spring after some repairs.