Picture of participants at Wetland workshop.
Instructor Information:

D. Timothy Gerber is a member of the River Studies Center and an associate professor (Biology Department) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L). His doctoral work (UW-Milwaukee) focused on the physiological ecology of submersed aquatic milfoil species (Myriophyllum). Presently, he teaches aquatic plant biology and plant taxonomy at UW-L and is interested in tracking exotic aquatic species distributions in Wisconsin.

Randy J. Hunt is a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. He specialized in the application of groundwater models and geochemical investigation of water resource and water quality problems. Hunt received his master’s and doctorate degrees in hydrogeology from the UW-Madison under Dr. Mary Anderson. His work has focused on the use of innovative techniques such as isotopes, groundwater modeling, and small-scale geochemical sampling to investigate constructed and natural wetlands, he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Society of Wetlands Scientists, American Geophysical Union, the Association of Groundwater Scientists and Engineers, and is also past president of the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Resources Association.

Chris K. Knotts is a biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He graduated form UW-Stevens Point with a degree in wildlife management and biology. He was a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Navy at Patuxent Wildlife Research Station before joining the Jacksonville District, Regulatory Branch of the Corps in 1986. He currently works for the St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch, Stevens Point Field Office.

Larry Leitner is the principal biologist at the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, where he has worked since 1991. There he is involved with identifying, inventorying, and evaluating natural areas in the southeastern Wisconsin Region. He received his master’s from Indiana State University and his Ph.D. from the UW-Milwaukee, specializing in plant ecology, and where he taught courses in vascular plant taxonomy and dendrology. He has collected nearly 7,000 plant specimens in Wisconsin and elsewhere. His interests include locating and protecting critical species, ecology of invasive plant species and maintenance of regional biodiversity.

Larry Natzke is the area resource soil scientist and wetland specialist for the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) for Northwest Wisconsin. He is a graduate of UW-Stevens Point, with a BS degree in Soil Science. As wetland specialist he deals with the policy, procedural, and technical aspect of wetland programs administered by the NRCS.

Donald M. Reed, chief biologist at the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, has provided consulting services concerning wetland boundary identification, wetland function, and quality assessments, as well as, wetland mitigation and restoration planning to various local units of government, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Justice, and law firms. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and geography from Carrol College. He has his master’s degree in botany/zoology and his doctorate degree in biological sciences from the UW-Milwaukee. He is co-author of “Wetland Plants and plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin,” published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is also a recipient of the 1996 National Wetlands Award for Outstanding Wetlands Program Development awarded by the Environmental Law Institute and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Bryon Dale Simon is chief biologist for the Regulations Section, Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He was a water management specialist for WDNR in La Crosse form 1975-83, and has been in his present position since 1983. He has a bachelor’s in education, with a botany major and a zoology minor from Eastern Illinois University. He has written several papers on wetlands and specializes in wetland hydrology and in stream flow evaluations. He co-authored “NR 103-Water Quality Standards for Wetlands” and was responsible for coordinating the development of policy, program, guidance, implementation, and administration of NR 103 for all WDNR programs. He is a member or the Society of Wetland Scientists, the Association of State Wetland Managers and the Mississippi River Research Consortium.

Duane Simonson is the update project leader and acting area resource soil scientist for the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Southwestern Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the UW-Stevens Point with a BS degree in forestry with a minor in soil science. As project leader, he has published three County Soil Surveys in Wisconsin. As Resource Soil Scientist, he has worked on a wetland team providing the soils expertise for the wetland programs. He is a member of the Wisconsin Society of Professional Soil Scientists and is ARCPACS certified.

Patricia Ann Trochlell is a wetland ecologist with the Lakes and Wetlands Section of the Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. She graduated from the UW-Stevens Point with a major in wildlife management and wildlife biology and a minor in soil science. She has worked in both private and state and federal government positions as a fisheries biologist and habitat manager in various areas in the state of Wisconsin. She also spent seven years as a water management specialist in WDNR in Milwaukee. Her current job includes statewide responsibilities to develop wetland policy and monitoring programs and provide technical expertise and training on wetland delineation, assessment, and restoration. She is a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists and is a certified professional wetland scientist and licensed professional hydrologist.

Robert Weihrouch is a biologist with the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), having graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a biology major and a soil science minor. He was a field scientist in Kansas, Florida, and Wisconsin and currently has statewide responsibility for providing wetland determinations, delineations, and training on the Wetland Conservation provisions (Swampbuster) of the Food Security Act. He is a member of the Wisconsin Society of Professional Soil Scientists and is a licensed Professional Soil Scientist by the State of Wisconsin.

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