- Urban growth and development
I enjoy working at the interface of communities and natural resources. My current research looks at farmland loss and water use in the Treasure Valley in the face of urban growth and development. I am a main contributor to the Treasure Valley Water Atlas which examines the movement of water through the Treasure Valley of Idaho both from a physical perspective as well as a management perspective, paying special attention to how multi-level policies play a role in today and future water use. This research is particularly salient as our urban areas grow, changing water demand and destination. Climatic changes have the potential to add another layer of complexity as water availability changes.
I worked with the Northwestern Advanced Renewables Alliance to complete a large-scale social assessment to determine social benefits and barriers related to establishing a supply chain using woody biomass for liquid fuels in the Pacific Northwest.
My areas of research and expertise include social assessment and stakeholder engagement regarding natural resource related topics including bioenergy, forestry, irrigation, and farmland.
I serve on the City of Boise’s History Preservation Commission, and am a board member of the Friends of the MK Nature Center.