Education
PhD Candidate, School of Environmental and Forestry Sciences, University of Washington (July 2018)
M.S., Biodiversity, Conservation, & Policy, State University of New York at Albany (2004)
B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2001)
B.S., Environmental Sciences & Conservation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2001)
Courses Taught
As Instructor of Record
Wildland Hydrology (ESRM 426) & Advanced Wildland Hydrology (SEFS 525) (2016 -)
Environmental and Resource Management – Stream module (ESRM 304) (2015 -)
Introduction to GIS (ESRM 250) & Graduate Introduction to GIS (SEFS 520) (2015 -)
Introduction to GIS Online (ESRM 250b) (2015 -)
As Teaching Assistant
Introduction to GIS (ESRM 250) & Graduate Intro to GIS (SEFS 520) (2014-15)
Introduction to Biology (2002-04)
Professional Experience
Research Fellow, Northwest Climate Science Center (2017 – present)
Executive Director, Beavers Northwest (2013 – present)
Pre-Doctoral Instructor, SEFS, University of Washington (2015 – 2017)
Teaching Assistant, SEFS, University of Washington (2014 – 2015)
Ecologist, Surface Water Management (SWM), Snohomish County, Everett, WA (2007 – 2013)
Managed Nonlethal Beaver Management Program
Managed Critical Areas Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program, including:
Land Cover Classification and Change Detection Project
Intensive Catchment Study: Functions and Values Assessment of Critical Areas
Snohomish County Shoreline Inventory and Monitoring Program
Managed SWM Regulatory Program
Co-managed SWM Summer Internship Program
Ecologist, US Dept. of Defense, Camp Pendleton (Anteon), CA (2004 – 2006)
Managed Riparian mapping and ecological community change detection program
Designed and conducted rare plant and endangered species and habitat monitoring programs
Authored land management chapters of CPEN’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan
Participated in designing CPEN’s Long Term Ecological Trend Monitoring program
Research Assistant, University at Albany, NY (2002 – 2004)
Thesis: Structural dynamics in forested wetland community canopy and sub-canopies
Teaching Assistant, University at Albany, NY (2002 – 2004)
General Biology (BIO 102)
Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee, WI (1999 – 2001)
Volunteer coordinator
Independent Undergraduate Researcher, Savanah River Ecology Lab (SREL), Aiken, SC (2000)
Grants & Fellowships
Northwest Climate Science Center Research Fellowship (2017)
Conservation, Research, and Educational Opportunities International (CREOi) (2016)
Society of Wetland Scientists, 2015 SWS Meeting Travel Grant (2015)
Conservation, Research, and Educational Opportunities International (CREOi) (2015)
USGS Student Interns in Support of Native American Relations (SISNAR) Program (2015)
US Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Protection Grant (2015)
US Fish and Wildlife Tribal Wildlife Grant (2015)
USGS Student Interns in Support of Native American Relations (SISNAR) Program (2014)
Northwest Science Association (2014)
Ecotrust, Whole Watershed Restoration Initiative (2014)
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission & US EPA (2014)
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission & US EPA (2013)
Total of awards: $561,900
Awards
2017 Climate Science Fellowship, Northwest Climate Science Center.
2017 College of the Environment Award for Exceptional Mentoring Undergrads (nominee)
2016 UW SEFS Director’s Award for Outstanding Teaching Service
2016 Public Service Recognition (PSRW) Extra Mile Team Award nomination, WASDOT
Leadership & Service
The Beaver Institute, Advisory board member (2017- )
Washington Beaver Working Group, WDFW committee member (2017- )
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, Stream module instructor (2017)
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, Scholars selection committee (2017)
Brookside Elementary School, 4th & 5th grade classes, Lake Forest Park (2017)
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, Stream module instructor (2016)
Snohomish Beaver Working Group, Chair (2015- )
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program stream module instructor (2015)
Monroe Correctional Facility, Science lecturer, Monroe WA (2015)
West Woodland Elementary School, 4th grade class, Seattle (2015)
Mentorship, Research Advisees
1.Capstone advisor, Lena Wilson, Identifying fish passage constraints at actively-managed restoration sites (current)
2.Capstone advisor, Bridger Machus, Do beavers change the trajectory of plantings are restoration sites? (current)
3.Capstone advisor, Matthew Trabun, Effect of urbanization on fecal coliform bacteria and stream water quality (2017)
4.Senior thesis advisor, Dana Needelman, Spatial distribution of macaques in Singapore (2016-17)
5.Undergrad research advisor, Alishia Orloff: Use of thermal infrared imagery in identification of stream temperature anomalies and thermal variability in riverine systems (2016-17)
6.Teaching advisor, Rachel Yonemura: undergrad reader-grader mentee for Wildland Hydrology course (2017)
7.Intern advisor, Olivia McGrath: Discharge variation in streams effected by reduced snow pack (2016)
8.Undergrad research advisor, Brad Price: Oregon Spotted Frog distribution and recovery (2015 – 2016)
9.Senior thesis advisor, Leah Uhl: Ground fish oocyte development and analysis using microscopy (2016)
10.Capstone advisor, Aaron Tam: Modeling the effects of changing climate patterns on headwater stream systems and beaver habitats (2016)
11.Intern advisor, Hagopian: How does beaver-generated coarse woody debris effect habitat quality (2015-16)
12.Volunteer mentor, Samantha Everett (2015 – current)
13.Intern advisor, Zoe Hayes: Effect of beaver reintroduction on surface water storage in alpine systems (2015)
14.Intern advisor, Desirae Belcher: Beaver trapping and husbandry (2015-16)
15.Senior thesis advisor, Chris DiTomaso: Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to map wetland change (2015)
16.Senior thesis advisor, Bailey: Reintegrating beavers in urban landscapes through design – evolution of landscape architecture to incorporate ecosystem function (2014-17)
17.Intern advisor, Susan Priest: How do beavers influence wetland vegetation growth pattern and assemblage (2014)
18.Volunteer mentor, Katie Wolstien: Landowner interactions and public sentiment towards wetland restoration sites (2014)
19.Undergrad project advisor, Justin Hill: Mapping ecological metrics in the Skykomish Watershed (2014)
20.Capstone advisor, Tran: Foraging preferences of beaver in the Pacific Northwest (2014-15)
21.Intern advisor, Kate Terpstra: Using forward looking infrared imagery to evaluate instream habitat quality (2012)
22.Intern advisor, Brooke Clement: Mapping land use change to correlate effects on ecological systems (2011)
23.Intern advisor, Katherine Davis: Identifying effects of land use on ecological function in riparian areas using analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate communities (2010)
24.Intern advisor, Paul Fischer: Identifying effects of land use on ecological function in riparian areas (2010)
Selected Peer Reviewed and TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS
Bailey, D.R., B.J. Dittbrenner*, K.P. Yocum. 2017. Reintegrating the North American Beaver in the Urban Landscape. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water (In review)
*Senior author, mentoring undergraduate as first author.
Dittbrenner B.J., Pollock M.M., Schilling J.W., Olden J.D., Lawler J.J., Torgersen C.E. 2018. Modeling intrinsic potential for beaver (Castor canadensis) habitat to inform restoration and climate change adaptation. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0192538.
Erik Jeremy Nelson, Caitlin Littlefield, Benjamin Dittbrenner, John Withey, Katie Arkema, Joshua Lawler. 2015. Ecosystem-based adaptation, Chapter 23 in Climate Change and Biodiversity, 2nd edition
Leonetti, F.E., Terpstra, K.J., and Dittbrenner, B.J., 2015 Temperature anomalies in the Stillaguamish River mapped from 2001 thermal infrared aerial imagery, In Stillaguamish Temperature TMDL Adaptive Assessment and Implementation Project. (grant agreement G1000349), Snohomish County Public Works, Surface Water Management, Everett, WA
Dittbrenner, B.J. A. Haas, G.C. Ahn, and M.D. Rustay. Snohomish County Critical Area and Shoreline Monitoring 2010 Status Report. 2011. Snohomish County Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, WA.
Ahn G.C., B.J. Dittbrenner, A. Haas, and M.D. Rustay. Snohomish County land cover classification and change detection, 2010. 2011. Snohomish County Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, Everett, WA.
Dittbrenner, B.J. A. Haas. G.C. Ahn, and M.D. Rustay. Snohomish County Intensive Catchment Study status report, 2010. 2011. Snohomish County Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, Everett, WA.
Dittbrenner, B.J. A. Haas. G.C. Ahn, and M.D. Rustay. Snohomish County Shoreline Inventory status report, 2010. 2011. Snohomish County Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, Everett, WA.
Dittbrenner, B.J., and D. Bieber, editors. Riparian vegetation mapping and change analysis, MCB Camp Pendleton. 2006. U.S. Department of Defense, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Pendleton, CA, USA.
Dittbrenner, B.J., and D. Bieber, editors. Long Term Ecological Trend Monitoring (LTETM) Program. 2006. U.S. Department of Defense, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Environmental Security, Pendleton, CA, USA.
Dittbrenner, B.J., and D. Bieber. Critically endangered Brodiaea filifolia Survey Report for the Proposed Non-Live Fire Maneuver Area, Papa 3 Training Area, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. 2006. U.S. Department of Defense, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Environmental Security, Pendleton, CA, USA.
Dittbrenner, B.J., 2006. Community composition variation in forested wetlands: ground-based and hyperspectral remote sensing techniques, University at Albany, Albany NY
Selected Invited and meeting Talks
PUBLIC TESTIMONY & GOVERNMENTAL POLICY
Consultation to following agencies and organizations
Washington Dept. of Transportation
Washington Dept. of Natural Resources
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
King County Natural Resources Department (WA)
King County Parks Department
City of Arlington (WA)
City of Auburn (WA)
City of Bellevue (WA)
City of Kirkland (WA)
City of Lake Stevens (WA)
City of Mill Creek (WA)
City of Pacific (WA)
City of Shoreline (WA)
City of Tumwater (WA)
Jefferson County Conservation District (WA)
King County Conservation District (WA)
Snohomish County Conservation District (WA)
EDITING & REVIEWING
Grant reviewer: USGS, University of Washington
Manuscript reviewer
Nature: Scientific Reports
PeerJ
Professional Society Memberships
Ecological Society of America
Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research
Society of Wetland Scientists
Northwest Science Association
Executive Director, Beavers Northwest
Research Fellow, Northwest Climate Science Center
PhD candidate, School of Environmental and Forestry Sciences, University of Washington
My Research Interests
Current climate models predict that the Pacific Northwest will experience considerable hydrologic alterations over the next century. Summer precipitation and stream flow will likely decrease, as will snowpack; snow melt is projected to occur earlier in the year, and winter precipitation, storm intensity, and stream temperatures will likely increase. These changes may threaten sensitive habitats and species as well as ecosystem resilience. ESA-listed fish and wildlife, such as salmon and steelhead, will undoubtedly suffer additional declines in their already limited habitat if these projections are realized. The types of impoundments that beavers (Castor canadensis) create may be able to offset some of the anticipated hydrologic and temperature changes. Beaver impoundments have been shown to attenuate peak flows, recharge groundwater and hyporheic flows, and regulate stream temperature and base flow. Little research, however, has been done to quantify these benefits. I am assessing how beaver dam networks modify measures of stream water quantity, such as residence time, base flow, and hyporheic lateral flow as well as stream temperature. My research explores how effective beaver reintroductions and beaver impoundments can be at mitigating hydrologic alteration due to climate change. The products of this research will be used to inform restoration policy and planning efforts in headwater riparian systems.
Sharing Information
Helping landowners
improving watersheds
Beaver Conservation & education