About Me

My name is Shelby Burgess and I am a environmental scientist and researcher living and working in the greater Seattle area. My work over the years has focused on assessing the impacts of development and climate change to inform water resource management across the Pacific Northwest and in Puget Sound. Most recently, I worked at an environmental consulting agency where I led large scale habitat assessment, restoration monitoring, and natural resource mapping projects to help resource and land managers make informed decisions for restoration, management, and development planning. I am passionate about the conservation and restoration of water resources and salmon, climate change and resilience, and environmental justice and equity.

When I’m not working, I spend as much of my free time outdoors as possible. I am lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest and get to enjoy the mountains through running, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, backpacking, and mushroom hunting.

I just finished my Master’s in Natural Resources from Oregon State University. I am currently looking for my next career. I am open to opportunities in climate resiliency, policy, natural resource management and restoration, carbon and sustainability, and water resource conservation. 

Contact me here

CV/Resume

Education

Oregon State University E-campus 2020- December 2024
Master’s of Natural Resources December 2024
Geographic Information Science Graduate Certificate 2021

University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI December 2013
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – High Honors B.S.
Program in the Environment – Wildlife Conservation and Biology B.S.

Semester Abroad: University of New Hampshire EcoQuest Whakatiwai, New Zealand Winter 2012
 University of Michigan Biological Station Pellston, MI Summer 2011

Selected Publications and Reports

  • Roni, P., S. Burgess, J. Kvistad, K. Ross, M. Krall, C. Clark, R. Camp, A. Arams, and M. Camp. 2024. Evaluation of the effectiveness of floodplain restoration projects in the interior Columbia River basin using a combination of remote sensing and field data. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2023-0337
  • Roni, P., J. Kvistad, Burgess, R. Camp, C. Clark, M. Holland, and M. Kaputa. 2024. Efficient monitoring of a large river restoration project using a combination of remote sensing and field data. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. Manuscript accepted.
  • Lehman, J. T., and Burgess. 2024. Stable isotope analysis of lower food webs of Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. Limnological Review 24(4):506-519 https://www.mdpi.com/2300-7575/24/4/29
  • Burgess, S., J. Hall, and P. Roni. 2024. Maximizing benefits of shoreline armor removal – Phase I Study Plan. Draft final report to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Olympia, WA.
  • Hall, J., Burgess, J. Burke, T. Conway-Cranos, D. Small, and R. Gatchell. 2024. Synthesis and mapping of tidal restrictions and wetlands to support Puget Sound restoration planning. Frontiers in Marine Science. Manuscript in review.
  • Burgess, S. Puget Sound nearshore tidal restriction and wetland mapping ESRP PRISM Project #20-1941P. ArcGIS Story Map. Accessible at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3729f0c7207d48dea3171d627b4940f9
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. 2023. Nearshore habitat status and trends monitoring to support Puget Sound salmon recovery (20-1941P) – Marine riparian mapping. Draft final report to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Olympia, WA.
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. Nearshore habitat status and trends monitoring to support Puget Sound salmon recovery (20-1941P) – Tidal restriction and wetland mapping. Draft final report to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Olympia, WA.
  • Roni, P., J. Kvistad, Burgess, and K. Ross. 2023. Action Effectiveness Monitoring – 2022 Annual Report. Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Project Number 2016-001-00, Portland, OR.
  • Roni, P., J. Kvistad, Burgess, and K. Ross. 2023. Remote sensing pilot project: evaluating the effectiveness of large floodplain and riparian restoration projects using remote sensing. Report to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Olympia, WA.
  • Burgess, S., Clark, K. Ross, M. Krall, P. Roni. 2023. Evaluation of riparian enhancement actions in the Columbia River Basin. Ecological Engineering 189: 106897 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2023.106897
  • Hall, J., Burgess, K. Ross, and others. 2021. Mapping tidal connectivity restrictions to support identification and evaluation of restoration opportunities in Puget Sound. PRISM 18-2250P. Final Report to the Washington State Restoration and Conservation Office Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program.
  • Burgess, S., and P. Roni. 2021. Hoh river resiliency plan: habitat assessment. Report to Natural Systems Design and Jefferson County, WA.
  • Hall, J., K. Ross., D. Arterburn, M. Krall, Burgess, and P. Roni. 2019. Chinook salmon progress report: A summary of Chinook salmon habitat Common Indicators. Report to the Puget Sound Partnership, Tacoma, WA.
  • Clark, C., P. Roni, and Burgess. 2019. Response of juvenile salmonids to large wood placement in Columbia River tributaries. Hydrobologia 842(1):173-190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04034-x
  • Burgess, S., K. Ross, C. Clark, M. Krall, D. Arterburn, and J. Hall. 2019. Lower mainstem Nooksack River salmon habitat assessment. Final Report to Whatcom County Public Works Department, Bellingham, WA. https://salmonwria1.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/Lower_Nooksack_Habitat_Assessment_FinalReport_v2.5_FINAL.pdf
  • Hall, J. E., K. Ceder, Burgess, D. Arterburn, C. Clark, K. Ross, and P. Roni. 2019. Upper Wenatchee pilot project: aquatic habitat assessment and restoration strategy. Final Report to the United States Forest Service, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth, WA.
  • Roni, R., T. De Boer, C. Clark, and Burgess. 2018. Spring Chinook egg-to-fry survival in the Twisp river basin. Final Report to Douglas County Public Utility District, East Wenatchee, WA.
  • Burgess, S., E. W. Jackson, L. Schwarzman, N. Gezon, and J. T. Lehman. Improved estimates of calanoid copepod biomass in the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research 41: 484-491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2015.02.007\
  • Dethier, M. N., A. Brown, Burgess, M. E. Eisenlord, A. W. E. Galloway, J. Kimber, A. T. Lowe, C. M. O’Neil, W. R. Raymond, E. A. Sosik, and D. O. Duggins. 2014. Degrading detritus: Changes in food quality of aging kelp tissue varies with species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 460:72-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2014.06.010

Presentations

  • Burgess S., J. Hall, and K. Ross. Tidal Restriction and Wetland mapping and Nearshore Riparian mapping. Oral Presentation, Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program Salmonids Spatial Data Workgroup Virtual Meeting, August 11th, 2023.
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. 2022. Tidal Restriction, Wetland, and Marine Riparian, Mapping. Oral Presentation, Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program Nearshore Spatial Data Workgroup Virtual Meeting, March 4th, 2022.
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. 2021. Mapping tidal connectivity barriers to support identification and evaluation of restoration opportunities. Oral Presentation, 2021 Salmon Recovery Conference, Virtual, May 28-30, 2021.
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. 2021. Mapping tidal connectivity barriers to support identification and evaluation of restoration opportunities. Oral Presentation, Puget Sound Nearshore Restoration Virtual Summit and Synthesis, Virtual, March 17th, 2021.
  • Burgess, S., and J. Hall. 2020. Puget Sound Tidal Wetland Barrier Removal Planning Project (PRISM 18-2250P). Oral Presentation, Pacific Marine & Estuarine Partnership Barriers to Tidal Connectivity Symposium, Virtual, October 28th, 2020.
  • Burgess, S., Hall, and K. Ross. 2020. Puget Sound Tidal Wetland Barrier Removal Planning Project, PRISM 18-2250P, WRCO 2019a. Oral Webinar, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program Tidal Barrier partners, Issaquah, Washington, February 5, 2020.
  • Burgess, S., Clark, and P. Roni. 2019. Effectiveness monitoring of riparian plantings in the interior Columbia Basin streams. Oral Presentation, 2019 Washington-British Columbia Chapter American Fisheries Society Annual Conference, Bremerton, Washington. April 8-11, 2019.
  • Burgess, S., M. Eisenlord, A. W. E. Galloway, and M. N. Dethier. 2013. Food choices and values for a benthic herbivore, Idotea wosnesenskii. Poster presentation, 2013 Society of Integrated and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California. January 3-7, 2013.
  • Burgess, S. 2012. The effects of aging kelp on feeding preference of an intertidal isopod, Idotea wosnesenskii. Oral Presentation, 2012 Friday Harbor Labs REU Research Symposium, Friday Harbor, Washington. August 2, 2012.
  • Burgess, S., et al. 2012. Behavior of Snapper (Pagrus auratus) in response to different human stimuli in a marine reserve. Oral Presentation, 2012 Ecoquest Foundation Research Symposium, University of Auckland, New Zealand, May 2012.
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