Hi all, my name is Jordan Martinez. I am a 25-year-old female graduate student from New Mexico Highlands University. My thesis project involves assessing the habitat selection and distribution of Mongolian Gazelles in Eastern Mongolia in collaboration with the Mongolian Nature Conservancy. My past job at the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge in Watrous, New Mexico involved working on the prevention and control of erosion in arroyos to reconnect wildlife habitat, game camera surveys to detect use of arroyos as corridors, and vegetation surveys to record change pre and post erosion treatments to name a few tasks. I have used my experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help detect change, assist with permitting, etc. I have never mapped anything under surface nor had heard of such a possibility until my new job as a DFP for Fairbanks, Alaska.

Working remotely for Fairbanks, Alaska from my hometown in Las Vegas, New Mexico has been a challenge but also an amazing experience so far. My job involves two different aspects, the first is to use my GIS and literature review skills to come up with an investigation plan on how to use side scan sonar to map the underwater habitat of the lower Chena River as well as how to use the technology to detect juvenile salmon. Side scan sonar has previously been used to assist fishermen in detecting fish and and foresters in detecting deadhead logs. Dead head logs are pre-cut submerged timbers that have rested at the rivers bottom for more than a hundred years. Side scan sonar has recently been discovered as a tool for scientists to detect underwater habitat changes overtime or pre and post treatments or natural disasters.

The second part of my job is to work with local landowners that live along the Chena River to prevent and control erosion of the riverbanks. For this part of my job, I have had the opportunity to meet with multiple agencies (Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of environmental Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, etc.) as well as landowners via iPad. Having experience in erosion control, I am very familiar with the terms and some of the techniques used in Alaska however, I have never been involved with preventing/controlling erosion at such a huge scale. I find the size of the projects to be intimidating but exciting. I can not wait to start learning the larger scale techniques and applying them in my hometown as well as educating people about them here in New Mexico.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge in aquatic systems as well as learning how to map underwater habitat. I can not wait to see what the next few weeks has in store for me!

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office