She/Her
Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences (MEES)
My research will investigate the effectiveness of a Reel Rewards program on removal of invasive fish in the Middle Branch of the Baltimore Harbor, and assess how equitable the program is. The invasive fish in my study are Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) and Snakehead (Channa argus), which have a negative impact on native fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay. I will collect environmental DNA from water samples and catch fish by seining to create a baseline of the fish assemblage. I will also interview local anglers to get feedback on the program, collect fish data and better understand the changes in the local fish populations. My research will inform the restoration efforts for the Reimagine Middle Branch Project.
UMBC Mentor: Dr. Tamra Mendelson
Partner Mentor: Katrina Lohan (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)
Community Stakeholder: Donzell Brown (Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative)