Scott Harris and his family are happily “rooted” in Sitka. Scott is the Watershed Program Manager for SCS and is responsible for developing and implementing habitat restoration and watershed monitoring projects. As a true Leopold-worshipper, he believes that the conservation ethic is rooted in a personal connection with the outdoors. Therefore, all of his projects hope to inspire by involving student and community volunteers. Scott has a wide diversity of work and academic experience. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Natural Resource Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research in Chilean Patagonia focused on economic activities for rural communities to conserve temperate rainforests. He also worked for several years as a Wildlife Research Technician, as a Senior Staff Instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska and Chile, and taught at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. In his spare time, Scott runs a kayak outfitting company – Latitude Adventures – and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and young son.
Recent posts by Scott:
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Students share their research with the community
On May 1, students from the Science Mentor Program, Sitka High Field Science Class, and Mt. Edgecumbe High School shared their research with the community. Nearly 50 people attended. Standing room only! Students projects included research in microbial fungal communities in young growth forests, vegetation mapping to target wildlife habitat restoration prescriptions, whale acoustics and [...]
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Starrigavan Stream Team
Each May in Starrigavan Valley, nearly 100 7th Graders from Blatchley Middle School in Sitka spend a couple days doing hands-on stream restoration and monitoring. In the classroom, the students learn about watershed ecology and salmon habitat. Then they hit the field and help professional watershed managers actually install in-stream wood structures to rebuild fish [...]
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Science Mentor Program ushers in the Tongass Transition
The future of the Tongass National Forest will be intimately tied to how engaged our communities are in its sustainable management. The Science Mentor Program involves Sitka youth in hands-on scientific research that explores important ecological questions regarding forest restoration. Listen to the Raven Radio story about how Sitka High student Justine Webb and UAS [...]
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SCS and partners to restore Sitkoh River this summer
Past logging practices, now disallowed, in the Sitkoh River watershed damaged important spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steehead trout. For the past 12 years, the river has been flowing down an old logging road. Two years ago, SCS formed a partnership with the US Forest Service, Trout Unlimited, and the Alaska Sustainable Salmon [...]
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Stewardship in Action: Involving local students in restoration monitoring studies
At SCS, we know that getting people outside and participating in the stewardship of our environment is the single best way to realize our vision of a sustainable community living within the Tongass National Forest. Last summer, SCS, the Sitka Ranger District, and Sitka High School established a long-term monitoring study that will evaluate the [...]
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Sitkoh River Restoration on-track
Check out a cool Google Earth tour and photos of the section of Sitkoh River to be restored! The Sitka Conservation Society is partnering with the Tongass National Forest, Trout Unlimited, and the Alaska Dept. of Fish an Game to restore salmon habitat on a section of Sitkoh River that was damaged by past logging [...]
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Follow our Progress – Student Mentor Program
Winter doesn’t slow down field science in Sitka! The four Sitka High School students and their mentors in the Science Mentor Program are in the full swing of their projects. In the photo at left, Justine is measuring tree diameters to quantify the forest stand where she is collecting soil samples. She will then conduct [...]
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Vegetation Mapping Project Completed!
This winter, students from Sitka High’s Field Science Class worked with the Sitka Ranger District to target wildlife habitat restoration activities. We mapped occurrences of Vaccinium species (Blueberry) and other deer forage plants in young growth forests. We then used data analysis and mapping technologies to identify potential locations where the Forest Service can create [...]
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Expedition: Russell Fjord
In the summer of 2011, the SCS Wilderness crew traveled north to Russell Fjord Wilderness to assist the Yakutat ranger district in Wilderness monitoring. Check out the video, report, and photos to learn more about the project and this uniquely rugged Wilderness. From Disenchantment Bay, at the upper end of Yakutat Bay, heavily glaciated Russell [...]
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Students selected for Science Mentor Program
Four Sitka High students were recently selected to participate in the Science Mentor Program. This program pairs students with professional mentors to conduct ecological field studies. From left to right: Program Coordinators Scott Harris, Ashley Bolwerk, and Kent Bovee, Tahnee Curran will be work with Wildlife Biologist Chris Leeseberg at the US Forest Service, Spencer [...]
