About Me
I am interested in helping to enhance our understanding of how ecosystem services are restored, sustained, and valued
Sarah Kidd, PhD
Senior Scientist & Project Manager
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Experienced Environmental Scientist: Since 2008, Sarah has been dedicated to conducting research in environmental restoration, with a particular focus on the Lower Columbia River Basin.
Key Research Areas
Wetland Restoration: Sarah's work emphasizes the revitalization of wetland ecosystems, exploring their role in environmental balance and sustainability.
Greenhouse Gas Dynamics: Investigates the impact of wetlands on greenhouse gas dynamics, providing insights into climate change mitigation strategies.
Invasive Species Management: Addresses the challenges posed by invasive species in the Lower Columbia River Basin, devising effective management strategies.
Recent Research Initiatives
Integrating Wetland Data with Drone Technology: Pioneering in combining field data with drone-collected multispectral and Lidar data to create comprehensive wetland maps. This innovative approach aids in predicting and projecting changes in:
Plant community composition
Sediment dynamics, channel development
Hydrology
Water quality
Carbon sequestration
Methane flux
Innovations in Data Reporting
Tableau for Enhanced Data Visualization: Moving beyond traditional reporting methods, Sarah is currently advancing the use of Tableau for creating interactive and engaging dashboards. These dashboards serve both clients and the public, offering a more engaging way to understand and interact with data from large-scale estuary projects, as opposed to conventional lengthy PDF reports.
Tableau Public - See our work in Action!
General Profile: Featured Analysis
Action Effectiveness Monitoring and Research: Restoration
Ecosystem Monitoring Program: Status and Trends
Biography
As an undergraduate at Oregon State University, Sarah pursued a major in resource management and applied ecology. She excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Post-graduation, Sarah expanded her expertise in the environmental field. She embarked on a journey as an environmental educator aboard a tall ship in Long Island Sound and later served as a Naturalist in Juneau, Alaska. Her interest in wetland restoration research was sparked during her tenure as a Trails Coordinator with the University of Oregon's Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) program in Warrenton, Oregon, a burgeoning coastal city.
Sarah's master's research at Portland State University (PSU) delved into the effects of livestock grazing and exclusion on riparian wetland plant communities and the prevalence of invasive species in the Columbia River Bottomlands. Pursuing her Ph.D., she focused on modeling the restoration trajectories of tidal wetlands in the Young's Bay Watershed. She also investigated the response of seed banks to variations in tidal flooding and salinity in the Lower Columbia River Estuary. [Link to research]
Currently, at the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Sarah oversees the Ecosystem Monitoring Program and the Restoration Action Effectiveness Monitoring Program. She contributes to the Partnership's research, examining how wetland conservation and restoration affect estuarine food web dynamics and salmon recovery. Her goal is to deepen the understanding of successful ecosystem restoration, maintenance, and appreciation.
Urban Ecology Instructor, PSU Honors College