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About ARRI The Aquatic Restoration and Research Institute (ARRI) is incorporated as a non-profit corporation within the State of Alaska and recognized as a non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. ARRI is a licensed business within Alaska and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The ARRI is bonded and insured. The primary purpose for which ARRI is formed is to:
ARRI conducts applied stream and lake research within Alaska The objective of the organization is to provide the best available information to Government Agencies, NGOs, and the public to ensure that development within Alaska is conducted in a manner that avoids impacts to aquatic systems. Impacts to aquatic systems can only be avoided by understanding their complex ecology. ARRI research focuses on the evaluation and monitoring of aquatic systems to ensure that these systems remain healthy and to identify and address any impacts as soon as possible. ARRI specializes in the restoration of stream systems. We assist public land managers in the development of conceptual restoration plans, oversee project construction and perform post project monitoring.
Jeffrey C. Davis has an undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska and Master's degree in aquatic ecology from Idaho State University where he worked under the direction of Dr. G. Wayne Minshall. While working on his Master's thesis, Mr. Davis managed a project that formalized stream methods for work in Wilderness areas (Davis et al. 2001). Mr. Davis also conducted work evaluating the factors that influence stream nutrient retention and productivity (Davis and Minshall 1999). Upon completion of graduate work Mr. Davis returned to Alaska where he worked for the Alaska Natural Heritage Program and the Environment and Natural Resources Institute where he worked with Dr. Alexander Milner to summarize previous data collection on the Kenai River (Boggs et al. 1997) and the effects of placer mining (Davis et al. 1998). Mr. Davis worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG), Habitat and Restoration Division. He began with the Department of Fish and Game in Ketchikan, where he worked to assist in the implementation and assessment of forest harvest under the Forest Resources and Practices Act. While at the ADFG, Mr. Davis conducted stream sampling to identify anadromous salmon habitat, evaluated potential impacts to fish habitat from hydroelectric development, mining, recreation and urbanization. Mr. Davis worked for the Habitat Division in Anchorage and later became supervisor of the Matanuska-Susitna Area Office. While at the ADFG, Mr. Davis managed projects evaluating the effects of timber harvest on moose habitat (Davis et al. 2000), urban development on Chester Creek and Wasilla Creek (Davis and Muhlberg 2001 and 2002), streambank restoration (Davis and Muhlberg 2002) and ATV stream crossings (Davis and Ryland 2002). Mr. Davis has managed over 20 projects and has served on technical committees for the development of Forest Resources and Practices Act regulations for Region II to protect fish habitat and water quality, the development of methods for monitoring water temperature, the development of methods to prioritize fish passage restoration projects, and the development of wetland assessment methods. Gay A Davis (Muhlberg) is a resident of Alaska and has worked for 15 years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Habitat and Restoration Division. She has 15 years of experience implementing a regulatory program that required evaluating the effects of any and all types of development on the state's water quality. Interpreting, evaluating, and implementing the state's water quality standards are integral parts of the previous AS 16.05.870 (currently AS 41.14.870). This statute requires all those proposing to pollute streams specified as important for anadromous fish to present plans and receive authorization prior to conducting any proposed project. Although pollution was rarely authorized, except through a short-term variance, all projects were evaluated to determine whether they could be conducted in a manner that would avoid exceeding state water quality standards. She has worked in concert with the Department of Environmental Conservation through the Alaska Coastal Management program reviewing all projects in either marine or fresh waters for compliance with water quality standards which were written in by reference as an enforceable standard of the Coastal Management Program. Plan and site reviews including on-site best management practices have been Gay's daily focus throughout her career. Some of the projects she has worked on include Cook Inlet oil and gas exploration and development; Hydroelectric licensing, construction, and monitoring; municipal waste water treatment; seafood processing; mariculture farming; highway construction; and municipal stormwater treatment and monitoring. Ms. Davis has spent a large portion of her time reviewing, evaluating, and developing state regulations. She worked extensively on the development of regulations for the Kenai River Special Management Area and developed methods to classify fish habitat and assess cumulative impacts (Leipitz and Muhlberg, 1993). She reviewed and commented on the Municipality of Anchorage's Coastal District Program including the wetland classification and evaluation system. Ms. Davis has conducted multiple water quality assessment projects under DEC section 319 funding to address ACWA water quality priorities. Ms. Davis is the lead author of the most widely used stream restoration guidance document within the state (Muhlberg and Moore, 1998). She has designed and overseen the construction of dozens of stream restoration projects intended to reduce rates of sediment input and restore the physical aspects of fish habitat. Gay is considered to be the state's expert on stream restoration methods and applications. Previous to her tenure with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Ms. Davis was employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (in Alaska, Michigan and Maine), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (Alaska) and Alaska State Parks (Kenai River Special Management Area). Ms. Davis has a B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Maine. Since starting the Aquatic Restoration and Research Institute, Mr. and Ms. Davis have successfully managed 21 projects. These projects have included the evaluation of water quality and development along Montana Creek (Davis et al. 2006), Cottonwood Creek (Davis and Davis 2005, 2006, 2008), and the Little Susitna River (Davis and Davis 2007); the effectiveness of the Forest Resources and Practices Act and Regulations; streambank restoration evaluation; water quality of the Little Susitna River within Hatcher Pass in anticipation of future development (Davis and Davis 2006, 2007, 2008), evaluation of hydrocarbon concentrations and turbidity in the Little Susitna River and the effects to ecosystem metabolism and fish distribution (Davis and Davis 2007, 2008); stream water temperature and fish distribution among stream types within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Davis and Davis 2008, 2009), juvenile fish movement using PIT tags, and the evaluation of fish passage at stream crossing locations (Davis and Davis 2008). The project manager and ARRI professional staff are assisted in field work by graduate students, and seasonal employees. Project objectives, methodology, and analyses are discussed and reviewed by the graduate student advisor, Dr. Eric Snyder and ARRI board members including Dr. G. Wayne Minshall.
Dr. G. Wayne Minshall, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID. |
