Scott Heffernan, MS
I have been enthusiastically interested in the dynamics of nature and how human activities interact with those dynamics. I grew up in central Austin, Texas at a time of rapid growth and development, and witnessed firsthand the effect of this development on the greenbelts and creeks that I loved to explore. This early exposure led me to pursue a degree in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and then on to the winding road that took me to Oregon State University.
I graduated with an MS in Forest Remote Sensing and eventually published my work in the field of Synthetic Aperture Radar . I moved back to Colorado and worked on the ground once again, this time leading invasive vegetation crews. In 2021, I began work at the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts as a Conservation Forester. This role made me realize how much I enjoy the complexities of forestry work on private lands, and how skilled I am at navigating the intricate political workings of private/public land management.
From BVLCD, I transitioned to my current role at the Boulder Watershed Collective , where I am the Forest Program Manager. This role sees me wearing every hat you can imagine at a growing nonprofit that serves a 300k acre landscape!
I have spent most of the last ten years out in the field, from scrubbing glass-bottom boats in San Marcos, catching stingrays in the Sea of Cortez, studying monkeys in Costa Rica, chasing Spotted Owls in Oregon, experimenting and flying (and crashing) drones in the Pacific Northwest, leading small teams tracking down invasive plants in Colorado and Texas, and developing forestry projects in Boulder County. Not to mention the myriad of adventures on the side.
I also love spending time in the woods outside of work with my wife, daughter, and dog.