Planning Committee | GEER: Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration

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Maggy’s impact on Florida’s conservation movement cannot be overstated. She’s the reason developers can’t fill in wetlands in Martin County, and the reason I-95 bends away from Stuart. During her 20 years as a Martin County commissioner, she helped craft development rules that made the community a leader in the state for environmental preservation. Her advocacy was fueled by a deep love for Florida’s wilderness. She kayaked as often as she could, and spoke about the Everglades to anyone who would listen.

Those of us who had the honor of joining Maggy for a paddle gained a new appreciation for the magic of mangrove tunnels, and we were often treated to a recitation of poetry. She was inspiringly irreverent, and she left a mark on our community that will not be forgotten.

Maggy worked as an advocate until her final days. She sat on Friends of the Everglades Policy & Science Committee, always offering insightful context. She was an eternal optimist, and a generous heart. Maggy also served five terms as County Commissioner in Martin County, Florida, where she was a driving force behind the creation of the county’s highly regarded Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, which is arguably the best in the state for its environmental protections. Her efforts are reflected today in the low-density model Martin County enjoys, unique among its neighbors in South Florida. Maggy served on numerous commissions and committees at the regional and state level including Governor Askew’s Blue Ribbon Transportation Committee, the State Comprehensive Plan Committee, Governor Chiles’ Growth Management Task Force, and was Chairperson of the original Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.

Among the many awards she received for defending our natural resources are the Martin County Conservation Alliance lifetime award, the Audubon of the Everglades Conservation Award, Florida Association of Environmental Regulators-Environmentalist of the Year 1994, the Everglades Coalition “George Barley Conservationist of the Year Award” 2002, the 2003 National Wetlands Award for Volunteer Leadership, the Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame Award, and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Defender of the Everglades Award. Her work on wetlands conservation in Florida earned her national recognition as an expert on Florida’s wetlands. She continued to serve on advisory councils such as the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida even after leaving office and remained involved in the battle for Everglades restoration until her death in 2022.

Maggy led an incredible life of adventure outside of her advocacy for the Everglades, frequently traveling and kayaking the waters she worked so hard to protect. Most of all, Maggy brought people together around one very central idea, that we are all connected by water.

Rob Bennetts is most well known for his contribution to understanding the ecology and conservation of the endangered Florida Snail Kite. Although he left Florida in 2003, his influence is recognized 20 years later based on his identifying and quantifying the interconnectedness between Snail Kites, apple snails, wetland plant communities, and hydrology. Protocols for monitoring Snail Kites, and ideas on how to monitor and conduct research on kites and snails, are still being applied in 2023.

Rob started working on Snail Kites in 1986, and was subsequently first author on a comprehensive report on Snail Kite nesting in the Everglades (Bennetts, Collopy, and Beissinger 1988). At that point in his career he had earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Montana. In that 1988 report, Rob (again, with a Bachelor's degree) put in writing several hypotheses about what influenced Snail Kite foraging success and reproduction, many of which resulted in funded grants in the 1990s and 2000s that created empirical data that supported his ideas from the 1980s. He left Florida and began work on his Master’s degree in 1988 at Colorado State University (thesis advisor Dr. Gary White); this is where he began his long career emphasis on quantitative aspects of wildlife movements and demography and habitat quality assessment.

Rob returned to Florida in 1991 to pursue a PhD at the University of Florida with Dr. Wiley Kitchens as his advisor. They designed and executed one of the largest projects, in terms of scale and scope, on a single species in Florida. The radio-tracking data obtained revealed novel information on the extensive movements, exploratory behavior, and survival patterns of Snail Kites, and created a new perspective on the scale at which kites successfully navigate wetlands spread out over 8,000 square miles. Rob et al. produced 22 published manuscripts on kites, three book chapters, and five manuscripts on snails, on which he was first author or co-author. Rob was generous in his sharing of data to include first-authorship for students and field staff as he mentored their careers.

As great an influence as Dr. Bennetts had on our understanding of Snail Kites in Florida, he had just as much influence, if not more so, once he left Florida to lead, as a quantitative ecologist, monitoring and adaptive management programs for the National Park Service out west. He worked at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, but in the last 10 years of his career he cherished his work on lesser known parks such as Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Fort Union National Monument, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, and Washita Battlefield National Historic Site.

Cpt. Truman Eugene “Gene” Duncan passed on to his final adventure on November 22nd, 2022 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, mother, two sisters, son, two grandsons, and his dog. Gene was a kind and selfless man, whose contributions to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida will not be forgotten.

Originally from Kentucky, Gene graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Morehead State University and a Master of Science in Geology from Eastern Kentucky University, before being commissioned in the U.S. Army and credentialed as a Counter-Intelligence and Human Intelligence Officer. He graduated Basic and Advanced Military Intelligence School and the Army’s Helicopter Flight School. Gene first entered the Tribe’s employ in August of 1988, after a career in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, Battalion S-2 and the 11th Aviation Group, VII Corps.

Gene first began working in the Tribe’s Real Estate Services (now the Land Resources Department) and was passionate about geology and hydrology, motorcycles, small arms, and the protection of the Everglades ecosystem. In 2008, while working for the Tribe, Gene also received a commission as a Merchant Marine Officer. Observing the poor water quality on the reservation, Gene advocated for the creation of the Tribe’s Water Resources Department and became the inaugural Director of the same.

As the Tribe’s first Water Resources Director, Gene successfully advocated for Tribal control of water quality regulation on Miccosukee lands and helped author the comprehensive Miccosukee Environmental Protection Code. He acted as the Tribe’s liaison to state and federal environmental agencies. In that capacity, Gene served on many advisory committees including the Florida Water Resources Advisory Committee and the federal Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Working Group and testified in state and federal court as an expert witness for many environmental lawsuits.

Gene was known for never doing anything halfway, and always taking the time to mentor those around him and share his knowledge. Whether responding to the aftermath of a hurricane or wishing an employee a happy birthday, Gene would be sure to check in on his coworkers. In the office and out, he was always the Director. His life will be remembered by the Tribe and his coworkers as a monument to servant leadership, Tribal sovereignty, and the protection of the Everglades.

Paul Conrads, 60, passed away suddenly on December 2, 2017. For the past 30 years, Paul Conrads worked with the U.S. Geological Survey in the South Atlantic Water Science Center in a variety of activities. He served as the Surface-Water Specialist in South Carolina. Principally, he was responsible for data collection, data analysis, and hydrodynamic and water-quality model applications, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development. He assisted many water utilities, state agencies, universities and non-profits in making science-based decisions in water-resource management. He was on the cutting edge of science with regard to “big data” and data mining. He was one of the pioneers of Artificial Neural Networks, a science that utilized the real-time data of the USGS with a means to understand the effects of drought, which are challenging to quantify adjacent to the ocean. His work in this field was recognized internationally.

Paul also developed models for the majority of the river systems in South Carolina, provided technical assistance to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region IV TMDL Program and was a member of the Federal Technical Review Team of the development of the hydrodynamic and water-quality models developed for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. For the past 11 years, he worked on various projects in the Florida Everglades. He studied coastal drought and the influence of increased salinity stress on the structure and function of ecological habitats, and had recently developed a unique coastal drought index using salinity data.

Paul grew up in suburban Washington, D.C. and received a degree in History and American Studies from Connecticut College. He attended Landon School, Connecticut College. He was a huge Gamecock supporter in all sports and an avid follower of the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Redskins. He was also a Peace Corps volunteer and spent two years in West Africa building potable water supply and sanitation systems in the neighborhoods of the capitol city of Liberia. After returning to the US, he earned an undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of South Carolina.

Paul loved his work but also his fishing, gardening, cooking and anything new he could conquer. As one colleague wrote, “Paul was truly special in a way that very few people are. It was easy to love him — his zest for life, his intelligence, his endless willingness to help, his love of good food and wine, his mischievous way and so much more. I can honestly say that I know no one who compares to his integrity of spirit.”

Everglades scientist and long-time U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researcher Dr. George R. Aiken passed away on December 7, 2016. George spent his entire forty-year professional career as a research scientist with the USGS, located in Denver and Boulder, Colorado. Over that time period, George became prominently recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions to the field of biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on the controlling influence that natural organic matter has on key chemical processes in ecosystems, including the Greater Everglades ecosystem that he dearly loved.

George joined the USGS in March 1976 with the Central Region of the USGS National Research Program (NRP) in Denver, Colorado. Before joining USGS, George earned a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Rutgers University. From 1976 to 1979, George worked with NRP’s Organic Hydrogeochemistry Project, and it was then that he first encountered what would become the focus of his forty-year research career: unraveling the complexities of the importance of natural organic matter on controlling aqueous biogeochemistry of groundwater and surface water systems. Early in his research career, George focused on the design of new chromatographic techniques for isolating humic substances from natural waters, the movement of organic solutes in groundwater, and the effects of humic substances on water purification systems. Also during this time, George completed a M.S. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Colorado.

During the 1980s, George spent considerable time traveling great distances in a mobile water quality lab studying seasonal and geographical differences in aquatic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) across the United States. It was during this time that he also garnered an encyclopedic understanding of the streams, watersheds and landscapes of the United States. For those fortunate to have a chance discussion with George, he called upon those experiences to help others understand the factors controlling surface water quality across the US. George also took several tours to Antarctica, where he studied DOC in lakes and streams, one of which bears his name. Typical of his dedication and love of his work, George over-wintered twice in Antarctica to ensure he would be able to study the full range of conditions in the harshest environment on the planet. In 1991, he achieved a lifetime goal by receiving a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry (Minor in Geologic Engineering) from the Colorado School of Mines.

The USGS initiated the Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades project in 1995, and George was among a select few scientists asked to join a multi-disciplinary research team focused on understanding the causes for elevated levels of mercury in the aquatic food web of the Everglades. At that time, the global mercury research community broadly noted that mercury and DOC usually positively correlated, and that DOC had something to do with the key process known as mercury methylation. Providing a much more mechanistic and fundamentally based understanding of the role DOC played mercury cycling became a central focus of George's career from that point forward, both in the Everglades and across the globe. He gave countless well-received presentations, including one at every GEER meeting, where he impressed upon the audience that “the yellowish color of the water inherent of the Everglades is like hemoglobin to our blood.” He was among the first researchers anywhere to recognize that the methylation process was inextricably linked to the presence of DOC. But, as George would often humor his GEER audiences and remark, “The Everglades is like a giant teabag. The DOC that leaches from that bag can be like Red Zinger or Sleepy time. Sometimes it can greatly increase mercury methylation, and sometimes not, depending more on the quality of the DOC than the quantity, which is not unlike a fine wine or beer.”

Everglades scientists, along with the entire south Florida restoration community, were very saddened to learn about the passing of John Marshall on March 28, 2016. John was passionate, knowledgeable and proud, and he was a long-time supporter of good science. He attended every single GEER conference, and we can be sure he would have been at GEER 2017. In addition to his own attendance, John always brought along a contingent of student interns, and encouraged their participation in the conference. An impressive cadre of bright, energetic individuals now beginning their promising careers owe their Everglades introduction to John and will always treasure his mentorship.

The long-time patriot, gator fan, and environmentalist was known and respected throughout the country as a trusted colleague, true friend, humanitarian, devoted husband, step-father, uncle and a nemesis to those who did not support his commitment to preserving the environment!

John Marshall founded the Florida Environmental Institute and the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation in 1998. The foundation was created to continue the work of his uncle, Arthur R. Marshall, renowned environmentalist and namesake of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is only one of twelve refuges in the United States named after a person. John and wife Nancy, as co-founders of the organization, devoted themselves to fulfilling Arthur Marshall's dream and were actively involved on a daily basis for 17 years as chairman and president respectively.

After his uncle passed, John Marshall knew that he would dedicate his life to the preservation and restoration of the Florida Everglades and its ecosystem. He was responsible for planting thousands of trees at the refuge and other bio-sensitive areas, and delivering science-based education and public outreach programs to educate children throughout Palm Beach County to become stewards of the environment.

His commitment to the environment included chairing the Environmental Action Committee for the South Florida Water Management District; he was a member of the Everglades Coalition, a spokesman for the Florida Environmental Institute, and a vice president of the Friends of the Refuge.

John was named 2001 "Conservationist of the Year" by the Audubon of the Everglades and the Florida Wildlife Federation. He was also the recipient of the 2003 "Conservationist of the Year Award" from the Flagler chapter of Daughters of American Revolution and in 2004, received the Environmental Education Award from the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals. Most recently, Marshall received a Commendation from the Everglades Foundation for his "Leadership and Service in Protecting America's Everglades."

A career military officer, John Marshall saw active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1963-1971, serving his country in Viet Nam where he received 19 air medals for 275 air combat missions. John was recognized on numerous occasions, including a Meritorious Unit Commendation while commanding the Headquarter & Maintenance Squadron-31, and an Acquisition Reform Proposal to the Department of Defense was endorsed by the Secretary of the Navy. He served as a U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Officer from 1971-1993 and received a Meritorious Assignment to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Test & Evaluation in 1992 and 1993. During this time, John also received the Secretary of the Navy Marathon Man award for completing the first 17 USMC marathons. He retired as Colonel in 1993 having accomplished many significant achievements. He later served as a U.S. civil servant systems engineer until his retirement in 1997. Semper fidelis!

Blue and orange were John's colors, from his sneakers to his car. He was a passionate gator fan and graduated the University of Florida with a B.S. in Geology in 1963. He graduated Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL in 1966 and Radar Intercept Officer School in Brunswick, GA in 1967. He continued his studies at the Navy Top Gun Fighter Weapons School in Miramar, CA, in 1970 and was a NASA Fellow in Biological Applications in Remote Sensing from 1970-1972. He received a M.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida in 1972.

John Marshall's community involvement included serving on the board of trustees of the Commandery of The Palm Beaches and the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.

John, you will be missed sorely – by us and by the Everglades.

Havens was a leading international expert on aquatic research, management, education and outreach. His area of expertise included the response of lakes and estuaries to natural and human-caused impacts such as nutrient enrichment, drought, climate variability and hurricanes. Havens was named interim director of Florida Sea Grant in 2007 and director in 2008. His achievements include the creation of the biennial Florida Sea Grant Coastal Science Symposium, the formation of the program’s first advisory council in 2009, and the leadership of the university’s oyster recovery team that addressed the collapse of the commercial oyster fishery in Apalachicola Bay.

Before his passing, he was leading the UF/IFAS Harmful Algal Bloom task force, an effort that applies the University’s considerable research and outreach expertise to the blue-green and red tide algae blooms affecting nearly every body of water in Florida. Havens earned his B.A. in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1979, and his master’s and Ph.D. in biology from West Virginia University in 1981 and 1984, respectively. Before joining the University of Florida as professor and chair of the department of fisheries and aquatic sciences, he served as chief environmental scientist at the South Florida Water Management District from 1993-2004, where he became one of Florida’ s most respected voices on the science behind the management of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.

He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed journal articles and 20-plus extension publications. His latest papers reflect collaborations with international scientists about the effects of climate change and eutrophication on lakes and estuaries, the future of controlling harmful blooms in the face of climate change and the role that nitrogen pollution plays in stimulating toxic blue-green algae blooms. Havens was a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that evaluates progress on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Florida Ocean Alliance and the Florida Institute of Oceanography. He was the 1999 recipient of the Edward Deevey, Jr. Award from the Florida Lake Management Society, given to individuals contributing to the scientific understanding of Florida’s water bodies. He served as associate editor of the research journals Hydrobiologia and the Journal of Plankton Research.

An avid amateur photographer, Havens founded a Facebook community titled Photography with Classic Lenses that grew to more than 11,600 members. He created and co-hosted the Classic Lenses podcasts that were listened to by thousands of amateur and professional photographers around the globe.

Havens is survived by his wife, Pam, and son, Andrew.

Program Committee

Nick Aumen

Conference Chair

Steve Davis

Gretchen Ehlinger

Beth Miller-Tipton

Conference Coordinator

K. Ramesh Reddy

Conference Co-Chair

Stephanie Romañach

Dan Scheidt

Fred Sklar

Erik Stabenau

Joel Trexler

Matt Whiles