Q&A with Amanda Temple, Analyst I – Geospatial Ecologist

Amanda Temple

In two sentences, tell us what you do at The Freshwater Trust (TFT).
I am a geospatial ecologist with a background in geography and wildlife science, particularly herpetology and the connectivity between forest and wetland habitats. At TFT, I have the opportunity to apply and expand my knowledge in the conservation of freshwater ecosystems using GIS mapping and analytical tools.

What’s the most important thing you’re working on right now?
We just wrapped up a baseline assessment of Colorado’s West Slope, representing a major collaborative effort by the science & analytics team to develop an internal web application that visualizes the broad interconnectedness of data across ecological, water availability, and economic themes. While water management in Western Colorado primarily addresses human needs, it also has significant long-term and far-reaching implications for endangered species and habitats. As we prepare for in-depth discussions on practical measures for diversion-scale water usage and seasonal shifts in stream flow, it is crucial that we research the ecosystem-wide impacts to ensure informed decision-making.

Amanda in the forests of Portland, studying and catching frogs for her master’s thesis.

What’s something that’s happening at the organization right now that you are very excited about?
We are actively scaling up web applications to encompass larger basins and additional regions. With each new iteration, we gain valuable insights into the most effective ways to communicate and visualize complex data and maps. I am excited about our future endeavors to incorporate the newest technologies and methods available.

What do you love about working for The Freshwater Trust?
Every one of us at the organization has practical and seasoned knowledge in specialized fields and makes a concerted effort to cross-pollinate the latest ecological, agroeconomic, hydrological, policy, and technological innovations. I’m constantly impressed by the solutions we come up with, and it feels good to be a part of a team that keeps a close eye on the societal implications, user experience, best management practices, and conservation plans.

Last book you read or movie you watched?
I’m nearly done with The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. It’s written by a Zen Buddhist monk, in which the narrator of the book is the book itself, talking about the experience of being written and read. It makes me laugh, tear up, and admire the complexity of human beings and what moments they choose to record and document from their lives.

Last place you traveled.
I like taking the slowest ways to see and feel as much of the environment as possible on my travels. Conveniently, just an hour’s drive from TFT’s Portland office, the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in Washington has a great trail called the Fire and Ice Cave Loop. I rode with a friend for 30 miles in some brutal, steep, dusty conditions, but it was worth it as we had the best luck viewing Mt. Adams, landed a dispersed campsite next to the ripest wild huckleberry fields this side of the Columbia River, and got to see some icicle stalagmites in an underground lava tube. Best of all we did it BY BICYCLE, my favorite mode of transportation.

Amanda out biking.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully, I’ll still be in Portland, expanding my art hobbies, planting meadows of flowers for botanical dyes, and having picnics with friends and a small dog named Peppermill.

What’s your number one piece of advice for someone trying to get into this field?
It’s uncommon to find a role where you get to do both applied analytics and conservation research. As someone who likes their day-to-day to be varied and different, I like the mantra, “try everything, learn everything,” and think it’s best to be open to new experiences.