The Wildlands Conservancy this week announced Abigail Pattishall is joining the team as the Director of the Rivers Programs.

“Abigail has been instrumental in the publication of numerous technical reports focused on water quality monitoring and assessment plans,” says Scott J. Cope, chief program officer, “Her extensive experience and broad knowledge of issues facing our unique natural resource, the Lehigh River, makes her the best candidate for the position.”

As director, Pattishall will oversee the planning, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive rivers conservation program, specifically focusing on Wildlands Conservancy’s Strategic Plan.

Pattishall will proactively work to reach yearly goals addressing water quality and quantity issues of the Lehigh River and its tributaries through working collaboratively with other conservation organizations, landowners, corporations, outside contractors and government agencies. She will also lead the rivers conservation staff, currently made up of a biologist and outdoor recreation manager.

Pattishall has just recently completed her doctorate degree in integrative biology at Lehigh University where, during her studies, she was a teaching assistant. Most recently, she was a biology professor at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Pattishall has had extensive work contributed to numerous scientific and technical publications, most notably the Lehigh River Watershed Conservation Management Plan.

Pattishall has also helped to write Lehigh River Mine Drainage Assessment and Abatement Plan to Mitigate the Mine Drainage Impacts to the Lehigh River Watershed and a variety of watershed management and assessment plans.

8/29/2008