Steve Foster, CPESC

Steve has over 25 years of experience in the field of water quality including stream and wetland assessment, environmental restoration, and project management. Concurrent with the founding of Watershed Science, Steve served for four years with the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department of NC State University working on a variety of stream restoration and assessment projects and performed watershed planning work for EarthTech. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Steve was employed as an Environmental Scientist with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, performing a variety of roles in water resources management, including: NPDES, Stormwater, Nonpoint Source management, Section 401 administration, and complaint resolution. While at ADEM, he was project manager for numerous long-term watershed projects incorporating assessment, planning and the implementation of NPS control measures including stream and wetland restoration. Steve has also worked for the New Mexico Environment Department as a Program Manager where he coordinated the state’s Nonpoint Source Program and as an Environmental Scientist in support of energy exploration and development.

Steve lives in Macon County, North Carolina with his wife and dogs. He is an avid outdoorsman who would much rather spend a day outside than stuck in the office. You may have to leave a message but he will return your call when he comes back in out of the rain.

Dave Penrose

Dave Penrose is currently retired from the Water Quality Group at North Carolina State University.  Much of his work in the last 10 years has been assessing the effectiveness of stream restoration projects using biological tools, specifically benthic insects. “We feel that it’s important for restoration scientists to become active participants in re-defining stream mitigation policy and that ecological information is used to help re-define restoration effectiveness.”  In addition to Dave’s work with stream restoration he has also taught many workshops which focus on taxonomy of aquatic insects.  Prior to his work at NCSU Dave was employed with the NC Division of Water Quality as a benthic taxonomist and studied the impacts of both point and non-point sources of water pollution to aquatic insects.  While at the NC Division of Water Quality he also worked with the 401 Certification program and became familiar with the policies which govern stream mitigation, including small intermittent stream features.  However retirement has proven difficult, Dave continues to conduct research on restored streams, continues to work with students and remains active in national policy and technical review committees.

Michael Shaffer, PE

After a long and varied career as a Manufacturing Project Engineer, Michael came to the field of Biological Engineering. Returning to college after 28 years in the work force, he obtained a Masters of Biological and Agricultural Engineering degree from North Carolina State University and began work as an extension associate. With eight years of experience in the areas of stream and wetland restoration he is the newcomer to the group but provides an engneering approach and a fresh perspective on situations. He has worked on numerous restoration sites across North Carolina both designing and supervising construction. You may have met him assisting with teaching the NCSU River Course series or the NCDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Certification classes. He brings years of project implementation training and experience to the group and has become the local wizard for automated water sampling setup, installation, trouble shooting and repairs. Supervising stream mitigation monitoring crews and performing vegetative assessments has kept him busy for the last few years. Professionally trained in project management, surveying, natural channel design, BMP design, erosion and sediment control and watershed monitoring he is a natural organizer and planner.

Michael is a dedicated outdoor fun hog, enjoying backpacking, canoeing, sailing, fishing, skiing, birding, and any water sport around. Addicted to long road trips he often returns to his home state of south Louisiana for a re- immersion into the Cajun culture.