Erik is the Director of the AWQP in the CSU Soil and Crop Science Department. In this position he does extensive research, writing and Extension work related to agricultural water quality issues including; pesticide use, nutrient management, soil moisture monitoring, groundwater/surface water interactions, conservation tillage, and irrigation water management. He supports the development, validation, and promotion of agricultural Best Management Practices that allow chemical users to use these products appropriately while preventing the contamination of surface and groundwater in Colorado. He works closely with the agricultural community to ensure that research and outreach efforts provide practical, real world solutions to water quality issues in agriculture.

erik.wardle@colostate.edu

Troy serves as the Associate Director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station (75% appointment). In this role, Troy works directly with research center managers, faculty, and staff across the state, enhancing communication between the centers and leveraging center resources and expertise to maximize our support for Colorado agriculture. As an Extension Water Quality Specialist (25% appointment) Troy’s research and outreach focuses on environmental issues, especially in the areas of nutrient and irrigation management to prevent nonpoint pollution in irrigated agriculture; soil fertility management; and irrigation scheduling using soil moisture and evapotranspiration methodology. Troy Bauder received his B.S. degree in Agronomy and his M.S. in Soil Science from Colorado State University. He is actively involved in the family farm in northeast Colorado.

troy.bauder@colostate.edu

Through the Outreach and Research Coordinator position Christina is pursuing her passion for facilitating effective, science-based communication within the broader context of applied research. This role supports the validation of agricultural Better Management Practices to inform decision-making at the state and farm level in Colorado. Specifically, she focuses on advancing collaborative efforts within the AWQP’s diverse network of stakeholders. Her interdisciplinary background includes program management, GIS mapping, natural resource mediation, grant writing, and strategic planning. She completed her joint master’s degree in Water Cooperation and Diplomacy from OSU, IHE-Delft, and UPeace. She is currently pursuing a PhD researching the decision making process for Colorado producers on farm. In her spare time she enjoys camping, salsa dancing and trail running.

c.welch@colostate.edu

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The focus of A.J.’s research role is in the areas of data analytics, soil-water-nutrient transport, irrigation management, and environmental monitoring technologies.  A.J. has extensive experience with using environmental data collected from commercial, or self-developed sensors to answer larger questions with data algorithms coupled with spatial mapping software.  He has a strong agronomic background from growing up on a farm. Managing research farm operations in the past allows him to better understand how his data can make a difference.  A.J. also has experience in outreach and community extension in agriculture, making it his mission to bridge the communication gap between farmers and researchers. He looks forward to making an impact with the AWQP team. In his off time, A.J. is usually found biking, cooking, or hitting up a local brewery.

ansley.brown@colostate.edu

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Alex is an undergraduate student studying Agricultural Education at CSU. He grew up in northern Colorado and discovered his fondness for agriculture through FFA. One of his bucket list goals is to become a helicopter pilot someday. In his spare time, he enjoys going on road trips with his family, making leather craft, going to rodeos and flying drones.

Tad is a PhD student studying the nexus between Soil Health and Water Quality as they relate to Best Management Practices in irrigated agriculture. As an analytical person and a systems thinker, he found his niche on the team and he has loved bringing his passion to the work. His research interests include water resources, soil carbon dynamics, ecosystem services, and bringing science to producers. Tad graduated from CSU in May of 2021 with a B.S. in Soil and Crop Sciences and minors in Watershed Science and Mathematics.

tad.trimarco@colostate.edu

Kenzie is an undergraduate student studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, as well as Diversity and Inclusion in Natural Resources. She grew up along the Front Range of Colorado and is passionate about the environment, climate change, and natural resources. Outside of school, she enjoys being outdoors, taking photos, and reading. She hopes to travel and visit all of the National Parks and be a part of positive change for our environment!