Watershed Geology Lab
Student Projects
Dr. Jimmy Guilinger just took over the Watershed Geology Lab in August 2022. For ideas about potential projects, please refer to our Research Areas. Additionally, reach out to Jimmy if you have any other ideas for projects you would like to discuss!
Past student projects, under former PI Dr. Doug Smith, can be viewed below.
Student Name Project Sara Kelly 2012 entered PhD program at Utah State University
Casey Lanier
First post-capstone position: 2011 Monterey Peninsula Management District.
Katrina Morelli-Hinke
Ryan Bassett First post-capstone position: 2011 M.S in progress in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy (CSUMB) and Environmental Technician with Santa Cruz City.
Andrew Malloy Is sediment size a limiting factor for Steelhead in Yellowbank Creek, CA
Zeke Bean First post-capstone experience: Environmental Projects Analyst Santa Cruz City (2008-present),
Randy Holloway Sediment Budget in a Large Wetland Restoration Project: Carneros Creek, CA. Masters Thesis (2010) First post-degree position: Environmental Technician Santa Cruz City (2009-2011), Waterways Consulting (2011)Kyle Stoner 2012 Completed M.S in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy (CSUMB)
Crystal Forman First post-capstone position: Field technician for J.L. Analytical Services, Inc., Modesto, CA
Jacob George Michael McKay Bruce Cyr First post-capstone job: Hydrologist US Geological Survey (2008-present)
Mary Zertuche First post-capstone job: Survey technician with Baseline Land Survey Co. (2009), Eurofins Water Quality Lab (2011)
Bryce Kantz Shae Maher First post-capstone position: 2011 M.S completed in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy (CSUMB)
Bianca Moreno 2008 CSUMB Woman Geoscientist of the Year: Association of Women Geoscientists First post-capstone position: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Jason Maas-Baldwin CA Urban Stream Restoration : Assessment Methods and CA Dept. of Water Resources Program Evaluation. Masters Thesis (2008) First post-degree position: Teaching Science Carmel High School (2008-2011)Zachary Croyle Analysis of Baseflow Trends Related to Upland Groundwater Pumping for Las Garzas, San Clemente, Potrero, and San Jose Creeks. Masters Thesis (2009) First post-degree position U.S.: Forest Service (Plumas Forest: 2009-2011)Brian Spear Twenty-nine years of Geomorphic Change at Elkhorn Slough, CA. Master of Science (2010)
First post-degree position: Watershed Scientist with 2nd Nature LLC Consulting (2009-2011
Eve Elkins First post capstone experience: Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (2002), then M.S. student at UC Davis (Land, Air, Water Res., 2003). Worked as a hydrology/geomorphology consultant with Swanson & Associates Consulting in Santa Cruz, CA with at least two other SEP graduates (2006). Published (2007). Research Associate with MBARI (2008-present)
Caroline McKnight First post capstone experience: California Department of Fish and Game (2002). Groundfish Division CA Fish and Game (2007-2011)
Joshua Williams Sean Finney First post capstone job: NOAA Corps Officer Training Academy. Made Lieutenant (LTjg; 2007) and anticipating 20 years of career service! In 2009..completed Masters Degree at Naval Postgraduate School--exploring the need and cost of establishing remotely-sensed smallcraft ID for Homeland Security.
Melanie Vincent Quantifying Sediment Transport: The Key to Regulating Development in Coastal California WatershedsAbstract accepted at the 2003 Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research First post-capstone job: Monterey County Water Resources Agency in the Floodplain Management/Development Review Division (2003-2006). Now an environmental Specialist with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (2007). Advanced to Associate Planner with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (2009)Elvie Hall April McMillian Visualizing the Dynamic Salinas Valley Water Table with Animated GIS Abstract accepted at the 2003 Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research
First post-capstone job: Field Inspector for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (2003). Then worked at FPM Group (2004) working on groundwater remediation at Edwards Airforce Base. Completed Masters Degree at CSU-Fullerton while working full time (2006). Senior Environmental Scientist at FUSCOE Engineering, Irvine CA (2009)
Karen Riley Is the Peachtree Valley Lineament an Active Fault Zone First post capstone job: Monterey County Planning Department Grade Inspector (2003)
Amy Thistle Sediment Sources and Logging Roads in Mitteldorf Redwood Preserve
First post capstone job: Monterey County Water Resources Agency in the Floodplain Management/Development Review Division (2003). Mentoring young people in environmental stewardship through the Seaside, CA Boys and Girls Clubs (2006).Communication Disorders and Sciences Masters Program at San Jose State University (2008)
Anthony Guerriero Links Between Invasive Italian Thistle and Geomorphically-Disturbed Landscapes: Implications for Land Management on Fort Ord BLM Property First post-capstone job: Hydrological Technician at U.S. Geological Survey, Marina office (2004-present).
Paul Huntington Amount and geomorphic/biological function of large wood and wood accumulations in the Carmel River. Report for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.
Kim DeRenzo First post capstone job: Soil Scientist technician with Soil Surveys Inc., Salinas CA. (2004). Now teaching elementary school in Salinas, CA (2006).
Kelleen Harris (formerly K. Harter) Beneficial Effects of Wetland Management. Is water quality in Carneros Creek improved as it flows through ALBA’s Triple-M Ranch in Watsonville, CA? First post capstone job: Lead researcher on Gabilan Watershed water quality program (CCoWS team) at CSUMB Watershed Institute (2005-2007). Currently with Santa Cruz Municipal Water Department (2008-present)Genoveva Ruiz Henna collected and processed high resolution imagery from the upper 4 km reach of Monterey Canyon. Resulted in major publication in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America.
First post-capstone job: Working with science education at an aquarium in southern CA. 2009: Teaching in LA Unified School District
Karen Gref Karen's capstone project is featured in a technical report on Coastal Retreat:
First post capstone job: Teaching youngsters about marine environments and ecosystems on Santa Catalina Island, CA. Finished M.S. at the Univ. Mich., Dearborn in Env. Sci. (2009). Now working at AAI Environmental Services.
Regina Williams First post capstone job: Exploring Guatemala, and then Lead researcher on Gabilan Watershed water quality program (CCoWS team) at CSUMB Watershed Institute (2006).
Adam Mahnken Animated Visualization of the Salinas Valley Water Table Elevation and Saltwater Intrusion, and Analysis
Alex Price Yongxiang (Frank) Li An inclination correction for the Valle Group strata, Baja California, Mexico. Ph.D. Dissertation at Lehigh University
Jordan Vaughn Paleomagnetic and compaction correction study of the Perforada and Asuncion Formations, Baja California, Mexico. Master's Thesis at Lehigh University.
