Kyle Cook
Payson,UT
Summary
Habitat Restoration Biologist with a master's degree and 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in habitat restoration, rangeland restoration research, science education, wildfire/forest management, and wildlife management. Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills with a proven ability to build productive partnerships in conservation.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Habitat Biologist (DWR - NRCS Partner)
Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources
01.2023 - Current
- Develop, coordinate, and implement collaborative projects to improve wildlife habitat, watershed health, and ecosystem resilience in diverse systems (aquatic, riparian, wetland, upland, rangeland, forest)
- Forge partnerships with landowners, land managers, and agricultural producers by initiating contact, gathering input, and leading project coordination from start to finish
- Fortify landscapes against the effects of catastrophic wildfire (fuel reduction, firebreaks, annual grass management, fire-wise WUI planning, FFSL partnerships, etc.)
- Obtain all permits, clearances, and documents required for project implementation (cultural resource, NEPA, stream alteration, Biological Assessments and Evaluations, etc.)
- Supervise contractors, volunteers, and employees to ensure timely and quality implementation
- Utilize knowledge of native plant communities to assess trends and prescribe management actions
- Write, present, and defend strong grant proposals through multiple funding networks, including Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI)
- Serve on WRI ranking committees
- Engage proactively with the public about habitat improvement projects (conservation districts, irrigation companies, agricultural producers, sportsmen's groups, outreach events, etc.)
- Utilize ArcGIS Pro to analyze and communicate geospatial data
- Consult analytical tools to assess landscapes (EDIT, Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, Rangeland Analysis Platform, Wetland Evaluation Tool, Wildlife Habitat Assessment Tool, Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool, and more)
- Manage project budgets
Rangeland Management Specialist Intern
Natural Resources Conservation Service
05.2022 - 05.2023
- Develop plans to improve rangeland grazing operations
- Assess rangeland sites (Rangeland Health Assessment, vegetation surveys, soil assessments)
- Identify natural resource concerns and mitigation practices
- Calculate stocking rates
- Prepare contract documents, permit applications, and clearance requests
Graduate Research Assistant
BYU Rangeland Restoration Lab
05.2021 - 05.2023
- Managed research to improve seeding strategies in rangeland restoration, mineland restoration, and post-fire rehabilitation
- Developed a novel seed coating protocol for winterfat that significantly improved seeding success and seed flowability through seed drills
- Sought out extra courses in restoration ecology, plant taxonomy, rangeland management, and wildlife biology
- Lead efforts to produce a two-chapter thesis, including study design, data collection, data analysis, writing, and editing
- Supervised numerous undergraduate employees to carry out studies in field, laboratory, greenhouse, and growth-chamber settings
- Wrote status reports for multiple projects and presented them to benefactors
Secondary Science Teacher
Lakeview Academy
08.2019 - 08.2021
- Designed and taught engaging, hands-on lessons and lab activities to teach principles of ecology, biology, environmental science, physics, and chemistry
- Improved test scores for two consecutive years
- Collected regular formative assessment data to improve learning outcomes
- Engage proactively with parents to ensure student success
Wildlife Technician
Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources
03.2019 - 08.2019
- Maintained hatchery facilities and equipment (carpentry, welding, plumbing, heavy equipment, labor)
- Collected biological and hydrological data daily; assessed for abnormalities and mitigated when necessary
- Cultivated and stocked wiper, white bass, striped bass, bluehead sucker, walleye, and rainbow trout into multiple fisheries throughout Utah
- Assessed stocking habitats and selected sites to maximize fish survival
Wildland Firefighter
Georgia Forestry Commission
03.2017 - 03.2019
- Serve as operator and equipment manager of a fire-plow-equipped bulldozer and straight truck (Class B CDL)
- Respond to wildfire calls; suppress fires by installing firebreaks (dozer, hand, and wet-lines) and backburning
- Supervise a two-county public outreach program; present to diverse groups about forest health, wildfire, prescribed burning, and WUI planning
- Work on a crew to implement prescribed burns (operate ATV, drip-torch, dozer, chainsaw, water pumps, Type VII engine)
- Participate in forest health assessments and activities (timber surveys, pine bark beetle surveys, seed collection, invasive plant species management)
- Prepare documents for prescribed burning (permits, burn plan, weather data, GIS data)
- Implement post-fire rehabilitation projects
Education
Master of Science - Wildlife And Wildlands Conservation
Brigham Young University
Provo06-2023
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
American Public University
Charles Town, WV04-2019
Skills
- Restoration Ecology
- Plant Identification
- Grazing Plan Development
- Multi-Project Management
- ArcGIS Pro
- NRCS Certified Conservation Planner
- Public Outreach Program Management
- Grant Proposals and Presentations
- Budget Management
- Class B CDL
- Heavy Equipment Operation
- Technical Writing
Affiliations
- The Wildlife Society
- Society for Range Management
- Society for Ecological Restoration
- Utah Science Teachers Association
- National Science Teachers Association
Presentations
“Using Seed Coatings to Improve Restoration Success of Winterfat” 2022 BYU Plant and Wildlife Sciences Graduate Student Conclave, Provo, Utah, USA, November 17.
“Using Seed Coatings to Improve Restoration Success of Winterfat” 2022 Utah Section Meeting for the Society for Range Management, Provo, Utah, USA, November 3-5.
“Effects of Planting Depth and Seed Coatings on Emergence of Winterfat” 2022 Annual Meeting for the Society for Range Management, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, February 6-10.
Publications
Cook, Kyle Andrew, "Improving Restoration Success of Winterfat: Influences of Hydrophobic Seed Coatings and Planting Depth on Seedling Emergence" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 9988. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/9988
Cook, K.C., Geary, B.D., Allen, P.S., Hulet, A., Gunnell, K.L., Landeen, M., Nelson, S.V., Madsen, M.D. 2023. Effects of seed coatings and planting depth on emergence and survival of winterfat. [Unpublished Manuscript] Rangeland Ecology and Management.
Cook, K.C., Geary, B.D., Allen, P.S., Hulet, A., Gunnell, K.L., Landeen, M., Nelson, S.V., Madsen, M.D. 2023. Effects of seed coatings and planting depth on emergence and survival of winterfat. [Unpublished Manuscript] Rangeland Ecology and Management.
Awards
Charles Redd Center for Western Studies Award - BYU Plant and Wildlife Sciences Graduate Student Conclave. Provo, Utah, USA, November 17.
Timeline
Habitat Biologist (DWR - NRCS Partner)
Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources
01.2023 - Current
Rangeland Management Specialist Intern
Natural Resources Conservation Service
05.2022 - 05.2023
Graduate Research Assistant
BYU Rangeland Restoration Lab
05.2021 - 05.2023
Secondary Science Teacher
Lakeview Academy
08.2019 - 08.2021
Wildlife Technician
Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources
03.2019 - 08.2019
Wildland Firefighter
Georgia Forestry Commission
03.2017 - 03.2019
Master of Science - Wildlife And Wildlands Conservation
Brigham Young University
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
American Public University
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