Jon C. Vander Werff

Jon is an avid outdoorsman who began working with the Ecological Restoration team in April of 2018. His efforts with Save the Sound are mainly focused on riverine fisheries surveys, monitoring dam removal sites, river restoration projects, and aiding in the installation of green infrastructure in New Haven. The long term goal of his position is to ensure the protection and restoration of water quality and fish populations in the rivers of the greater Long Island Sound ecosystem.

Jon received his bachelor’s in wildlife management with a concentration in fisheries from the State University of New York at Cobleskill. While studying at Cobleskill, his research included a biodiversity assessment of native fish in the Amazon River and immediate tributaries.  In May of 2018, Jon graduated with his master’s degree, from the University of Rhode Island, in watershed management as well as a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. While at URI his thesis research involved monitoring water temperature influenced by historic mill dams and how altered temperature regimes affected brook trout.

Prior to receiving his masters, Jon was employed as a professional fly fishing guide in the greater Yellowstone and Grand Teton ecosystems in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. This position furthered a strong passion for native fish conservation and presently inspires his work and research.