Aquatic Biologist & Wetland Scientist
Ed received his M.S. degree in Fisheries Management from WVU in 1992 where his specialty was benthic macroinvertebrates. Following graduate school, he became manager of the Bioassay Department at REI Consultants, Inc. in West Virginia. He started the Environmental Department there in about 1999 and was instrumental in providing benthic and fisheries surveys, stream and wetland delineation surveys, restoration projects, mitigation plans, and most recently freshwater mussel surveys. During his 25 year career at REI Consultants, Ed has been involved in the delineation of nearly 1,000 wetlands and hundreds of miles of streams, and has collected thousands of benthic macroinvertebrate samples. He has also been directly involved in the design and/or construction of dozens of wetlands, and several miles of stream restoration projects in WV, VA, and PA. Ed completed through Level 4 RosgenTM stream restoration courses, has taken several wetland delineation and construction classes through the Wetland Training Institute and other firms, and is awaiting final approval for his Professional Wetland Scientist certification. When PACE Analytical acquired REI Consultants, Inc. in 2018, Ed and his wife, Dawn, were able to buy-out the Environmental Department, forming Kirk Environmental, LLP. They are able to provide the same services, and continue to employ many of the biologists and technicians whom have worked with them over the years. Ed’s hobbies are wide and include motorcycle riding, hiking, gardening, travel, cooking, woodworking, and visiting wineries and vineyards. Ed is also the overly proud father of two incredible daughters and son-in-laws.