Jason joined the Wilderness Society in 2011 as a Watershed Ecologist and is generally focused on quantifying the effects of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. He is currently collaborating with Integrated Hydro-Systems, LLC and other TWS staff to develop an integrated surface-ground water model for the Chuitna Watershed in order to understand how various parts of the hydrologic cycle may change with anticipated effects of climate change. Additionally, his research is focused on understanding if future changes in hydrology and habitat will affect coho salmon populations in the Chuitna Watershed through the development of a salmon life-stage population model.

Jason received a M.S. degree from the University of Montana’s Department of Forest Management where he examined the effects of climate change and stream regulation on historical summer streamflow trends the Central Rocky Mountains. He received a B.S. in Land Resource Analysis and Management from the Department of Land Resource Environmental Science at Montana State University.

Before coming to work at The Wilderness Society, Jason lived for 10 years in Montana, where he refined his passion for exploring and protecting wild places while attending school, working as an instructor for Outward Bound Wilderness, and as a guide for the Montana Mountaineering Association. As a new immigrant to the great state of Alaska, he takes every possible opportunity to explore the wild mountains and rivers. He is an avid fly-fisherman, hunter, backcountry skier, climber and soon to be pack-rafter.

Recent Publications

Leppi J.C., DeLuca T.H., Solomon H.W., Running S.W., 2011. Impacts of climate change on August stream discharge in the Central-Rocky Mountains. Journal of Climatic Change. DOI: 10.1007/s10584-011-0235-1.