Interim Dean of Academic Affairs & John Porter Stevens Distinguished Professor of Water Resources, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Profile
Rhett Jackson’s research examines the effects of human land use activities, specifically forestry, agriculture, and urbanization, on water quality and aquatic habitat. He conducts applied research into the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) in reducing nonpoint pollution, and his work has influenced the development of BMPs for forestry and urban development. His basic research into hillslope hydrologic processes informs his research on the fate and transport of nonpoint pollutants. A particular current interest of his is the relationship between riparian vegetation, channel structure, and stream temperature. Given that BMPs are never fully effective, he has lately pondered the question, “How much water quality and habitat change is too much?” His work is trans-disciplinary, and he frequently collaborates with ecologists, animal biologists, and biogeochemists. Dr. Jackson earned BSE and MSE degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington. He has worked as an engineer for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, as a hydrologist and planner for King County Surface Water Management, and as an environmental consultant. He began his career at the University of Georgia in 1997 as an Assistant Professor.