I am the Geographic Information System Lead. I technically report to the main EGLE office in Lansing but have been working remotely since I started in January 2021.

Every day is different! And that’s one of the things I like about this career. As GIS Lead, I get work on a lot of different aspects related to GIS, including administration and leadership roles, internal and external communication and knowledge sharing tasks, and then actual content creation projects. I coordinate all GIS staff at EGLE and make sure they have what they need to do their work, such as software, licensing, and training. I also represent EGLE at statewide departmental GIS steering committee meetings, where I help advance the geospatial program at the state, and GIS conferences where I present on some of the cool things we are doing at EGLE. I also maintain EGLE’s Maps and Data portal (where we share all of the web maps and open data publicly) and make sure that the content that does go on there is ready for publication. This includes making sure it is accessible and understandable for people of all walks of life. I also get to do really fun things like make interactive maps and story maps and come up with creative solutions to technical problems. My favorite latest example of this is Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART)'s PFAS Geographic Information System. I had to figure out a way to share our data, but also protect our critical infrastructure by not sharing exact locations of the public water supply. In the map you can find Statewide Testing Initiative of Public Water Supplies Hexbins as my solution to this problem. I’ve also worked on projects that share EGLE work in engaging ways, such as this Michigan COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Pilot Project story map.

The GIS work we do at EGLE makes a difference in several ways. First, creating authoritative maps and data and conducting GIS analyses can produce powerful results that can help professionals make informed decisions about the best way to protect Michigan’s environment and the people who live here. Our mapping technology also provides tools to enhance workflows and improve collaboration, such as tools that provide immediate access to data collected in the field. This means that EGLE staff can respond quicker and more efficiently address environmental concerns. Lastly, our tools help us create engaging interactive maps and stories that help the public learn and relate to environmental topics that may affect them. This helps create a more educated and connected state.

The first thing is to learn that Geographic Information Systems even exists and that you can make an awesome career out of it! I didn’t know this was a realistic option when I was first starting out and wish I did. Most schools these days have geospatial programs these days, and there are several top programs in Michigan institutions! Many programs offer introduction to GIS as a course that counts for many different requirements, so why not give it a try? Next, I like to think that GIS is a tool that you can apply to any topic you’re interested in. We at EGLE are using GIS to support environmental topics, but GIS is used across many fields such as history, transportation, engineering, law enforcement, wildlife biology, city planning, utilities etc. Find what fields interest you and then see how you can apply GIS to it. Even within the environmental realm, there are so many different topics you can use GIS for. Check out the What Makes EGLE Spatial story map that I made to learn more!

My role is Geographic Information Systems support, specializing in emerging contaminants for the Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division, out of Constitution Hall in Lansing.

I received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Geographic Information Science from Michigan State University (MSU).  I was a student assistant working for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) while at MSU. Later, I was hired by the DNR and became the project manager for the forest inventory mapping effort. I was involved in many various projects while at the DNR with tasks including cartography, data analysis, and database administration. These great experiences allowed me to employ my skills with the needs of the programs in EGLE.  After working for the MDNR for almost 20 years, I wanted to assist EGLE with Flint Water Crisis and transferred into the department for that purpose.

A typical workday involves many tasks including creating queries and analysis of various drinking water contaminants and often mapping the sample locations and results. Using Microsoft and ArcGIS tools, I connect to data from databases, complete reports, and update spreadsheets to create maps and other GIS tools. Throughout the day, I need to troubleshoot, test out alternatives, create new ideas, research available tools and data, reach out to other GIS staff for recommendations, and determine the best approaches and solutions for the GIS needs at hand. 

As an ever-expanding technology field, GIS is a great path to follow.  If you love maps or have a desire to better understand how geographic features or people are related to one another spatially, and how they affect one another from that spatial relationship, or if you are interested in the data behind the maps and are curious to analyze the data relationships to discover insights and solutions, then GIS is a great direction for you to go. 

I’m an environmental quality analyst (GIS Analyst) within the Water Resources Division at Constitution Hall in Lansing.

I attended Eastern Michigan University (EMU) for my undergraduate degree in Secondary Education majoring in geography and minoring in history. It was during this time I was introduced to Geographic Information Systems. I graduated at a time when the teaching field was flooded and jobs were difficult to come by. I needed to pivot and find a new career. I always loved geography and cartography and began looking into careers and education opportunities in the GIS field. I found a master’s program at EMU for Geographic Information Science. During my graduate program I had the opportunity to intern for Ducks Unlimited and the State of Michigan learning valuable skills that would serve me well in the future. This internship led to contract work with EGLE working in the Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams Unit and eventual full-time employment with EGLE.

The work we do in the Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams Unit helps to protect and minimize the loss of an important resource.  Wetlands are a significant factor in the health and existence of other natural resources of the state such as inland lakes, ground water, fisheries, wildlife and the Great Lakes. 

GIS can be used in a variety of fields so explore them all and find the one that best suits you. Don’t be afraid to pivot if you find during your education journey your passion has changed.  Take on internships, and volunteer work where you can get some real-world experience working with GIS.  Always enjoy what you are doing and those you are working with.  It makes the job that much more fun!  

I am a GIS and Web Analyst in the Remediation and Redevelopment Division. I work out of Lansing with statewide job responsibilities.

I earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University with a dual major in Hydrogeology and GIS. During my last couple of years at Western, I became involved in Great Lakes beach erosion research. I realized I could pursue a career blending my passion for the coast with mapping. This led me to Florida Atlantic University where I attained a Master of Science degree in Geology, with a specialization in coastal processes. I returned to Michigan and spent more than 20 years working with DEQ/DNR/EGLE on Great Lakes coastal management issues. I applied my GIS skills towards mapping areas prone to coastal erosion and other issues in both permitting and grant & technical assistance roles. Taking advantage of additional GIS technical training opportunities throughout my career helped me eventually pivot into my current position with RRD where GIS is at the heart of my responsibilities. 

Quality maps and information showing people where sites of contamination exist in Michigan, and ways in which those properties cannot be used, are critical. Our team works hard to identify, clean up, and repurpose sites, so it’s exciting to play a role in improving how we map, share information, and tell the important stories behind these efforts. 

Follow your passion and keep an open mind when new opportunities arise. GIS can be applied in many ways within the environmental field, so pursue things that interest you and don’t hesitate to refocus or change course as you go. Start building a portfolio of your GIS work now. Happy mapping! 

I am a GIS and remote sensing specialist within the Wetlands, Lakes, and Streams Unit at EGLE. Our program is managed out of the Water Resources Division and is responsible for regulating impacts to surface water in the State. I have been based out of Constitution Hall for the last 20 years.

I received my bachelor’s degree in resource development: environmental studies and applications, with a specialization in spatial information processing, from Michigan State University in 2001. During my undergraduate work, I was employed by several research organizations within the university assisting with GIS and remote sensing-based projects, including updating land cover maps for the Amazon basin and Southeast Asia, and closer to home working on the Muskegon River watershed land use update. These experiences, along with my classwork in environmental protection, got me very interested in utilizing technology like GIS to assist in managing and protecting natural resources from a landscape scale, an interest I carried into my role at EGLE in 2003.

In 1979, the Michigan legislature passed the Geomare-Anderson Wetlands Protection Act, which is now Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA). In addition to Part 303, our program also administers Part 301 of NREPA. The Inland Lakes and Streams Program is responsible for the protection of the natural resources and the public trust waters of the inland lakes and streams of the state. Given these two broad responsibilities, I have had the opportunity to work in all aspects of wetland, inland lake, and stream protection over the years. Many times, my activities during the day are dictated by our regulatory program and our compliance/enforcement responsibilities under Parts 303 and 301. I have participated in hundreds of these efforts in my career, and these can vary from aerial imagery interpretation for a wetland to assist staff in a permit decision, all the way to testifying in court about my work in a civil or criminal matter. I have been qualified as an expert witness in GIS and remote sensing in 10 of these cases around the state over 20 years and continue to provide this service for our program currently. Our program also pursues grant money to develop our non-regulatory program, and I have been involved in many of these efforts in my time at EGLE. From participating in Wetland Monitoring field activities, watershed and regional planning efforts, wetland delineation trainings, and wetland/stream restorations efforts across the State, my days are rarely the same and always keep me engaged. I’ve gotten the opportunity to travel the state and see pockets of Michigan’s natural beauty that few get to see.

As the GIS lead and principal investigator on many grant-funded research projects for the program, I’ve gotten the opportunity to speak at conferences and workshops and network with the other experts in my field. As my career has progressed, my work has expanded to include other responsibilities for the Water Resources Division as a whole including administering GIS tools for our online permitting database, MiEnviro and participating in EGLE’s GIS committee.  I am part of several advisory committees for the state as well, including participation in statewide aerial imagery/remote sensing collection efforts, and ongoing efforts to update our stream and lake inventories for Michigan. Overall, working in this field at EGLE has provided countless opportunities to expand and grow, and participate in efforts that will have real impact on our state moving forward -- not to mention the amazing people we get to work with on a daily basis inside and outside of our program, as those relationships are at the core of making my workdays fun and exciting.

I would hope that my efforts over the years have helped to inform and educate Michiganders as to the important wetland and water resources in their own backyards.  Our efforts to produce maps and resource inventories that clearly outline the boundaries of these important waters benefit businesses and residents by drawing a clear line around areas to restrict development and ideally steer protection efforts. At times, my role has been to assist in enforcing our laws and regulations, in an effort to protect the waters of the state for my kids and future generations so that they can continue to enjoy this freshwater paradise with their kids and grandkids. Overall, I help to provide the best GIS tools and resources to our programs and program staff, which hopefully leads to increased efficiency and better outcomes for the residents of Michigan. By bringing technology and the best data available to our program staff, and Michiganders as a whole, we are helping to make the most informed decisions possible when it comes to our water resources.

I currently serve as the district supervisor for the Remediation and Redevelopment Division at the Jackson district office. Prior to this role, I was a geology specialist (hydrogeologist) with the Source Water Unit (SWU) within the Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division (DWEHD).

I hold a doctoral degree in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University, with a strong foundation in integrated surface-groundwater modeling using various modeling tools and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess potential climate change impacts on water resources in a case study region. My educational background also includes a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in geology from the University of Sonora, Mexico, with a focus on environmental geochemistry, as well as an master’s degree in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University, specializing in water resources management. With two decades of experience, I have actively utilized GIS and earned a professional certification (GISP) to support various projects in my current and previous roles. Proficient in database management, spatial analysis, and statistics, I have contributed to the success of several initiatives. Before joining EGLE, I served as an assistant professor in the School of Physical Sciences at Lake Superior State University (LSSU), teaching a range of courses in hydrogeology, hydrology, and GIS for the Department of Geology and Physics, as well as the Department of Environmental Sciences. My passion for GIS continues to drive my commitment to environmental science and research.

In the Remediation and Redevelopment Division (RRD), our mission is to effectively manage and mitigate the risks posed by environmental contamination sites, safeguarding the well-being of Michigan residents and the environment. We regulate responsible parties to ensure they undertake necessary corrective actions that minimize potential risks to the public. Additionally, when no viable liable party is identified, we collaborate with state-funded initiatives to facilitate the cleanup of contaminated sites, thereby preventing harm to our communities. One compelling example of the impactful use of GIS in our work is a pilot project conducted in collaboration with the Grand Rapids office, focusing on dry cleaner facilities. This initiative aims to proactively identify potential risks associated with such sites that have limited or no available information. Under my supervision and guidance, our dedicated team developed a GIS model to pinpoint the most vulnerable locations within the district. This model integrates various factors, such as proximity to susceptible receptors and the physical characteristics of the area, such as soil type. By using GIS in innovative ways, we empower our efforts to protect Michigan residents from potential environmental hazards.

GIS transcends simple mapping. It's a powerful analytical tool that enhances comprehension of intricate projects. It introduces a spatial dimension that conventional software lacks. The key advantage of GIS is the ability to layer multiple datasets, offering a holistic view of complex issues. Moreover, the skills honed through GIS work are versatile and applicable across a broad spectrum of professions, providing the flexibility to explore diverse career paths beyond a single trajectory.

I am environmental quality analyst in the surface water assessment section (SWAS) in EGLE’s Water Resources Division, and I work out of Constitution Hall in Lansing.

I support numerous SWAS monitoring programs by providing GIS applications to collect, manage, and visualize data related to surface water assessment. A typical workday includes developing and maintaining GIS applications and datasets to meet programmatic needs. My role also includes providing spatial analysis, charts, and maps for SWAS publications related to biological assessment, inland lakes water chemistry, sediment chemistry, aquatic invasive species, bacterial monitoring, fish contaminant monitoring and more.

SWAS monitoring programs are vital to protecting surface water quality and aquatic ecosystems throughout the state of Michigan. My work aids SWAS in developing standards for the protection of water quality and disseminates important information to the citizens of Michigan.

I highly recommend internships and job shadowing during college; my undergraduate experiences were critical in informing my career path. Ultimately, GIS is an ever-evolving, interdisciplinary toolset that can be used in countless ways. Gaining experience by applying GIS tools in a variety of disciplines and contexts can help you find your niche.

I am a geologist that works in the Solid Waste section of the Materials Management Division out of the Grand Rapids District Office.

Growing up, my family would frequently travel to the various national parks across the United States, hiking in and throughout the natural features and rock formations.  Upon my admittance into Grand Valley State University, I entered undecided as I was unsure which of the sciences I wanted to pursue. When reviewing the courses available that satisfied the general education requirement, geology was something I had never heard of, but sounded very interesting and similar to my passion for the national parks. I was instantly hooked as my first geology class took us outside into the Grand Valley ravines learning about basic geologic processes.  After that first Introduction to Geology course, I was a declared geology major.  As a geology major at GVSU, there are many elective courses you can take, one of which that focuses on the use of GIS and its application and uses in geology.  The class allowed me to pursue another passion of mine – maps!  The course taught me how powerful GIS can be when displaying information visually for scientific or educational purposes and was the foundation for my use in GIS in my career.  I was even provided with a unique opportunity to use GIS to map many of the gypsum mine tunnels located near Grand Rapids. While pursuing my master’s degree in glacial geology, approximately half of my thesis required using GIS to map glacial geology landforms in Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The map I created with GIS for my thesis not only provided updated glacial geology mapping at higher resolution, but also won second place in a United States Geological Survey map competition!

A typical workday includes reviewing technical geological information related to landfills.  Much of the information that I receive is provided in a very analytical format which includes numbers or other information on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. In many cases I take the data provided by the various sites and use GIS to visually plot that information on a map.  More often then not, plotting the data in different ways helps reveal patterns or trends that can help better manage sites of environmental contamination or help with decision making on how best to protect the environment. Other parts of my job also includes completing site visits, in which I sometimes use various GIS applications to flag areas of concern that need to be addressed.

With geology, or really any of the sciences, GIS is a tool that is being used more frequently and is a valuable skillset to have when entering the workforce.  Many colleges and universities offer classes in GIS and I personally think getting a minor in GIS would complement any of the sciences and give you a valuable skillset that is applicable to many jobs, even beyond the sciences.