Zack Edwards

Zack Edwards is a licensed Professional Engineer with over a decade of experience in stream restoration and aquatic conservation. A native of Southwest Virginia, he holds a Master of Engineering in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, as well as a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Geography from Emory & Henry College. Zack has worked in both the public and private sectors, including positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program via the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, the U.S. Geological Survey, Canaan Valley Institute, and in private consulting.

Since June 2020, Zack has been integral to Virginia Tech's Conservation Management Institute, spearheading engineering efforts for the southeastern hellbender conservation in Virginia. Notably, he helped deliver one of Virginia's largest NRCS Eastern Hellbender Initiative projects and currently serves as the supervising engineer for the Aquatic Connectivity Framework (ACF), overseeing all engineering developments in the ACF priority area. Zack aims to bridge the gap between engineering and aquatic ecology to develop sustainable watershed-scale solutions that address species-specific needs while considering the aquatic resource as a whole. His interdisciplinary approach, passion for the work, and dedication to the watersheds he works and plays in make him a valuable asset to any team.