Contact a Regional Coordinator

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Aquatic Invasive Species Program supports a dedicated group of people who work closely with state invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
coordinators, nongovernmental groups, private landowners.

Aquatic Invasive Species Regional Coordinators:

  • Organize cooperative surveillance and monitoring efforts with federal, state, and local agencies, universities, and public interest groups to track the distribution and spread of aquatic invasive species.
  • Provide technical expertise to the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Fish Hatchery System and our partners.
  • Respond to requests from national publications and news programs.
  • Attend boating and sport fishing shows, informing thousands of participants about the biology and impacts of aquatic invasive species and what they can do to help prevent their spread.

If you have any questions about the Aquatic Invasive Species Program, please contact one of the following staff:

Leadership

Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Christine Densmore
Injurious Wildlife Listing Coordinator
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
Zoonotic Injurious Wildlife Listing,
One Health
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Susan Pasko, PhD
Executive Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
Aquatic Invasive Species
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Kristen Sommers
Injurious Species Listing Coordinator
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
Injurious Wildlife Listing,
Support other Prevention Activities

National and Regional Contacts

Service employee wearing an orange lifejacket driving a jon boat with an outboard motor.
Theresa Thom, PhD
Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certification Course Instructor
Expertise
Freshwater Ecology, Invasive Species Biology
Area
ID
OR
WA
HI
Guam
American Samoa
Northern Mariana Islands
Portland,OR
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Joshua Fisher
Invasive Species Biologist
Ecological Services
Additional Role(s)
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
HI
Honolulu,HI
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Laura Sprague
Fish Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
ID
Orofino,ID
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Jennifer Poirier
Fisheries Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
OR
Vancouver,WA
Carrie Cook-Tabor, Fish Biologist
Carrie Cook-Tabor
Fish Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Area
WA
Lacey,WA
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Barak Shemai
Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
AZ
NM
OK
TX
Albuquerque,NM
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Amy McGovern
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Supervisor
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator,
Sea Lamprey Program Supervisor,
National Fish and Wildlife Service Invasive Carp Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
IL
IN
IA
MI
MN
MO
OH
WI
Bloomington,MN
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Nathan T. Evans
Fish Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Grant Management
Area
IL
IN
IA
MI
MN
MO
OH
WI
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Nicholas Frohnauer
Environmental DNA and Great Lakes Early Detection Coordinator
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Area
MN
IL
IN
IA
MI
MO
OH
WI
Bloomington,MN
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Katherine E. Wyman-Grothem, PhD
Fish Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Lead
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Risk Assessment Program,
Horizon Scanning
Area
MN
IL
IN
IA
MI
MO
OH
WI
Bloomington,MN
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Greg Conover
Large Rivers Coordinator
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
Mississippi River Basin Regional Panel Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
IL
Carbondale,IL
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
James Ballard
Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species
Area
AL
FL
GA
KY
NC
SC
TN
AR
LA
MS
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Image of person
Heidi Himes
Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation
Additional Role(s)
AIS Prevention Coordinator
Expertise
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Risk Assessment,
Horizon Scanning
Area
NY
Basom,NY
Profile picture of Kim Holzer wearing USFWS uniform.
Kimberly Holzer
Regional Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Aquatic Invasive Species,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
National Wildlife Refuge System
Anchorage,AK
Image
Grayscale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo
Stacey Buckelew
Islands Early Detection Rapid Response Project Manager
Invasive Species,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
National Wildlife Refuge System
Area
AK
Homer,AK
woman with dark hair smiles in front of green trees
Ashley Lutto
Invasive Species Outreach & Education Biologist
National Wildlife Refuge System,
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
Invasive Species
Expertise
Invasive Species,
Education,
Wildlife
Area
AK