Stephen (Steve) McIntosh Waste, Ph.D.

2008–2024 Director, Columbia River Research Laboratory, WFRC Led diverse fisheries research program across the western US, supervised 45 permanent employees, and seasonal staff and managed personnel, budget, and facilities issues. Provided leadership for strategic planning efforts on fish passage issues; large river monitoring; aquatic invasive species; developing decision support tools for modeling climate change; and endangered salmonids. Represented USGS in regional forums e.g., the Columbia River Federal Caucus; Sovereign Review Team (Columbia River Treaty); Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership; and the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative.

2003–2008 Manager, Program Analysis and Evaluation Fish and Wildlife Division, Northwest Power and Conservation Council Collaborated with diverse state and tribal entities to implement the Fish and Wildlife Program. Provided monthly briefings to the Council on science issues. Served as the Council’s ex officio to the Independent Scientific Advisory Board, while the ISAB completed reports on tributary habitat, artificial supplementation, harvest, population growth, and climate change.  Developed first research plan for the F&W Program. 

2001–2003 Analyst, Policy and Planning Environment, Fish and Wildlife Program, Bonneville Power Administration, U.S Department of Energy Led BPA efforts to prioritize the implementation of fish habitat restoration projects supporting the Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Program, annual budget $140M. Developed the habitat sections of the Implementation Plans for the NMFS and FWS Biological Opinions on the Federal Columbia River Power System. Chaired the Federal Habitat Team of the Columbia River Federal Caucus, coordinating efforts of 12 Federal agencies to implement the Basin-wide Strategy for Salmon Recovery.

1993–2001 Leader, Anadromous Fish Team Habitat Protection Division, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of Commerce Led anadromous fish and habitat conservation efforts nationally for NMFS. Advised leadership on initiatives critical for anadromous fish and their habitats. Prepared Congressional testimony and briefed the Assistant Administrator of NMFS, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, the Deputy Administrator of NOAA, and the Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Developed national NMFS policies on Fish Passage, Gravel Extraction, and Forestry/Fishery Interactions. Led a six-year rule making by directing the development, promulgation, and publication of a NMFS/FWS Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and a subsequent Interagency Policy for prescribing fishways under Section 18 of the Federal Power Act. Represented Department of Commerce on workgroups of the Interagency Task Force on Hydropower Relicensing, co-chaired by Deputy Secretary of Interior David Hayes. Wrote key sections of the 1997 NMFS National Habitat Plan, reviewed interagency resource management initiatives.