JAMES W

James W. Gracie

Mr. Gracie, during the past twenty-five years, has developed expertise in overall watershed management techniques for stream and wetland protection, stream restoration, and fisheries management. His experience includes developing water quality monitoring efforts throughout the country, advancing the science of stream restoration in conjunction with Maryland State Highways projects, and private development plans providing more than two dozen restoration designs and supervising construction on fifteen of them. He has also conducted studies for temperature modeling, in-stream flow regimes and mitigation plans for the restoration of streams associated with reservoir construction and management. Mr. Gracie has trained hundreds of individuals in short courses on applied fluvial geomorphology and stream restoration.

Mr. Gracie's participation and leadership in state, local, regional, and national natural resource conservation efforts has provided him with extensive experience in water resources management. As twice chairman of the Board of Trout Unlimited, he provided leadership for an international conservation organization of 50,000 members and 350 local chapters in the United States interested in stream and fisheries management. Mr. Gracie organized and managed the Trout Unlimited chapter in Maryland and the Middle Atlantic council. He also assisted in the development of the Maryland citizen's organization, Save Our Streams, and served as Vice Chairman of the organization's Steering Committee. During this period, Mr. Gracie formed and managed the Maryland Cold Water Coalition, a coordinating body for groups concerned with the water quality of Maryland's streams. He also served as Director and Executive Committee member of the Maryland Wildlife Federation from 1979 through 1981.

In addition, Mr. Gracie's involvement with conservation efforts blends well with his firm successful management career in the private sector, which includes eighteen years as a chemist with Conchemco, Inc., W.R. Grace, and J.M. Huber Corporation.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

1985 - Present : President, Brightwater, Inc.
1983 - 1985 : Manager, Market Development and Technical Service, J.M. Huber Corporation, Chemicals Division.
1976 - 1983 : Manager, Commercial Applications, Davison Division, W.R. Grace & Co.
1975 - 1976 : Applications Chemist, Davison Division, W.R. Grace & Co.
1973 - 1975 : Development Chemist, Hedwin Corporation
1967 - 1973 : Coatings Chemist, Conchemco, Inc.

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University (1970).
M.B.A. Management, University of Baltimore (1982).

Rosgen Courses Completed

Stream Classification and Application
Level I Applied Fluvial Geomorphology
Level II River Morphology and Applications
Level III River Assessment and Monitoring
Level IV Natural Channel Design & River Restoration

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Maryland State Water Quality Advisory Committee
American Society of Civil Engineers

ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Served on Governor's Task Force on Non-tidal Wetlands.
Served on Governor's Work Group on Acid Deposition.
Member of Maryland State Water Quality Advisory Committee, a citizen advisory board which advises the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of the Environment of the State of Maryland.
Twice National President and Chairman of the Board of Trout Unlimited, an international conservation organization of 50,000 members and 350 local chapters.
Organized and led the first Trout Unlimited Chapter in Maryland.
Organized and led the Middle Atlantic Council of Trout Unlimited.
Organized and led the Maryland Cold Water Coalition, a coordinating body for groups concerned with water quality in Maryland.
Helped organize the citizen organization, Save
Our Streams of Maryland, and served as Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee.
Served as Director and Executive Committee Member of the Maryland Wildlife Federation (1979 - 1981).
Director-At-Large, Maryland Conservation Council (1979 - 1981).
Director, National Board of Directors, Trout Unlimited (1974 - Present).
Chairman, National Trout Unlimited Resource Management and Protection Committee (1977 - 1982).
Chairman, National Trout Unlimited Water Quality Surveillance Committee (1973 - 1977).

ACHIEVEMENTS

Listed in "National Leaders of American Conservation" (1985).
Elliott Donnelley Award for Outstanding Achievements in Resource Conservation (1977 and 1981).
National Trout Unlimited's Distinguished Service Award (1980).
Joe Brooks Conservation Award, Maryland Chapter, Trout Unlimited (1976, 1979, and 1980).
Maryland Wildlife Federation's Water Conservationist Of The Year (1978 and 1979).
Potomac-Patuxent Chapter, Trout Unlimited's Outstanding Conservationist Award (1979).
Joseph Memorial Award for Unsung Conservationist, given by the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writer's Association (1976).

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

MD 100 Permit Negotiations: Directed a multi disciplinary study for MSHA utilizing five consulting firms that was used to secure agreement on 404 permit for 25 acres of wetland impacts of MD 100 I-97 to I-95. Performed quantitative assessment of functional impacts to wetlands at three bridge crossings. Study saved over $8 Million for MSHA in bridge costs. Negotiated mitigation package which included three stream restoration projects - a first in the Baltimore District of the Corps of Engineers.

I-68 Stream Restorations: Mr. Gracie served as a consultant directing a MSHA design team which designed natural stream channels for impacted reaches of Pratt Hollow Run, West Tributary to Flintstone Run, and Elk Lick Run in western Maryland. This effort in 1986 was the first stream restoration design in Maryland which utilized the Rosgen Stream Classification system. Project won an award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Goodwin Run at Warren Road: The MSHA was required by environmental regulatory agencies to utilize natural techniques to restore this stream being cross by Warren Road extended. Mr. Gracie analyzed the existing stream system which had been severely impacted by past mining operations and relocations and channelization. The Rosgen Stream Classification System was used to determine a stable form and dimensions for restoration. A new, natural channel of more than 100 feet was designed and built. Construction was done under the direct supervision of Mr. Gracie.

Dry Seneca Creek at MD 107: Mr. Gracie analyzed stable reaches using the Rosgen Classification System and negotiated an agreement with environmental agencies that enabled MSHA to avoid an individual 404 permit and satisfied the Maryland Water Resources Administration regarding the bank stability issues that they were concerned with. The construction was supervised by Mr. Gracie.

Tributary 9 to Sawmill Creek: This stream was badly degraded downstream of a 20 year-old channelization project. It was part of a mitigation package which Mr. Gracie, along with personnel from MSHA negotiated for the wetland impacts of MD 100. A badly eroding reach of 1100 feet of stream channel was restored to stability and fish passage barriers were eliminated. The Rosgen Stream Classification System was used to develop the design parameters for a stable B4 stream type. Construction supervision was performed by Mr. Gracie and other Brightwater employees. The project was so successful that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources assisted a community effort to restock the stream with 7 species of native fish that had been absent before the restoration.

Deep Run: This stream restoration was also part of SHA’s mitigation obligation for wetland impacts of MD 100. The stream banks were eroding so badly that one 2" storm event eroded over five feet of bank. downstream deposition from the same storm event blocked the mainstem of Deep Run and forced the water into a new channel. The Rosgen Stream Classification System was used to diagnose the problems and convince environmental regulatory agencies that restoration had valuable benefits. The Rosgen system was used to develop stable design parameters for a C4 stream type. The construction, performed in the summer of 1995 was supervised by Mr. Gracie and other Brightwater employees.