CLRA National Announces the 2022 Edward M. Watkin Award Recipient: Kelly Ostermann
Through her career as a researcher, instructor, and consultant, Kelly Ostermann has taught, mentored, and collaborated with many students and professionals. She has contributed behind the scenes in her volunteer work with NGOs, and her relationships with regulators, her professional organization, and the public. Through this collaboration and mentorship, Kelly’s contribution isn’t just what she has done, but how she has influenced others in their work in reclamation. This is represented by the number of graduate students she worked with and researchers at the U of A, and the associated acknowledgments that are listed in her résumé. Her consulting career has allowed her to collaborate with diverse discipline experts and with people of all experience levels. This has created opportunities to share her knowledge base with many practitioners.
The following are some of Kelly’s achievements and impacts in the field of land reclamation:
Served as a researcher at the University of Alberta for 11 years working with over 20 graduate students and supporting their research and serving as the Soil Physics Laboratory Manager.
Worked on diverse reclamation projects for over three decades, including wellsite, pipeline, mining, and gravel pit reclamation; wetland restoration and wetland recovery research; caribou habitat restoration; reclamation planning prior to project construction; and revegetation recovery plans following disturbance, including the impact from spill response.
Worked as an environmental consultant in Alberta for over 25 years, including serving on Alberta Institute of Agrologists committees to develop two practice standards: Land Reclamation and Biophysical Assessment and Ecological Classification.
Served as President of the Alberta Native Plant Council for eight years and continued active involvement for approximately 15 years.
Contributed as a Director of the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary for approximately 10 years.
Land Reclamation instructor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Extension (now called Continuing and Professional Education), teaching a reclamation course for four years to developing professionals.
Led numerous projects involving habitat inventory, reclamation planning, and wetland restoration on numerous highway projects, including the Anthony Henday Drive Expansion in Edmonton, Parson Creek Interchange in Fort McMurray, and Highway 63 twinning north of Wandering River.
Technically advised numerous projects, including:
a large-scale pipeline break project wherein her team developed site-specific criteria for wetland recovery.
a Northwest Territory (NWT) project involving the expansion of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road.
operational plans for caribou restoration on seismic lines for submission to Alberta Environmental Protection (now called Alberta Environment and Protected Areas).
Served as one of the pioneer consultants in applying new guidelines for projects impacting wetlands under the Alberta Wetland Policy (Alberta Government 2013).
Served on the Species Recovery Teams for the Limber Pine and White Bark Pine setting goals for the protection of these species on the Alberta landscape, representing the Alberta Native Plant Council.
Managed the soil physics lab at the University of Alberta under David Chanasyk for nine years, working with graduate students from numerous faculties working in oilsands and coal mining, analyzing the effects of soil amendments on soil physical properties, and testing the effect of different agricultural practices l properties.
Mentored numerous young professionals in environmental consulting.
Achieved high-level management or Principal level in two consulting companies, EBA Engineering (now a TetraTech company) and Matrix Solutions Inc.