Christopher Walsh

Christopher J Walsh completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in 1983 at the University of Melbourne, before completing a Diploma in Education in 1984. Chris’ PhD on the ecology of epifaunal shrimps and the life history of Paratya australiensis was completed in 1994 at Deakin University.

In the first 10 years of his career, Chris worked as a Research Assistant, teaching Demonstrator, Technical Officer and then Lecturer in Biology. In 1994, Chris became an environmental scientist at Melbourne Water Corporation, an organisation with whom he would partner, in various forms, for the rest of his career.

After a short stint with the Victorian State Government, Chris commenced as a Research Fellow in the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology (CRCFE), located within the Water Studies Centre at Monash University, working under Professor Barry Hart.

Chris was Deputy Leader of the Water Quality and Ecological Assessment Program in CRCFE from 2005, and established here his reputation for inclusive and inspiring leadership, winning an award for his leadership of collaborative research. In 2007, Chris moved to the University of Melbourne as a Principal Research Fellow, funded by Melbourne Water.

In his time at the University of Melbourne (retiring in October 2023), Chris co-led the large, interdisciplinary Waterway Ecosystem Research Group and the Melbourne Waterway Research Practice Partnership, a long-term collaboration between the University and Melbourne Water.

Chris has undoubtedly been an international leader in understanding the impacts of urbanization on stream ecosystems, and in developing solutions to mitigate or avoid these impacts. Chris’ publication record is impressive, with his “urban stream syndrome” paper having been cited >3600 times (October 2024). Chris convened the first Symposium on Urbanization and Stream Ecology (SUSE) in Melbourne in December 2003, which was the initial inspiration for future SUSE meetings. He helped organize SUSE2 and SUSE3, and served on the SUSE Advisory Board from its inception in 2018 to 2022.

Perhaps most impressive has been his commitment to informing more sustainable approaches to urban stormwater management, and his commitment to developing the young (and not so young) researchers with whom he has collaborated. Urban stream ecology as a discipline owes Christopher Walsh a great debt of gratitude. Thank you, Chris.

Mateo Scoggins

Mateo worked his entire career with the City of Austin, laying the groundwork for comprehensive watershed science within the city, and establishing one of the oldest and best examples of city-led urban stream management.

Mateo started his career working on a national grant to develop locally-relevant bioassessment methods in the early days of biological monitoring. Following that project, he began a study to understand how stormwater controls influence the ecology of streams, which wrapped up in 2002. During that period Mateo and other city staff also developed Austin’s first comprehensive watershed monitoring program, called the Environmental Integrity index, which fully integrated physical, chemical, and biological measures into an assessment of overall watershed health.

In 2001, Mateo completed his MS in Aquatic Biology at Texas State University, focusing his thesis work on the effect of hydrological variability on bioassessment methods, an important shift in the understanding of Austin’s highly stochastic climate that helped change our view of stressors in urban aquatic systems. Then in 2003, a crisis evolved around high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in sediments in Austin’s waterways, which led to a deep collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey that ultimately resulted in the first ban on the use of coal tar sealants in the US. Mateo led the city’s scientific investigations and ended up presenting that work at a congressional briefing in Washington DC in 2005, a highlight of his career.

In 2005, Mateo and his colleagues started focusing their work on floodplains and riparian function, creating the Index of Riparian Integrity, starting the creekside restoration and Grow Zone programs, hosting the first ever Urban Riparian Symposium in 2015, and embarking on a variety or field research on floodplains and riparian function.

In 2014, Mateo and colleagues started focusing on the urban stream syndrome, and thresholds for ecological response to urbanization. During this period, Mateo attended the third Symposium on Urbanization and Stream Ecology (SUSE) in Portland, Oregon which initiated some analysis and publication of the amazing water quality and ecological database that the Watershed Protection Department had been building since the early 1990s. Mateo co-organized and hosted SUSE5 in Austin, the first “stand alone” meeting since 2003, which had a unique format that involved deep integration and learning within the city. SUSE5 led to rich collaborations and new energy around community engagement and the important role people play in urban streams, greatly advancing the field of urban stream restoration.

During his final years with the city, Mateo was part of a radical remake of the citywide monitoring program and a groundbreaking Watershed Health Decision Support System that is integrated into the new strategic planning effort. Mateo retired from the city in 2024, but we are fortunate that Mateo has continued publish urban stream research and serve on the SUSE Advisory Board. Mateo’s work and dedication has shaped the science and management of urban aquatic ecosystems in Texas and throughout the world.