The Life Explorers Speaker Series will feature programs for adults interested in expanding and sharing their knowledge on a variety of environmental and cultural topics. The Life Explorers series will tap the resources of experts from the Central Florida community to serve as speakers for the programs which are offered free of charge.

Topic: Howell Branch Creek – Water, Wetlands and Wildlife in Winter Park
Guest speaker: Tim Egan
Date: Thursday, November 17th
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Azaela Lodge, Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive Winter Park, FL
Cost: FREE

About the Guest Speaker:

Tim Egan’s career in environmental management began while he was a student at the University of Central Florida (UCF) working for Dr. John Osborne on aquatic plant biomass data collection from 1982 until his graduation in 1984 with a B.S. in limnology. Over his 35+ years in the field Mr. Egan has held increasingly responsible positions working for the City of Daytona Beach, Volusia County, the consulting firm of Dyer, Riddle, Mills and Precourt, Inc. (DRMP) and the City of Winter Park. The range of work and the professional disciplines he was exposed to gave Tim a unique perspective on the function, use and management of Florida’s natural resources. Highlights of Mr. Egan’s career are listed below. A comprehensive list of experience is available.

Surface water management: Implementation of water quality monitoring programs for the Halifax River, Indian River Lagoon, St. Johns River and the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.

Aquatic plant management: Modernized the City of Winter Park’s exotic pest plant management program by integrating chemical, biological, mechanical and manual control methods. Herbicide use was reduced significantly by using new application methods.

Wetlands restoration: Restoration of the Mead Botanical Garden wetlands by restoring natural hydroperiod function, controlling exotic vines and reforestation.

Stormwater Management: Responsible for planning implementation, monitoring, and reporting required by the City of Winter Park’s NPDES permit.

Listed Species Management: Endangered species surveys, permitting and/or mitigation/protection plans on numerous transportation projects for FDOT, Volusia County, Seminole County, Orange County and Sarasota County. Species included gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay and red cockaded woodpecker.

Public information/education: Created the “Winter Park Waterways” newsletter into provide city residents with information on water quality, aquatic plant management, pollution prevention and wildlife. The newsletter was sent to all Winter Park Residents from 1998 until 2018.

Awards

· City of Winter Park – 2009 Employee of the Year

· The Florida Lake Management Society’s 2019 recipient of the Richard Coleman Aquatic Resources Award

Tim is currently living in Volusia County and working on wildlife and nature photography.