Bill Simper joined as Habitat Improvement Coordinator in June 2015. The position involves managing the knotweed eradication program as well as a broad array of other associated projects such as the restoration of native vegetation and environmental education. He brings to the program experience in project management, biological monitoring, invasive plant control, and geographic information systems.

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“Controlling the spread of invasive species is a challenging technical problem that I hope to contribute to helping solve in Pierce County. Habitat restoration is like landscaping writ large. The goal is to set up natural systems that will maintain themselves with little or no continued human intervention.”

Bill’s current priority projects include overseeing several seasonal crews working on knotweed control in the Nisqually and South Prairie Creek watersheds. Upcoming work for the fall and winter will involve planning and implementing habitat restoration re-plantings in areas recently cleared of invasive knotweed.

“Careful spatial data collection and record keeping will help to improve long-term planning efforts and allow us to track changes in species composition over time, ultimately leading to a positive change in riparian vegetation communities.”

Bill recently moved to Washington from Austin, Texas where he worked for Travis County as a Natural Resource Specialist, maintaining and improving habitat for endangered neotropical migrant birds at the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. A graduate of the University of Texas, he holds a Master’s degree in Population and Conservation Biology from Texas State University.