Jennifer Grunewald

Jennifer Grunewald is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the Alabama Ecological Services Field Office (ESFO) in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Sub-office. She is a native of Indiana and graduate (B.S. and M.S.) of Ball State University. During her 15+ years of fisheries experience she has worked with various species and in a variety of aquatic habitat types. In her current position, Jennifer focuses on aquatic species conservation through species listing and recovery actions and Endangered Species Act consultations. She is the species national recovery lead for 8 aquatic species. Jennifer is very involved with mentoring new staff and Pathways students. She also works closely with partners to understand species’ needs, enhance aquatic habitats through restoration, and improve the status of species.

OTHER POSITIONS

• June 2009 – November 2010: U.S. Geological Survey, Pathways Student Physical Scientist, Indiana Water Science Center, Indiana 
• August 2008 – May 2010: Ball State University, Geographic Information System (GIS) Computer Lab Manager Graduate Assistant, Department of Geography, Indiana 
• May 2005 – August 2006: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Naturalist Aid, Indiana

WORK TEAMS, TASK FORCES, COMMITTEES, etc

• 2020 – present: Alabama Rivers and Streams Network Planning Team 
• 2020 – present: Alabama Rivers and Streams Network Data Management Committee Lead 
• 2006 – present (various years): American Fisheries Society member, Alabama and Indiana Chapters American Fisheries Society member 
• 2014 – 2018: Alabama ESFO Collateral Duty Safety Officer 2012, 2015: Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program Mentor, American Fisheries Society 
• 2011 – 2016: USFWS Region 4 Dive Team Member 2007 – 2008: American Fisheries Society Ball State University Chapter President

CERTIFICATIONS and TRAININGS and EDUCATION

Education

• 2008 – 2010: M.S. in Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 
• 2004 – 2008: B.S. in Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Certifications and Trainings

• 2014 – Leadership Development Program Graduate, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District 
• 2014 – Coaching and Mentoring Skills for Leadership Success, Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center

PUBLICATIONS, OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS and COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER

Publications 

• O’Neil, P. E., J. R. Powell, P. D. Johnson, S. W. McGregor, R. A. Bearden, J. P. Grunewald, C. C. Johnson, D. A. West and K. W. Johnston. 2024. The Alabama Rivers and Streams Network: Aquatic species conservation through partnerships. [Manuscript submitted for publication] 
• Wynn, E. A., P. E. O'Neil, S. W. McGregor, J. R. Powell, J. P. Grunewald, A. D. Ford, P. D. Johnson and J. T. Garner. 2018. Strategic habitat and river reach units for aquatic species of conservation concern in Alabama and adjoining states. Geological Survey of Alabama. Special Map 248-B. 
• Gleason, J. S., J. A. Jenks, D. E. Naugle, P. W. Mammenga, S. J. Vaa, and J. M. Pritchett. 2015. Harvest demographics of temperate-breeding Canada geese in South Dakota, 1967-1995. Human-Wildlife Interactions 9:168-189 Pritchett, J. and M. Pyron. 2011. Predicting fish assemblages from substrate variation in a turbid river: grab samples compared with pole probing. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31:574-579. 
• Pritchett, J. and M. Pyron. 2011. Fish assemblages respond to habitat and hydrology in the Wabash River, Indiana. River Research and Applications DOI: 10.1002/rra.1528. 
• Pyron, M., J. Beugly, J. Pritchett, S. Jacquemin, T. Lauer, and J. Gammon. 2010. Long-term fish assemblages of inner bends in a large river. River Research and Applications 26:1-9. 
• Pyron, M., J. Beugly, M. Spielman, J. Pritchett, and S. Jacquemin. 2009. Habitat variation among aquatic gastropod assemblages of Indiana, USA. The Open Journal of Zoology 2:8-14.

Achievements 

• 2020 – Alabama Wildlife Federation and Governor’s Conservation Award, “Water Conservationist of the Year,” Alabama Rivers and Streams Network. 
• 2015 – Featured in ‘Focus on Recovery: Women Making a Difference’, Region 4 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service publication. 
• 2009 – American Fisheries Society – Indiana Chapter, Ball State University, Best Student Poster Award. 
• 2008 – Thomas and Carol McComish Award for Aquatic Biology & Fisheries Undergraduate Student of the Year.