EDUCATION
2021 – Present Ph.D. Student, Geography, University of British Columbia
2016 M.S. Environmental Science, Western Washington University
2011 B.S. Biology with Environmental Studies Minor, Co-op, University of Victoria
2007 A.A. Seattle Central Community College
EMPLOYMENT
- University of British Columbia (2021– Present) Research Assistant
- Western Washington University (2016 – Present) Research Associate & Adjunct Faculty
- Salal, Ecological Consulting, LLC (2013 – 2020) Ecological Consultant
- Northwest Ecological Services, LLC (2014 - 2019) Wetland Ecologist
- Western Washington University (2013 - 2016) Research and Teaching Assistant
- L.E.A.D. Program, Western Washington University (2012 - 2014) Program Co-Director
- Hakai Beach Institute (2011) Science Program Associate
- BC Parks, Ministry of Environment (2010 - 2011) Planning and Management Analyst
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Conservation Biology Section (2009 - 2010) Research Assistant
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation (2008) Field Assistant
- Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (2001 – 2005) Ballet dancer
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Janousek, C.N., J.R. Krause, J.Z. Drexler, K.J. Buffington, K.L. Poppe, E. Peck, M.F. Adame, E.B. Watson, J. Holmquist, S.D. Bridgham, S.F. Jones, M. Ward, C.A. Brown, L. Beers, M.T. Costa, H.L. Diefenderfer, A.B. Borde, L. Sheehan, J. Rybczyk, C. Prentice, A.B. Gray, A. Hinojosa-Corona, A.C. Ruiz-Fernández, J.-A. Sanchez-Cabeza, K.E. Kohfeld, P. Ezcurra, J. Ochoa-Gómez, K.M. Thorne, M.G. Pellatt, A.M. Ricart, A.M. Nahlik, L.S. Brophy, R.F. Ambrose, M. Lutz, C. Cornu, S. Crooks, L. Windham-Myers, M. Hessing-Lewis, F.T. Short, S. Chastain, T. Williams, T. Douglas, E. Fard, L. Brown, and M. Goman. 2025. Blue carbon stocks along the Pacific coast of North America are mainly driven by local rather than regional factors. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 39(3): e2024GB008239 (Link)
Davis, M.J., K.L. Poppe, J.M. Rybczyk, E.E. Grossman, I. Woo, J.W. Chamberlin, M. Totman, W.T. Zackey, F. Leonetti, S. Shull, S.E.W. De La Cruz. 2024. Vulnerability to sea-level rise varies among estuaries and habitat types: Lessons learned from a network of surface elevation tables in Puget Sound. Estuaries and Coasts 47:1918-1940 (Link)
Moritsch, M.M., K.B. Byrd, M. Davis, A. Good, J.Z. Drexler, J.T. Morris, I. Woo, L. Windham-Myers, E. Grossman, G. Nakai, K.L. Poppe, and J.M. Rybczyk. 2022. Can coastal habitats rise to the challenge? Resilience of estuarine habitats, carbon accumulation, and economic value to sea-level rise in a Puget Sound estuary. Estuaries and Coasts 45:2293-2309 (Link)
Poppe, K.L., and J.M. Rybczyk. 2022. Assessing the future of an intertidal seagrass meadow in response to sea level rise with a hybrid ecogeomorphic model of elevation change. Ecological Modelling 469:109975 (Link)
Poppe, K.L., and J.M. Rybczyk. 2021. Tidal marsh restoration enhances sediment accretion and carbon accumulation in the Stillaguamish River estuary, Washington. PLOS ONE 16(9):e0257244. (Link)
Prentice, C., K.L. Poppe, M. Lutz, E. Murray, T.A. Stephens, A. Spooner, M. Hessing-Lewis, R. Sanders-Smith, J.M. Rybczyk, J. Apple, F.T. Short, J. Gaeckle, A. Helms, C. Mattson, W.W. Raymond, T. Klinger. 2020. A synthesis of blue carbon stocks, sources, and accumulation rates in eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the Northeast Pacific. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 34(2): e2019GB006345. (Link)
Poppe, K.L. and J.M. Rybczyk. 2018. Carbon sequestration in a Pacific Northwest eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadow. Northwest Science 92(2):80-91. (Link)
Poppe, K.L., D. Biffard, and V. Stevens. 2016. Freshwater aquatic ecosystem representation in British Columbia’s provincial protected area system. Natural Areas Journal 36:268-276. (Link)
BOOK CHAPTERS
Poppe, K.L., and J.M. Rybczyk. 2021. Climatic impacts on marsh production and decomposition. In: Salt Marshes. Z. Hughes and D.M. FitzGerald, Eds. Cambridge University Press, U.K. (Link)
REPORTS
Crooks, S., K. Poppe, A. Rubilla, and J. Rybczyk. 2021. Trial Assessment of Mangrove Soil Carbon Sequestration Rates in the United Arab Emirates. Report by AGEDI/Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Silvestrum Climate Associates, and Western Washington University. (Link)
Poppe, K.L. and J.M. Rybczyk. 2019. A Blue Carbon Assessment for the Stillaguamish River Estuary: Quantifying the Climate Benefits of Tidal Marsh Restoration. Report prepared by Western Washington University for Washington Sea Grant and The Nature Conservancy. January 2019. (Link)
Crooks, S., J. Rybczyk, K. O’Connell, D.L. Devier, K. Poppe, and S. Emmett-Mattox. 2014. Coastal Blue Carbon Opportunity Assessment for the Snohomish Estuary: The Climate Benefits of Estuary Restoration. Report by Environmental Science Associates, Western Washington University, EarthCorps, and Restore America’s Estuaries. (Link)
Curtis, J.M.R., K. Poppe, and C.C. Wood. 2013. Indicators, impacts and recovery of temperate deepwater marine ecosystems following fishing disturbance. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/125. v + 37 p.
GRANTS AWARDED
- NOAA, NERRS Science Collaborative Grant, Co-PI, “A long-term perspective on tidal wetland restoration: Vegetation development, elevation capital, and carbon sequestration in the oldest projects along the West Coast” (2022 – 2024), $399,876
- NSF, Major Research Instrumentation, Co-PI, “MRI: Acquisition of a broad-energy germanium detector at Western Washington University” (2021 – 2023), $124,892
- NOAA, NERRS Science Collaborative Grant, Co-PI, “Pacific Northwest Blue Carbon Working Group Phase 2: Land use and environmental effects on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, informing blue carbon project feasibility assessments for tidal wetland management” (2020 – 2023), $600,000
- B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, “Enhancing estuary resilience: An innovative approach to sustaining fish and fish habitat in a changing climate” for Nature Trust B.C. (2020 – 2022)
- USGS, “Current and future potential ecosystem services of the Nisqually River Delta: An assessment approach for Puget Sound estuaries and USFWS coastal refuges” (2020)
- Bonneville Power Administration, Co-PI, “Habitat monitoring for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s Ecosystem Monitoring Program and Action Effectiveness Monitoring Program” (2018-2019), $46,422/year
- Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative, “Quantifying mangrove soil carbon sequestration rates in the United Arab Emirates: Trial application” with Silvestrum Climate Associates (2019)
- NOAA, “Effects of off-bottom oyster aquaculture and development of BMPs” with Pacific Shellfish Institute (2017 – 2021), $287,257
- NOAA, Washington Sea Grant, Co-PI, “Blue carbon assessment for the Stillaguamish River Estuary: Quantifying the climate benefits of tidal marsh restoration” (2016-2019), $104,312
- Battelle, SET installation and measurement training for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory staff (2018)
- WA Department of Ecology, SET sentinel site selection and installation for Padilla Bay NERR (2017)
TEACHING
- ESCI 101 (WWU) – Environmental Studies: An Ecosystem Approach, Instructor
- ESCI 392 (WWU) – Introduction to Global Change, Instructor
- ESCI 497W (WWU) – Wetland Plant Identification, Co-Instructor
AWARDS and RECOGNITION
- Heinle Award for Best Student Presentation, Pacific Estuarine Research Society Meeting (2024 & 2015)
- Outstanding Graduate Award for Environmental Science Dept, WWU (2016)
- Padilla Bay Graduate Research Assistantship (2012 -- 2015)
- SWS Pacific Northwest Chapter Student Travel Award (2014)
- PNW Climate Science Conference Student Scholarship (2014)
- WWU RSP Fund for the Advancement of Graduate Research (2013)
- WWU Green Energy Fee Small Grant (2013)
- WWU Recruitment Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship (2012)
- UVic Service Learning Internship Program grant for Raincoast Conservation Foundation work (2008)
- UVic President’s Scholarship (2008)
REVIEWER CONTRIBUTIONS
o Manuscript Reviewer: Estuaries and Coasts, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Limnology and Oceanography, PLOS Climate, Science of the Total Environment
o NOAA, Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship (2019) - Proposal reviewer
o Padilla Bay Foundation, Research Assistantship (2017) – Proposal reviewer
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION and AFFILIATIONS
- Professional Wetland Scientist certification (2018 – Present) – PWS #2915
- PNW Blue Carbon Working Group (2017 – Present) Working group member (Link)
- Pacific Estuarine Research Society (2018 – Present) Washington board member-at-large
- Society of Wetland Scientists (2014 – 2023) PNW Chapter Co-Secretary
- Washington Native Plant Society (2012 – 2023) Koma Kulshan Chapter Secretary
- Padilla Bay Foundation (2016 – 2018) – Board member
- Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation – Member, Oral Presentation Committee for CERF 2023
- American Geophysical Union – Member
ACADEMIC COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT
M.S. Student Thesis Committee Member
- Jenna Schroeder, WWU (2022 – 2024)
- Andrew Labay, WWU (2021 – 2023)
MEDIA COVERAGE
o “Local researchers examine blue carbon from Salish Sea to Arabian Gulf.” Skagit Valley Herald. August 2021. (Link)
o “Rising Northwest waters bring tough choice: fight or flight.” KUOW/NPR. October 2019. (Link)
o “Study: Restoring Washington wetlands can fight climate change.” Q13 Fox, Seattle. September 2019. (Link)
o “A salt marsh in recovery is gobbling carbon, gaining ground.” The Daily Herald. August 2019. (Link)
o “Researchers probe into region’s ‘blue carbon’.” Skagit Valley Herald. January 2019. (Link)
o “Blue Carbon – A Story from the Snohomish Estuary.” Film presented by EarthCorps and Restore America’s Estuaries. January 2018. (Link)
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Poppe, K. J. Rybczyk, C. Janousek, S. Bridgham, C. Cornu, T. Williams, F. Tobias, H. Perillat, and S. Knox. Drivers of soil carbon accumulation rates across reference, restored, and disturbed tidal wetlands in the Pacific Northwest. Presentation at: Pacific Estuarine Research Society Conference. April 2024.
Poppe, K. J. Rybczyk, C. Janousek, S. Bridgham, C. Cornu, T. Williams, F. Tobias, H. Perillat, E. Peck, and S. Knox. Patterns and predictors of soil carbon accumulation rates across multiple Pacific Northwest estuaries. Invited presentation for: National Estuarine Research Reserve System – Collaborative Science for Estuaries Webinar Series. February 2024. (Link)
Poppe, K. S. Henstra, T. Reid, M. Hessing-Lewis, C. Prentice, J. Rybczyk, and coastal First Nation partners. Blue carbon in BC: Soil carbon sequestration in tidal marshes. Invited presentation for: Nature Trust of BC Estuary Resilience Symposium. February 2024.
Poppe, K., J. Rybczyk, C. Janousek, S. Bridgham, C. Cornu, C. Prentice, T. Reid, S. Henstra, M. Hessing-Lewis, and S. Knox. Patterns and predictors of soil carbon accumulation rates across multiple Pacific Northwest estuaries. Presentation at: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference. November 2023.
Poppe, K., S. Knox, T.Y. Lu, S. Russell, Z. Nesic, and S.C. Lee. Measuring ecosystem-scale greenhouse gas fluxes in tidal marshes in British Columbia. Presentation at: Coastal Zone Canada Conference. June 2023.
Poppe, K. Field methods for greenhouse gas fluxes and biomass stocks. Invited presentation for: World Wildlife Federation of Canada webinar on current carbon measurement technologies. July 2021.
Poppe, K., and J. Rybczyk. Sediment accretion in the Stillaguamish River estuary. Invited presentation for: Puget Sound Nearshore Restoration Summit. March 2021.
Poppe, K. Chasing blue carbon on the Arabian Peninsula. Webinar presentation for: Washington Native Plant Society. April 2020.
Poppe, K., and J. Rybczyk. Marsh restoration enhances carbon sequestration and resilience to sea-level rise in the Stillaguamish estuary, Washington. Presentation at: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference. November 2019.
Rybczyk, J., and K. Poppe. And now for some good news: Resilience and restoration potential in Pacific Northwest Estuaries. Presentation at: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference. November 2019.
Poppe, K.L., J.M. Rybczyk, L. Parr, A. Merrill, and S. Pollack. Sediment accretion, carbon sequestration, and resilience to sea level rise in natural and recently restored tidal marshes. Presentation at: American Geophysical Union Conference. December 2017.
Poppe, K. How coastal wetlands can save the world. Guest lecture for Environmental Systems course at WWU. 2016 & 2017.
Poppe, K.L., and J.M. Rybczyk. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows provide many ecosystem goods and services but high rates of carbon sequestration may not be one of them. Presentation at: Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. April 2016.
Fuller, R., K.L. Poppe, J. Rybczyk, E. Grossman, and C. Stellern. Variable marsh resilience to stress offers clues to climate change adaptive management. Presentation at: Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. April 2016.
Fuller, R., K. Poppe, and J. Rybczyk. Marsh dieback in Puget Sound: hungry insects, the 2015 drought, and implications for the future. Poster presentation at: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference. November 2015.
Poppe, K. and J.M. Rybczyk. Simulating the response of Padilla Bay’s eelgrass habitat to rising sea levels using an integrated field and modeling approach. Presentation at: Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. May 2014.
Rybczyk, J., K. Poppe, S. Crooks, K. O’Connell, D. Devier, N. Moore, and S. Emmett-Mattox. Estuarine wetland restoration, carbon sequestration, and enhancing resilience to rising sea levels in the Snohomish River Estuary, Washington. Presentation at: Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. May 2014.