sam warnock aquatic resources manager non profit

Sam Warnock | Aquatic Resources Manager

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samuel warnockSam is dedicated to managing and protecting our aquatic resources, bringing over seven years of expertise in environmental consulting and project management.

Sam's professional journey includes a four-year term as a Project Manager at TRC Environmental in North Carolina. There, he expertly handled environmental permitting, project management, environmental chemistry, and compiling emission inventories, all while ensuring compliance with US EPA regulations.

Before his tenure at TRC, Sam worked in the field with SWCA Environmental Consultants in Utah, assisting with Environmental Impact Assessments and managing data for biological and archaeological surveys. As an Environmental Scientist at AECOM in Morrisville, NC, he collected environmental data, performed chemical analyses, and provided expertise on pollution control technologies.

Sam's academic path took him from North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management, to the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained a Master of Science in Ecological Economics. Along the way, he gained expertise in natural capital and ecosystem services valuation, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development.

His diverse experiences include serving in the United States Marine Corps, inspiring young minds as a marine science instructor in the Florida Keys, and assisting with population research on marine mammals and sharks around the coasts of southern Africa.

Sam’s dedication to environmental sustainability, combined with his pragmatic approach to project management and stakeholder relations, makes him an invaluable asset to our team and the broader conservation community. Born and raised in the sandhills of North Carolina, he has witnessed firsthand the shifts from natural landscapes to urban developments. His ultimate aim is to protect and enhance the unique ecosystems of the Southeast, ensuring that nature’s benefits continue to sustain and be enjoyed by communities for generations to come.

photo of pyramid lake nevada

Sam Warnock, May 2025

The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout’s Remarkable Comeback

No species better embodies the dramatic story of America and its relationship with nature than the Lahontan cutthroat trout. Once thought extinct in much of its historic range, this relic of the Ice Age has defied the odds. It is now making...

photo of people kayaking in alligator creek nc

Christine Pickens, May 2025

Conserving a Transitional Wetland in a Rapidly Developing Estuary

In partnership with New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District, and funding provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 14 acres of floating marsh located on Eagles Island were permanently protected. This critical site expa...

photo of children playing outdoors

Mandi Taylor, May 2025

How Green Spaces Improve Our Immune System

Like many other millennials, I grew up hearing tales of hardship from the older generations - like the infamous 12-mile, uphill both ways trek to school. We were often labeled as “soft” compared to their experiences. Now, when seeing the yo...

photo of kayakers paddling on the Cuyahoga River

Sam Warnock, April 2025

A River Under Fire: The Cuyahoga River's Comeback

Few rivers tell the story of environmental neglect and redemption quite like the Cuyahoga. Once a dumping ground for industrial waste, this Ohio river was so polluted that it caught on fire repeatedly before the passage of the Clean Water A...