Leah Simantel is a freshwater ecologist, focused on understanding and protecting aquatic habitats in the face of shifting disturbance regimes. She earned her B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from Montana State University and is currently pursuing her M.S. in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana. Leah has worked for federal agencies across the western U.S., contributing to research and conservation projects spanning desert spring restoration, invasive species management, and habitat and population monitoring of endangered species. Leah’s current research utilizes remote sensed datasets to explore the long-term ecological responses to wildfire in riparian zones of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. She enjoys partnering with community groups to generate knowledge that supports both biodiversity conservation and adaptive stewardship of freshwater ecosystems.