Fay Baird, MS
Senior Hydrologist
email Fay

Fay Baird is a hydrologist with a strong interest in ecological studies. Fay joined the staff at Pandion in 2000 and uses her strengths and knowledge of water resources science, conservation history, and public policy with the Pandion team. Fay's experience in water resources science (since 1982) includes work for private clients, local governments, and state and federal agencies, with project scales that range from individual wetlands and water bodies to regional siting studies and river basin/watershed planning.

Fay holds an MS in Hydrology from the University of New Hampshire and a BA in Mathematics from Wellesley College. She is also certified in Public Participation from the International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org).

Fay is coordinator for two north Florida Springs Working Groups funded by the Florida Springs Initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tasks include stakeholder recruitment and communications, activities and materials to enhance the understanding of springs protection needs, and educating local appointed and elected officials on the science of Florida springs and the role of local comprehensive planning.

She is also currently investigating shallow groundwater dynamics in a 50-acre wood stork colony wetland and conducting ongoing hydrologic analyses of long-term rainfall and nesting success. From this data, she has written hydrology management and monitoring plans for the colony wetland as part of a Wood Stork Colony Protection Plan.

On numerous projects, Fay has provided water resources input and described existing and projected conditions for hydrology and water quality for land use planning and management decision making. She has also prepared successful Florida Forever Applications to preserve sensitive natural lands located near Florida springs.

Fay’s professional interests can be traced back to an early fascination with aquatic habitats and zoology. As a high school and college student she worked at natural history camps and wildlife rehabilitation centers operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the largest conservation organization in New England, and was an avid bird watcher. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked for two years at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology and Farlow Herbarium as a curatorial assistant. Her graduate studies at the University of New Hampshire included research funded by the U.S. Forest Service on watershed interactions that affect acidification of small water bodies in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

After receiving her master’s degree in hydrology, Fay worked in central New England for a private environmental consulting firm, where she specialized in lake diagnostic-feasibility studies and local water resources planning. She also served on her local Conservation Commission and continued her early interest in teaching through an adjunct faculty position at Antioch New England Graduate School.

Fay’s other interests include local government (she served on her town’s plan board and town commission), traditional folk music, travel, and keeping small domestic animals from overrunning the back yard (including a resident son and spouse).