Born and Raised in Derby, Kansas, Abe has always had a passion for the outdoors. His career has always had some type of connection with water, whether with wetlands, insects, fish, birds, soil conservation or water quality and quantity.
Abe works with private landowners and public land managers to navigate state, federal, and non-governmental programs that these entities can use for wetland habitat creation, restoration, enhancement, and protection. With playas being the number one source of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer, it has been his goal to restore, enhance, and protect as many playa lakes as possible in various ways. To date, alongside partners, Abe has assisted over 100 landowners with $1.2 million of out-of-pocket cost to help restore over 12,000 acres of playa lake wetlands and upland buffers.
This position is part of the Tomorrow’s Water team supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative grant awarded to the Kansas Water Office.