Author Description
Thomas Payne is a Senior Associate at Normandeau Associates Incorporated’s Arcata, California office. Mr. Payne is internationally known for his extensive experience in the evaluation of instream flow needs and the assessment of water resource development impacts to fishery resources. Mr. Payne has worked for nearly 30 years with numerous instream flow methods, specializing in the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM). In addition to 1D and 2D habitat modeling for the IFIM, Tom has helped develop habitat suitability criteria for a wide variety of aquatic species, monitored riverine fish population abundance, written software for and conducted water temperature network modeling, and applied habitat evaluation procedures for multiple species. Tom has implemented, managed, or reviewed approximately five hundred instream flow studies on proposed and existing hydroelectric and irrigation projects and other water rights issues. Work conducted or directed by Mr. Payne includes: fish population sampling; habitat mapping and typing; hydraulic measurements; habitat use determinations; computer simulations; water temperature modeling; water quality studies; macroinvertebrate studies; license application preparation; agency negotiations; post-project analysis; and expert witness testimony. Mr. Payne has conducted workshops in the use of IFIM to state and federal agencies, taught graduate-level courses as an Adjunct Professor of Fisheries at Humboldt State University, made numerous presentations before professional societies, testified before hearings boards and in other legal proceedings, and published several papers relating to the science of instream flow analysis. Mr. Payne is a Certified Fisheries Scientist and has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fisheries Biology from Humboldt State University.
