In this talk, Soil Scientist Marissa Theve will explain why urban soils are important, what sets them apart, and some common contaminants and management practices – including the use of biochar.

Presenter

Marissa Theve– Marissa hales from rural Eastern Connecticut where she grew up playing in the woods and brook near her home. She earned a bachelor of science in environmental science and management from the University of Rhode Island, followed by a master’s of science in natural resources and the environment from the University of Connecticut. In grad school Marissa was hired full-time by the USDA-NRCS soil survey office in Tolland, CT, where she spent 6 years studying tidal marshes, helping finish urban mapping in New York City, and working on several subaqueous soil projects. Marissa moved to Salem, OR in 2016 to accept a position at the Bureau of Land Management where she worked for over 6 years helping decision makers make informed choices about timber sales, recreation activities, and restoration projects. Since 2023, Marissa has rejoined the USDA-NRCS as a resource soil scientist covering the wetland and highly erodible land program as well as the soil science outreach needs of the nine northwest counties of Oregon.