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Owen McKenna (He/Him)

@changingecosystems.bsky.social
222 followers 869 following 49 posts

Husband. Dad. Ecosystem Scientist, wetlands mostly. Living wages for all! scholar.google.com/citations?user=i…

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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
It's been a long year
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Environmental Law & Policy Center @elpcenter.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The Trump administration is moving to weaken the Clean Water Act and remove protections from wetlands and streams across the country. That means more pollution, higher flooding risks, and fewer safeguards for the water people rely on. Speak up to protect our waters. act.elpc.org/48KhOHI
act.elpc.org
Stop EPA’s Rollback of Wetland and Waterway Protections
The Trump administration wants to weaken the Clean Water Act and expose wetlands and waterways to more pollution.
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
I have always been told I have a face for radio! Tune in to hear about government science! news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/main...
news.prairiepublic.org
Dr. Owen McKenna - North Dakota's Wetlands Research and Landscape
Dr. Owen McKenna explores how climate & land use impact North Dakota's vital wetlands, crucial for wildlife & water quality. Ag debt on Harvest Public Media
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
doi.org/10.1016/j.ec... How good is remote sensing getting at detecting surface water in small waterbodies? The answer is always.....it depends! So proud of the work of all the co-authors to get this truly interdisciplinary effort out. Cheers to useful science.
doi.org
Redirecting
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Super interesting collaborative journalism agwaterdesk.org/2025/04/14/d...
agwaterdesk.org
Down the Drain: A new series on wetlands by the Ag & Water Desk - Ag & Water Desk
Our latest collaborative project, free to republish, explores recent legal and policy changes impacting wetlands, and the many ways people interact with these landscapes in the Mississippi River Basin...
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Maps: Where Do Federal Employees Work in America?
Before the Trump administration’s cuts, members of the civilian federal work force were in every state and in thousands of the nation’s cities and small towns.
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Trump swings budget ax at USGS biology research
Plan to eliminate $307 million ecosystem program could face obstacles in Congress
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Dr Sho Jacobs 🍁 @shoshanahjacobs.ca · 10/04/2025
I'm supporting a large team grant writing process. #Transdisciplinary 🧪 I'm also on a large team grant being supported by someone else Big differences I won't 'out' the bad stuff Here are some things that work well if you want the best from the team: A #HigherEd 🧵
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
April fools, the last 71 days don't count! Right, right, right?!?!
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Jonathan Tonkin @jdtonkin.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
Super excited to share our new paper out today in Nature Water led by Christina McCabe. @naturewaterjnl.bsky.social “The ecological benefits of more room for rivers” Find the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s44... Free to read version: rdcu.be/eeuBx #rivers #floods #biodiversity #resilience
nature.com
The ecological benefits of more room for rivers - Nature Water
This Review synthesizes the ecological features and processes that arise when rivers are given room to move. Understanding these interactions will support more sustainable decisions that weigh river e...
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Mark A. Anthony @anthomycota.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Lower survival rate among trainees in labs with highly productive mentors raises important concerns about what we value in academia. Many interesting things to stew over with this paper! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Academic mentees thrive in big groups, but survive in small groups - Nature Human Behaviour
Using longitudinal genealogical data on mentor–mentee relations and their publications, the authors find that mentees trained in larger groups tend to exhibit superior academic performance compared wi...
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Monica G. Turner @monicagturner.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Another devastating plan. EPA science is critical for keeping our air, water and environment safe. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/c...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm (Gift Article)
More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Tax the rich
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Aura Bogado @aurabogado.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
A US-born citizen was walking near Chicago in January. ICE snatched him off the street, handcuffed him, threw into a van. His wallet, which contained his ID, was confiscated. He was detained for 10 hours before being released without a record of what occurred. immigrantjustice.org/sites/defaul...
A screenshot from a court filing reads, in part: 

"Julio Noriega is 54 years old, was born in Chicago, and is a U.S. citizen. 

On January 31, 2025, he was walking near the corner of Cermak Road and Harlem Avenue in Berwyn, Illinois, handing out his resume to local businesses. 

As he walked out of a Jiffy Lube, he was approached by ICE officers who grabbed and handcuffed him and put him into a van, without an opportunity to explain his citizenship. 

The officers drove Julio and others around for more than an hour before bringing him to an ICE processing center, where he remained, still handcuffed, for several more hours. 

All the while, Julio had a wallet containing identification that ICE had confiscated.

The officers never showed Julio a warrant, and they did not ask him any questions to ascertain whether he was a noncitizen or a flight risk. 

After about 10 hours, ICE officers reviewed the contents of Julio’s
wallet, realized he was a U.S. citizen, and released him with no money and no paperwork."
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Climate Science Legal Defense Fund @csldf.org · 14/03/2025
Federal scientists: You are not alone. ❤️ @csldf.org provides free, confidential legal advice to researchers facing legal intimidation, harassment, & other attempts to sideline your critical work. Please reach out for a 1:1 with one of our attorneys: csldf.org/contact
csldf.org
Contact - Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
CONTACT If you’re a scientist and would like a free, confidential consultation with one of our attorneys, please reach out.…
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Dr. Robert D. Bullard @drrobertbullard.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Tenth Annual HBCU Climate Change Conference: A Decade of Action and Impact. Our #HBCU Consortium is punching above its weight. We built community-university partnerships that work. Our goal is to add all of our schools to the network. www.bullardcenter.org/hbcu-ccc #HBCUClimateChange #HBCUalum
bullardcenter.org
HBCU Climate Change Conference
The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University was selected as one of the eleven “Grantmakers” under its $600 million Environmental Justice Thriving Communities ...
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
This would be a bigger story in a less crazy world. Imagine what else is not making it to your eye balls
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Dr. Stephanie @punkrockscience.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Look here, you calcareous asshole, who asked you anyway?
A painting of Queen Elizabeth I, in a fancy dress and royal robes. She’s leaning on one elbow and looking VERY tired. Over her shoulder is a skeleton, looking at her with bad intent. 
Caption over Elizabeth says “I’m anxious, overwhelmed, and have a terrible headache.”
Caption over the skeleton says “Have you tried consuming nothing but coffee and horrifying news updates?”
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Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
From a colleague: The unstaffed USGS booth at the world’s largest mining and exploration conference, the 2025 PDAC in Toronto. ⚒️🧪
Empty USGS desk at a conference trade showEmpty USGS desk at a conference trade show with a sign saying there is nobody at the desk
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Thanks to the National Weather Service and NOAA scientists everywhere
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Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Due to the Musk/Trump Administration’s draconian cuts, the National Science Foundation is significantly scaling back its program to provide college students with paid summer research internships. Many of my colleagues attribute their start in science to this program. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NSF downsizes summer research program for undergraduates
Many participants are from groups underrepresented in science
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Monica G. Turner @monicagturner.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Three Former E.P.A. Leaders: You’ll Miss It When It’s Gone
When the next environmental catastrophe arrives, who will be there to deal with the emergency and its aftermath?
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Dark days ahead. Protect and amplify the humanity of those that will be impacted the most. Everything else can wait.
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Susie Dent @susiedentwords.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Word of the Day is ‘ingordigiousness’ (18th century): extreme greed at the expense of principles.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 24/02/2025
Your regular reminder that the US air & water pollution laws passed in the 60s & 70s -- and the elaborate federal bureaucracy created to administer them -- constitute one of the most successful gov't interventions in history. WILDLY successful. The envy of the world.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
A friend who works for the US Department of the Interior (DOI) says that their government credit cards (PCards) have their purchasing limits set to $1, so they essentially can’t buy anything. Also, the DOI doubled down on the 5 bullets email and wants to make it a weekly occurrence. 🤬
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ceej @ceej.online · 23/02/2025
FEDERAL RESEARCH LAB SCIENTIST IN 1965: After five years and seventy million dollars we have invented a new type of plastic that prevents communists from being able to climb ladders too fast FEDERAL RESEARCH LAB SCIENTIST IN 2025: My cure for cancer was shelved because it might benefit Hispanics
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Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Remember way back in the beginning of the 2020s when the U.S. federal government provided free breakfast and lunch to children at public schools across the entire country from sea to shining sea for like two whole years?
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
How has it only been ONE month
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
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Annie Wenstrup @akwenstrup.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
When you call your legislators, please include this as one of your talking points. Once again the United States Government is violating their agreements with tribal nations. Shame on them. More in comments. nativenewsonline.net/health/break...
nativenewsonline.net
BREAKING: Federal Layoffs Target Indian Health Service, Threatening Healthcare Access Across Indian Country
The Indian Health Service faces losing 2,500 employees in new federal layoffs, nearly triple initial estimates, warns the top executive of a national Native health organization. The cuts would further...
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Dr. Twyla Baker @indigenia.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
NOT OPTIONAL. Haskell Indian Nations University had to let go of about 50 staff, including instructors. Some students were left without teachers for classes in the middle of spring session. This is enraging.
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Katie Sandlin @kmsandlin.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Today, along with 2,000 other NIH employees, I had to clear out my office 😭 It was truly the honor of my life to work with such incredibly passionate people focused on improving human health. I’ve never experienced a more positive culture where *everyone* cared about their job and serving others.
Office desk without any personal items or decor
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Liz Renner, Ph.D. @lizrenner.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
I was laid off this morning from USFWS as part of the sweeping DOGE cuts to probationary employees across the Dept. of Interior. To say I'm devastated doesn't even scratch the surface-I'm losing my dream job working with pallid sturgeon on the Missouri River. Solidarity with all my fed workers. 💔🐟
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Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Where you at Dems ? You fighting to get them far better severance or going to ignore them, and all others in similar circumstances?
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Just numb. Fuck this shit. Who let the boomers turn real life into a Facebook comment section?
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
What a shitty fucking day thehill.com/policy/energ...
thehill.com
Interior Department fires 2,300 employees after OPM directive
The Interior Department is firing 2,300 employees after a directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). An internal message reviewed by The Hill on Friday indicates that the department l…
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Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
This comment on r/fednews really stood out to me. Trump and Musk want people to think they're firing do-nothing "bureaucrats," but they're really getting rid of people dedicated to serving this country and keeping it operational. I hope these stories get told.
I lost my job. USDA Forest Service.


My probation was up next week.


I did everything right. I took a GS-7 role with a master’s degree just to get my foot in the door. I spent years doing seasonal fieldwork for low pay, working in remote places, gaining experience, and building skills, just for a chance at a permanent position. I was about to be a GS-9. I wrote NEPA reports. I conducted field surveys. I worked fire support. I dedicated myself to this work because I believed in it.


Public lands don’t manage themselves. The wildlife, watersheds, and forests we protect don’t just stay protected without people on the ground making it happen. My coworkers and I took on that responsibility, often in places most people never think about but that matter more than they know.


And now? Just like that, I’m out.


Edit: I’ve consistently supported progressive policies and have voted Democrat in every national and local election since I was 18. I do appreciate folks asking, I have some coworker having a serious 'leopards ate my face' moment right now.
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Taking back stolen focus is an act of resistance these days
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John MacNeill Miller @snarlsdickens.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
I’m so sick of people promoting their work on here. Imagine how annoying it’d be if I spent my time on this site promoting my book about the surprisingly literary origins of ecology, *The Ecological Plot: How Stories Gave Rise to a Science*? That would be pointless and unforgivable, obviously
upress.virginia.edu
The Ecological Plot
<b>Unraveling the surprising history of the concept of ecology</b><br/><br/><i>The Ecological Plot </i>traces the roots of this most mainstream branch
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Robert Mahon @bedform.org · 14/02/2025
damn anybody need 8 ISCO autosamplers in Southern CA? They appear to be brand new 😲 www.govdeals.com/asset/3807/1...
govdeals.com
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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Get in dorks, we're going protesting! STAND UP FOR SCIENCE WITH US ON MARCH 7TH, 2025 WASHINGTON DC AND EVERY STATE CAPITOL Because science is for everyone! Find us at www.standupforscience2025.org #standupforscience2025 #scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
vimeo.com/952073947?au...
vimeo.com
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative (trailer 1)
nawm_-_wetlands_teaser (1080p)
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
How do we as a society want our science done: Well, Fast, or Cheap? You can only have 2.
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
And exhale
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
This week is already better than last week
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Owen McKenna (He/Him) @changingecosystems.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
What a fucking week
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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 31/01/2025
The first ever US national nature assessment has been terminated and its USGCRP and DOI webpages have been removed. A PDF of the zeroth order draft is still available here: review.globalchange.gov/system/files...
globalchange.gov
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Documented @documented.org · 29/01/2025
Russ Vought promised donors that a second Trump admin would put career civil servants "in trauma," according to a recording of a private speech obtained by @documented.net and @propublica.org. It's now clear he wasn't bluffing.
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