From intern to Master’s student in International Land and Water Management at Wageningen University & Research, Tomba Paagman is carrying forward lessons learned from her time with Living Lakes Canada. 

During her internship with Living Lakes, Tomba dug into whether the water availability of streams can keep pace with domestic water consumption and forest fire suppression. Guided by Paul Saso, Living Lakes Program Hydrologist, Tomba’s thesis report would go on to help Living Lakes Canada to further investigate how forest fire suppression and available resources intersect with climate change predictions. 

But it wasn't all thesis research; Tomba had the opportunity to wade through waterways as a field technician for Living Lakes Canada’s Rivers and Streams project and the Kootenay Watershed Science (KWS) program. Living Lakes also facilitated Tomba’s work with the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners, Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Collaborative and Youth Climate Corps Program where she assisted in monitoring wetland and stream health. 

Slogging through seas of sedges and battling thick underbrush is challenging work, Tomba’s field experience with Living Lakes contributed to the collection of water quality and quantity data in the summer of 2021.

Although Tomba will specialize in land management in her master’s program, she reflected that “land and water go hand in hand and you can not treat one, without treating the other.” Tomba’s understanding of the interconnectedness between water and land and her appreciation for streams and rivers stems from her experience with Living Lakes. 

We wish Tomba the best as she furthers her education and hope the lessons learned with Living Lakes continue to guide her career within the environmental sector.