Johnny M. Grace III

Dr. J. M Grace III is the Program Manager / Coordination Lead for FFWRP, SRS-Alabama A&M University and SRS-Tuskegee University Programs & Lead Scientist (SIC) Chipola Experimental Forest and Range & General Engineer with the USDA Forest Service-Southern Research Station, Center for Forest Watershed Research in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Grace brings a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from more than 25 years of research, management, and administration in engineering and agriculture, forestry and natural resource science research programs at various levels. In general, this natural resource research experience has been enhanced through long-term adjunct roles with Auburn University (20 years) and Florida A & M University (8 years). His unique background and training have uniquely prepared him to address and manage natural resource programs and strategies related to Climate Change, Water, Sustainability & Resiliency, and Bioenergy that must consider a wide variety of interrelated disciplines. He has been an active member (since 1994) of the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers over the past 27 years and has held numerous leadership posts including Soil and Water (now Natural Resource & Environmental Systems) Division Chair in 2014.
Dr. Grace understands that the sustainability of the southern forests, as we now know it, will depend on how we address economic opportunities of emerging markets and environmental challenges related to climate change, land use patterns, forest fragmentation, and water resources in general. His research interests lie within four primary areas which include water resource quality and quantity under changing conditions, forest roads, understanding effectiveness and adapting forest best management practices (BMPs), and evaluating alternative agroecosystems. He is currently pursuing research to quantify the impacts of land use and climate change on water resources, quantify the factors (both natural and anthropogenic) influencing water resources (water quality and quantity), assess how influencers impact benefits provided by forests, and provide management options and tools to forecast and/or mitigate negative impacts in the context of changing conditions.
The research that Dr. Grace has undertaken, and that is a focus in his research program, covers four primary areas but concentrates on water resources (quantity and quality) within a range of watersheds in the region. The research explored in his program aims to understand the benefits of forests and maintain or improve on the health of watersheds under the changing conditions presented by climate, disturbances, and land-use. In many ways, forests serve as natural filters or provide dilution for most other land-use categories therefore it is critical for us to gain a better understanding the ecosystem services provided by forested watersheds to promote sustainable systems.

EDUCATION:
B.S. Agricultural Engineering , Auburn University,1994
M.S. Agricultural Engineering ,Auburn University, 1996
Ph.D. Bio. and Ag. Engineering( Minor: Water Resources), N.C. State University, 2004

FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION:
Biological and Agricultural Engineering – Forest Biomass (Estimation and Efficiency Studies), Forest Biomass Sustainability (Nutrient Dynamics), Drainage and Routing Design, & Peak Flow Estimation; Soil Physics – Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity, Porosity, & Soil Water Characteristic)s; Forest Hydrology – Surface Water Resources, Forest Outflow and Stormflow Prediction, & Water Table Management, & BMPs; Soil Erosion Mechanisms & Prediction, Soil Erosion Control, Stormwater Management, Sediment Control, & BMPs

GOOGLE SCHOLAR:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=SMDFvS4AAAAJ&hl=en

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:

• Alpha Epsilon, 1994, Honor Society of Agricultural Engineering
• Certificate of Merit, 2001 USDA Forest Service. For your efforts in maintaining a high level of research accomplishments and outputs in fiscal year 2001. • W.E.B. DuBois "Talented Tenth" Award, 2005, Conecuh County Branch NAACP. For scientific, academic, and community accomplishments.
• Certificate of Merit, 2006 USDA Forest Service. For outstanding personal research accomplishment in FY06 with four refereed publications, two proceedings papers and additional outputs.
• 2016 SRS Director’s Partnership Award, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. Awarded to the Florida Forest Watershed Research Program for the period covering October 2012 to September 2016 with J.M. Grace III as FFWRP Group Leader. For leadership and support in developing, implementing, and nurturing the partnership building that resulted in successful implementation of the Florida Forest Watershed Research Program.
• 2019 Outstanding Alumnus in Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University College of Agriculture March 26, 2019. Awarded to J.M. Grace III for…” 25 years of significant contributions to improving the understanding of forest operations and management (eg. Biomass, harvesting, thinning, site preparation, and road operations on forest soil and water quality)…research has led to the development of new alternatives for sediment control from low volume forest road systems.