I left State service to continue protecting and managing our natural resources in a manner that helps my clients, the public, and makes the regulatory process much easier, timely and cost effective to both my clients and my former regulatory colleagues. Together we all benefit.

Stuart (Stu) Kogge, Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), is a senior wetland/aquatic biologist with over 34 years of natural resource and wetland experience. Stu worked for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on several projects involving fish and aquatic assessments. In 1986, he took a full-time position with the MDNR Cadillac District office and administered and enforced the State’s various Great Lake, inland lakes and streams, and wetland statutes for the next 10 years. In 1995 Stu was promoted to the state-wide coastal wetland biologist position stationed out of Lansing, Michigan, and then in 1999 to the state-wide wetlands biologist position. From Lansing, he provided regulatory and enforcement support to field staff throughout the state and continued to provide periodic wetland training to staff statewide.

In 1999, Stu took an early retirement from the MDNR/MDEQ and started a private consulting firm and a non-profit organization, Wetland and Coastal Resources, Inc. (WCR) and The Institute for Wetland and Coastal Trainings and Research, respectively. From 1999-2008, WCR provided ecological services relating to wetlands, lakes, and streams while the non-profit organization conducted wetland delineation, mitigation and assessment, and botanical plant identification classes that catered to MDNR, MDEQ, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and other private consulting firms. WCR also provided environmental education classes to grade-schoolers and conducted coastal research with the University of Michigan.

In 2008, Stu joined JFNew (now Cardno), serving as their senior wetland/aquatic biologist. Main roles included driving business in the natural resources field of wetlands and aquatics, mentoring and providing wetland and botanical training and consistency oversight for younger staff, and serving as client and or project manager for numerous clients.

In 2014, Stu left Cardno to join GEI Consultants where he performs similar wetland, aquatic biota, and regulatory services. His greatest assets are his many years of experience and relationships with the regulatory agencies (MDEQ/EGLE, MDNR, USFWS, USEPA, USDA NRCS), extensive knowledge of wetlands and plant communities, his ability to strategize and tackle complex or daunting projects, and leading clients through the most difficult regulatory processes/projects.