Fermanich is a Professor of Geoscience and Environmental Science at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he holds the Barbara Hauxhurst Cofrin Professorship of Natural Sciences. He teaches courses in soil science, environmental science and policy, GIS, hydrogeology, ecosystems management, and environmental systems. He and his students study water quality, watershed management, soil health, and agricultural management.
Since 2003, Fermanich has been director of the Lower Fox River Watershed Monitoring Program, a program involving local, state, federal and university scientists and managers to assess impairments and sources of runoff pollution. There is a strong hands-on science and education emphasis within the program that engages high school students and teachers in monitoring the health of the Fox River ecosystem.
Recently, he has been co-PI and co-director with J. Val Klump (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) on two collaborative projects aimed at developing linked Green Bay watershed-hydrodynamic-biogeochemical ecosystem models to simulate various climatic and restoration scenarios within the Fox-Wolf basin. More than 20 scientists and management stakeholder representatives are involved in these projects.
Fermanich received his BS in soil science and resource management from UW-Stevens Point, and MS and PhD degrees in soil science from UW-Madison. He previously worked as a water quality outreach specialist for the Wisconsin Sea Grant Program. Fermanich grew up on a small farm on the divide between the Embarrass and Wolf River watersheds in the upper parts of the Green Bay basin. He and his family are now working to preserve the heritage of the farm and sustainably manage the actively cropped farmland.
