Ecological restoration aims to restore and revitalize compromised ecosystems, and for V3 Project Scientist Landon Vine, nothing could be more fulfilling. Learn how his lifelong passion for the outdoors combined with deep scientific insight empowers him to make the world more ecologically magnificent.
Answering the call
Landon has always been fascinated by nature. Growing up in the 80s when calls to “save the Earth!” went mainstream, he wanted to understand how plants, animals, and people relate to their environment, so he poured over issues of Ranger Rick to learn more about the outdoor world. While his career path didn’t become clear until much later, working with the natural world was his ultimate goal.
“I’m a happy person when surrounded by natural forms. Even in harsh conditions, being outside and working with plants and different species lights up my brain.”
After studying environmental science and ecology in undergrad and grad school, Landon took his first consulting job in Washington D.C. before transferring to Denver, yet neither felt quite right. It wasn’t until he discovered an ecological engineering firm in Indiana—Williams Creek—that things clicked into place.
“When you’re an ecology geek, not every consulting firm is genuinely inspiring. Some may be doing environmental work, but their heart isn’t in it. At Williams Creek, natural resources wasn’t just an afterthought. They were designing things on the cutting edge of ecological engineering to walk more lightly on the earth. I thought to myself, ‘there can’t be anything better for me than this’.”
Landon joined Williams Creek in 2014 which was acquired by V3 in 2018. The V3 team instantly embraced the important ecological work happening in Indiana, helping this service line—and Landon—continue to flourish post merger.
Making the world ecologically magnificent
As a Project Scientist, Landon infuses his talent through a wide range of projects, from stream restoration to grant support. No matter what he’s tasked with, he ensures nature is present in every step.
One of his favorite parts of his job is helping clients discover what’s possible. He loves showing others how every project, no matter how straightforward or seemingly basic, can be made more “ecologically magnificent” when approached through an environmental science lens.
“Most people don’t know how cool things can get; we show them what’s possible. Just because we’re doing something simple or small doesn’t mean we can’t also create new wildlife habitats that are cleaner, safer, and more aesthetically pleasing. We create these nature-based design opportunities to help make communities better.”
This approach helped Landon and team secure a Water Resources Restoration Program grant to remove a decaying dam in Granville, OH. While he collected significant ecological data on aquatic insects and water quality, finalizing the grant application was a true multidisciplinary team effort, with V3 surveyors, engineers, and landscape architects all contributing their expertise to the successful end result.
“Interdisciplinary work gets things done right. It makes us smarter and more effective. Sometimes I’m the expert; sometimes I just listen. But when we collaborate, it builds a deeper understanding of the project. Earlier in my career I focused mostly on ecology, but now I work across so many disciplines that it allows me—and all of us—to create even cooler projects.”
V3’s design/build/manage/monitor capabilities enable Landon to make positive project contributions even after construction begins, an approach he deeply enjoys. Checking in on projects as they mature and develop carries the work full circle, creating better results for all involved.
Always keeping nature in mind
Unsurprisingly, when Landon’s not at work he’s still outdoors, enjoying nature with his wife and two young daughters. Together they love playing in the yard, digging in the dirt, and hiking around Indianapolis trails and parks.
Building out V3’s design/build/manage/monitor services is one of Landon’s biggest goals moving forward, as well as finding new ways to sculpt the dream career for his nature-loving heart.
“V3 does an incredible job of taking people’s skills and leveraging them to build a career they love. My mentors allow me to be realistic and actionable in defining and accomplishing my goals, which has made a huge difference in my life and happiness.”
Work with Landon and V3’s ecological restoration team
Our ecology experts are passionate about finding nature-based solutions to solve environmental challenges. Explore our current career opportunities or contact us to discuss your restoration project goals.