Ecological Instincts
Empowering Communities To Protect Their Freshwater Resources
Ecological Instincts is a Maine-based, woman-owned environmental consulting and ecological design firm with more than 30 years of specialized education and experience. Ecological Instincts is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) formed in April 2015. The firms’ owner, Jennifer Jespersen, is a Maine native, an ecologist and water resource specialist with a knack for working with people to bring about positive environmental change.
Jen holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science from the University of Maine at Farmington and an M.S. from the University of Maine at Orono. Her career spans diverse regions and disciplines, from conducting rare plant surveys for the U.S. Forest Service on the West Coast to working with landowners in the Lake Tahoe Basin to protect the water quality of one of the world’s deepest lakes. After returning to Maine, Jen spent ten years as an environmental consultant with a small firm in Portland, earning recognition as a regional leader in watershed planning and restoration before founding Ecological Instincts in 2015. Jen is a highly effective project manager, skilled meeting facilitator and educator, and knowledgeable freshwater ecologist who excels at bringing people and data together to drive meaningful environmental outcomes. She also serves on the advisory board for Maine Lakes, is a Certified Lake Manager (CLM #23-01M) through the North American Lake Management Society, certified aquatic plant patroller and lake monitor through Lake Stewards of Maine, trained LakeSmart evaluator, and is certified by Maine DEP in Erosion and Sediment Control.
Jen Jespersen
When not wearing her environmental consulting hat, Jen is the lead designer for EcoInstincts EcoDesign division focused on designing functional, energy efficient, and healthy homes, additions, and remodels. Jen is also a feng shui consultant, home stager, and Reiki practitioner. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, skiing, pickleball, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Katie joined Ecological Instincts in February 2021. She earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Conservation Biology from the University of New Hampshire and went on to work several field seasons as a botany technician in Massachusetts and Arizona before moving to Maine to join the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. In that role, Katie monitored stream water quality statewide, collecting and managing field data and supporting volunteer programs, including lake watershed surveys. Katie is a key member of the Ecological Instincts team and is involved in all aspects of watershed planning and management, including water quality monitoring, data analysis, watershed modeling, and the design and implementation of best management practices across Maine. She also serves as Ecological Instincts’ lead GIS mapping technician.
Katie Goodwin
Abby joined Ecological Instincts in September 2024. She earned a degree in Biology from Bates College and went on to work as a research associate monitoring and analyzing cyanobacterial blooms across several lakes in Maine. Abby also worked in the Environmental Studies Department at Bates College, where she supported equipment purchasing and calibration, managed student data, and provided educational support. As part of her undergraduate research, Abby investigated the effects of bisphenol S (BPS) on a freshwater sponge species found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, evaluating its potential use as an environmental indicator for BPS and as a proxy for studying epigenetic effects on genes shared with humans. Abby is a valued member of the Ecological Instincts team, always ready to tackle new challenges with a smile and excelling in data management and statistical analyses. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and starting new sewing projects.
Abby Quinn