Shannon McGlynn
ADEM
Shannon McGlynn is a Senior Environmental Scientist with over 15 years of expertise in water quality management, watershed management, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Throughout her tenure, she has played a critical role in leveraging federal funding to implement high-impact water quality improvement projects.
In her current role within the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Unit, Shannon is responsible for developing, negotiating, and overseeing projects aimed at mitigating nonpoint source pollution. She helps facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration, working with project managers, consultants, and regulatory bodies to help drive strategic environmental initiatives. Additionally, she provides technical analyses, optimizes budgeting frameworks, and prepares key program reports for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Shannon serves as ADEM’s coordinator for the National Water Quality Initiative, with the goal of targeted monitoring of waterways and working with NRCS to implement targeted conservation practices that improve water quality in priority watersheds. She also plays a key role in coastal program coordination, providing technical assistance and contributing to categorical reports required for Alabama’s Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program approval.
Previously, Shannon was a key figure in construction stormwater regulation, where she oversaw NPDES permitting, compliance inspections, and enforcement activities for construction sites. During her time with this section, she also helped conduct audits of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) programs statewide, ensuring compliance with federal and state stormwater management regulations. Her expertise in stormwater infrastructure and regulatory enforcement enabled her to guide permittees, perform comprehensive site inspections, and implement policies aimed at safeguarding Alabama’s waterways.
In addition to her grants and project management responsibilities within the Nonpoint Source Unit, Shannon holds leadership positions in regional environmental programs, serving as Co-Chair for both the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Project Implementation Committee and the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program’s Education Committee. In these roles, she drives collaborative, science-based efforts to restore and protect critical coastal ecosystems.
Beyond regulatory compliance and grant management, Shannon is an advocate for environmental education and outreach. She develops and delivers technical presentations on stormwater management, green infrastructure, aquatic ecology, and environmental leadership. She also helps lead and participates in k-12 education related to stormwater education and community outreach to reduce nonpoint source pollutants to Alabama’s waterways.
Shannon’s expertise in environmental stewardship, strategic watershed planning, and program oversight—coupled with her commitment to scientific integrity and sustainable resource management—positions her as a leading force in Alabama’s environmental protection efforts.