Katie Tipton is a professional archaeologist with over 14 years of experience in cultural resources management, specializing in compliance and review for energy infrastructure and wildlife restoration projects. Before joining Catalyst, she served as a Senior Archaeologist for the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. In these roles, Katie led Section 106 compliance efforts under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), providing both technical review and field support for projects across the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Southeast. Her work reflects a strong understanding of federal preservation laws and interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse landscapes and agencies.
Katie’s graduate studies culminated in an M.S. in Anthropology from Portland State University in 2020, with a thesis focused on developing a systematic approach for collaboration between archaeologists and private collectors in Northwest Oregon. She has also held internships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where she assisted with project management, museum property programs, and archaeological surveys. Additionally, she managed the Cultural Resources Laboratory at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, supporting artifact processing and archaeological analysis.
Katie brings technical expertise in archaeology and cultural resources management to a diverse range of environmental review projects. She contributes to the preparation of documentation in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Section 106 of the NHPA. Katie has extensive experience conducting archaeological surveys, cultural resource evaluations, and historic property assessments. Her areas of specialization include tribal consultation, public archaeology, and artifact analysis. She has supported meaningful engagement with tribal communities and the public, and brings a strong background in analyzing both precontact and historic material culture. Katie is also experienced in coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure compliance with cultural resources laws and regulations.
