With DBS&A and affiliates, Clear Creek Associates, Kunkel Engineering Group, and Geo-Logic Peru under its umbrella, parent company Geo-Logic Associates, Inc. (GLA), made its inaugural ranking on the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 200 Environmental Firms List. The environmental listing and related analysis provide a look at one of the construction industry’s most dynamic market sectors, and some of the GLA companies’ core competencies. The list ranks companies according to revenue for environmental services performed in 2017. As an affiliate of GLA, DBS&A has access to 250 engineers, water and soil scientists, architects, and support staff located in 26 offices in 8 U.S. states and Peru. Together, we provide solutions to challenges for landfills, mines, contaminated sites, municipal projects, natural resources, and water resources. Click here to learn more about GLA and affiliates, DBS&A, Clear Creek Associates, Kunkel Engineering Group, and Geo-Logic Peru.
The Owens Valley Groundwater Authority (OVGA), acting as a joint powers authority, approved the selection of DBS&A and team members Consensus and Collaboration Program, TEAM Engineering & Management, Inc., Stillwater Sciences, and Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants, to prepare a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin in Inyo and Mono Counties, California.
The GSP will guide future groundwater management and address the needs of the many stakeholders in the Basin, while bringing the groundwater resources into compliance with the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA). The OVGA selected DBS&A’s team because of its broad expertise in the issues pertinent to groundwater sustainability planning, including:
- Water rights acquisition
- Agricultural water conservation
- Watershed management
- Funding for water resource projects
- Database management systems
- Stakeholder participation
- Community planning
- Groundwater resources assessments and safe yield evaluations
- Conjunctive use
- Water supply development
- Feasibility studies
- Water system engineering
Technical Support for GSP Development
The DBS&A team will be engaged in many activities, culminating in the submittal of the GSP to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by January 31, 2022. For example:
- Data compilation, review, and management
- Developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement/outreach program
- Providing a technical evaluation of existing groundwater flow models
- Preparing a description of the Basin setting and current and historic groundwater conditions
- Developing a hydrogeologic conceptual model and water budget for the Basin
- Developing sustainability criteria (undesirable results, sustainability goal, minimum thresholds, and measurable objectives)
- Identifying management areas and specific projects necessary to maintain or achieve sustainability
- Refining and consolidating of existing groundwater monitoring programs
GSP Expertise
Tony Morgan, P.G., C.HG., DBS&A’s Vice President and Principal Hydrogeologist, is leading our Owens Valley team as Project Manager. Mr. Morgan has expertise in SGMA compliance, including formation of GSAs, creation of GSPs, and conducting groundwater basin studies and regional conjunctive use programs. He collaborates with DBS&A’s hydrogeologists and modelers who support water agencies working toward compliance with SGMA, by developing and providing expert review of groundwater budgets and numerical models, estimating sustainable yields, and implementing groundwater monitoring programs and other groundwater management strategies.
In his role as corporate Market Leader for Water Planning and Development, Tony draws upon his considerable expertise in SGMA compliance, including forming GSAs and GSPs, as well as regional conjunctive use programs. .
GSP Experience
This work for OVGA follows shortly behind our successful completion of the groundwater budgets for four groundwater basins for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency’s GSP development effort. DBS&A applied our distributed parameter watershed model (DPWM), which estimates key components of the groundwater/surface water balance, to reduce data uncertainties in the hydrologic balance to acceptable levels resulting in greater accuracy. DBS&A has successfully applied this technique at groundwater basins throughout southern California.
On behalf of the New Mexico Environment Department Drinking Water Bureau (NMED DWB), DBS&A is offering free training for water systems operators, board members, and water sample technicians throughout New Mexico on Water Chemistry, Breakpoint Chlorination, Distribution Systems; Water System Sampler Training; Pumps and Motors, Groundwater Hydrology & Wells, and Operator Math; Water Chemistry, Groundwater Hydrology & Wells, and Distribution Systems; Chlorine Contact Time; and Revised Total Coliform Rule.
For more information on training content or to register, visit https://www.dbstephens.com/services/water-workshops-training/.
For additional information on courses throughout New Mexico, visit www.env.nm.gov/dwb/training.
DBS&A Hydrologist Stephanie Moore, P.G., has joined the Board of Directors for the Colorado River Alliance. She is committed to working with Alliance staff and fellow Board members in support of its mission “to champion the long-term vitality of the Texas Colorado River through education and engagement.” Ms. Moore has been a life-long advocate of water resources education for citizens of all ages. Learn more about Stephanie and the Colorado River Alliance.
AIPG President, and Principal Hydrogeologist and co-founder of Clear Creek Associates, Doug Bartlett presented the award to Barb Murphy.
DBS&A Affiliate, Clear Creek Associates’ Senior Geologist Barb Murphy received the Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal at this year’s American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) National Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The medal is awarded to individuals who have long records of distinguished and outstanding service to the profession. The most important criterion for this medal is a continual record of contribution to the profession of geology. A wide variety of contributions can be considered, such as: (a) the education and training of geologists, (b) professional development of geologists, (c) service to the Institute, (d) leadership in the surveillance of laws, rules, and regulations affecting geology, geologists and the public, and (e) activity in local and regional affairs of geologists.
Barb has served several times on the AIPG’s National Advisory Board, as Vice President, as 2012 National President, as chairperson of the AIPG annual meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2008, and has been an active member on several AIPG specially-tasked committees. She worked with AIPG staff and AIPG headquarters in development of the Geosciences On-Line Initiative (GOLI) webinar program. As AIPG’s President, she worked to increase contact with members and to reorganize several sections. She worked with the Geological Society of London in developing an MOU for comity between the organizations for CPG and CGeol applications. Barb has represented geologists at the Arizona legislature and at conferences in matters related to professional standards and the importance of what geologists do.