Expert Witness / Consultant Dr. Ronald K. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.
I have excellent skills in providing
expert testimony, in assisting with questioning of opposing experts,
and in reviewing opposing expert's analyses and testimony. I combine
Ph.D. level engineering expertise and 29 years of practical hands-on
engineering experience with a lawyer's training in analysis and
argument. I think and speak the language of both attorneys and
engineering/technical experts.
Water Rights Assessments / Evaluations / Hydrographic Surveys / Compacts
Water Management and Conservation
Watershed / River Management / Modeling
Public Lands and Wildland Hydrology
Irrigation Systems
Streamflow Measurements / Estimates
Federal Reclamation Regulations / Rights / Contracts / History
Expert in hydrologic and hydraulic
analyses of rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, river basins, and
groundwater. Physical and statistical evaluation of all aspects of the
hydrologic systems including storm precipitation, storm flood runoff,
river and stream flood depth, snow melt, river and bridge hydraulics,
spillway and reservoir operations, detention basins, canals, culverts,
groundwater, and streamflow and climatological measurements and data
analyses. Have modeled numerous watersheds, river basins, lakes, and
reservoirs for storm runoff and for water supply and yield. Have
modeled urban hydrologic systems for runoff and flooding. Have measured
streamflows, precipitation, snowfall and snowmelt, and all other
climatological parameters. Have completed numerous statistical analyses
and operational analyses of hydrologic data and hydrologic systems.
Expert in storm drains and detention
pond designs, operations, and master plans; riverine flooding; and
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping, flood
hydrology and hydraulics. Have performed numerous flooding analyses of
rivers, streams, and lakes. Have expert witness experience in
depositions,
discovery assistance, affidavits, trial
testimony, and engineering analyses for flood, hurricane,
and reservoir operations in Mississippi and Alabama. Have
completed analyses/designs for numerous storm drains, detention basins,
large reservoirs and spillways, canals, FEMA flood insurance studies
and mapping.
Expert in canal and large diameter
pipelines designs and operations. Have designed and/or reviewed designs
for water conveyance pipelines ranging from 8-inches to 96-inches in
diameter. Have performed canal break investigations and have completed
pipeline design, sizing, and hydraulic analyses for water supply
aqueducts and canals throughout the western United States. Have
completed water system network analyses for city water systems. Have
completed cost estimates and performed water system repayment and rate
studies.
Expert in operations and
hydrologic/hydraulic designs of dams, spillways and reservoirs. Have
completed numerous spillway evaluations/designs, dam breaks and dam
break analyses; and spillway designs and operations. Have participated
in dam and spillway inspections and analyses including analysis and
preparation of Corps of Engineers Phase I Inspection reports. Have expert witness experience in
depositions,
discovery assistance, affidavits, trial
testimony, and engineering analyses for flood, hurricane,
spillway, and reservoir operations in Mississippi and Alabama.
Expertise in evaluation of water
transmission tunnels and in design and evaluation of pump stations,
hydropower systems, and penstocks including evaluation of hydraulic
performance and safety, energy output, rate studies, and energy
marketing. Have performed water tunnel inspections, evaluations, and
remedial designs. Have completed conceptual designs and evaluations of
pump stations and hydropower facilities including feasibility studies,
cost estimating, hydraulic performance studies, power capacity and
energy production studies, power rate studies, and economic feasibility
studies.
Expert in riverine and lake water
quality analysis, salinity managment, erosion prediction and control
and river sediment prediction, management, and removal. Have performed water quality computer modeling studies, salinity management and
modeling studies, erosion control studies, and sediment management and
removal studies and modeling. Have conducted erosion surveys, predicted
construction sediment yields, estimated river sediment transport and
loads, constructed erosion control structures, designed and constructed
sedimentation basins. Have conducted water quality sampling, laboratory
analysis, and monitoring of rivers, lakes, recreation areas, and
springs.
Expert in National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), wetlands issues, endangered species, and NPDES water
quality permitting. Experienced in permitting problems and issues for
streams, lakes, and groundwater. Hold certificate in Environmental and
Natural Resources Law from University of Utah College of Law. Have
participated in NEPA compliance hearings, scoping meetings, and public
involvement meetings. Have reviewed and assisted in preparation of
environmental impact statements. Have reviewed and made comments on
interagency endangered species habitat evaluations including comments
on study assumptions, findings, and recommendations. Have evaluated
needs for 404 stream and wetlands alteration permits. Have evaluated
hydrologic effects of canal lining on adjacent wetland areas. Have
completed NPDES analyses and obtained NPDES permits. Have completed
hydrologic permitting analysis for a coal loading facility including
surface runoff and groundwater movement and pumping issues.
Expert in water right assessments and
evaluations. Have completed various water rights related investigations
involving most of the major river systems of the Western U.S. including
evaluation of interstate river compacts and evaluation of U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation water rights, laws, and contracts. Have completed water
right title abstracts and title train analyses. Have completed water
rights valuations and water rights yield analyses throughout the
Western United States. Have completed and reviewed state water right
hydrographic surveys. Have prepared state water right proofs for wells
and hydroelectric plants, have prepared water right applications and
change applications, and have participated in state engineer water
right hearings. Have evaluated water right impacts of dam removals.
Expert in water conservation and water
management. Have completed water conservation and management studies
for river basins, reservoirs, irrigation projects, and
municipal/domestic supply and use. These studies and projects have
succeeded in conserving many thousands of acre-feet of water for new
uses throughout the western United States.
Expert in watershed and river
management and modeling. Have evaluated watershed management practices
for both water quantity and quality. Have modeled the Rio Grande, the
Colorado River, and numerous watersheds, rivers, streams, lakes, and
reservoirs throughout the West. Modeling has focused on flooding
issues, water quality issues, water supply issues, instream flow needs,
and fish and aquatic endangered species habitat enhancement and needs.
Expert in history, disposition, and
preservation of public lands and in hydrologic issues and analyses on
public lands. Have extensively researched the history of the
disposition and preservation of the public lands of the United States
including homesteading, railroad grants, federal reclamation and
irrigation projects and the creation of national forests, national
monuments, Indian reservations, and wilderness areas. Have studied and
modeled the hydrologic systems of public lands including the effects of
logging, road building, grazing, mining and other activities of man as
well as effects on threatened and endangered species.
Expert in agriculture and outdoor
irrigation systems. Have sized, designed and managed construction of
irrigation canals, pressure pipelines, diversion structures, screening
devices, check structures, meters, bridges, culverts, canal linings and
seepage control. Experienced in irrigation canal operations,
maintenance, inspections, and safety. Have estimated crop consumptive
use requirements. Prepared irrigation project rehabilitation plans for
large Bureau of Reclamation projects. Trained in both irrigation
project management including irrigation scheduling and use of linear
and dynamic computer programming and modeling.
Expert in analyzing, measuring, and
estimating streamflow. Have measured streamflow in rivers and streams.
Have analyzed and used gaging station rating curves. Have assessed
accuracy of stream gaging and have estimated streamflow on ungaged
streams.
Expert in U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
procedures, regulations, repayment, and contracts. Extensively
researched history and federal/state laws governing U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation water supply projects. Evaluated rights and interests of
water users in numerous Reclamation project water repayment contracts
including water rights and rights to hydropower and other revenues.
Evaluated effect on state water right interests of the proposed
draining of Lake Powell and the proposed decommissioning of Glen Canyon
Dam.
