Qualifications

Mitchell Swanson has over eighteen years of experience in hydrology, hydraulic studies, geologic hazards, and geomorphology related to restoration and resource management in rivers, streams, coastal estuaries, and wetlands. This experience includes the development, management and completion of comprehensive technical and planning studies for a full range of private and public sector clients. Mr. Swanson specializes in the development of technically and environmentally sound management and restoration plans for rivers, estuaries and watersheds. These studies often involve the coordination of many disciplines by including biological sciences, hydraulic engineering, land use planning, economics, landscape architecture and environmental planning. In the present era of conflict between environmental regulation and society's need for flood control and utilization of water resources, Mr. Swanson has become a recognized expert in conflict resolution between governmental agencies, and public and private interests. Mr. Swanson has first hand knowledge of international management techniques used by public water resource agencies in England and Germany to help resolve problems faced by flood control engineers and resource agencies.

Mr. Swanson has extensive expert witness experience having appeared before the California State Water Resources Control Board, California Superior Court, and the U. S. Congress. Mr. Swanson has testified with regards to hydrology, flood control, reservoir operations, hydraulics, geomorphology, and environmental impacts.

Mr. Swanson's technical expertise includes historical geomorphic and hydrologic studies for geologic hazards assessments (landslides, seismic, erosion, sedimentation, sediment transport and flooding) and in determining the causes and effects of human modification on hydrologic and geomorphic systems. He has extensive field experience in hydrologic and sediment transport measurement, geomorphic mapping and surveying in rivers, watersheds and estuaries. Mr. Swanson has conducted hydraulic and hydrologic analyses using the HEC-RAS, HEC-6 and HEC-1 computer simulation programs.

Education

M.S. University of California at Santa Cruz; June 1983

Earth Science Department. Thesis and study emphasis in geomorphology and hydrology.

B.A. University of California at Santa Cruz; June 1981

Earth Science Department. Study emphasis on geologic hazards and sedimentary geology.

University of California at Santa Barbara, 1980

Studies in Geological Sciences.

Santa Barbara City College, 1977-1979

Studies in Earth Sciences.

Previous Experience

1985-1988 Senior Associate: Philip Williams & Associates

Responsibilities included: designing and conducting technical studies in hydrology, geomorphology, hydraulics and environmental planning; project management; marketing management. Projects included: design of environmental restoration of streams and coastal wetlands integrated with flood control and erosion control; management plans for wildlife habitat; technical analyses for preparation of expert testimony, development of field techniques for mapping and monitoring.

1984-1985 Principal: Williams, Kondolf and Swanson Hydrology

Responsibilities included: Proposal preparation for technical and environmental studies; development of field research programs in sediment transport and hydrology; project management and marketing. Projects included: A plan for the study of sediment transport on the Tuolumne River, California for the proposed Clavey-Wards Ferry Project (1984); a plan for Preparation of a Master assessment for Gravel Extraction on the upper Russian River near Ukiah, California (1984-1985).

1984 Watershed Analyst ii: County of Santa Cruz, California

Responsibilities included: preparation of timber harvest plan reviews in Santa Cruz County, planning and supervision of log jam removal crew, assessment of stream erosion problems.

1984 Geologic Technician: U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

Responsibilities included: preparation and lab processes of samples for Potassium Argon dating, compilation of maps, aerial photographs and literature for geologic mapping project in North Cascades National Park in Washington State; petrographic studies; statistical analyses of K-Ar.

1983 Geologist: U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, Aptos, California

Responsibilities included: Mapping and describing geology, landslides, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology of the Soquel Creek Watershed in Santa Cruz County California; analyses and description of watershed conditions that lead to flooding along Soquel Creek; data analysis, report preparation; preparation and delivery of presentations at public meetings; development of a watershed management plan.

1981-1983 Graduate Teaching Assistant: University of California, Santa Cruz

Prepared and conducted laboratory and field exercises in geologic field techniques, stratigraphy and sedimentation, groundwater and geomorphology.

Lectureships

University of California at Davis - 1982

"Progress toward understanding soil piping and subsurface erosion in gully development"

Geomorphology seminar

University of California at Santa Cruz - 1984

"An introduction to hill slope hydrology and erosion"

Geomorphology class

University of California at Berkeley - 1988

"The history of flood control projects on the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California"

Hydrology class

University of California at Berkeley - 1989

"Important technical and policy considerations in stream restoration projects in California"

Environmental Geology class.

University of California at Davis - 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992

"The importance of geomorphic analysis and multiple objective planning in designing flood control projects"

Geology Department, Rivers of California class

Publications

Journal Papers

Kondolf, G. M., and M. L. Swanson.

Channel Adjustments to Reservoir Construction and Gravel Extraction along Stony Creek, California, Environmental Geology and Water Science, 21:259-269.

Swanson, M. L., G. M. Kondolf, and P. J. Boison.

An example of rapid gully initiation and extension by subsurface erosion, coastal San Mateo County, California. Geomorphology, 2 (1989) 393-403.

Published Papers and Abstracts in Symposia Proceedings

Swanson, M. L. - 1983

Soil piping and gully erosion along the San Mateo County Coast in central California. Proceedings from the second field conference of the American Geomorphological Research Field Group, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, October 7 - 10, 1983.

Swanson, M. L. - 1985

Subsurface erosion and gully development along coastal San Mateo County, California. EOS 67:955-956 (abs)

Swanson, M. L. - 1988

Riparian restoration and flood control planning on the Lower San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California. in Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference, Davis California, September 22 - 24, 1988.

Williams, P. B. and Swanson, M. L. - 1988

A new approach to flood protection design and riparian management. In Proceedings of The California Riparian Systems Conference, Davis, California, September 22 - 24, 1988

List of Unpublished Technical Reports

Singer, S. and M. L. Swanson – 1983

The Soquel Creek storm damage recovery plan with recommendations for reduction of geologic hazards in Soquel Village, Santa Cruz County, California. Unpublished USDA Soil Conservation Service report to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (69 pp).

Swanson, M. L. – 1983

Soil Piping and gully erosion along the San Mateo County Coast. Unpublished Master of Science thesis, University of California at Santa Cruz Earth Sciences Board.

Kondolf, G. M., Swanson, M. L., and Williams, J. G. - 1984

Plan for study of sediment transport on the Tuolumne River and the effects of the proposed Clavey-Wards Ferry Project, Tuolumne County California. Report submitted to the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts.

Swanson, M. L. – 1985

Contributing causes to the history of flooding along Soquel Creek in the reach near the Highway 1 crossing; a report to Robert Ludlow, Attorney at Law, Santa Cruz, California

Watson, C., Swanson, M. L., Holland, R., Wade, D. and Smith, T. - 1985

Conceptual floodway treatment and landscape management plan for the proposed Laguna Creek Business Park, Sacramento County, California. Report prepared for McCuen & Steele, Developments and Investments and submitted to the Sacramento County Planning Department.

Swanson, M. L. and Williams, P. B. - 1986

Watershed processes and wetland sedimentation in five coastal basins in Sonoma County, California. Report submitted to the California Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. - 1986

Riparian enhancement and sediment management plan for Lower Willow Creek in Sonoma County, California. Report prepared for the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Swanson, M. L. and Vandivere, W. - 1986

San Mateo Creek Feasibility Study - hydrology and flooding. Report prepared for the City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department.

Williams, P. B. and Swanson, M. L. - 1987

Tijuana Estuary

Enhancement Hydrologic Analysis, a report prepared for the San Diego State University Foundation and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Williams, P. B., Swanson, M. L. and Thieke, R. - 1987

Tidal hydrodynamics of the Tijuana Estuary, technical report submitted to the San Diego State University Foundation and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. - 1987

Analysis of proposed channelization of Mission Creek in Santa Barbara. Report prepared for the Mission Creek Task Force and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. - 1987

Proposed revision to the FEMA floodway designation in downtown Santa Cruz, California. Report submitted with technical appendices to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the City of Santa Cruz.

Swanson, M. L. and Fishbain, L. 1987

Analysis of possible flood control solutions on San Mateo Creek, California. Report prepared for the City of San Mateo Public Works Department.

Swanson, M. L. and Kraft, S. - 1988

Subsurface geophysical investigation of bedrock below the mouth of Pescadero Creek, San Mateo County, California; report prepared for the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Swanson, M. L. and Williams, J. G. - 1988

Field survey report on the Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve; a report for California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Swanson, M. L. and Williams, P. B. - 1988

San Mateo Creek feasibility study channel treatment alternatives; a report prepared for the City of San Mateo.

Swanson, M. L. – 1988

Preliminary assessment of wetlands management for three central valley natural preserve sites, a report prepared for the Romburg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies under contract with the California Department of Fish and Game Region II office.

Swanson, M. L. - 1988

The Soquel Creek flood protection alternatives study, a report prepared for the Santa Cruz County Planning Department.

Stanley, S. and Swanson, M. L. - 1989

The Mission Creek feasibility study: natural channel alternatives, Santa Barbara, California; a report submitted to the Mission Creek Alternatives Task Force, the City of Santa Barbara, and the California Resources Agency - Department of Water Resources.

Swanson, M. L., Bradley, N. E., Lyons, K. and J. Stanley – 1989

The San Lorenzo River Enhancement Plan. Plan submitted to the City of Santa Cruz River Restoration Committee and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. and Marangio, M. - 1989

The Pajaro River - Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Survey. Report submitted to the County of Santa Cruz.

Swanson, M. L. - 1989

Geomorphology and hydrology impacts of routine stream maintenance practices in Santa Barbara County, California; a report submitted to the County of Santa Barbara Department of Environmental Review as part of the administrative program environmental impact report.

Swanson, M. L. - 1989

The San Lorenzo River Enhancement Plan. Plan for biological enhancement on the Lower San Lorenzo River, a report prepared for the City of Santa Cruz and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. - 1991

The Pajaro River Corridor Enhancement Plan; a report submitted to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. and Hart, J. – 1994

The Cosumnes River Preserve Hydrologic Analysis of Planned Restoration from Interstate 5 to Twin Cities Road Crossing. Report prepared for The Nature Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. – 1994

Moro Cojo Slough Management and Enhancement Plan: Hydrology and Geomorphology of Existing Conditions Report. Report prepared for the Monterey County Planning Department and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. - 1994

Hydrologic Enhancement Plan for a Portion of Kirker Creek, Contra Costa County. Report prepared for application Corps File No. 200784E76.

Hanes, W. T. and Swanson, M. L. - 1996

Upper Truckee River and Wetlands Restoration Project Hydrology and Geomorphology Sections. Report prepared for the California Tahoe Conservancy.

Swanson, M. L. – 1997

Gaviota Creek Geomorphic Monitoring and Riparian Restoration Study, a report submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Channel Coast District, Santa Barbara, California.