Justin Ferris, Ph.D., P.H. Email & Phone Number

Reno, Nv, Us

Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada, United States

Serves as the Hydrogeologist for the Nevada State Office.

Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, United States

Served as the Hydrogeologist and Surface-Water Hydrologist for the Battle Mountain District Office, Mount Lewis Field Office, and Tonopah Field Office. I provided the entire District with technical expertise in hydrogeology, surface-water hydrology, hydraulics, fluvial geomorphology, geology, meteorology, water chemistry, and related fields. I also worked closely with the other divisions, such as Fire, to provide expertise as required. I provided technical leadership for all and any projects with a water resources component, and assisted in managerial tasks as requested by the Field Manager. A large portion of my work was bringing subject-matter expertise to the National Environmental Policy Act process, in order to ensure mining, mineral and geothermal exploration, oil and gas exploration, etc., were conducted consistent with federal regulations, BLM policy, and best practices.

Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, United States

Served as the Assistant Field Manager and direct supervisor for the Minerals Division. Provided leadership, guidance, mentorship, counseling, and support to a Minerals team comprised of three Environmental Protection Specialists, one Geologist, one Hydrologist, two Mining Engineers, one Land Law Examiner, and one Administrative Assistant, where I organized projects, assigned priorities, set deadlines, and processed vacancies and new hires. Supervised a massive, uniquely complex, and highly technical minerals management program that advanced key statewide Nevada priorities (e.g., Gibellini Vanadium Project and Goldrush Mine Project). Assisted in the planning, management, and implementation of a $1.7M Mining Law Administration budget and a $96K Mineral Materials budget to accomplish Field Office objectives. Promoted and conducted effective communications with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, local interest groups, and the general public.

San Diego, California, United States

Phoenix, Arizona

Groundwater modeler and hydrologist for the Santa Cruz Active Management Area (SCAMA), one of nine massive groundwater models maintained by ADWR. My duties included, but were not limited to:• Groundwater modeler and hydrologist tasked with quantifying the subsurface hydrology of the Santa Cruz Active Management Area (SCAMA), a 716 mi^2 area located in southern Arizona. My research included taking the existing model, identifying bugs and errors in its design and fixing and/or modifying them for better performance. I was also tasked with expanding the model to include an incompatible, but adjacent model to fuse them into one coherent model our systems could use. This combined model best-reflected the field data, and the end result was a reliable SCAMA model that could be utilized in predictive water use scenarios for the support of water management policies and decisions. Additional duties include participation in public outreach and education efforts, such as the SCAMA Groundwater Users Advisory Council.

Sacramento, California

Project Chief for a variety of studies related to surface-water hydrology, flood hazard, and associated risk assessment. This included writing proposals and securing funding for the various studies, including:• Project Chief for the first regional flood-frequency study for California since 1977, and the first-ever USGS flow-duration skew study in California. Aside from the additional flow data, we also utilizing cutting-edge, robust methodologies that will soon supplant the existing federal guidelines (Bulletin 17B). The products from this study included numerous publications and, working with the GIS Specialist, and public-friendly website (StreamStats; http://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/california.html) that allows anyone to delineate a watershed, determine their flood recurrence interval, etc. Additionally, I served on the StreamStats Advisory Committee for three years.• Major contributor to the USGS Multi-Hazard Demonstration Project’s severe winter storm scenario in California (formally dubbed ArkStorm; http://urbanearth.gps.caltech.edu/winter-storm-2/). Served as co-coordinator of the Flood Hazard Working Group and coordinator of the Paleoflood Hydrology Working Group (PHWG), both of which were absolutely critical to the success of this high-profile project. The PHWG conducted several field studies on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Numerous products were generated, including a massive USGS Open-File Report, published manuscripts by the section chiefs, and numerous public information symposiums (several of which were covered by the local TV news).• Served as the Project Chief for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Flood Inundation Mapping Initiative (FIMI) Demonstration Study, as well as serving on the FIMI Advisory Committee for three years (http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/projects/fimi/).• Spent fourteen months as the Acting Surface Water Specialist for the CAWSC.

Palmer, Alaska

As a Senior Watchstander/Oceanographer in a 24/7 operational environment, I was often responsible for determining the validity of a potential tsunami threat and issuing the appropriate warning. When not guarding the entire North American coast, I was responsible for research projects and outreach efforts. Accomplishments included:• Worked with a small group of oceanographers and physical scientists to design the next-generations tsunami forecast model. This model had the capabilities to self-correct its predictions by incorporate real-time data, better represent the physical processes involved in tsunamigenesis and wave propagation, and could provide input data for near-shore and inundation models.• Created improved seismic source zones for utilization in our existing tsunami forecast model and the next-generation model. These new source zones better represented the actual crustal uplift associated with seismic events, and were created for all potential hazard areas for the NTWC’s expanded AOR.• Designed and helped implement several high-profile tsunami-hazard scenarios, including, but not limited to: a trans-Pacific "Exercise Pacific Wave," a Bering Sea scenario for the U.S. Air Force, and a U.S. east coast tsunami-hazard scenario code-named "Eastern Impact.” Eastern Impact was the first-ever U.S. east coast tsunami disaster exercise, and involved a coordinated response from 26 different military, federal, state, and local agencies.• Conducted educational and outreach efforts, ranging from invited lectures and AGU’s 2007 Joint Assembly to presentations at local High Schools and a Juvenile Detention Center.• Collaborated with the Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center on a variety of hydrologic research, including the instillation and monitoring of a frost depth gage.

Tucson, Arizona

Served as the director of all applied research programs, answering directly the WRRC Director. Accomplishments included conducting various studies in areas of particular public concern, including analyses of critical water resources policy, institutional, and management issues affecting Arizona and the Colorado River Basin (as well as the International Border with Mexico); interacting with agency personnel, stakeholders, and other individuals to develop long-term research plans for the WRRC; and assisting in organizing the 2005 Annual Conference, “Water and the Environment: The Role of Ecosystem Restoration”.

Denver, Colorado

Sole collaborator working with the NRP Program Chief for “Climate Change and Paleohydrology.” Accomplishments included:• Studied post-wildfire hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology of rivers within the 2002 Hayman Burn Area, which was the largest in Colorado history (215.8 mi2 burned). Assisted in the development of a cost-effective, rapid, flood-chasing methodology to assess flood hazards by documenting the altered rainfall-runoff relations following wildfire and the subsequent stages of watershed recovery. These studies were critical in developing policies to protect lives and property in the burned areas. Lectured at the National Center for Atmospheric Research to provide forecast guidance for NWS Forecast Offices.• Conducted the definitive study on the hydrologic history of South Boulder Creek near Boulder, Colorado. A variety of paleoflood methodologies were refined and validated for assessing historical flood hazards and to create more robust flood-frequency relations for gaged, ungaged, or under-gaged streams, and determine the spatial and temporal rainfall estimates of historical storms. The study results were critical in updating the City of Boulder’s floodplain maps.

Ph.D., Hydrology With A Minor In Geosciences

HWR 517R Fundamentals of Water Quality HWR 518 Survey of Subsurface Hydrology HWR 519 Hydroclimatology HWR 520 Water Resources: A Policy.

B.S., Geology With A Minor In Hydrogeology

Activities and Societies: Worked approximately 30 hours per week as a Lifeguard/Swimming Instructor for the Wall Aquatic Center.CSE 120.