Gus Yates has been a professional hydrologist in California for over 25 years. His role in water resources management projects commonly bridges the technical and policy realms. He specializes in rapidly identifying the key water-related issues for a project and addressing them with appropriate quantitative tools that make the best use of available data. He ties his technical work back into management plans and regulatory compliance documents. He has extensive experience in analysis and management of groundwater basins and related surface water and habitat systems throughout central and northern California. Mr. Yates is registered with the State of California as a professional geologist and certified hydrogeologist.

Gus Yates:

• Evaluates groundwater conditions at local and basinwide scales using modeling and statistical techniques.
• Leads stakeholder processes to develop groundwater and watershed management plans that are grounded in technical understanding of the hydrologic system.
• Routinely works on interdisciplinary teams where he provides a solid working knowledge of geology, soil science, geomorphology, climatology, land use, water use, agronomy, vegetation ecology and fisheries biology.
• Applies statistical techniques to analyze land and water resources.
• Applies operations models to optimize project design and quantify environmental impacts.
• Seamlessly integrates field investigations, computer models, statistics, and traditional analysis methods.
• Applies training and experience in CEQA, NEPA, water-quality regulations, water rights, group facilitation, and litigation.

Professional Experience

January, 1999 - present

Consulting Hydrologist in Private Practice and Senior Hydrologist, HydroFocus Inc. since April 2009 Davis and Berkeley, CA

Provides consulting services in surface water and groundwater hydrology, biohydrology, and water resources management to public agencies, private-sector clients, and nonprofit groups. Representative projects include:

• Groundwater flow and transport model, San Benito County, CA – Developed a regional groundwater flow and salinity model with MODFLOW and MT3DMS.
• Groundwater flow model, Laguna Seca subarea, Monterey County, CA – Developed and jointly calibrated a soil-moisture-recharge model and groundwater flow model to evaluate safe yield in a small, structurally complex coastal basin.
• Southeast Chico drainage study – Applied MODFLOW and HEC-RAS models to determine the cause of periodic shallow flooding in a new suburb.
• Groundwater flow model, Yuba goldfields wet-pit gravel quarry, Yuba County, CA – Developed a local-scale MODFLOW model to estimate the impacts of a proposed gravel quarry that would penetrate a regional confining layer.
• Seaside Basin update on groundwater conditions, Seaside, CA – Updated and improved prior estimates of pumping, recharge, aquifer characteristics and yield to help resolve a water-rights dispute.
• Cambria Community Services District water-supply master plan – Quantified the frequency and duration of drought-related water shortages and evaluated feasibility of water supply alternatives.
• Groundwater model update of the Turlock area, CA – Updated and recalibrated an existing finite-element groundwater flow and transport model.
• Fish habitat improvements, Yolo Bypass, CA -- Applied HEC-RAS stream hydraulics model with input from landowners and biologist to design creek modifications that would improve anadromous fish passage and create localized inundation for splittail spawning and rearing.
• Integrated water resources management plan, Yolo County, CA -- Provided technical expertise and local knowledge as coauthor of a countywide water management with state and local agencies.
• Groundwater management plan, Soquel Creek Water District, Santa Cruz County, CA -- Served as technical advisor and coauthor for GMP update to meet SB1938 requirements and focus monitoring and management actions on emerging key issues.

1991 to 1999

Environmental Scientist, Jones&Stokes Associates Sacramento, CA

Served as hydrologist and/or project manager for CEQA/NEPA compliance and water resources amangement projects, including:

• Willow Slough watershed management plan, Yolo County, CA – Facilitated stakeholder process; documented groundwater, flooding and habitat conditions; and developed BMPs for agriculture.
• Groundwater management plan, northern San Benito County, CA – Served as facilitator, technical advisor and author for a multi-party planning process to identify issues and realistic solutions in a heavily-used groundwater basin.
• Subsidence impacts of groundwater pumping, Mendota, CA – Developed regression equations based on extensive USGS data to predict subsidence from groundwater transfers.
• Nitrate contamination from septic systems, Los Osos, CA – Served as expert advisor for field investigation of nitrate contamination from septic systems in a sandy coastal aquifer.
• Operations model for conjunctive use of desal plant and groundwater, Cambria, CA – Developed a probabilistic, real-time operations model to guide the conjunctive use of a desalination plant with existing water-supply wells.
• Instream flow litigation, Putah Creek, Yolo and Solano Counties, CA - Expert witness in a trial challenging the adequency of instream flows below Monticello Dam.

1982 to 1990

Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey Sacramento, CA

• Groundwater model of Salinas Valley groundwater basin, Monterey County, CA – Developed one of the earliest models of the Salinas Valley groundwater basin and applied optimization theory to conjuncitve use operations.
• Groundwater flow model, Los Osos, CA – Created a groundwater flow model to evaluate 3-D interactions of Los Osos Creek, the Pacific Ocean and groundwater flow in a layered coastal groundwater basin. Subsequently added solute transport module to estimate long-term nitrate impacts of a wastewater project.
• Groundwater flow and quality, Santa Rosa and San Simeon Creek basins, Cambria, CA – Managed a comprehensive investigation of groundwater conditions in two coastal stream valleys, and developed finite-element models to integrate data and explore management options.

Academic Background

Master of Science, 1985, Water Science, University of California at Davis

Bachelors of Arts, 1979, Geology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Hydrology - certified profession hydrogeologist
California Groundwater Resources Association

Awards and Honors

E. Hampton Bryan Graduate Fellowship, University of California, 1983
Cum laude degree honors, Harvard University, 1979

Relevant Publications, Reports and Presentations

Phillips, S.N., S.N. Hamlin, and E.B. Yates. 1993. Geohydrology, water quality, and estimation of ground-water recharge in San Francisco, California, 1987-92. Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4019. U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA.

Yates, Gus. 1999. Using streamflow hydraulics models to integrate riparian/wetland restoration and floodplain management. Presentation at Society for Ecological Restoration Eleventh Annual International Conference, September 23-25, 1999. San Francisco, CA.

Yates, E. B. , and K. M. Van Konynenburg. 1998. Hydrogeology, water quality, water budgets, and simulated responses to hydrologic changes in Santa Rosa and San Simeon Creek ground-water basins, San Luis Obispo County, California. Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4061. U. S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA.

Yates, G., and A. Saracino. 1997. Groundwater influences on surface ecosystems. In proceedings of the 1997 National Education Program symposium on Biological Aspects of Ground Water, September 4-6, 1997. Las Vegas, NV. Association of Ground Water Scientists and Engineers, Westerville, OH

Yates, E. B. 1991. Droughts in a stream-aquifer system, San Simeon Creek, California. Pages 331-336 in W. H. Kirby and W. Y. Tan (eds.), Proceedings of the United States - People=s Republic of China bilateral symposium on droughts and arid-region hydrology, September 16-20, 1991, Tucson, AZ. Open-File Report 91-244. U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

Yates, E.B., S. N. Hamlin, and L. H. McCann. 1990. Hydrogeology, water quality, and water budgets for Golden Gate Park and the Lake Merced area in the western part of San Francisco, California. Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4080. U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, VA.

Yates, E. B., and J. H. Wiese. 1988. Geohydrology and water resources of the Los Osos Valley Ground-Water Basin, San Luis Obispo County, California. Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4081. U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

Yates, E. B. 1987. Simulated effects of ground-water management alternatives for the Salinas Valley, California. Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4066. U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.