Sound Watershed
  • Sound Watershed
  • Core
  • Expertise
    • Collaborative Facilitation
    • Natural Resource Policy
    • Sustainable Forestry
    • Monitoring & Adaptive Management
    • Technical Studies
    • Design Services
    • BMP Documents
    • Field Services
  • Portfolio
  • About Michael
  • Contact Us

Site Analysis & Design

Sound Watershed provides important technical analysis that support diagnosis, ecological synthesis and effective design.  These activities contribute to a sound technical basis for management strategies, mitigation opportunities, and restoration concepts.Our staff lead scientific analysis projects to evaluate existing conditions and identify opportunities and constraints for improvement approaches.  Our studies have helped improve regulatory systems at local, state and national levels.  We've contributed toward better understanding of the human-induced impacts to natural resources in a variety of settings throughout the western United States.  We are particularly strong at synthesizing information from various assessments into a coherent management framework.  
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  • Timber Sustainable Growth & Yield
  • Geomorphic Conditions And Trends Analyses
  • Sediment Characterization And Transport Analyses
  • Channel Migration & Stabilization Analyses
  • Hydraulic Geometry Assessments
  • Flood Risk Assessment
  • Habitat Enhancement Designs
  • Watershed Process Evaluations
  • Sediment & Nutrient Budgets
  • Landslide Inventory & Mitigation Strategies
  • Hydrology & Hydraulics Studies
  • Riparian Management 
  • Technical Studies in Support of Flood Control
  • Channel Bed & Bank Stability Assessment
  • Ecological Modeling
  • Water Quality & Quantity Studies
  • Erosion Control Studies
  • 4 Channel Flood Control Desilting Study (Alameda County)
  • Geomorphic Recommendations for Management of the Alameda County Flood Control Channel
  • Biological Benchmarks for Selected Flood Control Channels in Alameda County
  • Weyerhaeuser Landslide Inventory Meta-Analysis
  • Bear Creek Site Assessment
  • Bottle Rock Sediment Source Analysis
  • Board of Forestry Riparian Literature Review 
  • Explicit Riparian Design
  • Washington State Temperature Study
  • Type N Headwater Initiation Study
  • Johnson Canyon Trail Improvement
  • Yosemite Marsh Improvement 
  • San Lorenzo River Fish Passage Assessment
  • Eastern King County Channel Migration Assessment
  • Upper Puyallup River Channel Migration Zone Mapping
  • Over 15 watershed analysis projects
  • Hancock Timber Management Channel Migration Zone Delineation
  • Milwaukee Tree Farm (Hoh River) Channel Migration Assessment
  • Kapowsin Riparian Zone Effectiveness Study
  • Big Creek Road Sediment Erosion Assessment Project
  • Hillslope Hydrology Studies
  • Type N Perennial Stream Initiation Mapping Project
  • Stream Gage Monitoring Projects (many)

Ecosystem Restoration Design

I am passionate about using high-quality scientific basis when designing restoration and/or mitigation projects that support creek and watershed functions within the context of both natural systems and processes, as well as the dynamic influences of human-focused management.  Projects typically include detailed site assessment, data collection, diagnosis and design.  These activities provide the technical basis for restoration and management strategies after coordinating with other scientists and engineers to identify technical project opportunities and constraints.  Projects often require facilitating resolution of complex issues with key stakeholders and regulators as projects unfold.  Projects range from small local projects to major, multi-million dollar projects. 
  • Lower Squaw Creek Concept Design
  • Napa River Yountville Concept Design
  • Bear Creek Concept Design
  • Yosemite Marsh
  • Upper Truckee River Restoration – Golf Course Reach
  • Northstar Highlands Mitigation Design
  • Oak Knoll Redevelopment Channel Design
  • Upper Truckee River Middle Reach Restoration
  • Puyallup Mowich Confluence Stabilization Project
  • Christmas Valley Erosion Control Project
  • Dry Creek Dam Removal & Channel Restoration Design
  • Mill Creek Fish Passage Design
  • Fox Creek Canyon Wetland Design
  • San Lorenzo River Fish Passage Assessment
  • Oak Knoll Site Development Plan
  • Cow/Coleman Creek Restoration

Sustainable Forestry

Our staff have lead or supported the development of sustainable forestry practices for numerous private forests, including large integrated forestry corporations, large multi-ownership Timber Investment Management Organizations, small family-owned forests, and several large state and federal forests.  We were a key scientific adviser during the Forests & Fish planning process in Washington State, and were active in its adaptive management program.  We helped develop and implement Watershed Analysis projects in Washington, Idaho and Colorado and helped design the Washington State Watershed Analysis methods.  We developed several long-term management plans, including several Landscape Management and Habitat Conservation Plans.  Other projects include:
  • Jackson Demonstration State Forest Vision Plan
  • Washington State Forest & Fish Law
  • Sustainability Audits and Audit Support (FSC & SFI)
  • Riparian Design
  • Watershed Assessment
  • Long-Term Management Planning
  • Quincy Library Group Congressional Review Team
  • California T&E Rules
  • California Section V Technical Advisory Board
  • Washington State Cooperative Monitoring Evaluation & Research
  • CAL FIRE Research & Science Visioning Workshop Facilitation



Natural Resource Policy

Michael has provided objective technical and management expertise that supported innovative strategic approaches to natural resource management and policy issues.  He has worked with local, state and federal agencies, corporations, and advisory bodies to develop comprehensive, science-based management systems.  He developed multiple industry-wide standards for 13+ management protocols, and has developed several comprehensive frameworks for "Adaptive Ecosystem Management" into management and regulatory systems. 
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  • Jackson Demonstration State Forest Research
  • California Board of Forestry Riparian Rule Revisions
  • California Anadromous Salmonid Protection Rules
  • Washington State Forests & Fish Plan
  • Walker River Federal Mediation Process
  • Watershed-Wide Wastewater Discharge Requirements
  • Kapowsin Tree Farm Riparian Management Policy
  • Washington State Water Typing Program
  • Quincy Library Group Congressional Review Panel


​Collaborative Facilitation & Stakeholder Negotiations

Michael has facilitated and/or mediated collaborative, stakeholder-driven planning projects, often integrating detailed technical, ecological, operational, regulatory, economic and social objectives.  He has successfully negotiated several landmark ecosystem and land-use conservation and management plans with landowners, regulatory agencies, tribal governments and environmental advocacy groups.  Typical plans applied to mixed land-use landscapes ranging from 30,000 to several millions acres.  His work included a wide range of land-uses like forestry, agriculture, urban, water resources, utilities, irrigation districts, etc.  This operational breadth enables him to develop widely supported management prescriptions in multiple commercial sectors.
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  • Forests & Fish Law
  • Campbell Creek Pilot Oversight Committee 
  • Timber Regulation & Forest Recovery Act
  • Jackson Demonstration State Forest Board
  • Pilarcitos Integrated Watershed Management Plan
  • Supplemental Carmel River Watershed Action Plan
  • Santa Clara Valley Water District Watershed Asset Management Plan
  • Mattole Watershed Analysis Review
  • Champion Watershed Asset Data Inventory System
  • Klickitat Habitat Conservation Plan
  • Champion Pacific Timberland Long-term Forest Management Plan 
  • Road Maintenance & Abandonment Programs
  • Eight (8) Watershed Analysis Prescription Teams
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