
Michael Liquori – Principal, Sound Watershed
Michael is the Founding Principal for Sound Watershed and is a Fluvial Ecogeomorphologist - with expertise in the intersection of ecology, earth and water science. His scientific objectivity, open dialog and curious nature offers a compelling model for leading collaboration. He has over 25 years experience in California, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.
Michael has specific expertise in policy, regulation and best practices for the mitigation, restoration and enhancement of rivers, streams, wetlands and watersheds throughout the western United States. He build strongly science-based agreements and is served by his experience leading studies affecting forests, urban issues, and watershed management. He was a primary author of Washington State’s Forest & Fish Law and California’s Anadromous Salmonid Protection Rules, among others. He authored a USFS Stream Restoration Implementation Guidebook for the San Dimas National Labs. And he has participated on and chaired 14+ multi-stakeholder governing bodies charged with managing public and private lands.
Michael understands the balance between nature and management. He excels at facilitating communication clearly across disciplines and backgrounds, which supports his ability to mediate resolution to contentious issues. He creatively integrates multi-disciplinary scientific principles to address land-use management and policy issues. He has developed sustainable management strategies at site, watershed, regional, and statewide scales. He has led management projects in watershed analysis, habitat conservation planning, monitoring and adaptive management systems. He commonly negotiates “out-of-the-box” win-win solutions with varied interests.
Michael is also a highly regarded certified leadership development coach.
Michael is the Founding Principal for Sound Watershed and is a Fluvial Ecogeomorphologist - with expertise in the intersection of ecology, earth and water science. His scientific objectivity, open dialog and curious nature offers a compelling model for leading collaboration. He has over 25 years experience in California, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado.
Michael has specific expertise in policy, regulation and best practices for the mitigation, restoration and enhancement of rivers, streams, wetlands and watersheds throughout the western United States. He build strongly science-based agreements and is served by his experience leading studies affecting forests, urban issues, and watershed management. He was a primary author of Washington State’s Forest & Fish Law and California’s Anadromous Salmonid Protection Rules, among others. He authored a USFS Stream Restoration Implementation Guidebook for the San Dimas National Labs. And he has participated on and chaired 14+ multi-stakeholder governing bodies charged with managing public and private lands.
Michael understands the balance between nature and management. He excels at facilitating communication clearly across disciplines and backgrounds, which supports his ability to mediate resolution to contentious issues. He creatively integrates multi-disciplinary scientific principles to address land-use management and policy issues. He has developed sustainable management strategies at site, watershed, regional, and statewide scales. He has led management projects in watershed analysis, habitat conservation planning, monitoring and adaptive management systems. He commonly negotiates “out-of-the-box” win-win solutions with varied interests.
Michael is also a highly regarded certified leadership development coach.

Arnie Thompson – Senior Field Scientist
Arnie Thompson is a Watershed Eco-Geomorphologist and Hydrologist with an inter-disciplinary background in channel processes, water quality analysis & measurement, biology/hydrology interactions, stream restoration, bank stabilization, erosion control and invasive plant species control and remediation. He specializes in applying technology to environmental problems and solutions. He has participated in stream channel assessment for flood control and riparian habitat quality, analyzed the cause and extent of landslides in grazed areas, identified sources of erosion and recommended control measures, sampled water quality & temperature in anadromous fish habitat and led volunteer work parties to remove invasive plants and plant native species. He has computer, electronic, GIS, Google Earth Pro, survey-grade GPS, data management, power and hand tool, technical and scientific writing, land-use planning, public speaking and outdoor leadership skills.
Arnie Thompson is a Watershed Eco-Geomorphologist and Hydrologist with an inter-disciplinary background in channel processes, water quality analysis & measurement, biology/hydrology interactions, stream restoration, bank stabilization, erosion control and invasive plant species control and remediation. He specializes in applying technology to environmental problems and solutions. He has participated in stream channel assessment for flood control and riparian habitat quality, analyzed the cause and extent of landslides in grazed areas, identified sources of erosion and recommended control measures, sampled water quality & temperature in anadromous fish habitat and led volunteer work parties to remove invasive plants and plant native species. He has computer, electronic, GIS, Google Earth Pro, survey-grade GPS, data management, power and hand tool, technical and scientific writing, land-use planning, public speaking and outdoor leadership skills.