Kenneth Schwarz, Ph.D.

Principal

Ken Schwarz, Ph.D. is a founding Principal at Horizon Water and Environment.  His technical expertise is in the fields of geomorphology, hydrology, and watershed management.  For over 18 years, he has directed complex projects throughout California involving flood and stormwater management, erosion and sedimentation, maintenance and capital programs, land use planning, water rights, habitat conservation, and ecosystem restoration.  Ken conducts hydrologic and geomorphic analyses and produces watershed and stream management plans, hydrologic reports, stream assessments, sediment and erosion control evaluations, water rights petitions, restoration designs, conservation plans, and CEQA documents.  Ken specializes in using his technical background to develop successful permit applications for the USACE, SWRCB, RWQCBs, CDFG, USFWS, and NMFS, as well as local county and municipal approvals.  Ken has provided expert witness testimony to the State Water Resources Control Board and the California Energy Commission on hydrology, river, and environmental impact issues.  Ken’s watershed and stream projects typically balance the needs and requirements of local government planners, regulatory agencies, and watershed stakeholders, while maintaining focus to project costs and schedules.  Ken is also a highly regarded instructor and writer.  He has lectured and taught courses in hydrology, geomorphology, watershed planning, riparian processes, physical geography, and ecosystem restoration for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.C. Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis Extension, Lorman Educational Services, and the University of San Francisco.  He has authored numerous articles and presented at several conferences.