Team Member Candid Photo

Erika is new to the Balance Hydrologics team but is very excited about her future with the company. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Arizona State University, during which time she discovered a passion for fluvial geomorphology. Her graduate research at the University of Nevada, Reno considered the dynamic interactions between bedrock erosion, sediment transport, and flow hydraulics in the formation of waterfalls, and involved climbing waterfalls to measure metrics of their morphology and diving to the bottom of plunge pools to conduct pebble counts throughout the Sierra Nevada range. Erika has experience in river surveying, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, streamflow and groundwater monitoring, GIS, and UAV mapping. She enjoys the process of understanding a river system through field investigations to intuitively interpret the relative contributions of the local and regional geology, river processes, hydrologic fluctuations, and ecological functions and then quantitatively understanding the hydraulics through modeling and mapping. She hopes to continue to grow as a fluvial geomorphologist and eventually design her own river restoration and monitoring projects. When not at work, Erika enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her friends. Her true passion is dog training and fostering rescue dogs. She is currently learning scent work training with her own rescue dog, Pixie, and both are having a blast!

  • M.S. Geological Sciences and Engineering (Fluvial Geomorphology), University of Nevada, Reno, 2021
  • GIS Graduate Certificate, North Carolina State University, 2019
  • B.S. Earth and Space Exploration: Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, 2017

1D/2D Hydraulic Modeling, ArcGIS, Creek and River Restoration, GIS Analysis, Gaging, Geomorphic Assessment, Geomorphology, Hydrologic Monitoring, Hydrology, Real-time Gaging, Restoration Design

Key Projects

  • Hydrological and Geotechnical Investigations for Madonna Creek, Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve, San Mateo County, California
  • Granite Geomorphic Monitoring, Morrison Creek, Sacramento, California
  • Lacey Meadows, Truckee River Watershed Council, Sierra County, California

I love that I get paid to hike around and explore rivers- it’s truly the dream scenario. I feel that Balance is the perfect place to combine your scientific knowledge and experience with your passion for the outdoors and interest in maintaining the natural system within rivers. I spend my weekends splashing around in the Truckee River with my dog and then go into work on Monday to do the same thing (although admittedly, I have to trade my inner tube for a notebook and flow meter but, hey, it can’t all be perfect!). I also really appreciate that everyone here has the freedom to explore the topics and projects that interest them most which creates this really positive environment where people are passionate about the work that they do and produce high-quality work because they are emotionally and intellectually invested in it.

I really like watching classic movies, especially Film Noir movies from the 1940’s. Anything with Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, or Barbara Stanwyck is sure to make my list of favorites. I love the strong female characters, twisting plotlines, sweeping music….and most importantly the dramatic eyebrow raises (!!!) of this era in film. When I’m in a silly-er mood, I also love the comedic duos of that time- Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy- have some fun slapstick films.

One of my favorite books that I think any fans of nature, animals, and joyfulness despite life’s twists and turns will love is called Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang. It’s a feel-good read and a celebration of ordinary magic.

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