Mitch Swanson

Mitch Swanson is a hydrologist and geomorphologist with more than 40 years of professional experience in geomorphology, hydrology, stream and wetland restoration, hydraulic studies, and geologic hazard management throughout California’s Coastal, SF Bay Area, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Lake Tahoe Basin watersheds. His expertise focuses on reversing the negative effects of human land use on natural geomorphic processes and ecological functions to create sustainable habitats. Mitch’s technical expertise includes a wide range of geomorphic and hydrologic field and research studies for current conditions and historical land use impact studies, watershed management, and multiple benefit flood control projects and O&M programs. His experience and expertise include assessing the causes of channel instability, degraded hydrology, and lack of floodplain and wetland hydroperiod functions for developing effective offsetting countermeasures and restoration elements emphasizing natural processes and ecological functions. Mitch also has a wide range of experience in geologic hazard assessments including flooding, hillslope erosion and landslides, and sedimentation. He has extensive field experience performing landform and geomorphic process characterization, historical land use impact research and mapping, hydrologic and sediment transport measurements, modeling, geomorphic mapping, and surveying in rivers, watersheds and estuaries. Mitch is often involved in multiple disciplinary planning, project design, permitting, and education and facilitation processes with agencies, private entities, and public interest groups and for providing expert testimony.