Perspectives from a Water Resources and Environmental Consultant

摘要

More than a decade ago, a debate was initiated on whether our industry was in a mature stage or on the cusp of new growth (Schwartz and Ibaraki, 2001 Hydrogeologlcal research: Beginning of the end or end of the beginning? https.7/bit.ly/2Nn3Bcp; Miller and Gray, 2002, Hydrogeological research: Just getting started, https://bit.ly/2Ne5tE2). Subsequently, a panel was convened at an American Geophysical Union meeting in 2005 where I gave my views, which were published a few years later (Stephens, 2008, Recent trends in hydrogeotogy and environmental consulting and perspective on maturing of hydrogeology profession, https://bit.ly/2LXNnBI). In my 2008 publication and a similar subsequent one (Stephens, 2009, An imminent human resource crisis in ground water hydrology? https://bit. ly/2wKUdph), I described some of the historical trends in environmental regulations, trends in our business growth, trends in student enrollment in hydrogeology programs and trends in membership in water resources professional organizations. The conclusion I reached then on the question of where we are as a profession was essentially that although our profession seemed to be in a mature stage, business was quite good and there were good opportunities for employment. Now, a decade later, I have the opportunity to reflect on some of these same issues. But my main focus here will be on my current views as an employee inside an environmental and water resources consulting firm in the southwest United States that I founded nearly 35 years ago.