Todd Engineers: Iris Priestaf

Expertise:

Dr. Priestaf has more than 25 years of experience in groundwater investigations, combining research and teaching at the university level and consulting on a variety of water management issues. A doctoral student of Dr. David Keith Todd, she was Todd Engineers' first employee and worked with Dr. Todd for 28 years, becoming Vice President in 1989 and President in 2003.

She has consulted on numerous projects involving groundwater basin characterization, development, and management, with particular work on issues of perennial yield and development within the context of the water balance, including service as an expert witness. Her expertise in water balance studies has been built on academic training in climatology, meteorology, hydrology, soil science, geomorphology, biogeography, and related disciplines. She has managed water balance studies all across California in a variety of environments and using multiple techniques relevant to the issues at hand.

She has worked with numerous water agencies, cities, counties, and private organizations in the preparation of groundwater management plans, urban water management plans, water supply assessments, and annual groundwater reports, with particular focus on providing well-written and documented reports. She has also assisted in the preparation of more than 50 environmental documents, focusing on groundwater issues.

Iris is an experienced public speaker -- having presented to numerous public agency policy makers, stakeholder groups, and professional organizations -- with specific skills in the effective presentation of complex groundwater issues to audiences with a wide range of backgrounds.

Academic Background:

PhD, Geography, University of California at Berkeley, 1983
MA, Geography, University of California at Berkeley, 1976
BA, Geography, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1974