CW3E Welcomes Garrett McGurk
November 16, 2021
Garrett McGurk joined CW3E as a Hydrology Engineer in November, 2021. He received a BS in Environmental Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2015 and a MS in Geography, with a focus on watershed science, from San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2019 under the advisement of Professor Trent Biggs. His thesis research utilized a geochemical endmember mixing analysis on sediment samples collected from an urbanized canyon with high rates of erosion in Tijuana, Mexico to evaluate the impact of discrete sediment groups on downstream sedimentation in the Tijuana River Estuary.
Upon completion of his masters degree, Garrett joined a private scientific research and engineering firm in San Diego where he worked on projects including BMP effectiveness studies, source investigation studies, dry weather flow monitoring, and stormwater sampling.
As a passionate surfer, snow sports enthusiast, and all-around outdoor adventurer, Garrett has deep personal interests in the water cycle and the atmospheric processes that dictate conditions in the water and on the mountain. As a native of north county San Diego, Garrett has aspired to join the team at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to further his own understanding of the hydrologic processes in these environments while conducting impactful research for a like-minded organization.
His role at CW3E will be serving as a field hydrologist and engineer to support Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), hydrological modeling, and any future CW3E projects where his experience can be applied. He looks forward to bringing his observational and technical field experience to CW3E research efforts and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance CW3E’s ability to provide 21st Century water cycle science, technology and outreach to support effective policies and practices that address the impacts of extreme weather and water events on the environment, people and the economy of Western North America.