Michael L. Alter R.G.
Principal Hydrogeologist
malter@clearcreekassociates.com
Academic Background & Registration: M.Sc., Geology, Arizona State University, 1994; B.Sc., Geology, Virginia Tech University, 1992; Professional/Registered Geologist-Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arizona
Expertise: Michael (Mike) Alter is a Principal Hydrogeologist based in Clear Creek Associates’ Leesburg, Virginia office. Mike's previous professional experience includes starting and managing Clear Creek’s Tucson office and managing the Geoscience Division of Dames & Moore's Tucson office. His specialties include well design and aquifer testing, hydrogeologic studies, site characterization, and groundwater flow and transport modeling. He has represented both private and public sector clients on water resources and environmental projects.
Mike’s undergraduate degree is in Geology from Virginia Tech, where he specialized in structural geology. His graduate degree is from Arizona State University, where he worked under one of the premier structural geologists in the West and developed a keen understanding of ore geology. This education has served as the foundation for his ability to work with and have a keen understanding of the specific needs of the mining sector, as well as other clients developing and managing water resources in bedrock aquifers. His interest in geology extends beyond the office; he continues to be active in the various geological and hydrological professional societies, recently serving on the planning committee for the Arizona Geological Society’s 2007 Ores and Orogenesis Symposium. He also volunteers as a geology teacher several times a year for preschool and elementary school classes.
Since the mid-1990s, Mike has taken a primary role in managing water resources and developing groundwater supplies for clients. Large-scale industrial operations require a reliable supply of water. Mr. Alter is an expert in identifying and developing groundwater resources in fractured bedrock settings. He understands and knows when to apply investigative techniques such as geologic mapping, fracture-trace analyses, surface geophysics, exploration/test well drilling and aquifer testing. He has also represented municipal and industrial clients on water resources investigations involving water well siting, design, installation, and testing; injection well design and operation; well rehabilitation; and long-term drawdown and mounding analyses. Mike has an exceptional technical expertise for these projects, but also has extensive experience with interacting with the public and negotiating with regulatory agencies.
Local and state governments recognize the importance of managing water resources. Often these agencies require a demonstration of an adequate water supply as part of a project’s review/permitting process. Mr. Alter has managed numerous successful hydrogeologic studies, ranging from small residential projects (less than 50 units) up to master planned communities (greater than 30,000 residences) and large-scale industrial facilities.
Mr. Alter’s environmental investigation and remediation projects have included, among others, active and inactive landfills, petroleum fueling facilities, and mining sites. He is an expert on groundwater contamination issues associated with large-scale industrial operations, and has investigated and modeled complex contaminant plumes including chlorinated solvents, metals, and radionuclides. He has represented industrial, mining, and municipal clients in large-scale groundwater contamination projects under various federal, state, and local regulatory programs. Mr. Alter has also completed numerous investigations to evaluate groundwater flow and contaminant transport, and he has served as Principal Modeler on a number of key modeling studies that supported remedial alternative evaluations.
Mr. Alter has served on various environmental advisory boards and is an active member in a number of professional societies, including the American Institute of Professional Geologists, the National Ground Water Association, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, the Arizona Geological Society, and the Virginia Water Well Association.