Hobson Family Ranch - Flood Litigation Support
Dr. Newton evaluated flood damage to the Hobson Family Ranch that occurred in the winter of 2005, and successfully demonstrated through technical evaluations that the cause was human modifications to the Timber Canyon Barranca levee system. Dr. Newton measured hydraulic characteristics of the channel, collected and evaluated LIDAR data, developed frequency analyses of rainfall and floods, evaluated and interpreted flood deposits, and testified to his opinion at a jury trial.
Amargosa Creek Recharge and Nature Park, City of Palmdale
The City of Palmdale proposes to develop the Upper Amargosa Project (UAP) on approximately 87 acres located within the City limits (Figures 2-1 and 2-2). The UAP would include the following components:
1) Approximately 20-acre recharge facility, including recharge basins and infrastructure; 2) a 38-acre community nature park containing multi-use pathways, picnic tables, interpretive plaques, and habitat enhancement/restoration areas; 3) a 22-acre native habitat conservation area; and 4) 7 acres of open stream channel.
Dr. Newton was the Program Manager on behalf of the City of Palmdale, and envisioned the conceptual model for a groundwater recharge and nature park project on the Amargosa Creek, developed the conceptual design, managed the EIR for project, and managed all technical analyses relating to water for the project to utilize undelivered State Water Project water and improve the long-term water supply of the region.
1) Approximately 20-acre recharge facility, including recharge basins and infrastructure; 2) a 38-acre community nature park containing multi-use pathways, picnic tables, interpretive plaques, and habitat enhancement/restoration areas; 3) a 22-acre native habitat conservation area; and 4) 7 acres of open stream channel.
Dr. Newton was the Program Manager on behalf of the City of Palmdale, and envisioned the conceptual model for a groundwater recharge and nature park project on the Amargosa Creek, developed the conceptual design, managed the EIR for project, and managed all technical analyses relating to water for the project to utilize undelivered State Water Project water and improve the long-term water supply of the region.
Minimal Producers Program, Mojave Water Agency
Dr. Newton has acted as a technical advisor to Mojave Basin Area Watermaster developing methodologies supporting quantification of minimal producers pumping, evapotranspirative losses, and groundwater recharge in mountain front / mountain block hydrologic regimes, and has provided his opinion to the Watermaster Board of Directors in reports and oral presentations, and was the project designer and manager of a team of consultants to identify and classify land use categories by inspection of aerial photography, compute the actual evapotranspiration from each land use category, estimate the annual production for each parcel determined to be subject to water use, and design custom ARC Tools to augment databases, as follows.
Identification and estimation of annual water production by “Minimal Producers” within the Mojave Basin Area is required by the Judgment After Trial, January 10, 1996 (Judgment), and is “to assure that every person producing water in the Basin Area participates fairly in the Physical Solution.” The Judgment defined a “Minimal Producer” as “any person or entity producing equal to or less than 10 acre-feet of water per year (by well, surface water diversion, or other means) within the drainage areas of the Lucerne Valley Basin, El Mirage Basin, and the Mojave River drainage areas, who are also within the Mojave Water Agency (MWA) boundaries, and is not required to be bound by the terms of the Judgment.” Dr. Newton proposed and conducted a plan to estimate the annual water produced by Minimal Producers within the area of the Mojave Water Agency defined by the Judgment, as follows: 1) Identify and classify land use categories by inspection of aerial photography, 2) compute the actual evapotranspiration from each land use category, 3) estimate the annual production by Minimal Producers for each parcel determined to be subject to water use, and 4) augment MWA’s database with ARC Tools. Minimal Producers were categorized based on the estimated annual water production. A relationship between the estimated consumptive use and the annual water production amount was determined from the foregoing process.
Identification and estimation of annual water production by “Minimal Producers” within the Mojave Basin Area is required by the Judgment After Trial, January 10, 1996 (Judgment), and is “to assure that every person producing water in the Basin Area participates fairly in the Physical Solution.” The Judgment defined a “Minimal Producer” as “any person or entity producing equal to or less than 10 acre-feet of water per year (by well, surface water diversion, or other means) within the drainage areas of the Lucerne Valley Basin, El Mirage Basin, and the Mojave River drainage areas, who are also within the Mojave Water Agency (MWA) boundaries, and is not required to be bound by the terms of the Judgment.” Dr. Newton proposed and conducted a plan to estimate the annual water produced by Minimal Producers within the area of the Mojave Water Agency defined by the Judgment, as follows: 1) Identify and classify land use categories by inspection of aerial photography, 2) compute the actual evapotranspiration from each land use category, 3) estimate the annual production by Minimal Producers for each parcel determined to be subject to water use, and 4) augment MWA’s database with ARC Tools. Minimal Producers were categorized based on the estimated annual water production. A relationship between the estimated consumptive use and the annual water production amount was determined from the foregoing process.
Nipomo Mesa Management Area Technical Group, Nipomo Community Services District, San Luis Obispo
Dr. Newton participates as one of the five technical experts in the Nipomo Mesa Management Area Technical Group (NMMA TG) pursuant to the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin adjudication. He evaluates climatic data, ground water data, and consumptive use data, and developed the Key Wells Index that represents the water supply of the principle production aquifer underlying the area. Dr. Newton developed the numerical model that computes water percolation past the root zone based on climatic conditions, land cover, soil characteristics, and applied water. He manages the NMMA TG database, and regularly collects and compiles relevant data for the Technical Group's consideration. He participated in and co-authored the Monitoring Program approved by the Court, and co-authored all the Annual Reports to the Court beginning with the 1st Annual Report – Calendar Year 2008 to present.