Aquifer Group, LLC

Staff: Consulting Staff and Advisors

Consulting Staff and Key Advisors

Ken Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E., DEE
Professor
Director, Water Resource Center
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Aquifer Group Advisor

Dr. Rainwater is the Director of the Texas Tech University Water Resources Center and a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rice University (1979), and M.S. (1982) and Ph.D. (1985) in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Ken has 22 years of experience in water resources and environmental engineering. He teaches courses in environmental engineering, engineering hydrology, water systems design, groundwater hydrology, groundwater contaminant transport, and water resources management. His research expertise is in problems of groundwater quantity and quality, remediation of soil and groundwater contamination, and water resources management. His research has been funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Bureau of Reclamation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Texas Water Development Board. He has been honored with several teaching awards at Texas Tech, including with the Abell Faculty Teaching Award and the President's Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Rainwater leads Aquifer Group's research alliances with Texas Tech. He also serves as a valued advisor on matters related to water restoration and rangeland impact, measuring, monitoring and development of related research projects.

Russell S. Johnson
Partner - McGinnis, Lochridge and Kilgore, LLP, Austin, Texas
Aquifer Group Advisor

Russell focuses his practice on environmental and water law, including representation of public utilities, municipalities, and businesses in all forms of litigation and regulatory matters. He has a strong background in advocating and negotiating for clients before legislative bodies, administrative agencies, and both state and federal courts in the water law area. He is a Board Member, Texas Tech University School of Law Center for Water Law and Policy. Mr. Johnson is recognized throughout the State of Texas as a leading expert, presenter and spokesman on water law and related issues.

Since inception of Aquifer Group's concept of restoring diffuse, surface and groundwater rights into an industry changing business model, Russ Johnson has guided our proposals. As a recognized expert on Texas water law, Russ will continue to represent Aquifer Group on important legal and legislative matters.

James Dwyer, P.E., D.WRE.
CH2M Hill, Austin, Texas
Aquifer Group Advisor

James has worked over 20 years as a water resources engineer with CH2M Hill, an international environmental consulting firm. He has completed numerous wellfield, wellhead protection, and aquifer storage/recovery, and injection well projects throughout the U.S. He also specializes in natural and constructed infiltration projects for the enhancement of aquifer recharge and natural filtration of surface water for municipal supply. While most of his desal supply work has been in Florida, he has constructed brackish wells in South Texas and recently completed a municipal desal feasibility study for a water purveyor in West Texas.

James has worked closely with Aquifer Group to evaluate the potential of our IR5 Methodology and traditional engineering needs required to restore lost aquifer recharge structures. James and CH2M Hill will continue to advise our management team on ongoing projects and proposed Texas well field applications.

Susan Butler
CH2M Hill, Austin, Texas
Aquifer Group Advisor

Susan has more than 20 years in water resources, municipal, and strategic planning and project implementation experience. Prior to joining CH2M Hill's Austin, Texas, office, she led efforts for implementation of a $2.6 billion, 50-year water supply program for San Antonio Water System (SAWS). She also led the team to develop the water rights market for the Edwards aquifer region, conjunctive use water supply projects, satellite groundwater projects, the country's second largest Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project, an innovative agricultural conservation program to leverage federal funds, ecosystem restoration projects and the legislative policy efforts required for plan implementation. Ms. Butler's key areas of expertise include public involvement, policy analysis ranging from environmental flows, interbasin transfers, and other surface water permitting issues to groundwater ownership, management and regulation to project-specific legislation.

Susan's years of expertise in municipal water management has provided critical insight for developing Aquifer Group's marketing plans. As our projects are developed, Ms. Butler and CH2M Hill will provide important hands on experience and advisory services to refine Aquifer Group's relationships with water markets and municipal clients.

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