Lifetime Achievement Award and Kevin J. Neese Awards
presented at Annual Meeting

On September 21, 2006 at GRA's annual meeting, President Tom Mohr presented two annual GRA awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Glenn A. Brown and the Kevin J. Neese Award was presented to CA State Senator Sheila Kuehl.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Glenn A. Brown has been continuously practicing in our field since he graduated with a degree in geology from UCLA in 1951, resulting in an active career of over 55 years and still counting! His contributions include state civil service, consulting, and professional service. Glenn has the distinction of holding certificates as California Registered Geologist No. 4 and Certified Engineering Geologist No. 3.

Glenn began his career working for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) where he worked on dam, tunnel and groundwater investigations. During his ten years with this agency, he investigated the geology, hydrology and water quality of 46 basins in the Colorado River Basin region. He delineated and characterized 30 groundwater basins in San Diego County and 80 basins in the Lahonton and Mojave Desert Region. Glenn conducted studies of the Southern California coastal region, including assessing groundwater storage and the feasibility of recharging imported water, that were incorporated into the California Water Plan, Bulletin No. 3. He also supervised field investigations for the routing of the Feather River Project, identified numerous dam sites for regulatory storage, and evaluated the extent of sea water intrusion in Orange , Los Angeles , and Ventura Counties . In 1958, Glenn served as Senior Geologist on the State Water Rights Board, working on the water rights litigation over the San Fernando Valley . Also during his tenure with the DWR, Glenn was requested by the U.S. State Department to assist in developing a water supply in East Africa .

For the next decade, he worked in the private consulting sector, for Hood & Schmidt, Inc., Geotechnical Consultants, Inc., Glenn A. Brown and Associates, Inc, LeRoy Crandall and Associates, and Law Environmental. His work included foreign assignments for state agencies, irrigation districts, water agencies and numerous private companies. His expertise includes engineering geology applications such as seepage and landslides, environmental audits, aquifer testing and well construction, groundwater monitoring networks, regulatory compliance, and water rights projects, among many, many others, and he continues to provide this expertise as a private consultant. Additionally, since 2001 Glenn has served on the board of the Metropolitan Water District representing the City of Burbank and ten of its committees, most recently chairing the Water Planning, Quality and Resources Committee.

Perhaps his greatest contribution has been his service to the profession. In 1968, he was appointed to the newly created Board of Registration for Geologists by Governor Reagan, where he sat on the Professional Affairs and Technical Assistance Committees for 20 years, and helped develop the first exam for the hydrogeology certification. Also, he served on the Engineering Geologists Qualifications Boards for the City of Los Angeles and Orange County . And to all who know this fine gentleman, he effervesces with enthusiasm for groundwater issues and generously offers his knowledge to those who care to visit with him. No other individual seems to have as much knowledge about the geology, hydrology and water resources management of the Southern California groundwater basins, as well as the key issues and the people who work in them, as Glenn Brown. GRA is pleased to recognize Glenn A. Brown for a lifetime of service to the groundwater profession.

Kevin J. Neese Award:

The GRA's Kevin J. Neese Award recognizes significant accomplishment by a person or entity within the most recent 12-month period that fosters the understanding, development, protection and management of groundwater. Kevin Neese was a partner of Hatch & Parent, A Law Corporation, and member of the GRA. This year, the Kevin J. Neese Award was presented to CA State Senator Sheila Kuehl for her work to improve the production and availability of information about the state of our groundwater resources, information on which reasonable and sensible groundwater management may be developed.

At the GRA's Annual Meeting and Conference in San Diego this year, Dennis O'Connor accepted the award on Senator Kuehl's behalf. Paul Bauer, Legislative Advocate for Hatch & Parent, presented the award and made the following remarks:

During the 2006 legislative session, Senator Kuehl presided over the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and was actively involved in the development of significant legislation affecting groundwater resources. During her tenure, Senator Kuehl convened weekly meetings of the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee to review every aspect of the Governor's Water Bond proposal. The hearings were devoid of the normal partisan rancor associated with proposals of this magnitude. It was clear that Senator Kuehl's Water Committee was the epicenter of all water issues.

Concurrently, Senator Kuehl authored SB 1640 relating to groundwater monitoring. Groundwater monitoring is central to the GRA's mission. After a previous version of the bill was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005, Senator Kuehl introduced SB 1640 and sought to address the concerns of the groundwater community. In fact, she and her staff reached out to GRA and its membership seeking advice regarding technical aspects of the bill and recommendations for improving it. The Senator's bill proposed a process for obtaining good, reliable groundwater information, and making that information available to state and local planning entities, while at the same time respecting current groundwater management processes.

Despite Governor Schwarzenegger's subsequent veto of SB 1640, the GRA is pleased to have honored Senator Kuehl's commitment and dedication to the development, protection and management of groundwater with the Kevin J. Neese Award. The GRA's participation in the drafting of SB 1640 bodes well for the GRA's influence and role in the development of all legislation affecting groundwater resources throughout the state.

For more information about our Awards Program, please contact Brian Lewis admin@grac.org.