Ph.D., Geology (Hydrogeology emphasis), Western Michigan University, 1997
M.S., Environmental Earth Science (Coastal Geomorphology), Western Michigan University, 1992
B.A., Earth Science (Oceanography), Saint Cloud State University, 1989

Licenses

Registered Geologist, California, (7098)
Certified Professional Geologist, California, (10544)

Memberships

American Geophysical Union
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
ASTM Society
California Hydrological Society
National Ground Water Association
National Science Teachers Association
North American Lake Management Society
Sigma Xi
Society of Wetland Scientists

Academic Experience

California State University, Fullerton, California

2000 - Present Assistant Professor of Hydrogeology, Department of Geological Sciences.
Hydrogeology (GEO 436)
Groundwater Modeling (GEO 535T)
Environmental Sampling and Protocols (GEO 535T)
Meteorology (GEO 340)
Oceanography (GEO 333)
Physical Geology Lab (GEO 101L)

2001 and 2002 - Summer - Western Michigan University, Dept. of Geological Sciences. Taught two 1-week graduate level field courses. (1) Principles of Well Drilling and Installation; (2) Principles and Practices of Aquifer Testing.

California State University, Fullerton, California (Part-time)

1999 - 2000 Oceanography (GEO 333)
Water Quality (GEO 437)

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

1994-96 Introduction to Hydrogeology (Geo 435)
1992-96 Hydrogeology Summer Field Course (Geo 535 a, b, c, d, e and f) sponsored by the Department of Geology. The field course consisted of six individual modules (40-Hour HAZWOPPER, Environmental Surface Geophysics, Principles of Well Drilling and Installation, Principles and Practices of Ground-Water Sampling and Monitoring, Principles and Practices of Aquifer Testing and Analysis, and Remediation Design and Implication). Developed relationships with vendors and local companies to aid in the teaching of the course. This course covered all aspects of field hydrogeology, as well as environmental professionalism. (Number of students = approx. 65 per term)
1993-95 Organized and taught short-courses on computer programs. Developed a Saturday computer short-course series for the Department of Geology. Computer programs included; ACAD; Geosoft; Surfer/Grapher; GRASS (GIS); Internet (www and Gopher); Aqtesolv, APE and GWAP; WordPerfect; Windows/DOS; groundwater models; and hydrology models (HEC).
1993 Co-taught senior level course titled Construction Measurements and Layout through the Department of Engineering Technology. Responsible for the lab sequences only.

Oceanography. Subjects covered physical, chemical and biological oceanography.
These included basic concepts and theories. (300 students with one teaching assistant.)

Awards and Honors

2000-2004 National Groundwater Association - Educational Committee member
2002-2006 National Groundwater Association - National Certification Committee member
1998 Western Michigan University established a scholarship in my honor for the outstanding Geology Department Student. To be awarded annually starting spring.
1997 Western Michigan University, Department of Geology, Distinguished Service Award.
1991-1992 Western Michigan University Research Fellowship 1991-92.
1992 IEEE OCEANS 92' student paper finalist.

Research Grants

2002 CSUF Service-Learning Mini-Grant ($1,500); The integration of Service Learning into Advanced Environmental Geology.

Friend of the San Gabriel River ($32,000); Citizens Monitoring Program Development and Implication.

Arrange for donation of “Sampling Truck”. The vehicle is specially designed to collect water samples downhole – equipped with twin generators and large capacity hydraulic system (value $30,000). Donated by Earth Technologies, Inc.

Mojave Water Agency ($10,000+); Groundwater Investigations to look at potential recharge areas and to monitor the development and installation of a deep production/monitoring well.

Proposal for Groundwater Studies Conducted in the Arboretum Area (potentially $100,000 - $250,000 in-kind-gift); Drilling and installation of 3 monitoring wells for the purpose of developing curriculum for general hydrogeology. These wells are part of a larger project to interpret the hydrogeology of CSUF and the local area.

Earth Consultants International, Inc. ($3,000); Geologic Interpretation of a well field in the vicinity of the City of Highland. Involves the gamma-ray logging and interpretation of subsurface geology.

2001 CSUF Service-Learning Mini-Grant ($3,000); The Integration of Service Learning into Advanced Hydrogeology Sampling.

CSUF Summer Support Assistance for Summer 2001 ($5,000); This was summer support money to provide assistance in the sampling of water and soil throughout Orange County, California.

Grant to develop a web based model on Distance Calibration of Earth Images ($800). This was part of Advanced Technology in Science Learning Environments Grant through the Department of Biology.

Los Angeles Regional Quality Control Board ($31,000); The Santa Clara River Watershed; GPS and Observational Report on the Santa Clara River

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy ($35,000); Sediment Quality And Depositional Environment Of San Elijo Lagoon

2000 Los Angeles Regional Quality Control Board ($25,000); The San Gabriel River Watershed; GPS and Observational Report on the San Gabriel River from the Whittier Narrows region to Seal Beach

Professional Experience

1999 February – August 2000, Orange, California. Environmental Consultant with Earth Consultants International. Work includes project management and project hydrogeologist duties. Other activities include business development and marketing. Projects include wastewater, oil field seepage, dewatering for construction purposes, watershed studies, and a regional groundwater GIS study for Riverside County.

February – December, Santa Ana, California. Project consultant to U.S. Envi-Tech, Inc. Duties include market analysis and summary of product viability. Also in charge of developing sampling protocols for Korean Government (river monitoring). This included a trip to Seoul, South Korea to give a one-day short course to the Environmental Management Corporation.

1997 – 1998, Kalamazoo, MI. Senior Hydrogeologist for SimulProbe Technologies. Traveled throughout the U.S. and Germany marketing product. Promoted to head of marketing in Midwest and Southwest. Responsible for budgeting, supervising staff, project management, and making presentations to government officials. Duties also included direct marketing to drilling companies and environmental consultants, supervising all sales personnel and marketing efforts; scheduling service calls and field operations; assisting with R&D; field training and site management.

June - December, Kalamazoo, MI. Worked for the GEM Regional Center, Western Michigan University. Conducted water budget analysis for watershed located in Calhoun County.

January - March, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Worked with United Environmental Technologies, Inc. to help develop sampling and well construction protocol for various projects.

January, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Developed a protocol for low-level aerial photography for the purpose of mapping environmental problems.

1996 April - April 1997, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Worked with the Health Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on well grouting issues surrounding public and private water supplies.

April - December, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Worked with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on the Hydrogeological and Geochemical aspects of the Panelyte site. This involved the use of geophysics and geochemical analysis and comparison for the detection and mapping of possible contaminants.

January - December, Ross Township, Michigan. Retained through Western Michigan University by the City of Kalamazoo, to determine the impact of a proposed well field on the surrounding surface water bodies (streams, lakes and wetlands).

1995 October - November, Minden, Michigan. Retained by Michigan Peat Company to evaluate peat reserves. Evaluation revolved around sampling and mapping peat reserves.

April, Salem, Illinois. Retained by Hi-Shots Aerial Photography Inc., to setup and demonstrate internet capabilities for small business.

February - April, Michigan. Retained by Superior Environmental Corp. to conduct an EM-31 geophysical surveys. The surveys were designed to locate possible buried tanks in a downtown bank parking lot, a corner restaurant, fabrication/manufacturing buildings and a former car dealership.

January, Schoolcraft, Michigan. Alpha GeoSciences Inc. (Through Department of Geology, Western Michigan University). Hired to run a hollow stem auger drill rig. Three 30-foot wells were installed.

1994 October - November, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Golder Associates Inc. (through the Institute for Water Sciences, Western Michigan University) retained to log wells located within the KL-landfill CERCLA site using a gamma ray.

June, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois. Conducted an aerial photographic survey of the Champaign/Urbana landfills to create site maps. Contract was funded through the Illinois State Geological Survey.

April, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Conducted aerial photographic survey of a contaminated wetland for Alpha GeoSciences Inc. of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Provided site maps of monitoring wells and sampling locations.

1993 September, Paris, France. Retained by Littoral et Patrimoine for projects in France and India. Evaluated coastal erosion and constructed possible solutions to ongoing erosion problems.

June and August, Sandusky, Ohio. Designed coring program along the Sandusky River and part of Lake Erie for projects funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The cores were to be used in defining the sediment input from the Sandusky River and Lake Erie on adjacent estuaries/marshes.

August, Three Rivers, Michigan. Retained by Reid and Reid Law Offices, Kalamazoo, Michigan, to evaluate the effects of the construction of a golf course and adjacent buildings on the water quality of Lake Templene.

June - September, Portage, Michigan. Designed and coordinated the work on an aeration pilot project on Austin Lake. This project involved bottom sampling, coring and sediment profiling. Collected and analyzed the sediment and water samples for the Ramco Company. Prepared an independent report on the success of the entire project.

1992 August, Ludington, Michigan. Assisted on the Department of Geology's state funded project involving erosion control monitoring of Undercurrent Stabilization systems.

May - July, Michigan. Assisted the Western Michigan University Department of Geology on a state-funded project regarding erosion monitoring along Lakes Michigan and Huron.

February - March, Wilmington, North Carolina and Plainwell, Michigan. Retained by Dr. Thomas Straw to analyze various meteorological parameters for a hydrology project in Wilmington. Also retained to solve problems associated with a gravel pit operations in Plainwell.

January, Sanibel Island, Florida. Retained by the City of Sanibel Island, Florida to evaluate coastal erosion along the Gulf Coast side of the island.

1991-92 Atlanta, Georgia. Retained as consultant by Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan, to address a wetland problem within one of Mobil Land Development Company’s major developments. This included wetland hydrology, soil monitoring and aerial photographic interpretation.

1991 May, Benton Harbor, Michigan. Member of Scientific Party - Great Lakes Mapping cruise of eastern Lake Michigan (United States Geological Survey cruise no. NPTN91-1). The resultant sediment samples were split between WMU and the USGS allowing me to conduct future research on shape analysis for possible finger printing.

June - August, Western Michigan University, Institute for Water Sciences. Research assistant on a United States Geological Survey funded project along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

1989-90 Western Michigan University. Worked with the Department of Geology on small construction projects and consulted on a state funded project addressing shoreline erosion.

1983-89 Hutchinson, Minnesota, 3M Company. Worked at various jobs for the 3M Company. These jobs ranged from heavy equipment operator to hazardous waste disposal to machine and computer database operator.

Ph.D. Dissertation and Thesis Committees

1. Mathew Blinstrub, 2002. (MS) Spatial and Temporal Differences in Surface Water Quality in Newport Bay and San Diego Creek, Orange County, California, from 1976 to 1996.
2. Otto Figueroa, 2002. (BS) Hydrogeologic Characterization and Assessment of Impacts of Wastewater Discharge for Proposed Construction, Trancas Canyon, Malibu, California.
3. Tom Rosales, 2002. (MS) - An examination of the benefits and costs to implement the Municipal Storm Water Permit for Orange County – similarities and differences between coastal and inland cities.
4. Steffy Wiles, 2002. (BS) - Angels Camp - Gamma Ray Logging Examination and Correlation.
5. Kelly Schmucker, 2002. (MS) - Water Quality of Man-made Wetlands.
6. Randy Brand, 2002. (BS), Hydrogeologic and Geologic Considerations for Selected sites near the Santa Margarita, Upper Ysidora, and Lower Ysidora Groundwater Basins in Southern California.
7. Shaghayegh Rashidi-Fard, 2001 (BS), Water Quality Testing and Monitoring Program at the Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve.
8. Kevin Vortis, 2001. (BS), Geologic History of San Elijo Lagoon San Diego County, California.
9. Lance Ekhart, 2001. (MS), Vertical Gradient Investigation of a Southern California Landfill.
10. David Fields, 2001. (BS) Orange County Groundwater Contour Maps for 2000.

Publications

Personal Publications, Abstracts and Posters

1. Laton, W.R., 2002. Taylor Yard and Los Angeles River, Preliminary Groundwater and Surface Water Study Groundwater Model of Taylor Yard and Vicinity Los Angeles, California – NGWA National Meeting. (abstract)
2. Otto Figueroa and Laton, W.R., 2002. Hydrogeologic Characterization and Assessment of Impacts of Wastewater Discharge for Proposed Construction, Trancas Canyon, Malibu, California – NGWA National Meeting.
3. Laton, W.R., Sean Hunt, and Foster, J., 2002. The Impact of Groundwater – Surface Water Interaction on Contaminant Distribution, San Elijo Lagoon, California – NGWA National Meeting.
4. Laton, W.R., 2001. Distance Calibration of Earth Images - To design and develop a Web delivered lesson showing an Advance in Information Technology that can be used in a Science Learning Environment for In-service Teachers (online lesson plan).
5. D. Bausch, E. Gath, T. Gonzales, and R. Laton, 2000. GIS-Based Hazard Mapping and Loss Estimation in the Safety Element of the General Plan for Riverside County, California. California: EERI 6th International Conference on Seismic Zonation, Riverside County, California.
6. Laton, W.R., Perez, P., and Bausch, D., 2000. New Hazard Maps for Riverside County, California. San Diego Association of Geologists annual field trip guidebook.
7. Marcus, D.L., Bonds, C.L. and Laton, W.R., 1997. Rapid Screening using the SimulProbe Multimedia Sampler - Case Histories and Future Directions. New England Environmental Exposition. (abstract)
8. Laton, W.R., 1997. Groundwater - Kalamazoo River Interaction near the Parchment City Well Field, Parchment, Michigan. (Dissertation)
9. Barnes, D.A., Kovacich, M.S., Limez, S., and Laton, W.R., 1995. Error Analysis in Great Lakes Beach Profile Surveying Techniques. Canadian Coastal Conference, Dartmoth, Nova Scotia. (Abstract)
10. Mackey, S.D., Guy, D.E., Laton, W.R., and Kovacich, M., 1994. Geologic Framework of an Eroded Lake Erie Coastal Marsh - Metzger Marsh, Ohio. North-Central Geological Society of America, Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Abstract)
11. Vincent, R.K., Laton, W.R. and Sattler, J., 1993. Detailed Modeling of Solid Waste Landfill Surface Water Run-off from High Resolution Elevation Data Automatically extracted From Stereo Photos Taken by a Camera on a Tethered Balloon Platform. Association of Engineering Geologists, San Antonio, Texas. (Abstract)
12. Laton, W.R., 1992. Small-Scale Coastal Cells as Control Mechanisms on Sediment Movement; Identification and Mapping. OCEANS ‘92, Newport, Rhode Island.
13. Laton, W.R. and Straw, W.T., 1992. Small-Scale Coastal Cells; Identification and Mapping. First Thematic Conference, Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Public Reports

1. Laton, W.R., 2002. Taylor Yard and Los Angeles River Preliminary Groundwater and Surface Water Study, Groundwater Model of Taylor Yard and Vicinity, Los Angeles, California. California Coastal Conservancy.
2. Laton, W.R. and Foster, J., 2001. Sediment Quality And Depositional Environment Of San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego County, California. San Elijo Nature Conservancy and Fish and Wildlife Service.
3. Laton, W.R. and Foster, J., 2000. The San Gabriel River Watershed GPS and Observational Report on the San Gabriel River from the Whittier Narrows region to Seal Beach. Report to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
4. Straw, W.T., Hascall, A.P., Laton, W.R., and Dalman, M., 1997. Groundwater - Surface Water Interaction Study in Ross Township. Report prepared and presented to the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
5. Straw, W.T. and Laton, W.R., 1993. WMU Austin Lake Aeration Feasibility Study Evaluation. Non-published report prepared and presented to the City of Portage, Portage, Michigan.
6. Straw, W.T., Wardwell, D.A. and Laton, W.R., 1992. An Evaluation of Undercurrent Stabilization Anchor System Installation at Douglas and Tawas City, Michigan. Final Report. Western Michigan University. Prepared and presented to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Presentations

1. Laton, W.R., 2002. Taylor Yard and Los Angeles River, Preliminary Groundwater and Surface Water Study Groundwater Model of Taylor Yard and Vicinity Los Angeles, California – NGWA National Meeting. (Abstract/Presentation)
2. Otto Figueroa and Laton, W.R., 2002. Hydrogeologic Characterization and Assessment of Impacts of Wastewater Discharge for Proposed Construction, Trancas Canyon, Malibu, California – NGWA National Meeting. (Abstract/Presentation)
3. Sean Hunt, Laton, W.R., and Foster, J., 2002. The Impact of Groundwater – Surface Water Interaction on Contaminant Distribution, San Elijo Lagoon, California – NGWA National Meeting. (Abstract/Presentation)
4. Laton, W.R., 2002. (invited) California Coastal Conservancy (invited) – Taylor Yard and Los Angeles River Preliminary Groundwater and Surface Water Study, Groundwater Model of Taylor Yard and Vicinity, Los Angeles, California.
5. Laton, W.R., 2001. The Role of Groundwater in Geologic Hazards. California Science Academy. (Abstract/Presentation)
6. Laton, W.R., 2001. Natural Hazards Mapping, Thailand. Thailand Geological Survey. (invited)
7. Laton, W.R., 2001. Subsidence evaluation and assessment, Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand Geological Survey. (invited)
8. Laton, W.R., 2000. Natural Hazard Mapping – A GIS Approach. CSUF Geology Department.
9. Laton, W.R., 2000. Natural Hazards Assessment of Temecula, California. San Diego Association of Geologists annual field trip.
10. Sauck, W. A., Laton, W.R., Seng, D.L., And Vandereide, M.A., Institute for Water Sciences, Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Ground-penetrating radar investigations of nearshore sediments of eastern Lake Michigan. IAGLR 2000.
11. Laton, W.R., 1999. Watershed Management and Sampling Protocol. Korean Ministry of Environment and Environmental Management Corporation short course (invited).
12. Laton, W.R., 1999, Environmental Sampling – what, when and why. Port of Los Angeles, Environmental Group (invited).
13. Laton, W.R., 1998. Single Point Pneumatic Slug Test, Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) Testing During Initial Site Investigation. Hazardous Waste Section, SMARTech ‘98, Raleigh, NC.
14. Laton, W.R., 1998. SimulProbe® Environmental Core Barrel. EPA National Site Assessment Conference. Denver, CO. (invited)
15. Laton, W.R., Hascall, A.P., Atekewana, E.A., Hampton, D.R., 1996. Seepage Meter Spacial and Temporal Variability in the Study of Groundwater Interaction With Surface Water Features. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA.
16. Laton, W.R., 1996. Well Grouting Research. Michigan Environmental Health Association, Ground Water Conference, Thompsonville, MI. (invited)
17. Laton, W.R., 1996. SimulProbe Sampling in Contaminated Areas. University of Michigan Summer Hydrogeology Field Course, Wortsmith Research Center, MI.
18. Laton, W.R., 1995. Environmental Uses of Low-Altitude Aerial Photography. Colloquium on Environmental Earth Science, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. (invited)
19. Laton, W.R., 1995. Environmental Uses of Low-Altitude Aerial Photography. Hi-Shots International Conference, Saint Louis, Missouri. (invited)
20. Laton, W.R., 1993. Site Characterization and Mapping Utilizing a Tethered Balloon System. HI-SHOTS International Convention, Saint Louis, Missouri. (invited)
21. Laton, W.R., 1992. Coastal Processes and Use of a Blimp. Shoreline Erosion and Coastal Processes in Berrien County, Lake Michigan College Environmental Center, St. Joseph, Michigan.
22. Laton, W.R., 1991. Undercurrent Stabilization Anchor Systems at Tawas on Lake Huron and Douglas on Lake Michigan - A One-Year Study. Michigan Academy of Science, Ypsilanti, Michigan.