When a case requires an expert in watershed hydrology, having a seasoned hydrologist can be the key to a comprehensive understanding of the case. At WRCS (Water Resources Consulting Services), we bring over 35 years of unparalleled expertise, offering top-tier professional witness services tailored to meet the unique demands of your case.
Watershed Hydrology:
WRCS has extensive experience in watershed modeling using several different computer models, from simple rainfall-runoff algorithms to complex geo-spatial numerical modeling systems. We can analyze models developed by government agencies or design engineers, used as a basis of design for a project, and then re-run the models for various watershed conditions and storm frequencies.
Watershed hydrology is the study of the rainfall–runoff process, or how rainfall occurring over a watershed will produce a specific flood hydrograph. With watershed hydrology we can model this process to determine the volume of runoff produced by a storm, the shape and peak flow of its flood hydrograph, and what the hydrograph will look like at a downstream location. By adjusting watershed basin parameters or rainfall patterns we can analyze the effects of watershed development or determine what the 100-year flood, or any design flood, would look like at any given location.
Why Choose WRCS?
Decades of Specialized Experience:
We exclusively work in litigation support (Expert Witness Hydrologist) and have done so for 35 years. We have municipal, commercial and professional clients across the U.S., Canada and Australia.
Unbiased and Thorough Analysis:
We pride ourselves on our company history of providing unbiased, non-conflicted testimony to both plaintiff and defendant clients.
We are dedicated to helping lawyers, law firms and insurance companies navigate the complex technical world of surface water engineering, and make it understandable to our clients, the judge and the “layman” jury.
No hired guns here.
If there’s problems or weaknesses with your case theory the best thing we can do for you as an expert consultant is to tell you so.
If the technical data backs your case, we will find it, analyze it, model it, report it, and present it with graphics that a judge and jury will understand.
Comprehensive Coverage:
WRCS covers an extensive range of hydrology-related issues, including but not limited to flooding and flood forensics, flood hydraulics, watershed hydrology, drowning hydraulics, storm drain systems, dam and reservoir operations, floodplain analysis and roadway drainage. Our experts bring a multifaceted understanding of hydrological phenomena to the table, ensuring that no nuance is overlooked in the pursuit of truth.
Meet Rick Van Bruggen
President WRCS
Mr. Van Bruggen, President of WRCS, has over 40 years of engineering experience specializing in the use of systems engineering and modeling techniques to define and evaluate surface water resource systems and alternative flood control measures.
He has performed hundreds of studies of surface water hydrologic and hydraulic systems, meteorology, sedimentation, debris production, and the management and statistical analysis of hydrographic data. For over 35 years now, Mr. Van Bruggen has made use of his extensive experience in water resources engineering by serving as an Expert Witness in the field.
Watershed Hydrology Expert Witness Consultant
Or call us: (760) 895-4411
Watershed Hydrology Expert Witness Featured Cases
Case #1: Hurricane Harvey Reservoir Operations
Flood Operations of Two Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs During Hurricane Harvey Evaluated for Downstream Impacts in Two Cases; Beaumont, Texas. Gate operations and inflow-outflow hydrographs were analyzed at Sam Rayburn and Town Bluff Reservoirs. Dam releases were hydrologically tracked 100-miles downstream, and over four days travel time, to Beaumont. Flood impacts on residential neighborhoods and Neches Port terminals were evaluated by flood hydrograph separation of the hurricane’s total flood flows coming off of numerous tributaries and watershed areas along the lower Neches River.
Client: The Bernsen Law Firm, Beaumont, Texas.
Case #2: Redding, California Flooding
Testified in a bench trial on the factors involved in flooding that occurred in downtown Redding, The storm’s return frequency, the city storm drain system’s design level of protection, and the impacts of watershed development were all analyzed as they related to the level of flooding experienced at a downtown apartment complex.
Client: McNeill Law Offices, Redding, California.