Gary Goforth, P.E., Ph.D.

Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Management

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Gary Goforth, P.E., Ph.D.

Dr. Gary Goforth has more than 35 years of experience in water resources engineering, encompassing strategic planning, design, permitting, construction, operation and program management. For the last 30 years, his focus has been on large-scale environmental restoration programs in the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades ecosystem. He was the Chief Consulting Engineer during the design, construction and operation of the $700 million Everglades Construction Project, containing over 41,000 acres of constructed wetlands.  He is experienced in public education, water quality treatment design and evaluation, engineering design and peer review, systems ecology, statistical hydrology, hydrologic modeling, hydrodynamic modeling, water quality modeling, environmental permit acquisition and administration, hydrologic and water quality performance analyses.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 1/2016 - present:  Founder and Principal Engineer, Gary Goforth, LLC

  • 1/2005 - 1/2015:  President and Principal Engineer, Gary Goforth, Inc.

  • 1/97-12/2004 CHIEF CONSULTING ENGINEER, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Responsible for strategic planning, design review, development of operational plans, and program management of Everglades restoration projects. Provided factual and expert witness testimony in State and Federal courts.

  • 4/94-12/96 DIRECTOR, Everglades Program Management Division, Ecosystem Restoration Department, SFWMD. Developed and implemented a management system for over 50 projects comprising the Everglades Program, estimated value of approximately $800 million. Responsible for state and federal coordination of Everglades Program implementation, including acquisition and administration of environmental permits.

  • 12/88 - 4/94 DIRECTOR, Project Management Division, Construction Management Department, South Florida Water Management District. Responsible for coordinating the planning, engineering design, permitting and construction of capital facilities.

  • 7/86 - 12/88 SR. WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER, Resource Operations Dept., South Florida Water Management District. Developed a functional prototype of a decision support system to aid in the operation of the agency's 250 major water control facilities.

  • 12/83 - 7/86 RESEARCH ENGINEER, Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida. Evaluated the technical feasibility of using a large-scale centrifuge to investigate the movement of hazardous waste through soil. Appointment included assignment at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station; provided engineering support in the design of dredged material containment areas.

  • 6/81 - 11/83 WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER, Espey, Huston and Assoc., Inc., Austin, Texas. Participated in numerous water resources projects, including hydrologic modeling in support of stormwater management systems for lignite mines, numerous water quality studies, hydrodynamic modeling of thermal discharges on estuaries, and navigation study of the Houston Ship Channel.

  • 1/80 - 5/81 GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida. Conducted field sampling and analyzed the impacts of thermal discharges from a nuclear power plant on marsh productivity.

  • 2/77 - 12/79 RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida. Conducted field sampling to determine the nutrient dynamics in a freshwater marsh receiving secondary waste effluent.

LEGAL TESTIMONY

  • 1995 � 2006 Federal court, qualified as an expert in environmental engineering, water quality treatment and constructed wetlands

  • 1996 State of Florida land condemnation hearing; qualified as a fact witness in environmental permitting

  • 1997 State of Florida administrative hearing; qualified as an expert in environmental engineering, water quality treatment and constructed wetlands

  • 2003 State of Florida; factual testimony to the Environmental Regulation Commission during hearings to develop a Phosphorus Water Quality Standard for the Everglades

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. May 1986, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; Dissertation: "Technical Feasibility of Centrifugal Techniques for Evaluation of Hazardous Waste Migration." Course work focused on soil physics, surfactant chemistry, groundwater hydrology and physical and computer modeling.

  • M.E. June 1981, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. Thesis: "Long-Term Performance of Stormwater Detention Facilities: A Comparison of Design Methodologies." Course work focused on applied and statistical hydrology, surface water hydraulics, operations research, and systems ecology.

  • B.S.E. December 1979, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. Course work focused on comprehensive environmental engineering curriculum.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

  • Registered Professional Engineer - Florida, No. 35525

ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS

  •  Tau Beta Pi University of Florida - 1979

  • Phi Kappa Phi University of Florida - 1979

  • Government Engineer of the Year (1998), awarded by Palm Beach Branch American Society of

    • Civil Engineers

  • 2005 President's Award - Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, awarded by the Treasure Coast Branch

  • 2005 - 2006 Outstanding Technical Achievement -  Florida Engineering Society, awarded by the Palm Beach Chapter