Staff Profiles

Zachary M. Neal Staff Scientist

Zachary M. Neal joined the ALWI team early in 2012 as a Staff Scientist. Mr. Neal completed his B.S. in Environmental Science at the New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2011.

Mr. Neal possesses a strong academic background in geology, hydrogeology and is highly skilled in the application of quantitative methods and numerical tech applied thereto. He has successfully completed training in use of the USGS MODFLOW computer model for groundwater flow and contaminant transport simulation.

Mr. Neal began his career as an environmental consultant by supporting a two-year ALWI contract with the Maryland Department of the Environment. He assisted in the preparation of Source Water Protection Plans for twelve municipalities statewide. Those public water systems are considered particularly susceptible to groundwater contamination.

Mr. Neal's work included delineating wellhead protection areas, identifying and mapping point- source and non-point contamination hazards, evaluating water quality compliance data for evidence of quantitative susceptibility, and supporting the development of customized, system-specific plans for the management of the contamination risk.

Prior to joining ALWI, his academic research focused on surface water geochemistry. He found a correlation between nitrate concentrations in Wyoming streams, and the incidence of freeze-thaw events affecting soils in upgradient watersheds.

Mr. Neal possesses proficiency in the use of field equipment and in the interpretation of field- collected data, including differentially-correcting Global Positioning Systems (GPS), pressure transducers and other environmental monitoring equipment. In addition to MODFLOW as described above, he has applied several, commonly-cited mathematical models to analyze problems related to hydrogeologic site characterization.

Education:

B.S: Environmental Science, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Relevant Professional Experience: