Groundwater Sustainability & Basin Management
SGMA planning and periodic evaluation, water budgets, sustainability criteria, monitoring networks, basin-scale hydrogeology, and groundwater management.
David M. Finney, MS, PG
LEAD HYDROGEOLOGIST · CALIFORNIA PG #10340
California groundwater.
From field data to defensible decisions.
I’m a California Professional Geologist focused on groundwater investigation, remediation, and water resources. I combine groundwater modeling and Python-based analysis with hands-on project management, clear client communication, and regulatory coordination.
10 yearsIn groundwater science
California PGProfessional Geologist #10340
SGMA + RemediationGroundwater programs
Python + MODFLOWScientific computing & analysis
01 / CORE EXPERTISE
Groundwater expertise,
from the field to the basin.
My work connects field investigation, groundwater modeling, and Python-based analysis with project management, technical reporting, and client and agency communication.
Contaminated Groundwater & Remediation
Plume characterization, groundwater monitoring, extraction systems, capture-zone analysis, remedial performance evaluation, metals and VOCs, and regulatory groundwater programs.
Groundwater Modeling & Quantitative Analysis
MODFLOW-2005 groundwater-flow modeling, particle tracking, capture-zone analysis, extraction-well evaluation, aquifer-test analysis, contouring, and quantitative hydrogeologic interpretation.
Field Hydrogeology
Well design, construction and development oversight, aquifer and slug testing, groundwater monitoring, borehole logging and geophysics, and stratigraphic interpretation.
Scientific Computing & Data Analysis
Python automation, environmental data processing, GIS and spatial analysis, groundwater-level and water-quality evaluation, visualization, QA/QC, and reproducible workflows.
Project Management & Technical Leadership
Groundwater-project management, technical review, field-team and subcontractor coordination, client and agency communication, and supervision and mentoring of junior staff.
02 / SELECTED PROJECT LEADERSHIP
Leading groundwater work,
from analysis to delivery.
At Geosyntec, I managed groundwater and remediation projects and supervised junior staff throughout my tenure. These selected projects bring together technical analysis, sustained project management, and direct client and regulatory coordination.
SGMA & BASIN MANAGEMENT
Tulare Lake Subbasin
Led development of the revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan and authored Annual Reports for Water Years 2021–2024. Combined groundwater modeling, water-budget analysis, and sustainability reporting with client communication and coordination with state agencies.
GSP leadership · Groundwater modeling · Annual reporting
GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION
South Fresno Regional Groundwater Plume
Managed a long-running groundwater remediation project under DTSC oversight. Responsibilities spanned investigations, remediation planning, regulatory reporting, client communication, and ongoing project and subcontractor coordination.
Project management · Remediation planning · Regulatory coordination
FIELD HYDROGEOLOGY
Investigations & well work
Conduct and coordinate groundwater monitoring, aquifer and infiltration testing, and well construction and development oversight. Log boreholes, interpret stratigraphy, and use field observations to inform hydrogeologic analysis.
Well design & installation · Geologic logging · Aquifer testing
PROJECT DELIVERY
Management & technical review
Manage technical deliverables, schedules, field teams, laboratories, and subcontractors. Communicate with clients and agencies, review technical work, and supervise and mentor junior staff within multidisciplinary consulting teams.
Project management · Client communication · Team leadership
03 / HYDROGEOLOGY + SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING
Python is part of
how I do hydrogeology.
I use scientific computing to make groundwater-data workflows more consistent, traceable, and useful—from field measurements to technical reporting.
Environmental data, made usable.
Python supports my data processing, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), spatial analysis, groundwater-level and water-quality evaluation, contouring, visualization, and technical reporting. Reproducible workflows connect the underlying observations to the maps, figures, and interpretations a project team needs.
Models grounded in hydrogeology.
My modeling experience includes MODFLOW-2005 and particle-tracking/capture-zone analysis to evaluate groundwater flow, extraction-well influence, capture, and remedial-system performance.
A focused technical toolkit
- Analysis & reproducibility
- Python · Jupyter · Matplotlib
- Spatial data
- GeoPandas · Shapely · Rasterio
- Groundwater interpretation
- MODFLOW-2005 · Particle tracking & capture-zone analysis · Surfer · Groundwater Vistas
The workflow follows the hydrogeologic question: examine the data, check the assumptions, and communicate what the analysis supports.
ONE CONNECTED APPROACH
Field Data Models Regulation Decisions
- 01
Field
Understand how hydrogeologic data are generated—and where their limitations matter.
- 02
Data
Use Python, GIS, and quantitative analysis to examine environmental datasets.
- 03
Models
Apply MODFLOW-2005 and particle tracking to evaluate groundwater flow and capture.
- 04
Regulation
Connect technical findings to SGMA requirements, cleanup objectives, and agency reporting.
- 05
Decisions
Communicate findings that support groundwater-management, monitoring, and remediation decisions.
04 / SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION
Seeing groundwater
in three dimensions.
My graduate research combined borehole geophysics, groundwater chemistry, historical production records, structural geology, and spatial analysis to develop a three-dimensional interpretation of groundwater salinity in California’s Midway-Sunset Oil Field.
Read my master’s thesis at CSUS
Mapping the salinity boundary
Elevation contours of the 10,000 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) boundary, linking regional patterns with well data.
View full-size figure
Interpreting geology and uncertainty
Salinity and kriging uncertainty along cross section 2–2′, with fault location and stratigraphic picks.
View full-size figureMaster’s thesis: 3-D mapping of groundwater TDS using borehole geophysics and historical produced water geochemistry at the Midway-Sunset oil field, Kern County, California. David M. N. Finney · California State University, Sacramento.
View thesis at CSUSResearch presentations & recognition
3-D mapping of groundwater total dissolved solids at the Midway-Sunset Oil Field
Finney, D., & Shimabukuro, D. · Pacific Section AAPG Annual Meeting.
Stable-isotopic record of the Younger Dryas warming at Foy Lake, Montana
Finney, D., Stevens, L., Stone, J.R., & Chavez da Silva, I. · Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 48(4).
View abstractUSGS Water Science Center Scholarship, 2016–2018 · Groundwater Resources Association of California Research Grant, 2017 · AAPG Austin L. Weeks Award, 2016
05 / CAREER PROGRESSION
A broader view,
built from the ground up.
My experience spans groundwater research, fieldwork, modeling, and sustained consulting project management, with client-facing leadership throughout my Geosyntec tenure.
- Groundwater research
- Field hydrogeology
- Modeling & SGMA
- Project management
- Lead Hydrogeologist
APR 2025 — PRESENT
Lead Hydrogeologist
WSP USACosta Mesa / Irvine, CA
Technical analysis · Project coordination · Mentoring
Lead Hydrogeologist supporting groundwater investigation, remediation, and water-resources projects. My work combines technical analysis and reporting with client communication, project coordination, and mentoring.
APR 2021 — APR 2025
Hydrogeologist / Project Hydrogeologist
Geosyntec ConsultantsSacramento / Fresno / Long Beach, CA
Hydrogeologist: Apr 2021–Dec 2023
Project Hydrogeologist: Jan 2024–Apr 2025
Project management · DTSC remediation · SGMA
Managed groundwater and remediation projects, worked directly with clients and agencies, and supervised junior staff throughout my tenure. Led revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan development and Annual Reports for the Tulare Lake Subbasin, and managed the South Fresno regional groundwater plume project under DTSC oversight. Combined groundwater modeling and Python-based analysis with investigations, technical reporting, budgets, schedules, and subcontractor coordination.
MAY 2019 — APR 2021
Hydrogeologist
GEI ConsultantsSacramento, CA
Basin hydrogeology · Groundwater sustainability
Supported GSP development, hydrogeologic conceptual models, sustainability criteria, monitoring networks, and cross-sections. Coordinated nested monitoring-well installation and sampling for aquifer storage and recovery programs.
NOV 2017 — MAY 2019
Hydrogeologist
Hargis + AssociatesFolsom, CA
Field hydrogeology · Remediation systems
Supported groundwater remediation, including monitoring- and extraction-well design, installation logging, and regulatory support. Assisted with groundwater-treatment-system operations, maintenance, sampling, and compliance.
AUG 2016 — DEC 2018
Graduate Research Assistant
USGS / CSU SacramentoSacramento, CA
Groundwater research · Geophysics · Geostatistics
Integrated borehole geophysics, groundwater chemistry, and historical production records for three-dimensional groundwater salinity research. Collaborated with USGS scientists on interpretation, cross-sections, and regional groundwater assessment.
06 / EDUCATION & LICENSURE
Scientific training.
Professional accountability.
M.S. in Geology
California State University, Sacramento
2016–2019
B.S. in Geology
California State University, Long Beach
2014–2016
California Professional Geologist
PG #10340
- California Certified Hydrogeologist examination pending
- OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour certification
- OSHA HAZWOPER 8-hour annual certification
DAVID M. FINNEY, MS, PG
Let’s talk groundwater.
Connect about hydrogeology, groundwater management,
technical collaboration, and professional opportunities.
dmnfinney87@gmail.comSan Pedro, California