Description
Plan, design, and oversee water resources projects that secure reliable water supply, manage stormwater, and reduce flood risk. Prepare environmental documentation, support regulatory compliance, manage and analyze hydrologic data, and conduct field investigations. Perform hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and design of conveyance, storage, and flood control infrastructure.
- • Write technical reports and publications on water resources planning, hydrology, and water-use efficiency.
- • Review and critique proposals, plans, and designs for water supply, stormwater, and flood control projects.
- • Provide technical support on water resources issues to municipalities, utilities, and regulatory agencies.
- • Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior engineers and CAD/GIS technicians.
- • Identify and evaluate alternatives for developing new or augmented water supplies.
- • Develop watershed and water efficiency plans, including conservation and demand management programs.
- • Conduct water quality studies to characterize pollutant sources and support TMDL or MS4 compliance.
- • Build and calibrate hydrologic and hydraulic models of watersheds, rivers, floodplains, and reservoirs.
- • Perform 2D/3D hydraulic simulations to assess flood hazards and pollutant transport.
- • Analyze water distribution and conveyance systems to evaluate pressure, capacity, and operational efficiency.
- • Gather, manage, and analyze hydrologic, meteorologic, and water-use data to forecast demand and supply.
- • Conduct feasibility studies for water supply, recharge, stormwater, and flood mitigation facilities.
- • Prepare environmental impact analyses and permitting documents for water resources projects.
- • Perform cost-benefit and lifecycle analyses for water supply and stormwater infrastructure.
- • Assess and optimize performance of dams, spillways, gates, canals, culverts, and pipelines.
- • Analyze stormwater and floodplain systems to design erosion control, channel stabilization, and bridge or culvert crossings.
- • Design water storage tanks, reservoirs, detention and retention basins, and appurtenant structures.
- • Design stormwater collection and conveyance networks, including green infrastructure and low-impact development practices.
- • Design raw-water intakes, wells, and pump stations for water supply and flood control.
- • Design potable water distribution networks and transmission mains.
- • Design river restoration, fish passage, and habitat enhancement features.
- • Model sediment transport and scour at bridges, banks, and hydraulic structures.
- • Prepare FEMA floodplain mapping studies and CLOMR/LOMR submittals.
- • Oversee construction and commissioning of water resources and stormwater infrastructure.
- • Evaluate operation and maintenance of water supply, stormwater, and flood control systems to improve reliability and efficiency.
- • Coordinate stakeholder engagement and public outreach for watershed and flood risk projects.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
