Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Publications
Training
Timeline
Generic

Kurt Sable

Truckee,USA

Summary

Over 20 years experience in watershed science and management. Writing, and leading environmental analysis and conceiving and implementing watershed and forest restoration projects.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Hydropower Coordinator (GS-0301-12)

Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Service
02.2024 - Current
  • Facilitate collaboration between Region Five National Forests, hydropower utilities, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
  • Support national forests in study development for hydropower relicensing and project administration.
  • Provide hydrologic expertise to the Plumas and Eldorado National Forests, ensuring effective management of water resources.
  • Supervisor: Dawn Alvarez (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

Watershed Program Manager (GS-12)

Plumas National Forest
02.2022 - 06.2022
  • Led Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) coordination, overseeing the implementation of BAER treatments on the Beckwourth Complex and Dixie Fire, over 1.7 million dollars in funds.
  • Authored a two-year overdue compliance report for the timber program, ensuring adherence to state regulations and the Clean Water Act—duties typically assigned to the watershed program manager.
  • Served as Acting District Ranger during the Dixie Fire, managing office evacuations, coordinating housing for displaced seasonal employees, and tracking staff movements amid evacuations.
  • Spearheaded hydrology and watershed restoration efforts for post-fire recovery, collaborating with the Enterprise Engineering team on multi-million-dollar restoration projects.
  • Supervisor: Felipe Cano (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

Watershed Program Manager (GS-12)

Plumas National Forest
04.2019 - 06.2022
  • Served a 90-day detail as the Watershed Program Manager, advancing forest-wide compliance with water rights reporting.
  • Compiled and prioritized water and soil initiatives for the 2020 fiscal year budget process.
  • Organized meetings with the Regional Water Board, working toward compliance solutions under the Water Quality General Order.
  • Supervisor: Nancy Francine (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

Hydrologist (GS-12)

Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region
06.2014 - 10.2014
  • Served a 120-day detail as Forest Plan Revision Team Hydrologist at the Regional Office.
  • Led hydrology, aquatics, and soils analysis for the Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests under the Forest Plan Revision process.
  • Authored the water, soil, and aquatic sections in the Proposed Action and Notice of Intent for Early Adopter Forests in the Southern Sierra.
  • Supervisor: Barry Hill (Retired) | Work Leader: Al Olson (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

District Hydrologist (GS-11)

Lassen National Forest
02.2009 - 11.2010
  • Served as the Forest Service’s lead liaison and technical representative for a $7.5 million spillway reconstruction project by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).
  • Managed a watershed restoration program, overseeing ~$500,000 in road storm-proofing and decommissioning efforts supporting federally listed salmon and steelhead habitats.
  • Conducted flow-gaging analysis to investigate potential water rights violations, leading to a forest application for in-stream flow rights to restore 12 acres of dewatered meadow.
  • Certified public works inspector, overseeing culvert upgrades and aquatic passage improvements.
  • Planned and executed wildfire-related watershed restoration, prioritizing sub-watershed improvements and coordinating with local agencies on major road upgrades for water quality improvements.
  • Supervisor: Al Vazquez (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

Fluvial Geomorphologist

Otis Bay Ecological Consultants
03.2008 - 02.2009
  • Researched and co-authored a comprehensive watershed assessment for a 4,000-square-mile basin spanning California and Nevada.
  • Measured flow using handheld meters, collected depth-integrated suspended sediment samples, and obtained bedload samples to develop sediment discharge curves.
  • Conducted field and remote sensing studies on sediment transport and historic channel change to inform watershed assessments.
  • Assisted in construction oversight for two multi-million-dollar restoration projects on the Truckee River, Nevada.
  • 40 hrs/week

Hydrologist (GS-7/9)

Lassen National Forest
04.2004 - 11.2008
  • Served as Lassen National Forest's liaison for hydropower relicensing negotiations, comprising 50% of duties.
  • Collaborated with agencies and hydropower utilities to design hydrologic, geologic, and ecological studies supporting the relicensing process.
  • Assisted in drafting conditions for a new 30-year license to protect aquatic resources.
  • Partnered with engineers, foresters, and wildlife biologists on stream environment zone enhancement projects, designing mitigation measures to reduce soil compaction and erosion.
  • Led grant coordination, securing $800,000 for watershed restoration benefiting endangered spring-run Chinook salmon.
  • Conducted cumulative watershed effects studies using GIS-based models and authored watershed impact sections for environmental documents.
  • Served on advisory committees for the Deer Creek Conservancy and the Almanor Basin Watershed Advisory Committee.
  • Oversaw implementation of best management practices in timber and watershed projects and performed water quality sampling in wilderness lakes.
  • Supervisor: Mike Derrig (OK to contact) | 40 hrs/week

Research Assistant

Colorado State University
07.2001 - 08.2004
  • Examined the impact of geological conditions on sedimentation and macroinvertebrate communities in Oregon and Colorado streams.
  • Conducted field surveys, applied statistical analyses, and utilized GIS tools in research.

Hydrologic Technician (GS-5)

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Forest Service
06.1999 - 06.2001
  • Conducted watershed and trail inventories to assess erosion and water quality risks.
  • Utilized GPS, GIS, and Microsoft Office to create maps and reports based on field data.
  • Collected and analyzed water quality samples throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.
  • Seasonal

Environmental Geologic Technician

Environmental Control Associates
04.1999 - 06.2001
  • Conducted groundwater and soil sampling at contaminated sites.
  • Constructed and maintained water treatment systems.
  • Supervised the drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells.
  • Part-time

Education

Master of Science in Geology - Fluvial Geomorphology and Watershed Science

Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
08.2004

Bachelor of Science in Geology - undefined

Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada
Reno, NV
05.1996

Skills

  • Current federal driver’s license, including operating ATVs
  • Red Carded with qualifications as BAER Hydrologist and Resource Advisor
  • Instructor for stream section of environmental education camp for 6th graders in Quincy, CA
  • Extensive software experience including: ArcGIS, Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA), SAS statistical packages, HECRAS, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Volunteer instructor for kayaking and backcountry skiing courses, Feather River College
  • Certified Wilderness First Aid, November 2005 to present (renewed Spring 2018)
  • Extensive travel and employment overseas have provided excellent opportunities to develop versatile communication skills and problem solving abilities
  • Level II Nordic Ski Instructor, Professional Ski Association of America
  • Level II Snow Avalanche Certification

Awards

USDA Certificate of Merit for using fire settlement funds to greatly improve hydrology and road networks on the forest. 2018, USDA Certificate of Achievement for assisting the regional hydropower team with re-licensing project, 2006, Received Superior Performance Ratings, Graduate Resources Scholarship, 2002-2003, College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Larry Kent Burns Memorial Scholarship, 2003, Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Nobel Memorial Scholarship, 1995-96, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, First Team All American, Collegiate Nordic Skiing, 1993

Publications

  • Sable, K.A. and Wohl, E.E. 2006. The Relationship of Lithology and Watershed Characteristics to Fine Sediment Deposition in Streams of the Oregon Coast Range. Environmental Management 36 (5) 659-670.
  • Sable, K.A and Wohl, E.E. 2002. Relative Effects of Lithology on Fine Sediment Deposition in the Coast Range of Oregon, (poster) presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, CA.
  • Sable, K.A and Wohl, E.E. 2003. Relationships of Reach-Scale and Watershed-Scale Variables to Fine Sediment Abundance in Forested Streams of the Oregon Coast Range, (oral presentation) presented at annual meeting of the Geologic Society of America in Seattle, WA.

Training

  • Completed the following trainings:
  • Middle Leader Program, Davis CA, 2024
  • California BLM-USFS Groundwater Stewardship Course, Palm Springs CA, 2022
  • Communication in Natural Resources, Ogden UT, 2018
  • Water Resources Management for Line and Staff Officers, Reno NV, 2018
  • Leadership in a Natural Resources Context, Reno NV, 2017
  • Aquatic Organism Passage Design Workshop, Willows CA, 2014
  • M-580 Fire in Ecosystem Management, Tucson, AZ, 2010
  • Principles of Streambank Analysis and Stabilization, Portland, OR, 2008
  • Geomorphology and Sediment Transport in Channel Design, Utah State University, 2007
  • Fish Passage Design and Engineering Workshop in Ukiah, CA, 2006
  • Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration workshop. Petaluma, CA 2005

Timeline

Hydropower Coordinator (GS-0301-12)

Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Service
02.2024 - Current

Watershed Program Manager (GS-12)

Plumas National Forest
02.2022 - 06.2022

Watershed Program Manager (GS-12)

Plumas National Forest
04.2019 - 06.2022

Hydrologist (GS-12)

Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region
06.2014 - 10.2014

District Hydrologist (GS-11)

Lassen National Forest
02.2009 - 11.2010

Fluvial Geomorphologist

Otis Bay Ecological Consultants
03.2008 - 02.2009

Hydrologist (GS-7/9)

Lassen National Forest
04.2004 - 11.2008

Research Assistant

Colorado State University
07.2001 - 08.2004

Hydrologic Technician (GS-5)

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Forest Service
06.1999 - 06.2001

Environmental Geologic Technician

Environmental Control Associates
04.1999 - 06.2001

Bachelor of Science in Geology - undefined

Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada

Master of Science in Geology - Fluvial Geomorphology and Watershed Science

Colorado State University

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