About Dave
In terms of years of experience, I stopped counting at 30 years, but I think I have now hit 40. When I stop to reflect, I realize that it has been an amazing journey and an opportunity to see a whole profession grow, development, recruit the next generation, and, in many way, flourish.
My experience spans local government, non-profit, private consulting, and teaching at the university level. I have now completed my eighth year running Hirschman Water & Environment (HWE). I have found that collaboration with a diversity of partners is what makes this enterprise work, and also adds great pleasure to the day-to-day workload.
While the pandemic period has left a legacy of more time in the Zoom box, it has been remarkable to see colleagues in-person again this past year. I have savored the experience of seeing so many younger professionals entering the trade of protecting our watersheds, a much-needed jolt of energy and passion.
I have very much enjoyed writing my periodic blog posts, but took a bit of hiatus in the past year to work on another writing project. I am back at it, so please check out my posts here.
The Projects Page highlights several recent projects. I have had the privilege to collaborate with the following organizations:
- ABL Landscape Architecture
- A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc.
- Albemarle County, VA
- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- CalVan Environmental
- Center for Natural Capital
- Center for Watershed Protection, Inc.
- Center for Urban Habitats
- Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
- Central Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
- Chesapeake Bay Trust
- Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council
- Chesapeake Stormwater Network
- City of Charlottesville, VA
- City of Harrisonburg, VA
- City of Lynchburg, VA
- CityScape Engineering
- Corteva
- DV Entertainment, David Verde
- Ecosystem Services, LLC
- EEE Consulting, Inc.
- Elizabeth River Project
- Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River
- Headwaters, LLC
- James River Association
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville
- Horsley Witten Group
- Howard EcoWorks
- James Madison University
- Luck Ecosystems, Inc.
- Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN
- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
- Lake Champlain Basin Program
- Laurel Williamson
- Marcus Aguilar, Ph.D.
- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
- Osceola Land Design, Melissa Morrison
- Rivanna Conservation Alliance
- Roudabush, Gale & Associates
- SG Designs
- Shimp Engineering PC
- SOLitude Lake Management
- South River Watershed Coalition
- Southern Environmental Law Center
- Storm & Stream Solutions
- Sustainable Chesapeake
- The Watershed Institute
- University of Tennessee
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Conservation Assistance Program
- Virginia Environmental Endowment
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
- Watershed Consulting Associates
- Windridge Landscaping & Hardscaping, Jeff Howe
- Woods & Waters, LLC
Prior to starting HWE, I served as a Program Director and Senior Water Resources Specialist with the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP). This respected organization is a “go-to” place for watershed and stormwater information, and I was honored to work with a long succession of talented colleagues (current CWP employees and alums) on water issues across the country, and even on several tropical islands.
Prior to joining CWP in the mid-2000s, I managed the first incarnation of Hirschman Water & Environment and also worked for Biohabitats of Virginia out of an office here in Charlottesville. From 1993 to 2005, I served as the Water Resources Manager for Albemarle County, VA. This opportunity gave me exposure to a full range of water resources topics. I managed stakeholder groups to develop the Water Protection Ordinance (including the groundwater component), implemented stream restoration and stormwater projects, reviewed plans, conducted inspections, had a hand in the Comprehensive Plan, and interacted with many citizens, other agencies, and the elected officials. Many challenges that we faced in the “early” days of stormwater program development have become common themes across the profession and therefore provided a strong foundation for my own professional development.
I look forward to working with many more colleagues and associates on stormwater and watershed challenges, both large and small.