RON BARTO
Hydrogeologist / Engineering Geologist

EDUCATION
M.S., Hydrogeology, California State University, Los Angeles B.A., Geology, California State University, Los Angeles

REGISTRATION
California Professional Geologist, PG 3356
Certified Engineering Geologist, CEG 966
Certified Hydrogeologist, CHG 923
Oregon Registered Geologist, RG 020 (not current)
Engineering Geologist, EG 020 (not current)

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
1982-present: Owner and Chief Hydrogeologist
Ron Barto Ground Water Consultant, Big Bear Lake
2003-present: Co-owner and Chief Hydrogeologist
The Water Prospector, Acton
1975-1982: Principal Hydrogeologist and Manger, Ground Water Division,
James M. Montgomery, Consulting Engineers, Inc., Pasadena
1964-1975: Engineering Geologist,
Metropolitan Water District of So. Calif., Los Angeles

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Barto has over 40 years of experience in hydrogeology and engineering geology including 7 years as a licensed well drilling contractor and 25 years in hazardous and industrial waste investigations, monitoring, and cleanup.

His Ground Water Resources Experience includes subsurface exploration, water resources inventory, wastewater recharge investigations, yield studies, basin development and management, and modeling of ground water hydrology. These ground water projects include basin wide management and safe yield analyses for Chino Basin MWD, City of Corona, Coto de Caza, Mission Springs Water District, City of Banning, and the City of Simi Valley. He has conducted numerous water resources availability studies including the County of San Bernardino, Mitsubishi Cement, North Star Minerals, San Juan Hills Country Club, and Cemex, as well as several private developers.

His experience in Water Well Drilling, Design, Construction, and Testing is vast. These jobs have included locating, exploration, design, specifications and plans, well construction supervision, aquifer testing, final inspection, equipping design, well field design, and monitoring well construction supervision. He has personally either drilled or supervised over 800 wells, including large production wells, private domestic wells, deep exploratory wells, multi point piezometer wells, recharge wells, and monitoring wells.

Mr. Barto uses Geophysical Methods (including VLFportable equipment) to assess ground water resources and to site potential well locations. The VLF equipment identifies the size, shape, and depth of existing fractures that underlie the earth. This form of geophysical exploration method makes use of electromagnetic fields generated from very low frequency (VLF) military transmitters located throughout the world. Electromagnetic surveys are a proven scientific method that takes the guesswork out of selecting drilling sites. With the VLF equipment, he is able to view the geologic structure beneath the ground surface. This method is very well suited for water prospecting by locating fractured zones in bedrock.

His experience in Well Rehabilitation has allowed existing problem wells to be reworked and reconstructed to nearly their full original capacity. Such wells include: Inglewood Well #4 (installed double liner to control failed casing and excessive sand), Jurupa #1, #2, and #6 installed single liners, Monte Vista Water District #6 and #20 (installed single liners), Santa Ana River Water Company #9 and #10 (installed single liners and redeveloped), City of Banning #R-1 and M-3 installed single liner and redeveloped.

Water Quality Assessments are of primary concern in nearly every ground water investigation. Mr. Barto's experience includes: Basin-wide nitrate evaluations; contamination studies; regional and vertical extent of water quality problems; sampling; general mineral, heavy metals, and organic analyses; identification of waste plumes, velocity of travel, treatment and disposal alternatives; and seawater intrusion studies.

Percolation Testing and Septic System Design are critical for development in rural areas where sewer systems are unavalable. Waste disposal systems include both horizontal leach lines and vertical seepage pits depending upon size of property, soil type, depth to ground water, and quantity of sewage effluent. Mr. Barto conducts both commercial and residential "perc" tests on a regular basis. He has performed hundreds of perc tests throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties. Design includes sizing and type of septic tank along with length/depth and diameter of leach lines / seepage pits.

Water Availability Studies are critical in desert regions. Because ground water is limited, reports must be submitted to regulatory agencies to make an informed decision regarding the availability of a sustained water supply to the project. The study includes individule and cumulative impacts the project will have on the ground water basin and mitigation measures to offset any potential negative impact to the basin. Mr. Barto has conducted many of these studies in the Mojave Desert region of San Bernardino County.

Toxic and Hazardous Materials are increasingly prevalent in today's society. Mr. Barto has extensive experience in these chemical waste investigations including serving as Project Hydrogeologist for 7 years at California's renown Stringfellow Class 1 Hazardous Waste Disposal Site in all phases of work from initial investigation and exploration, modeling, site construction, final closure, and post-closure monitoring. His experience includes: knowledge of regulatory requirements; monitoring and sampling; pollutant plumes; modeling of pollutant travel; dispersion and diffusion; sanitary landfills leachate studies; mitigative measures; and aquifer cleanup and restoration. He conducted 9 SWAT investigations for Riverside County landfill sites, 5 sites for San Bernardino County landfills, 3 sites for the US Bureau of Land Management in Oregon, and numerous investigations for underground tank spillages. Mr. Barto served as Project Manager for a 25,000 cubic yard soil cleanup effort and ground water contamination of fuel oil for Southwestern Portland Cement.

Surface Hydrology is frequently of interest. Mr. Barto has conducted stream flow and hydrology analyses using the Ration Method for clients including Caltrans, Bear Mountain Ski, Plaza Land, and many others. Additionally, he evaluated potential head cut erosion and other geomorphic conditions including bedload analyses along the Salinas River near Paso Robles for 5 sand and gravel operations and compared it to erosion in other parts of the western U.S.

His experience includes Expert Witness Investigations and Testimony for several attorney firms and governmental agencies including Caltrans, the City of Corona, and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Testimony includes hydrogeology, engineering geology, and hydrology where ground water, surface water, or soils are an issue.

Mr. Barto's experience includes a wide variety of Miscellaneous investigations such as dewatering, well appraisal, artificial recharge, waste water injection wells, water rights, economic and environmental analyses, modeling, "put and take" operations, well evaluations, pump cost determinations, and preparation of the geologic and hydrologic portions of many EIRs and project reports.

While with Metropolitan Water District, his Engineering Geology experience included 11 years of geologic, soils control, and hydrogeologic conditions in connection with dams, tunnels, pipelines, and water treatment plant construction giving him a unique overview of southern California's imported water treatment and distribution.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association of Engineering Geologists
National Ground Water Association
California Groundwater Resources Association