J. Scott Thomas

Scott Thomas; Ph.D., George Mason University, is an environmental management and water resource consultant specializing in adaptive management, watershed planning, environmental planning and permitting, and water quality. His research interests include methods to improve the effectiveness of institutional and collaborative natural resource management. Dr. Thomas has served as an environmental manager at several military bases, was Director of Water Resources for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2004. Recent projects include developing water resource plans for military installations and Tribes, developing salinity and nutrient management plans, developing and implementing water quality monitoring programs, and preparing and commenting on Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, ESA Section 7 consultations, and other permits. He recently participated in developing scenarios and assessing impacts for the Alternative Futures of the Southwest project for the Department of Defense, as well as an resilience assessment of an Army Combat Outpost in Afghanistan.
Dr. Thomas has coordinated several watershed planning groups for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. He has represented the United States on the Santa Margarita River Watermaster Steering Committee and the Santa Margarita River Technical Advisory Group. He has also served on the California State Water Board’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Coastal Nutrient Numeric Endpoint Approach.