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Joel Adams Senior Hydrogeologist Red Lodge Office

Joel has a diverse background in water resources, water rights, aquifer testing, mine hydrogeology, design & development of specialized monitoring systems, and research related to nuclear waste disposal.  Joel is a Montana native who has worked as a consultant nationally and internationally for over 20 years.  Joel earned degrees from the University of Wyoming (B.S. Geology) in 1984 and from the University of Idaho (M.S. Hydrology) in 1989.  Joel’s current areas of practice focus on water rights, water resource evaluation, NEPA analysis, and mine hydrology.  In the field of water rights, he helps clients maneuver the complex process of applying for new water rights, submitting change-of-use applications, protecting existing water rights, determining historic use for water rights transfers, and providing technical guidance in water-rights litigation.  He has extensive experience in aquifer testing and analysis, including the evaluation of groundwater/surface water interaction.  Joel performs NEPA analysis and documentation for mine closure, and evaluates acid rock drainage at hard rock mine sites.  Joel is the author and co-author of numerous publications and served as invited faculty at the 2006 Montana Water Law Conference.  Joel manages the HydroSolutions office in Red Lodge, MT, and is actively involved in his community, where he serves on the steering committee of the Beartooth Front Community Forum, and on the board of the School of the Beartooths.