Robert Gailey

Profile image for Robert Gailey

Position Title
Graduate Student Alum

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
Bio

Rob Gailey has been a practicing hydrogeologist since 1985. His work over the past 30 years, involving both water supply and contaminant hydrogeology, had ranged from performing field investigations and quantitative analysis to regulatory negotiation and expert witness engagements. Rob earned a B.S. in Geology/Biology from Brown University, an M.S. in Applied Hydrogeology from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from University of California Berkeley.  He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California Davis.  

Rob's research focuses on evaluating factors important for successfully creating paths to sustainable groundwater management.  The work is premised on aspects of legislation recently passed in California (the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA).  Hydrologic, engineering, economic and legal aspects of groundwater management are included in optimization formulations so that promising approaches, and potential impediments to success, can be identified.  Part of the work explores market mechanisms for redistribution of water and evaluates the need for hard constraints on groundwater uses to address market failures.  The work is placed within a practical context by developing case studies for different groundwater basins in California.