Water Resources, Hydrology & Regulatory Compliance

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Masih Bari, PhD, PE brings two decades of experience in water resources planning and management, hydrology, and environmental permitting, with a practice focused on defensible technical opinions in regulatory and litigation matters. Dr. Bari’s work centers on hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and analysis, groundwater modeling and evaluation, mixing-zone and dilution analysis, stormwater and watershed planning, and water-quality modeling and compliance. His project portfolio includes groundwater sustainability planning under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), discharge and dewatering permit strategy, and basin-level planning and model development in support of permitting and infrastructure decisions. He has performed hydrologic simulations, watershed-scale evaluations, mixing-zone and dilution studies for municipal agencies and utilities across California and the United States. Dr. Bari has direct expert-witness experience, including independent model review, preparation of expert reports, rebuttal analysis, and sworn testimony before administrative tribunals. He has evaluated groundwater flow models and permit modifications for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) programs and provided opinions addressing regulatory compliance and operational impacts. His litigation support includes critique of opposing experts’ analyses, development of attorney-client-privileged technical memoranda, and clear, technically rigorous explanations prepared for legal audiences. In addition to casework, Dr. Bari is an author and published researcher in groundwater management and water-resources systems analysis. He is a co-author of two editions of an internationally adopted graduate-level textbook on groundwater hydrology and has published peer-reviewed research on groundwater sustainability, surface-water management, and water-resources conflict modeling. He has also prepared white papers and technical reports for the California Energy Commission, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other agencies, reflecting a consistent role in translating complex technical findings into decision-grade documentation. Dr. Bari holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Colorado State University, an MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a BS in Civil Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and has served in leadership roles within engineering organizations and professional development programs. He has delivered technical presentations on water resources planning, stormwater management, groundwater permitting, and regulatory compliance at regional to international conferences. Attorneys retain Dr. Bari for matters involving hydrologic modeling and analysis, groundwater modeling, SGMA disputes, discharge and dewatering permitting, ASR programs, water-quality compliance, stormwater impacts, and regulatory conflicts where rigorous modeling, data evaluation, and credible expert testimony are required. His opinions are grounded in engineering standards and regulatory frameworks, and his work is characterized by methodological discipline and clear communication.