“I love rivers and enjoy learning about all their idiosyncrasies. I like that the projects I work on are making a difference in improving the environment around us.” — Tim
Tim Hanrahan, PhD, CFM | Principal Scientist/Geomorphologist
After spending his formative years in and around rivers and lakes, Tim set his sights on a career that would involve rivers. During his undergraduate years in Madison, Wisconsin, he became aware of careers associated with these interests and he spent a lot of time canoeing the Wisconsin River contemplating how to develop a meaningful career aligned with his passion for rivers.
Tim is a Principal Fluvial Geomorphologist with more than 29 years of experience. His professional interests and projects focus on river processes and associated interactions with aquatic organisms and their habitats. His current and recent projects include fluvial geomorphic assessments of historical and contemporary gravel-bed river conditions, and evaluations of potential future channel adjustments. Many of these geomorphic assessments are applied to river restoration projects for the purposes of identifying the underlying processes that are responsible for the creation and maintenance of riverine and floodplain habitats. He incorporates this understanding of geomorphic processes into the analyses of restoration alternatives and the design of restoration actions. Tim’s areas of expertise include river hydraulics and sediment transport, quantitative fluvial geomorphology, assessment and modeling of aquatic habitats, and evaluation of groundwater–surface water interactions in rivers.
Tim enjoys spending his leisure time adventure-traveling with his spouse, two children, and friends—whether for day hikes in the nearby hills, weekend jaunts to the lake, or urban excursions for music, theater, and dance. He and his family share a love of hiking, kayaking, cycling, and snow skiing. In his quieter moments, Tim likes to play guitar and read.