Mitch Swanson

Stream Scientist

Bachelors and Masters in Earth Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz. Founder, Swanson Hydrology and Geomorphology.

Recommended reading

Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner (1993);
Game Wars by Marc Reisner (1993);
Mormon Country by Wallace Stegner (2003);
Beyond the 100th Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West by Wallace Stegner (1992);
Tourist Season by Carl Hiasson (1987);
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiasson (2004).

Publications

“Channel Adjustments to Reservoir Construction and Gravel Extraction along Stony Creek, California,— with G.M. Kondolf, in Environmental Geology and Water Science v.21 (1993).

“An example of rapid gully initiation and extension by subsurface erosion, coastal San Mateo County, California,— with G.M. Kondolf and P.J. Boison, in Geomorphology (1989).

Q&A

What's your philosophy about sustainability?

Modern human societies are driven by economics, and we are running out of choices about how to control nature economically. New Orleans is a prime example where people want to believe we can "control" floods, but that is a fallacy. The cost of rebuilding New Orleans will be nothing compared to the cost of the next disaster, because nature can always serve up another 101-year flood (or 501-year flood).

It's inevitable that we are going to have to live by nature's rules, not what we would like to impose on her. Nature gives us clues about how to sustain life and how to avoid trouble—we just have to look. If technology is meant to solve the problem of not being in harm's way of floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or fires, humans have to learn how to live with these forces. Humans are missing many of the wonders of life by viewing nature as something to be commanded and controlled. My vision is for humans to feel part of the landscape, not be fearful of it. Sustainability is about being part of the fabric of nature.

Who inspired you, or nurtured your talent?

Nature and its beautiful, complex simplicity is my ultimate inspiration. I try to understand natural processes and apply them to design. I have also been inspired by my teacher Luna Leopold, the writers Edward Abbey and Hunter S. Thompson, and people in bureaucratic government jobs who manage to get good things done for nature.

What gives you hope in your industry?

Over the past 10 years, restoration and environmental thinking have been incorporated into water resources engineering design beyond my dreams, although there is still a long ways to go.

What worries you most in this area?

People who do restoration work to make money, and not really to do good work.

What advice do you give to young people who want to make a difference in the world?

Don't turn away from the pain, hopelessness, and despair in the world, but embrace it as the basis for change and make a difference at any scale, since small changes add up. Find and be your true self, follow your heart, seek help and counsel of others, and look at success as the ability to share your abundance.

What is the role of technology in sustainable design?

Technology plays an important role in making it easy to gather, process, and analyze complex scientific data about the earth and apply that information to design. I can now access information instantly on the Internet that once took days, weeks, or months to gather. This allows me to spend more time designing and thinking about design, and to integrate more complex information like water quality, wildlife populations, and ecology into my work. True sustainability draws on perspectives in many disciplines (water, wildlife, air, soil, vegetation, etc.), so having rich information at one's fingertips allows for more meaningful integration.