Nicolas Cochran

Senior Environmental Scientist & Water Resources Specialist with over a decade of technical field experience in water quality monitoring, biological stream assessments, surface water/stormwater sampling, and watershed regulatory compliance across Southern California. Accomplished QSD, QSP, CPSWQ, Approved CRAM Practitioner, and Candidate QISP with expertise in California's Industrial General Permit (IGP), Construction General Permit (CGP), Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Permit, and MS4 NPDES programs. Combines rigorous field methodology (auto-samplers, multi-parameter sondes, flow meters, outfall audits) with an MBA to execute environmental data QA/QC, coordinate accredited laboratory analytics, support BMP design, and author regulatory technical reports.

Stormwater Scientist at SOAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING (2025-12 – 2026-08)

• Conducted environmental compliance audits, biological resource evaluations, and stormwater outfall inspections across active infrastructure project corridors.
• Authored, reviewed, and implemented site-specific regulatory permit compliance submittals including SWPPPs and WPCPs aligned with California CGP and IGP standards.
• Analyzed surface water quality monitoring datasets, verified QA/QC data against regulatory benchmarks, and evaluated structural/non-structural BMP performance.
• Executed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments per ASTM standards to evaluate environmental risks and support due diligence.

Debris Monitor / Field Environmental Lead at TETRA TECH (2025-03 – 2025-07)

• Directed field environmental operations, hazard characterizations, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) frameworks during active field programs.
• Managed field instrumentation calibration logs, environmental monitoring tracking, and safety compliance under 40-Hour HAZWOPER guidelines.

Independent Study at INTERNATIONAL SABBATICAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (2023-03 – 2025-03)

• Immersed in cultural and language study across Latin America, developing high-level fluency in Spanish while managing logistics and operations.

Environmental Scientist / Field Project Lead at WESTON SOLUTIONS, INC. (2013-06 – 2023-02)

• Planned and executed multi-year surface water quality sampling, continuous hydrologic monitoring, and stream bioassessments (including CRAM) across natural aquatic systems.
• Performed fish and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling, stream discharge measurements, stream rating curve generation, and hydrograph evaluations.
• Supported MS4, NPDES, and Watershed Protection Plan compliance through dry-weather outfall screenings, non-stormwater source assessments, and illicit discharge investigations.
• Maintained detailed chain-of-custody documentation, calibrated YSI sondes and autosamplers, and coordinated analytics with accredited environmental laboratories.
• Supervised, mentored, and trained junior scientific field personnel on biological monitoring techniques, field sampling protocols, and safety guidelines.

Solar System Designer & Installation Supervisor at NAVAJO SOLAR (2008 – 2013)

• Designed custom energy systems tailored to site constraints and environmental codes, interacting directly with inspectors during site audits.

Master of Business Administration in MBA – California State University, San Marcos

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science – University of California, Santa Barbara