Morrison & Associates

Morrison & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm founded in 1986, provides services in environmental public and government relations, environmental planning and project management. With offices in both northern and southern California, we serve clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego and Santa Clara counties. We also serve several metropolitan cities in Arizona. Most of our work is for clients in water distribution, wastewater treatment and water recycling. We also serve public agencies involved in flood control and private companies permitting aggregate mining sites.

We provide the full spectrum of environmental public and governmental relations services, to include assisting government entities and private-sector clients through the public participation portion of projects. We also manage the permitting process with local, state and federal agencies and prepare environmental documentation.

The general public information services we provide include preparing media releases, producing slide shows and videos, designing logos and letterhead stationery, publishing newsletters, developing and administering speakers bureaus and school programs, and setting up citizens advisory committees for various functions. We also help clients through the public participation process of siting major public works and other projects requiring extensive community involvement and dissemination of information.

Our government relations efforts include legislative and regulatory activities, overseeing the preparations of environmental impact reports and statements, and obtaining permits and agreements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

California Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, air boards, and other agencies. Morrison & Associates, Inc. has extensive experience dealing with Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) matters in Orange, Riverside, Contra Costa and Alameda counties. This includes the preparation of applications for mergers and consolidations, as well as the planning and execution of political strategies and community involvement.

We also facilitate public agency and closely held corporation board of directors’ workshops where key leaders and staff review progress and establish short- and long-term goals. With many of our clients we have become part of the team, contributing to their continued success.

Our community involvement work includes helping to create and then facilitate and manage citizen advisory groups. These include groups created to advise public agencies on matters relating to water rates, groundwater management and flood control facility planning, maintenance and financing.

The combination of legal, engineering, and government and public relations expertise of our team makes us very effective in the management of pipeline projects. During the design phase, we assist in determining pipeline routes, identify property owners or government entities, obtain tentative approvals for and oversee the obtaining of rights of entry, permits to construct, encroachment permits and easements, coordinate the evaluation of any required environmental clearances, and anticipate and resolve potential or real disagreements and conflicts over pipeline routing and related issues. During pipeline construction, we serve as the liaison between the contractor and residents, businesses and city/county. We work with residents, business owners, chambers of commerce and government entities to ensure minimum disruption and economic impact along the pipe route.

Our services also include assisting clients in watershed management. We assist lead agencies in identifying potential stakeholders within the watershed and garner support for watershed management planning and implementation efforts. We serve as the liaison between stakeholders and regulatory agencies, write grants to obtain state and federal funding, and solicit financial and in-kind support from stakeholders. We work with stakeholders to develop objectives, locate resources/expertise, plan and facilitate stakeholder meetings. In addition to providing program management, we develop and implement public outreach/public education programs, to include web site development, for watershed management efforts.

We belong to the Water Environment Federation, California Water Environment Association, Association of California Water Agencies, American Water Works Association, WateReuse Association of California, American Society of Environmental Professionals and Department of Water Resources Water Conservation Advisory Committee.

Because we are a small firm, every client gets the type of individual attention one would expect from in-house staff. Computer modems, fax machines and cellular phones make us almost as convenient as if we were in the next office.

Present and past clients include the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Dublin San Ramon Services District•East Bay Municipal Utility District Recycled Water Authority, Encina Wastewater Authority, Fallbrook Sanitary District, Vista Irrigation District, Rainbow Municipal Water District, Ramona Municipal Water District, Victor Valley Water District, Aliso Water Management Agency, South Orange County Reclamation Authority, South East Regional Reclamation Authority, Zone 7 Water Agency, Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (SCAP), City of Carlsbad, City of Escondido, City of Fountain Valley, City of Livermore, City of Palo Alto, City of Phoenix, City of Tucson, City of Vista, Gordon Cologne and Associates, Assemblyman (now Senator) Dave Kelley, State Department of Education, Champagne Gardens, New Owl Rock Products, Palomar Aggregates, Inc., Palomar Grading and Paving, Inc., Superior Ready Mix Concrete, White Water Canyon, Inc., C.A. Ramussen, Resource Conversion Corporation, Waste Management, Inc., Engineering-Science, HYA Consulting Engineers, So & Associates Engineers, Inc. and RM & Associates.

Company President Carl Morrison, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and licensed California attorney with an advanced degree in administrative law, is an environmental public information and government relations specialist. Carl, who was a founding member of the board of directors of the WateReuse Association of California and is vice president of The Environmental Trust, helps clients through the environmental review portion of major projects. He has obtained 404 Permits and letters of non‑jurisdiction from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and various permits from all the state and federal resource agencies. Carl also helps resolve disputes and differences between agencies with differing views on a project. He serves as organizer and facilitator of citizen advisory groups.

Carl has been very involved in the political arena helping to build consensus among water agencies that must cooperate in order for various projects to move forward. In Sacramento and Washington, Carl has helped clients influence legislation and introduce new legislation to benefit their interests. Fluent in spoken and written Spanish, Carl also is experienced in radio, television and other audio-visual productions.

Barbara Kusha, vice president for public affairs, is a talented public communications practitioner with nearly 20 years of professional experience. She has worked in highly diverse settings, developing strategies, programs and materials appropriate to a wide range of audiences. Barb has excellent verbal skills and is capable of producing exceptional written materials. She promotes effective and constructive communication, and is skilled at encouraging meaningful dialogue between individuals and groups with divergent viewpoints.

Carol Kielusiak, senior environmental planner, has nearly 25 years experience as an environmental scientist, specializing in the areas of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and National Historic Preservation Act planning and compliance. She has prepared environmental documents for Federal, state, and local agencies and private developments, including Environmental Impacts Statements (EIS), Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), Environmental Assessments, and Initial Studies. She has managed teams of up to 40 engineers and environmental specialists in the preparation of these documents principally for projects associated with water resources management and energy‑related research and development. She has directed CEQA scoping meetings and public hearings for numerous projects, some of them controversial. She developed and managed the NEPA and CEQA and cultural resource compliance programs for two Department of Energy national laboratories. As a professional archaeologist, Carol has conducted field surveys and excavations throughout the western United States.

Jamie Hartshorn, publications director, has 25 years of experience in writing, designing and overseeing the production of water- and agriculture- related publications. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public relations, she knows not only how to write but also how publications should be written and designed to achieve a particular goal. Jamie served as the assistant editor and chief writer for the Water Education Foundation. She also wrote the copy for Western Water magazine and several Layperson’s Guides to California water issues. Jamie was also a public education representative for Contra Costa Water District. Jamie’s more recent experience includes preparation of the annual report and newsletters for Zone 7 Water Agency and Castro Valley Sanitary District, fact sheets for Imperial Irrigation District, and newsletter and website content for the California Farm Water Coalition.

Katie Hazen, a credentialed teacher, directs the company’s schools programs. She is particularly adept at recognizing the different learning levels of students and preparing presentations accordingly. She has developed curriculum for recycled water and watershed education programs that meet California Framework requirements. Katie also is trained and experienced in conducting and evaluating public opinion surveys.

Stephanie Barnes, company treasurer and secretary, also does the company's in-house desktop publishing of newsletters, brochures and other printed materials. With a degree in public relations and advertising, Stephanie is a stickler for detail and getting jobs finished on time.

In addition to several other part‑time employees, the agency also uses several free-lance artists, graphic designers, video producers and other specialists to help us provide our clients any service necessary.