Principals

Joseph E. Smiell
Principal/Chief Financial Officer

Norman N. Hantzsche, PE
Principal/Managing Engineer

• Registered Civil Engineer in California (PE no. C24750), 1975

• MS, Civil Engineering, University of California at Davis, 1973

• BS, Civil Engineering, Stanford University, 1971

Mr. Hantzsche is a founding principal of Questa with more than 30 years of professional experience in hydrology, water resources, and environmental engineering. His principal areas of specialization are large- and small-scale wastewater management, stream and wetlands hydrology, groundwater quality, water supply planning, and watershed management.  His experience in the field of wastewater management includes: (a) university research; (b) development of regulatory policies and siting, design and monitoring standards; (c) planning and design of conventional and alternative systems for individual residences, commercial and institutional facilities, and small communities; (d) assessment of cumulative watershed and groundwater impacts; (e) facilitation of training workshops; (f) expert witness testimony; and (g) contributions to professional associations and literature.  Prior to forming Questa in 1982, he served with RAMLIT associates in Berkeley and on the staffs of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and the State Water Resources Control Board.  Mr. Hantzsche is a noted authority on wetland hydrology and treatment processes, onsite sewage disposal practices, and groundwater impacts, and has published a number of professional papers on these topics.

Jeffrey H. Peters
Principal/Director of Planning and Environmental Services

• California Registered Environmental Assessor

• Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control, 1977

• MS, Soil Science, University of California at Davis, 1973

• BS, Natural Resources Management, University of California at Davis, 1971

Mr. Peters directs the firm's environmental planning projects involving watersheds, stream corridors, and wetlands management. He also oversees the firm's CEQA and permitting services, as well as the firm's activities in open space and trail planning. As a natural resources planner with more than 30 years of experience in environmental management, he specializes in the integration of soils, hydrologic, and biologic information in environmental and water resources planning, as well as in park and open space design. His project management experience has included directing the development of plans for watershed and water quality management, erosion control, wetlands and stream restoration, channel design, biotechnical bank stabilization, flood management, trails, and parks. Mr. Peters has in-depth experience in CEQA review and permitting processes, community-based design facilitation, regulatory coordination, wetlands mitigation, construction document preparation, and construction observation.

Sydney A. Temple, PE
Principal/Senior Hydrologist

• Registered Civil Engineer in California (PE no. C59695), 1999

• BS, Geology, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1986

Mr. Temple serves as senior engineer and principal hydrologist with nearly 20 years of professional experience conducting a broad range of engineering design, hydrologic, and hydraulic analyses for stream restoration projects, environmental impact studies, wetland restoration projects, channel bank stabilization, fish passage improvement, watershed restoration plans, and hydraulic floodplain mapping. His unique training is in the fields of geology, hydrology, geomorphology, and civil engineering. Mr. Temple has extensive experience in large-scale stream restoration and stabilization; since joining Questa in 1991, he has been the principal-in-charge and design engineer for over 8 million dollars in channel restoration projects. He has designed and implemented surface runoff and erosion control plans,  prepared detailed plans and specifications for public entities and private clients, and conducted hydrologic and hydraulic capacity studies, FEMA flood insurance studies, and wetland hydrology assessments. Mr. Temple is experienced and proficient in the use of numerous hydrologic and hydraulic models, including those developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Soil Conservation Service (such as HEC-1 and 2, HEC-RAS, HEC-GEORAS, HEC-HMS, TR-20 and the TR-55). Mr. Temple also has experience utilizing AutoCAD and Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM) programs, as well as interfacing with hydraulic modeling software. Additionally, he has extensive experience with the regulatory programs of the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Department of Fish and Game, State Lands Commission, California Coastal Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Services, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Temple has also developed and presented numerous technical workshops on the design and implementation of biotechnical bank stabilization projects, fish passage improvement techniques, and fish-friendly culvert and bridge designs.