Career Overview
CAREER OVERVIEW of John Kessler:
May 2000 – Present: Principal – Kessler and Associates
Established Kessler and Associates to provide engineering and environmental services related to power plant and transmission projects, and soil and water resources; The focus of Mr. Kessler’s practice has been licensing and compliance of power plants including performing various dam safety functions, facilitating Emergency Action Plan programs, preparing standard operating procedures, project management of NEPA and CEQA environmental assessments, and Security programs;
September 1995 – April 2000: Hydroelectric Director – El Dorado Irrigation District
Overall responsibilities included managing engineering, operations, maintenance, construction and regulatory activities including dam safety functions. Mr. Kessler established the Hydro Division within EID and was instrumental in EID’s acquisition of the El Dorado Hydroelectric Project from PG&E. Mr. Kessler managed numerous capital improvement projects including restorations to El Dorado Diversion Dam, El Dorado Powerhouse, and the El Dorado Canal. He also managed FERC relicensing under the NEPA process, and the EIR under the CEQA process for acquisition, repair, operation of the El Dorado Hydroelectric Project and for securing 17,000 AF of new water rights;
Aug. 1993 – Sept. 1995: Project Engineer – Northern California Power Agency
Provided engineering and environmental support including dam safety functions, and managed engineering and environmental consultants in the course of planning and performing various enhancements associated with the North Fork Stanislaus River Hydroelectric Project in accordance with the FERC license;
July 1984 – August 1993: Hydro Supervisor – Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Managed the engineering, operations, maintenance, capital improvements and regulatory compliance activites including dam safety functions for the El Dorado and Chili Bar Hydroelectric Projects in accordance with the FERC licenses;
Aug. 1979 – July 1984 – Hydraulic Engineer and Hydrographer/Hydrologist – PG&E
Planned and managed engineering and construction of various capital improvement projects within PG&E’s and its water district/agency partner’s hydroelectric systems; Also forecasted snowpack runoff, planned water storage and conveyance schedules for optimizing hydro production, and performed hydrographic duties for streamflow monitoring in accordance with USGS standards.