Michael Rogalus is a registered Professional Hydrologist with more than 20 years of experience in the environmental field. He is adept at evaluating environmental data to determine the fate and transport of contaminants, particularly in surface water and sediments, and applying environmental forensic techniques to develop and support allocation frameworks for the resolution of multi-party environmental disputes. Michael has supported testifying experts on several mega-sites, including the Lower Fox River and the Kalamazoo River. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed hydrology publications and has assisted in instructing short courses focused on contaminant transport modeling.
What do you find most rewarding about the work that you do?
The most rewarding aspect of my work is solving complex environmental problems that have real-world implications. Many of the sites I work on involve long-standing contamination issues with technical, regulatory, and legal dimensions. Being able to distill large, complex datasets into defensible conclusions and then seeing those conclusions help inform decisions, settlements, or remediation strategies is extremely satisfying. I also value the collaborative nature of this work, particularly supporting expert testimony and working closely with multidisciplinary teams to achieve sound, science-based outcomes.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently supporting expert testimony in a large, multi-site environmental matter involving historical contamination and allocation issues. My work includes evaluating surface water and groundwater data as well as assessing contaminant fate and transport across multiple pathways. A key focus is distinguishing between groundwater, surface water, seepage, and source-control measures, and understanding how those distinctions influence technical conclusions and cost allocation.
How can our clients benefit from this service/particular innovation?
Clients benefit by gaining a clearer, defensible understanding of complex environmental conditions and liabilities. By integrating hydrologic science, historical records, and environmental forensic analysis, this work helps distinguish between contaminant pathways, clarify what remediation measures are addressing, and properly identify where costs and responsibilities lie. This clarity supports more informed decision-making, reduces uncertainty in regulatory and litigation contexts, and can help clients manage risk and control costs to reach efficient, science-based resolutions.
What is a little-known fact about you?
A little-known fact is that I hold black belts in both Kenpo Karate and Tae Kwon Do (Chung Do Kwan), and I competed in the 1994 Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics.
