David DeForest
Partner
e-mail David
206.812.5426 (phone)
David’s primary professional interests relate to the fate and effects of trace elements in aquatic environments. He has more than 20 years of environmental consulting experience in conducting ecological risk assessments (ERAs) (including probabilistic assessments) at mine sites, and in developing updated water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. The latter has focused on the use of the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) and statistical techniques in order to derive bioavailability-based guidelines for several metals (i.e., guidelines that are modified based on important site-specific parameters).
David has also worked extensively on issues related to selenium in aquatic environments, including the development of tissue-based toxicity guidelines for fish and birds and site-specific selenium risk assessments for fish and shorebirds at mining sites. He has been asked to provide technical peer reviews of regulatory criteria and guidelines for selenium and methods to derive both screening and site-specific criteria for selenium in water based on toxicity thresholds in fish and bird tissues. David currently serves on the editorial board of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.
When not working, David enjoys camping, kayaking, and golfing with his family, and attempting to complete projects around the house.