Derek H. Cornforth
Founder, Staff Consultant

Dr. Cornforth has 48 years of experience as a consulting geotechnical engineer and is the founder of Cornforth Consultants.  He has headed multi-disciplinary teams on many types of projects, including dams, landslides, nuclear plant siting studies, and a major transit project. He is accepted by FERC as being qualified as an Independent Consultant, and in such capacity has performed safety inspection studies at several dams, reservoirs, and canals. Selected projects include: 

• Barney Reservoir Dam Raise, Yamhill, Oregon
• Bull Run Dam No. 2, FERC Dam Safety Inspection, Sandy, Oregon
• Oahe Dam Stability Review, Pierre, South Dakota
• Union Pacific Railroad Track Realignment, Cascade Locks, Oregon
• Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, Liquefaction Evaluation, Upper McKenzie River, Oregon
• Mt. Saint Helens SRS Dam Changed Conditions Claim, Toutle River, Washington
• Westside Light Rail Surface and Tunnel Options, Portland, Oregon
• Mt Tabor Embankments, FERC Dam Safety Inspection, Portland, Oregon
• McGuire Dam Raise, Carlton, Oregon
• Grand Coulee Dam, Construction Accident, Expert Witness, Grand Coulee, Washington
• Seismic Embankment Stability, Bull Run Dam No. 2, Sandy, Oregon
• Southern Pacific Railroad Failure at Cantera Loop, Dunsmuir, California
• Dike Dam Project, Glenns Ferry, Idaho
• John Day Dam Navigation Lock, Board of Consultants, Rufus, Oregon
• Expert Witness for Changed Conditions Claim, State Highway 182, Kennewick, Washington

Dr. Cornforth is the author of 25 technical papers and a textbook on landslides. He has been an invited speaker at several universities and technical conferences, and has taught a graduate course in slope stability.