Mr. Gabbard has been working as the Water Quality Engineer for the Lexington - Fayette Urban County Government since September 1996. He coordinates the US EPA Phase 1 Stormwater Discharge Permit. As part of the requirements of his job, he has looked for innovative ways to promote and implement watershed protection measures for the Central Kentucky area. Low Impact Development, specifically Rain Gardens, is one of the measures recognized by the US EPA as a “management practice” to the “maximum extent practicable” for controlling urban runoff pollution and creating sustainable land management for water resource protection.
Various local initiatives Mr. Gabbard has designed or has assisted in the formation thereof include: Reforest the Bluegrass; “Katy” The Catfish; The ReNEW Project, and The Kentucky River Watershed Watch. Each of these programs is operated to meet the objectives of the Clean Water Act - to promote water quality education and public participation through the empowerment of citizens as water resource managers.
Prior to working for the LFUCG, Mr. Gabbard worked for Commonwealth Technology, Inc. dealing with projects related to industrial pretreatment and water pollution control. He also worked as the after-school, student company program director for Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass.
Mr. Gabbard was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. His Master's Thesis work in Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky was “The Toxicity of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Towards the Methane Production of Acetic and Hydrogen Utilizing Methanogens.” He currently resides in Woodford County.
H. David Gabbard, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Water Quality Programming
Division of Water & Air Quality
Department of Environmental Quality