Christopher C. Obropta

Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. is the Extension Specialist in Water Resources with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and he is a Professor with the Department of Environmental Sciences at the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences, Rutgers University. He has a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Obropta was an environmental consultant for 12 years at Omni Environmental Corporation. Dr. Obropta has a background in watershed management, water quality modeling, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and coastal engineering. His specific experience includes watershed restoration, onsite wastewater treatment system design and management, wasteload allocations and TMDL studies, stormwater management, wetland design, effluent dilution analyses, longshore sediment transport, computer-aided design, and geographic information systems (GIS). He teaches Bioresource Engineering Design I & II, where he directs student design teams to develop solutions to complex real-life engineering problems.

With his extensive and impressive background, Dr. Obropta leads his highly specialized team of professional staff who are determined to create innovative solutions to water quality issues in New Jersey.

•    2019, US Water Alliance’s, US Water Prize, to Camden SMART (Stormwater Management and Resource Training) a consortium of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, the City of Camden, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, New Jersey Tree Foundation, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
•    2016, National Epsilon Sigma Phi Visionary Leadership Award for the Northeast Region  
•    2016, Sustainable Raritan Public Education Award  
•    2016, Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) Education and Public Service Award
•    2016, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Outreach Excellence Award
•    2016, New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Landscape Architectural Communication  
•    2015, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Extension Specialist of the Year Award
•    2015, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Diversity Award
•    2014, New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Environmental Enhancement  
•    2012, Garden State Green Award for an Individual Teacher at the College Level
•    2011, New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architect, Merit Award for Landscape Architecture Communications  
•    2011, New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Environmental Enhancement Award
•    2010, EPA Region 2 Environmental Quality Award  
•    2007, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Team Award  
•    2005, EPA P3 2005 Award Competition Honorable Mention, Washington, DC
•    2003, Environmental Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
•    2002, John B. Breslin Award for Outstanding Research Accomplishments in Ocean Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology  
•    1988, Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society

•    American Society of Civil Engineers
•    American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
•    American Water Resources Association
•    American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
•    Water Environment Federation
•    New Jersey Water Environment Association
•    New Jersey American Water Resources Association
•    Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals

•    Giri, S., Lathrop, R.G. and Obropta, C.C., 2019. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies through Best Management Practices. Journal of Hydrology, p.124311.
•    Obropta, C.C. and Del Monaco, N., 2017. Reducing Directly Connected Impervious Areas with Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment, 4(1), 05017004.
•    Obropta, C.C., 2017. Community-Based Green Infrastructure, A Rutgers Cooperative Extension Urban Extension Initiative. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 5(2).
•    Rector, P. and C.C. Obropta. 2016. Cooperative Extension and Neighbors: Adoption of Rain Gardens. Journal of the NACAA 9(1) – June 2016. On-Line publication http://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=605  
•    Salisbury, A.B. and Obropta, C.C., 2015. Potential for existing detention basins to comply with updated stormwater rules: case study. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 21(1), 05015014.
•    Rector, P. and C.C. Obropta. 2015. Greening the Department of Public Works. Journal of the NACAA 8(1) – June 2015. June 2016. On-Line publication http://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=474  
•    Yergeau, S.E. and Obropta, C.C., 2013. Preliminary field evaluation of soil compaction in rain gardens. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 139(9), 1233-1236.
•    Bakacs, M.E., M. Haberland, S. Mangiafico, A. Winquist, Aileen, C.C. Obropta, A. Boyajian, and S. Mellor. 2013. Rain Barrels: A Catalyst for Change? Journal of Extension. 51(3): 3RIB6.  
•    Bakacs, M.E., Yergeau, S.E. and Obropta, C.C., 2013. Assessment of car wash runoff treatment using bioretention mesocosms. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 139(8), 1132-1136.
•    Kardos, J.S. and Obropta, C.C., 2011. Water Quality Model Uncertainty Analysis of a Point‐Point Source Phosphorus Trading Program 1. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 47(6), 1317-1337.

•    Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2002
•    M.S., Civil Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, 1989  
•    B.S., Civil Engineering, Magna Cum Laude, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, 1988