Unit Chief - Missouri Hydrology Information Center
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Zackary Becker started his career at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources the way every hydrologist dreams — by driving through active floodwaters on his very first day of work. It was the peak of the 2019 flood, and with high water on both sides of the road into Jefferson City, he figured he was either in the right place or in way over his head. Armed with a degree in Environmental Science (with a focus in Soil Science) from the University of Missouri – Columbia, Zackary began as a Hydrologist working on large-scale water policy and environmental restoration projects across the state.
These days, Zackary serves as the Unit Chief of the Missouri Hydrology Information Center (MoHIC), where he leads efforts to improve Missouri’s resilience to flooding and drought. That includes deploying streamgages and soil sensors, surveying buried alluvial aquifers in Northeast Missouri, and delivering flood inundation mapping from the National Water Model — all through tools that are actually accessible, like MoHIC’s website and mobile app. If it involves water, soil, or helping people prepare for the next big rain, Zack’s probably on it — or at least thinking about it.