![](3D"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/lileva/image001.jpg")
![3D"Arizona](3D"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/lileva/image002.gif")
September 2008 = Newsletter
Table of Contents
Viewpoint:=20 Meeting on the Mountain
Here it is September, and the days are growing = shorter.=20 The monsoons have been healthy, and wildflowers are ready to bloom = in the=20 high country. Which is where you should be on September 20-24. = This year=E2=80=99s=20 Annual Symposium, held jointly in Flagstaff with the American = Institute of=20 Professional Geologists, looks to be as good as any we have held. = The=20 papers look great, the field trips will be fantastic, and the = networking=20 opportunities have never been better. The venue is = state-of-the-art. In=20 terms of your own professional development, you just can=E2=80=99t = afford to miss=20 this year=E2=80=99s Annual Symposium. It=E2=80=99s time to sign up = now, while the cheap=20 hotel rates are still available at the Drury (until September 5) = and the=20 Radisson Woodlands.
Managers and supervisors take note: this is your = last=20 chance to get your staff some professional exposure and training = at a=20 truly unique event=E2=80=94sign them up today!
This year=E2=80=99s AHS Annual Meeting will be = Monday night at the=20 Radisson Woodlands. Why go to the Annual Meeting? In the past it = has been=20 the forum for many of the important debates within AHS. Many = remember the=20 spirited discussions at several Annual Meetings that launched the = concept=20 of the Foundation. It=E2=80=99s where we review the things we have = done as a=20 Society over the last year. It=E2=80=99s where members get to = express their=20 opinions on what the Society needs to do in the next year. = It=E2=80=99s where we=20 find out how we are doing financially. And we all owe a debt of = gratitude=20 to the entire Flagstaff Chapter and the other planners who worked = so hard=20 to bring this event off. So come to Flagstaff and attend the = Annual=20 Meeting=E2=80=94but first register for the Symposium.
This is your Society=E2=80=99s main event for = the year, so don=E2=80=99t=20 miss the meeting on the mountain!
Alan Dulaney,
AHS Corporate Board President, 2008
No September Dinner Meeting!
Please note, there will no Phoenix Chapter = dinner meeting=20 in September. We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium in = Flagstaff=20 instead! Our next dinner meeting will be held October 14th when = Dr. Brian=20 Wahlin from WEST Consultants will discuss his unsteady HEC-RAS = canal=20 operation simulator.
Seeking Nominations for Chapter Officers for = 2009
Okay, I=E2=80=99ve gotten a highly under = whelming response to last=20 month=E2=80=99s newsletter=E2=80=99s plea. In fact, I=E2=80=99ve = heard from exactly no one! Not=20 even political crack back joke. Where are you? We need your help = and a=20 little of your time.
The Phoenix Chapter is seeking nominations for = all offices=20 of the Chapter Board for 2009. So if you are interested in making = an=20 important contribution to the Society, please step up! We have = many long=20 serving board members looking for a bit of relief! We also have = the=20 additional demands of the Symposium in 2009, so additional help on = the=20 Board is needed to allow members to spread themselves around to = the=20 various activities needing attention next year including = organizing and=20 shepherding the monthly dinner meetings, administering the Bouwer=20 internship, judging the spring science and engineering fair, and = lots=20 more.
Offices on the Board include President, Vice =
President,=20
Treasurer, Secretary, two Chapter Board positions, and one open =
Corporate=20
Board position. There are no special requirements of board =
membership=20
except you must be an AHS member (if you=E2=80=99re not, =
that=E2=80=99s easily rectified!)=20
and have a willingness to provide input and give something back to =
the=20
Society. The Chapter Board normally meets monthly except Aug. =
& Sept.=20
in advance of the chapter dinner meetings. Board members can =
expect to=20
spend about 4 to 8 hours a month preparing for and participating =
in board=20
meetings and other chapter activities. The Chapter President and =
Corporate=20
Board members also meet quarterly with the Corporate Board members =
from=20
Tucson and Flagstaff. Those meetings are held for four hours on =
Saturdays=20
=E2=80=93 once in Flagstaff (July), once in Tucson (Jan.) and =
twice in Phoenix=20
(April & Oct.). Participation in the Chapter Board is a great =
way to=20
learn more about the Society and help chart our path forward. =
Nominations=20
can be made to current Chapter President, Ted Lehman, at
2009 AHS Annual Symposium
The 2009 Annual Symposium, =E2=80=9CManaging = Hydrologic Extremes=E2=80=9D,=20 will be held at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa August 30 = through=20 September 2, 2009 in Scottsdale. The event will be a joint = symposium with=20 the 2009 national conference of the American Institute of = Hydrology (AIH).=20 With the help of AIH and all our AHS volunteers and participating=20 sponsors, we hope to put on a fabulous, successful event at a = super venue.=20 We are also planning to organize a published volume of the = proceedings=20 papers. AIH normally produces published proceedings and we are = looking to=20 continue their tradition for 2009. So if you or someone you know = is=20 interested in seeing their paper in print, here=E2=80=99s your = chance. Start=20 thinking of those paper ideas now! Look for more details as the = 2009=20 planning continues=E2=80=A6
Planning for 2009 Symposium continues, = Oct. 7th at=20 JEF Tempe
Planning for the 2009 AHS Symposium continues = and we will=20 be meeting regularly to hammer out details of program, speakers,=20 sponsorship, marketing, proceedings, workshops, field trips, etc. = The next=20 planning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7th at 5 PM at the = Tempe=20 offices of JE Fuller. If you are interested in helping with the = planning=20 process or just listening in, please contact Ted Lehman at=20 ted@jefuller.com or 480-222-5709, Lee-Anna Walker at=20 LeeAnna.Walker@arcadis-us.com or Christie O=E2=80=99Day at = coday@acstempe.com or=20 480-894-5477 or Keith Ross at keithr@hgcinc.com or 480-421-1501. = We=E2=80=99d love=20 to have you and we can really use your help.
Zuni Basin Fossil Field Trip, Oct. 10-12, near=20 Springerville, AZ
The Phoenix Chapter along with assistance from = Erin Young=20 of the Flagstaff Chapter (thanks Erin!) is coordinating a field = trip to a=20 very unique spot in northeastern Arizona to examine real life = dinosaur=20 fossils! Details are still being worked out but this much we = know:
The trip is planned over the weekend of Oct. 10 = =E2=80=93 12 (Yes,=20 I know that=E2=80=99s Fri-Sun. Read on.). Remember its four hours = to Springerville=20 and then an hour of so of dirt to get to the site. So interested=20 participants will probably need to leave early afternoon on Friday = to get=20 to Springerville. We plan to stay in Springerville at Reeds Lodge = on=20 Friday and Saturday return home on Sunday evening. We=E2=80=99re = working with=20 Reeds Lodge on a group rate. We will let you know once we have a = cost=20 nailed down. People can negotiate upgrades from there if = necessary. Yes,=20 camping is cheaper but is logistically more complicated and slows = us down=20 a lot based on Doug=E2=80=99s experience. However, you=E2=80=99re = welcome to meet us at=20 Reeds Lodge Sat. am.
The field excursion itself will take place on = Saturday and=20 Sunday. We still need to figure out the food, but tentatively we = plan to=20 organize lunches and let folks organize their own breakfasts and=20 dinners.
The sites are at 7000 feet or so and very = remote. People=20 need to be in pretty good shape (probably no problem for this = group.) We=20 will not allow people to drive personal vehicles to the site. We = are=20 getting costs for a couple 15 passenger vans and we will bring a = couple=20 4-wheel drive support vehicles. People will need to know there can = be no=20 private collecting. The sites are permitted Federal property. We = will have=20 to have people sign a statement accepting these conditions and = agreeing to=20 keep the sites confidential. We basically say the bus/van leaves = from=20 Reeds each morning about 8:30 to the site. If not on the bus, = please enjoy=20 beautiful downtown Springerville. Doug says you will see why this = is=20 necessary if you come.
We will see dinosaur bones, fossil trees etc in = the field=20 and track ways and explore some promising territory. The cost = details and=20 car/van pool logistics will be advertised as soon as we have them = worked=20 out. Persons interest in the field trip should contact Ted Lehman = or Erin=20 Young (eyoung@flusol.com). Thanks=20 again to Doug Wolfe for volunteering to share this great field = experience=20 with AHS.
2008 Event Calendar
- September =E2=80=93 2008 =
Symposium=20
Flagstaff
- October =E2=80=93 Dr. Brian Wahlin, =
WEST Consultants,=20
Unsteady HEC-RAS canal training simulation tool
- November 18th =E2=80=93 Third Tuesday =
meeting to avoid=20
Veteran=E2=80=99s Day =E2=80=93 Matt Beversdorf, ADWR, ADWR =
Groundwater Data web=20
application, check out the Beta version now:
- Weekend of Oct. 10-12, Zuni Basin =
fossil field=20
trip, Doug Wolfe, Renaissance Environmental Management, L.L.C., =
leader,=20
costs & other logistics TBD
August Meeting-Phoenix Mars Mission Science = Operations=20 Center Tour
On August 16th, 2008 members of the Tucson =
Chapter of the=20
Arizona Hydrological Society participated in a unique tour of the =
Phoenix=20
Mars Mission Science Operations, which is located in central =
Tucson.=20
Approximately 15 AHS members with their guests participated in the =
tour.=20
Carla Bitter, the tour guide for our group, bubbled with =
energy and=20
enthusiasm as she welcomed members for a complete tour. Ms. Bitter =
is the=20
education and public outreach manager for The University of =
Arizona-led=20
Phoenix Mars Mission. The mission is the first in NASA=E2=80=99s =
Scout Program,=20
with the Phoenix designed to study the history of water and the=20
habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil. Ms. =
Bitter=20
and the education and public outreach team, together with Mars =
education=20
partners, have developed and offer a variety of educational talks, =
activities, workshops, and programs to help the public understand =
the=20
mission=E2=80=99s science and engineering objectives and to =
promote space=20
exploration. =E2=80=9CI was amazed at the depth of knowledge and =
by the ability of=20
the tour guide to translate what the various teams of researchers =
are=20
discovering daily into something that the general public can =
understand. I=20
was also amazed by her (Ms. Bitter) ability to answer the =
questions from=20
our group about the science, engineering, and history of the =
mission,=E2=80=9D=20
said Amy Macleod, AHS member.
Encouraging students to pursue careers in the = STEM fields=20 (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is one of the main = goals of=20 the nationwide EPO effort managed by Ms. Bitter. Included in the = overall=20 mission=E2=80=99s plans is the public outreach effort, which = locally includes=20 tours to the UA's Science Operations Center. The tours are open to = the=20 public, with the mission hosting groups of interested individuals, = schools=20 or organizations such as the Arizona Hydrological Society. = =E2=80=9CIn the past=20 two years 20,000 people have toured the facility in addition to = our=20 regional and national outreach programs,=E2=80=9D Ms. Bitter said. = The tour=20 consists of a 30-minute mission overview with time for questions = and=20 answers. The presentation contains up-to-date photos of the images = the=20 Phoenix sends back daily, which are displayed on three large = screens with=20 some images shown in 3-D. The images provides the viewer with a = =E2=80=9Cmust see=E2=80=9D=20 view of the Mars landscape.
![](3D"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/lileva/image003-1.jpg"=20)
Mars Lander
![](3D"http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/lileva/image004-1.jpg"=20)
Tucson Chapter
Mars Mission Science =
Operations Center=20
Tour
Representatives from the mission fielded = questions about=20 the science operations and findings of the day, as well as = inquiries about=20 the technology used to build and land the Phoenix on Mars. Time = was also=20 given to explore the interactive exhibits and activities in the = Payload=20 Interoperability Testbed, known as the PIT. The PIT features a = full-scale=20 engineering model of the Phoenix Mars Lander. The model and the = PIT bed=20 are used to test the commands and movements the actual Phoenix = Mars Lander=20 carries out over a hundred million of miles away. The tours, which = ended=20 in August, have come to an end for this fiscal year. The members = of AHS=20 who participated in the tour hope that future tours will continue = for=20 guests who are interested in the developments in Martian = exploration.=20 Thanks to all who participated, and a special thanks to the = Phoenix Mars=20 Mission Science Operations staff for all their good science and = public=20 outreach!
Written By: Robert McGill, Tucson Chapter
Photos By: Rebecca Ruiz - McGill, Senior Public = Relations=20 University of Arizona, release courtesy of the Phoenix Mars = Mission=20 Gallery
September Meeting=20
There will be no Tucson Chapter Meeting in = September.=20 We look forward to seeing you at the = Flagstaff=20 Symposium!
October Meeting=20
Ralph Marra, Tucson Water, will be speaking to = the Tucson=20 Chapter on Oct 14. Details will be posted on the AHS web site and = in the=20 October newsletter.
2010 AHS Annual Symposium
Mike Geddis, AHS Corporate Board Treasurer, has = some very=20 preliminary discussions with his contacts in the mining industry = about=20 possible collaboration for the 2010 symposium in Tucson. Mike will = present=20 some ideas for discussion at the next AHS Corporate Board = meeting.
What I did on my summer vacation=E2=80=A6 =
Amy Lynn
Dept. of Civil =
Engineering,=20
University of Arizona
=E2=80=9CI know I am interested in water and I = think that=E2=80=99s what I=20 want to go into; I=E2=80=99m just not sure what I want to = specialize in within=20 that field. With the Halpenny, I am hoping to receive a = cross-sectional=20 view of the discipline that will help me decide what to pursue in = grad=20 school and ultimately in my career.=E2=80=9D
This, or a variation of this, was my answer to =
the=20
inevitable questions, =E2=80=9CWhat do you want to do?=E2=80=9D =
and =E2=80=9CWhat do you hope to=20
get out of the Halpenny Internship?=E2=80=9D My expectations of =
the internship=20
were definitely met as I was provided with a broad look at the =
water=20
field. Geologists, hydrologists and engineers shared their work =
and=20
perspective with me at five different companies this summer: Water =
Management Consultants =E2=80=93 A Schlumberger Company, =
Montgomery and=20
Associates, Brown and Caldwell, Metro Water and URS.
Prior to this internship, I had never been on a =
mine=20
site=E2=80=94now I have been to three that were in all different =
stages of=20
development and got the MSHAW training and steel-toed boots to =
prove it! I=20
took part in pump tests and environmental sampling at a mine site =
that was=20
under consideration. I also observed the process of drilling a =
well at=20
this same site. I went into the pit at a brand new mine that had =
not even=20
started production yet and was very impressed with the big haul =
trucks! At=20
the well field down-gradient of the mine I helped check water =
levels and=20
transducers. Once we returned to the office, I observed how the =
data was=20
initially analyzed by recording it in databases and converting it =
into=20
hydrographs. The third mine I visited had already been in =
operation for=20
many years. After taking a tour that provided a general =
understanding of=20
the mine and its operations, I observed how the monitoring and =
remediation=20
was carried out for not only the mine site, but down gradient as =
well.=20
Learning about these three mines was like experiencing the =
lifetime of a=20
mine. While the first mine waffled in uncertainty, the second mine =
was=20
young and anxious to be on its way and the third mine I visited =
retained=20
the air of the past century.
In addition to mines, other field work that I =
participated=20
in consisted of domestic well sampling and well and aquifer =
documentation.=20
I read the reports and operations manuals for various =
environmental=20
remediation sites and then toured them to get a full understanding =
of=20
their design.
In the office I read completed reports and =
proposals to=20
get the general idea of a project and also proofread and edited =
some=20
reports. Academic books and papers that expanded on my classes =
were also=20
given to me to look through. The combination of reading and field =
work was=20
beneficial. At times I found myself thinking, =E2=80=9COh! Now I =
get what they=20
were talking about in class!=E2=80=9D I was also introduced to =
computer programs=20
that I had never worked with before. I created hydrographs in =
Grapher and=20
GIS and I worked on a company=E2=80=99s database using Microsoft =
Access.
My favorite part of the Halpenny Internship has = been=20 talking with knowledgeable people who patiently answered my = numerous=20 questions and excitedly shared their work with me! At the = beginning of=20 this summer I thought that I wanted to specialize in hydrology, = but really=20 did not know if I even liked the job. This unique internship = allowed me to=20 experience five different companies in one summer after previously = having=20 only academic experience in my chosen field. I have now learned = that I=20 enjoy the work and can see myself doing it as a career. These = experiences=20 have assisted me in narrowing my focus for grad school to = environmental=20 engineering. Afterwards, I may start my career at one of the = companies who=20 helped guide me at the beginning.
Flagstaff Chapter =
Meeting
Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 6:00 pm to 8:00 = pmHotel=20 Weatherford Mezzanine
Zuni Basin Fossil Field Trip, Oct. 10-12, near=20 Springerville, AZ
The Flagstaff and Phoenix Chapters with special = assistance=20 from Erin Young of the Flagstaff Chapter are coordinating a field = trip to=20 a very unique spot in northeastern Arizona to examine real life = dinosaur=20 fossils! Details are still being worked out but this much we = know:
The trip is planned over the weekend of Oct. 10 = =E2=80=93 12 (Yes,=20 I know that=E2=80=99s Fri-Sun. Read on.). Remember its four hours = to Springerville=20 and then an hour of so of dirt to get to the site. So interested=20 participants will probably need to leave early afternoon on Friday = to get=20 to Springerville. We plan to stay in Springerville at Reeds Lodge = on=20 Friday and Saturday return home on Sunday evening. We=E2=80=99re = working with=20 Reeds Lodge on a group rate. We will let you know once we have a = cost=20 nailed down. People can negotiate upgrades from there if = necessary. Yes,=20 camping is cheaper but is logistically more complicated and slows = us down=20 a lot based on Doug=E2=80=99s experience. However, you=E2=80=99re = welcome to meet us at=20 Reeds Lodge Sat. am.
The field excursion itself will take place on = Saturday and=20 Sunday. We still need to figure out the food, but tentatively we = plan to=20 organize lunches and let folks organize their own breakfasts and=20 dinners.
The sites are at 7000 feet or so and very = remote. People=20 need to be in pretty good shape (probably no problem for this = group.) We=20 will not allow people to drive personal vehicles to the site. We = are=20 getting costs for a couple 15 passenger vans and we will bring a = couple=20 4-wheel drive support vehicles. People will need to know there can = be no=20 private collecting. The sites are permitted Federal property. We = will have=20 to have people sign a statement accepting these conditions and = agreeing to=20 keep the sites confidential. We basically say the bus/van leaves = from=20 Reeds each morning about 8:30 to the site. If not on the bus, = please enjoy=20 beautiful downtown Springerville. Doug says you will see why this = is=20 necessary if you come.
We will see dinosaur bones, fossil trees etc in = the field=20 and track ways and explore some promising territory.
The cost details and car/van pool logistics will = be=20 advertised as soon as we have them worked out.
Persons interest in the field trip should =
contact Ted=20
Lehman or Erin Young (
Thanks again to Doug Wolfe for volunteering to = share this=20 great field experience with AHS.
Chapter=20
Participation
All the AHS corporate board members and chapter =
officers=20
are looking forward to seeing you in Flagstaff for the annual =
symposium.=20
For many of us, the annual symposium is the major and for some, =
the only=20
AHS activity for the year. Be reminded that each of the local =
chapters=20
organize meetings, presentations, workshops, field trips and =
social=20
events. My observation is that each of the chapters in many ways =
uniquely=20
represents their community and region. The Phoenix Chapter is the =
largest=20
and it is comprised of many consultants and governmental staff. It =
has a=20
very business-like acumen. The Tucson Chapter also comprises =
consultants=20
and governmental staff and has a somewhat more informal agenda. It =
has a=20
science influence resulting from the participation by the =
University of=20
Arizona and the US Geological Survey. The Flagstaff Chapter is the =
smallest and is the most informal. As is typical of the region =
they have a=20
strong field orientation in both their hydrologic investigations =
and in=20
the their field activities.
All of the Chapters provide an opportunity for = members to=20 grow technically and professionally and to build a strong = collegial=20 network in Arizona. All of us should take advantage of the many=20 presentations, workshops, and field trips provided by your local = chapter.=20 For many hydrologists, it provides an opportunity to go outside of = the=20 cubicle and the office and learn what else is going on in our = profession.=20 Information on Chapter activities is included in the newsletter = and=20 significant announcements are posted on the AHS web site. Through = your=20 participation the Arizona Hydrological Society can continue to = grow as an=20 organization, better serve the needs of our members, and continue = to=20 develop the successful programs of the AHS Foundation.
By Nick Melcher
AHS Executive Director
For more information on = the Arizona=20 Hydrological Society, or to view current job listing
and announcements, please visit = us at our web=20 site at:
You may register for the annual = symposium in=20 Flagstaff at: