The IGS Geode
Contents
Activities of the Iowa Geological Survey, 2016–17
The geode is the official state rock of Iowa and popular with kids and adults alike. Check out our alternate cover photo, below right. It was a difficult choice!
2 Welcome to Our First Issue!
The Iowa Geological Survey staff (clockwise from far left): Rick Langel, Keith Schilling, Mike Gannon, Rosemary Tiwari, Matthew Streeter, Huaibao (Paul) Liu, Nathan Holt, Zachary Demanett, Stephanie Surine, Ryan Clark, Jason Vogelgesang, and Phillip Kerr.
6 Educating Iowa Students
To collect, reposit, and interpret geologic and hydrogeologic data, to conduct foundational research, and to provide Iowans with the knowledge needed to effectively manage our natural resources for long-term sustainability and economic development.
9 Facilitating Re-Zoning Ordinance
ON THE COVE R :
RI GHT:
THE I GS M I S S I O N :
To be a nationally recognized leader in geologic and hydrogeologic sciences, building upon our rich scientific heritage and serving Iowans through research, education, and outreach. THE I GS V I S I O N :
CONTACT US :
Iowa Geological Survey The University of Iowa 300 Trowbridge Hall Iowa City, Iowa 52242 Office: 319-335-1575 Email: iihr-iowa-geological-survey@uiowa.edu Web: http://www.iowageologicalsurvey.org
www.facebook.com/IowaGeologicalSurvey twitter.com/IowaGeoSurvey d i re c to r o f d e ve lo p m e nt a n d co m m u n i c at i o n s :
Carmen Langel e d i to r :
Jacqueline Hartling Stolze a rt d i re c to r
/
p h oto g r a p h e r :
David Herwaldt
2 | The IGS Geode
4 High-Tech Solutions for Well Siting 5 New Drilling Equipment
6 What’s Below the Surface? 7 STATEMAP: A Tool for Iowans 8 Building Drought Resiliency and Sustainability
10 Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate 12 Ancient Sea Creatures 15 Nitrate and Phosphorus at Iowa Golf Courses 16 Publications 17 Selected Presentations 18 IGS Financials 19 A Look Back
Welcome to Our First Issue!
W E A RE PLEASED TO SH OW C ASE
some of our 2016– 17 activities in this new magazine from the Iowa Geological Survey (IGS). Our publication represents a continuation of the transition of the IGS from our previous administrative home in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to our current home within IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering (IIHR) at the University of Iowa (UI). Since the move in 2014, the IGS has continued to serve Iowans by providing the geologic and hydrologic information needed to understand and better manage our natural resources. In this magazine, which we are calling The igs Geode, we report on some of our interesting activities and list examples of our public engagement and summarize presentations and publications made by IGS staff in the last 12 months. The igs Geode highlights the breadth and scope of our research, education, and outreach activities. IGS geologists Stephanie Surine, Phil Kerr, Ryan Clark, and Huaibao (Paul) Liu showcase their efforts to map Iowa’s surficial and bedrock resources through the USGS-funded STATEMAP program. You never know what you may find when investigating the subsurface, and Liu reports on the discovery of a worldclass fossil locality in a previouslyunknown meteorite impact structure in the Decorah area — a discovery found through our mapping program. Our ability to map the subsurface geology and conduct groundwater investigations was significantly enhanced in 2017 with the purchase of a new Giddings drilling rig. Soil Scientist Matthew Streeter certainly kept the new rig busy last fall! Our exciting GeoCore program, co-led by Rick Langel and Jason