WaterWired

Water Maven Philip E. LaMoreaux Dies

It is once again my sad duty to report the recent death of yet another giant in the field of hydrogeology/ground water hydrology.

Dr. Philip E. LaMoreaux, Sr., died at home in Tuscaloosa, AL, on 23 June 2008. He was 88, and had served the ground water profession for over 60 years.

I did not know Phil as well as I knew Tom Prickett and Stan Davis, but his stature was every bit as great as theirs. Like Tom and Stan, he was not only an extraordinary professional, but also a gentleman. He leaves an unparalleled legacy. 

The following three paragraphs are taken from Dr. LaMoreaux's bio on the American Geological Institute's WWW site:

Dr. LaMoreaux had occupied a central role in the development of hydrogeology and environmental geology into the most dynamic and sought-after disciplines in geology. He has been a leader in the profession of geology and has had a distinguished career as a federal, state, academic, and consulting geologist.

He served as Chief of the Ground Water Branch of the U.S. Geological Survey, State Geologist of Alabama, Professor of Geology at the University of Alabama, and Director of the Environmental Institute for Waste Management Studies (EIWMS) for Alabama before forming his form, Philip E. Lamoreaux & Associates., Inc.

He contributed much to the profession of geology through involvement with major geological societies: as President of the American Geological Institute, Association of American State Geologists, and American Institute of Hydrology; as Chairman of t he Geological Society of America Foundation Board of Trustees; as Chairman of both GSA's Hydrogeology Division and American Geophysical Union's Hydrology Division. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Geology.

Dr. LaMoreaux's comments on working in geohydrology/environmental geology.

Here is a memoriam from the Arizona Geological Survey's blog and an article from the Tuscaloosa News.

His family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to:

The First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa
LaMoreaux Memorial
900 Greensboro Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-752-3531

The Philip E. and Bunnie LaMoreaux Geology Scholarship Fund
University of Alabama Advancement Office
P.O. 870122
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
1-888-875-4438

Rest in peace, Phil.

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." -- Henry David Thoreau

Matt Larsen Named USGS Water Czar

Dr. Matthew C. (Matt) Larsen has been named the USGS Associate Director for Water. He had been the Interim Associate Director since replacing Dr. Robert Hirsch last month.

I know Matt; he's a very good man and will do an excellent job.

From the press release:

Dr. Matthew C. Larsen has been named Associate Director for Water of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).                         

In his Associate Director role, Dr. Larsen has programmatic responsibility for all water-related research and activities at the USGS. He will be responsible for water issues relating to flooding, water quality, drought, climate change and water availability.

Larsen has been the leader of the USGS National Research Program in hydrology in his position of Chief Scientist for Hydrology since 2005. 

"Matt has an outstanding record as a research scientist, advancing knowledge of hydrologic and landslide processes in tropical ecosystems. He has worked closely with the National Science Foundation on collaborative efforts in water research and has directed USGS hydrologic research in advancing the understanding of the impacts of climate change on hydrologic systems," said USGS Director Mark Myers. 

As USGS Caribbean District Chief, Larsen supervised water resources programs and worked with external partners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands starting in 2000. That same year he also served as a coordinator and researcher on a USGS international mission that responded to the December 1999 landslide and flashflood disaster in Venezuela.

Larsen was the Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budget project chief from 1991 to 2000. Prior to that, he was project chief on a USGS study of landslide hazards in eastern Puerto Rico. Larsen began his USGS career in 1977 with the Branch of Pacific and Arctic Marine Geology, Menlo Park, CA. He was a physical science technician and participated in a study of natural hazards to petroleum development in the Northern Bering Sea, Alaska.

Dr. Larsen earned a bachelor's in Geology in 1976 from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and a doctorate in Geography at the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1997. He is also the Chair of the U.S. National Committee for the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme and is the author of 66 scientific reports and journal articles.

"It may be lonely at the top but you eat better." -- Unknown

WHO: Safer Water, Better Health

From the World Health Organization:

The first-ever report depicting country-by-country estimates of the
burden of disease due to water, sanitation and hygiene highlights how
much disease could be prevented through increased access to safe water
and better hygiene.

This comprehensive overview provides the epidemiological evidence and
economic arguments for fully integrating water, sanitation and hygiene
in countries' disease reduction strategies -- a prerequisite to
achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It also provides the basis
for preventive action by all relevant sectors managing critical water
resources and services in support of public health efforts.

Lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene remains one of the world's
most urgent health issues.

Download the report.

Fight For Your Rights: Beastie Boy's Film Takes On Nestle, Privatization & Bottled Water

Thanks to friend and former student Amy Ewing for bringing this to my attention.

Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch, known for his activism and whose company distributes the film FLOW: For Love Of Water, defends his attack on Swiss firm Nestle in the film.

Read what Nestle says about bottled water.

You can see my previous posts about the film - 30 January 2008 and 29 February 2008.

From the story:

Yauch screened his documentary film FLOW at last weekend's (21 June 2008) U.S. Nantucket Film Festival, claiming the Swiss-based firm is being environmentally irresponsible.

The film, distributed by Yauch and his company Oscilloscope Pictures, blames the growing privatization of the world's fresh water supply partly on the company, and others including Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

A source tells the New York Post that Nestle bosses were furious at Yauch after hearing the company's name mentioned, revealing, "She (a company representative) stormed out about an hour in when the film named Nestle. The company obviously had no idea this content was in the movie. She told an audience member, 'That was one-sided,' on her way out and didn't come back for the question and answer session afterwards."

Yauch has refused to apologize for his honestly in the footage.

He tells the New York Post, "They (Nestle) put pretty pictures of springs and forests on the bottles, but in this movie they're getting called out. I think it's great. They lock down water as a commodity they can buy and sell. It's terrifying."

Yauch's film is set to debut in New York this September.

Maude Barlow would be proud of you, Adam!

“Everything starts out as a rebellion, then becomes a movement, and finally becomes a racket.” – Patrick Buchanan

USGS Congressional Briefing: Climate Change Impacts on the Colorado River

On 6 June 2008, the USGS held a briefing for Members of Congress and Congessional staffers on Climate Change: Impacts on the Colorado River.

Some notes from a colleague:

• Tony Willardson of the Western States Water Council spoke about using the thermal band on the planned Landsat 8 for measuring evapotranspiration and the continual difficulties with funding and support for this sensor.
• Dr. Gregory J. McCabe of the USGS stated that current climate change models are not good enough to predict the change in water supply. For further information please read this article.
• Dr. Terrance Fulp, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region, talked about market-driven approaches to water management. He described a joint task force that is part of the overall Department of Interior task force on climate change.
• Eric Kuhn, General Manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District, discussed the variables influencing water supply and demand: fixed obligations on the upper Colorado River, early snowmelt, tree loss from moths, and oil-shale industry demands, to name a few. He asked what efforts are underway to better utilize satellite data for the Colorado River Basin, specifically flow, temperature, and quality.

You can view speakers' biographies and PowerPoints here.

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” – Samuel Johnson