Natural Resources Management and Engineering

Water Resources Field Station for Teaching, Outreach and Research (WRFS)

Mission Statement
Environmental sustainability is one of the six key areas of excellence emphasized in the University of Connecticut's Academic Plan.  To help achieve excellence in this area, the Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering is developing an on-campus water resources field station (WRFS). The WRFS will enhance our ground water resources and contamination-related teaching, outreach and research programs.

The assessment, management and protection of ground water resources require hands-on proficiency in conducting physical, chemical and biological related field and laboratory measurements. Such proficiency also requires a comprehensive understanding of the interrelationships between surface water and ground water.  In today's technological world one must also be familiar with applications of GPS, GIS, and mathematical modeling for solving complex ground water resource and contamination-related problems.   The WRFS will provide a connection between the classroom and the real world.  It will provide a location for developing field data for mapping and modeling. It will provide a location to conduct drilling, geophysical testing, hydraulic well testing, water sampling and water quality analyses in the field. It will generate real-world data for developing a variety of computer-based skills.  The WRFS will also be a focal point for conducting analyses of ground water flow in fractured bedrock, for investigating surface water and ground water interactions, and for evaluating approaches for conducting site investigations and remediation.

The WRFS will aid in introducing undergraduate students to research. Importantly, as a land grant University, we have an outreach obligation. The WRFS will meet this obligation by providing a location for offering outreach training for environmental professionals and the interested public.  

Status
The WRFS is located on property managed by the University's Farm Department near the University's horse barn off of Horse Barn Hill Road.  It was established in the summer of 2005.  The WRFS currently consists of two ground water laboratories and a well field.  The well field is on land that was formerly farmed. The land slopes gently eastward toward a small stream and wetlands that lie at the eastern boundary of an open field.

The well field has 3 bedrock wells drilled to a maximum depth of 250 feet (courtesy of Sima Drilling of Cheshire, CT) and 6 overburden wells drilled to a depth of 14 feet (courtesy of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Site Assessment and Support Unit).  To date, the WRFS has been used to help train DEP personnel in drilling; and undergraduate and graduate students in conducting direct push drilling, soil coring and logging, surveying with conventional and GPS equipment, geophysical surveying, conducting downhole camera inspections, and conducting ground water level measurements and hydraulic testing.

Vision
We envision the WRFS to be set up for conducting a wide range of ground water assessments. Permanent elements to be installed are listed in Table 1. We are also planning on developing a real-time monitoring network to remotely monitor the parameters in Table 2. We have introduced two new courses to take advantage of the WRFS: Introduction to Water Resources Assessment and Management (an undergraduate class); and Applications in Ground Water Modeling (a graduate class). Other courses will also be taking advantage of the facility.

We are beginning to offer the WRFS for use in training to the public, professional organizations and companies. We anticipate a more formal program of outreach being developed by next year through the UCONN Cooperative Extension System.

Support
To make the WRFS reality, we are seeking support for the development of the field and laboratory elements of the WRFS. Contributions may be made out to the University of Connecticut and directed by letter to support Professor Robbins' efforts to develop the Water Resources Well Field. In addition to monetary support, we are interested in in-kind support with drilling and well installation.

Information
For further information on the WRFS, please contact Gary A. Robbins, Professor of Geology. Contact information is listed below.