Faculty

William W. Simpkins

Professor
Hydrogeology

55 Science I
Dept. of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: (515) 294-7814
Email: bsimp@iastate.edu

Education
B.A., Geology, Augustana College (Illinois)
M.S., Geology and Geophysics; M.S., Water Resources Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D., Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
 
Research Interests
My research in hydrogeology is focused in five major areas: 1) the hydrogeology and geochemistry of till and glacial sediments; 2) the hydrogeology and geochemistry of restored, multi-species riparian buffers in agricultural watersheds; and 3) processes controlling nutrient transport via groundwater to lakes in Iowa; 4) application of groundwater modeling to predict the hydrologic effects of conservation practices in agricultural watersheds; and 5) application of field investigations, groundwater dating, and groundwater models to evaluate the water supply potential in alluvial and buried channel aquifers in central Iowa.

Research Projects

Funding

Sigma Xi Podcast

Teaching
Geol 411/511 - Hydrogeology (2007 Trial) (Boston Globe article) (Class Picture 2007)
Geol/EnSci 402 - Watershed Hydrology and Surficial Processes (Monitoring Day) (Class Picture 2006)
Geol 409/509 - Field Methods in Hydrogeology (Class Website) (Class Picture 2006) (Field Hydrogeology 2004) Coming May 2009!
Geol 414/514 - Applied Groundwater Flow Modeling
Env S 324 - Energy and the Environment (Class Picture 2004)

Selected Refeered Publications
Helmers, M.J., T.M. Isenhart, C.L. Kling, T.M. Moorman, W.W. Simpkins, and Mark Tomer. 2007.  Water quality in Agriculture 101: Heterogeneity of pollutants, practices, and programs. Choices.
 
Schilling, K.E., M. Tomer, P.E. Gassman, C.L. Kling, T.M. Isenhart, T.B. Moorman, W.W. Simpkins, C.F. Wolter. 2007. A tale of three watersheds: non-point source pollution and conservation practices across Iowa. Choices.

Simpkins, W.W. 2006. A multi-scale investigation of ground water flow at Clear Lake, Iowa. Ground Water 44 (1):35-46.

Helmke, M.F., W.W. Simpkins, and R. Horton. 2005. Simulating conservative tracers in fractured till under realistic timescales. Ground Water 43 (6):877-889.

Helmke, M.F., W.W. Simpkins, and R. Horton. 2005. Fracture-controlled transport of nitrate and atrazine in four Iowa till units. J. Environ. Qual. 34:227-236.

Schultz, R.C., T.M. Isenhart, W.W. Simpkins, and J.P. Colletti. 2004. Riparian forest buffers in agroecosystems - lessons learned from the Bear Creek Watershed, central Iowa, USA. Agroforestry Systems 61:35-50.

Helmke, M.F., W.W. Simpkins, and R. Horton. 2004. Experimental determination of effective diffusion parameters in fractured till. Vadose Zone Journal 3:1050-1056.

Burkart, M.R., W.W. Simpkins, A.J. Morrow, and J.M. Gannon. 2004. Occurrence of total dissolved phosphorus in surficial aquifers and aquitards in Iowa. J. Amer. Water Resources Assoc. 40(3):827-834.

Simpkins, W.W., T.R.Wineland, R.J. Andress, D.A. Johnston, G.C. Caron, T.M. Isenhart, and R.C. Schultz. 2002. Hydrogeological constraints on riparian buffers for reduction of diffuse pollution: examples from the Bear Creek Watershed in Iowa, USA. Water Science and Technology 45 (9):61-68.

Simpkins, W.W., M.R. Burkart, M.F.Helmke, T.N. Twedt, D.E. James, R.J. Jaquis, and K.J. Cole. 2002. Potential impact of earthen waste storage structures on water resources in Iowa. J. Amer. Water Resources Association 38 (3):1-13.

Publications

Awards
Fellow, Geological Society of America, 2002

Master Teacher, 2002-2003, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Award) (Iowa State Daily article)

2003 College of Agriculture Team Award, Agroecology Issue Team (Agroecology Issue Team)

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 150 Most Fascinating People

Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 2008 (Around LAS article)

Service

President of ISU Chapter of Sigma Xi (2008-09) (News Service release)

Field Trip Leader, 66th Annual Tri-State Geological Field Conference, 2005 (Tri-State picture) (Guidebook)

2002 Chair, Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America (GSA Hydrogeology Division)

Associate Editor, Ground Water (1996 to 2005)

CUAHSI Campus Representative (CUAHSI)

Member of Environmental Science Interdepartmental Major Faculty (Environmental Science)

Environmental Science Program Advisory Committee (Environmental Science)

Faculty Affiliate, Institute of Society and Society (ISS)

Outside Interests
Singer and guitarist with the Ames Chamber Artists (ACA webpage) (with guitarist, Jeffrey Van)
Founder and Co-Leader, CPC Consort (Picture)
Family Unit (The Simpkins at Mt. Elbert in Colorado, 2007)