Association of American State Geologists STATE GEOLOGISTS JOURNAL VOLUME LXVIII JULY 2015–JUNE 2016 ISSN 0039-0089 THE STATE GEOLOGISTS JOURNAL 2016 ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN STATE GEOLOGISTS 2015-2016 OFFICERS President Joe Gilman, Missouria Past President Jon Arthur, Florida President-Elect David Spears, Virginia Vice President Steve Masterman, Alaska Secretary Rex Buchanan, Kansas Treasurer Derric Iles, South Dakota Editor Marjorie Gale, Vermont Historian Steve Mabee, Massachusetts Statistician Bekki White, Arkansas 2016 Annual Meeting (Left to right, back to front) Back Row: John Metesh (MT), Matthew Rhoades (NM), Todd Thompson (IN), Gale Blackmer (PA), Marjorie Gale (VT), Rex Buchanan (KS), Derric Iles (SD), Dave Spears (VA), Karen Berry (CO), Ed Ratchford (ID), Harvey Thorleifsen (MN), Bekki White (AR), Richard Ortt (MD), Joe Gilman (MO). Middle Row: John Parrish (CA), Ken Bradbury (WI), Jim Faulds (NV), Matt Joeckel (NE), Jeremy Boak (OK), Nick Tew (AL), Brad Avy (OR), David Wunsch (DE), Ronald Zurawski (TN), Steve Mabee (MA), Rick Allis (UT). Front Row: Dave Norman (WA), Steve Masterman (AK), Bob Marvinney (ME), Scott Tinker (TX), Jon Arthur (FL) ii THE STATE GEOLOGISTS JOURNAL 2016 cONTENTS AASG 2015-2016 OFFICERS ii NEVADA 75 PRESIDENT’S PAGE iv NEW HAMPSHIRE 77 ALABAMA 1 NEW MEXICO 79 ALASKA 5 NORTH CAROLINA 83 CALIFORNIA 10 NORTH DAKOTA 84 COLORADO 14 OHIO 87 CONNECTICUT 16 OKLAHOMA 91 FLORIDA 20 OREGON 94 ILLINOIS 25 PENNSYLVANIA 97 INDIANA 31 SOUTH CAROLINA 100 KANSAS 34 SOUTH DAKOTA 101 KENTUCKY 39 TENNESSEE 103 LOUISIANA 44 TEXAS 109 MAINE 48 UTAH 114 MARYLAND 54 VERMONT 117 MASSACHUSETTS 56 VIRGINIA 120 MICHIGAN 59 WASHINGTON 122 MINNESOTA 62 WEST VIRGINIA 125 MISSISSIPPI 64 WISCONSIN 128 MISSOURI 67 WYOMING 130 MONTANA 70 AWARDS 132 NEBRASKA 73 AWARDS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 132 CHARLES J. MANKIN MEMORIAL AWARD 132 JOHN C. FRYE AWARD 132 PICK & GAVEL AWARD 133 AGI MEDAL IN MEMORY OF IAN CAMPBELL FOR SUPERLATIVE SERVICE TO THE GEOSCIENCES 133 AASG PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS 133 iii THE STATE GEOLOGISTS JOURNAL 2016 PRESIDENT’S PAGE 2015-2016 It has been an honor and privilege focusing our key messages; and continue to explore to serve as AASG President this opportunity for professional assistance. past year. Our organization has a rich history of service to the The 2016 AASG Annual Meeting was held in Girdwood, states and the nation and it is a Alaska. Thirty-three State Geologists were in attendance history of which we each can be along with 108 other registrants. The plenary and proud. It has been my honor and technical programs were well planned and contributed to privilege to serve as the President engaging thought and lively conversation. The business of this esteemed Association for meeting primarily focused on identifying options the the year ending June 30, 2016. Association might consider for hiring administrative Much was accomplished during the 108th year of the assistance. After considerable discussion, Membership Association, and it is a true testament to the dedicated voted and approved the Executive Committee to membership and Executive Committee with whom I have explore development of a financial model to support had the pleasure to work: Past-President Jon Arthur (FL); administrative assistance. Consensus held that the President-Elect David Spears (VA); Vice President Steve Association would benefit from permanence in managing Masterman (AK); Secretary Rex Buchanan (KS); Treasurer our activities and business affairs, with the understanding Derric Iles (SD), and Honorary Members Representative a dues increase in some capacity would likely be required. John Price (NV). As many of my predecessors have The Alaska Geological Survey should be commended for noted, there is never enough time to accomplish all the an excellent, well organized, and eventful meeting. initiatives and plans envisioned at the beginning of the Presidential term of office. However, I am confident the OTHER BUSINESS OF NOTE executive leadership team will keep us moving forward in • In September 2015, AASG conducted its Fall Liaison in the spirit of our vision as an association. Washington, visiting 28 agencies and organizations over the course of three days. In keeping with the recent EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Liaison model, emphasis was placed on a smaller AASG team focused on a strategic agenda. Primary topics of The Executive Committee met formally during the 2015 discussion centered around NCGMP-StateMap, NGGDPP, Fall Liaison meeting, the 2016 Spring Liaison meeting, National Groundwater Monitoring Network, Critical and and on June 9, 2016, prior to the 2016 Annual Meeting. Strategic Minerals, 3DEP, and Natural Hazards. Additionally, the Executive Committee met 5 times via phone/webex during the business year to plan, discuss, • During the Mid-Year Business Meeting in Baltimore, an and report on meetings and initiatives associated with excellent discussion was led by Kevin Gallagher, John Brock, and Harvey Thorleifson on the future of the National the liaison, the mid-year, and the annual meeting. These Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. Additionally, meetings were informal but very important in allowing Heidi Hansen, Counsel at the Senate Energy and Natural AASG leadership the opportunity to have a dialogue on Resources Committee, attended and provided some business matters and strategic planning. thoughtful insight into the legislative environment in Washington. AASG BUSINESS • The March 2016 Spring Liaison in Washington was a Baltimore served as the host city for the AASG 2015 Mid- success, with 30 meetings being held despite a Metro Year Meeting with 18 State Geologists in attendance. system that was severely limited in service. Much of Business discussion centered around the Liaison model the focus this spring was to advocate for the benefits of national landslide legislation and reauthorization of the and considering strategies to be more efficient and National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation effective during our spring and fall trips to Washington, Program. The annual AASG Pick and Gavel Awards Banquet DC. Results of the Liaison Survey completed by was well attended with Anne Castle being recognized as membership were highlighted and a number of issues a most deserving recipient. Anne graciously attended were raised and a lively discussion ensued. General and shared some thoughts with the membership and consensus from the meeting included: continue with a guests. Anne was presented with a beautiful specimen of Liaison model that emphasizes broad attendance and rhodochrosite from Colorado and we were very pleased to widespread meetings in the spring; smaller attendance honor her. with a strategic meeting plan in the fall; refining and iv THE STATE GEOLOGISTS JOURNAL 2016 PRESIDENT’S PAGE 2015-2016 • AASG endorsed the nomination of Ernie Mancini for the Koning, Stacy S. Timmons, and Brigitte Felix, authors; New AGI Marcus Milling Award. Ernie has since been notified Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Bulletin he was selected as awardee. Congratulations on a well- 161. deserved achievement. REMARKS • AASG nominated Nick Tew and David Wunsch to each serve another term on North American Commission on As an Association we have accomplished a considerable Stratigraphic Nomenclature. amount during this and previous years, yet there will • AGI submitted a proposal to the National Science be a variety of issues we must continue to address and Foundation for the “Innovations at the Nexus of Food, successfully navigate if we are to remain a viable and Energy and Water Systems” solicitation. AGI is proposing relevant organization. In many ways we are very much to develop a dedicated Food-Energy-Water grey the same spirited organization that was founded in 1908, literature repository that would preserve and expand the in many other ways we have changed and adapted to discoverability of digital grey literature. AASG provided a new environments, politics, paradigms and cultural letter of collaboration and support for this proposal. shifts. I encourage all members to forge ahead with • AASG co-sponsored the December 2015 AGI Critical Issues an eye to the future. We have witnessed a number of Webinar: Making Produced Water More Productive. changes across the spectrum of state geological surveys recently and I surmise we will see more. I believe as an • In July 2015, AASG co-sponsored the AGI Critical Issues Association, we must continue to seek opportunity to Webinar: Water as One Resource. adapt to changing environs, to become more efficient in our operations, to increase our effectiveness on a • AASG nominated Harvey Thorleifson for re-appointment to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. national scale, and to provide membership with a quality experience. I strongly encourage membership to move • We welcomed three new state geologists and bid farewell forward with a business model that includes professional/ to those retiring. administrative assistance. I believe this would allow increased efficiency and continuity of operations and • AASG contributed to the AGI/NAGT partnership enhance the association’s ability to address important publication of the Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology by initiatives. Volunteerism is a wonderful model and every volunteering to review specific labs of the 11th edition of this important manual. current and former member is to be commended for the service they have provided to this organization. But we • AASG signed on to the Interstate Council on Water Policy must