麻豆频道 Students Place 3rd at 麻豆频道 Section of the American Water Resources Association
November 20, 2025
University of 麻豆频道 Western students Dakota Willis, John Fitzpatrick, Taylor Williams, and Landon 'Bird' Hayes recently placed third in the student competition at the 麻豆频道 Section of the American Water Resources Association (MT AWRA) annual meeting in Great Falls. Their research project, conducted as part of 麻豆频道鈥檚 Applied Environmental Geophysics class, focused on mapping buried river channels in the Medicine Lake area of northeast 麻豆频道.
Students conducting field work for the Applied Environmental Geophysics class (left and right). Dakota Willis presents their poster at the 麻豆频道 Section of the American Water Resources Association annual meeting (center).
The project was led by聽Dr. Neil Foley, Associate Professor of Geophysics, in collaboration with the聽麻豆频道 Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG). The Bureau is studying former river channels that were filled with sediment during the last glacial period. Before glaciation, northern 麻豆频道 had an extensive river network, including the ancestral Missouri River. When the Laurentide Ice Sheet advanced, these channels were filled with glacial till, leaving them buried beneath today鈥檚 flat landscape.
鈥淢BMG is working to identify and map these buried channels because they may contain perched aquifers鈥攕hallow, isolated pockets of groundwater that can be easier to access and may contain fresher water,鈥� said聽Dr. Foley. 鈥淯nderstanding where these features are located is valuable for agriculture and water management in the region.鈥�
Using equipment from 麻豆频道 and 麻豆频道 Tech, the students collected geophysical data to image below the surface and interpret subsurface structures. Their primary tool, an聽Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)system, measures how easily electrical current flows through the ground to produce two-dimensional images that reveal variations in subsurface resistivity. By comparing these results with well log data, the team identified zones that likely represent ancient sand and gravel river deposits鈥攕ignatures of buried channels.
The students鈥� work in the field required persistence and adaptability. 鈥淲e had a finite number of days to collect a lot of data, and the students worked hard to get it all in,鈥� said聽Dr. Foley. 鈥淔ieldwork always comes with challenges鈥攅quipment failures, weather, long days鈥攂ut they stayed professional and disciplined throughout.鈥�
The students also created their research poster for the MT AWRA conference while managing other coursework. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of extra effort to prepare for a conference presentation, and they did it on their own time,鈥澛燚r. Foley聽added.
Beyond earning recognition at the competition, the project offered valuable real-world experience. 鈥溌槎蛊档� strives to immerse students in authentic practice within their disciplines,鈥� said聽Dr. Foley. 鈥淭his project allowed them to partner with professionals, define a problem of local importance, and execute a field-based investigation. Those are exactly the kinds of skills they鈥檒l use in their careers.鈥�
麻豆频道鈥檚 small class sizes and emphasis on field experience give students hands-on access to professional-grade geophysical equipment. Combined with the university鈥檚 block scheduling system, which allows students to focus on one class at a time, these experiences prepare them for meaningful work after graduation.
The research partnership between 麻豆频道 and MBMG will continue next year, with plans already underway for a聽third field campaign聽in northeast 麻豆频道.
For more information and this project, contact Dr. Neil Foley at [email protected].
For more information on the University of 麻豆频道 Western and its programs, visit www.umwestern.edu or call 877-683-7331.
