Hydrology

The University of Idaho Department of Geological Sciences offers a Master of Science in Hydrology. Our program delivers the right balance of personalized student attention, as well as providing access to important research opportunities and high-tech equipment used to study critical geological processes. For example, you may use terrestrial lidar to characterize surficial materials, learn the best practices for stream monitoring to assess flow rates and water quality, and learn advanced methods for aquifer testing and test design.

Our multifaceted program will teach you quantitative problem-solving skills and provide you with a broad-based understanding of the components that make up modern hydrology, such as:

• Groundwater hydraulics
• Water quality
• Quantitative and statistical hydrology
• Thermal-fluid sciences

Depending on your research interest area, you will work with a faculty member as your advisor. This faculty member will help formulate a study plan designed specifically to meet your goals and to guide you through the thesis process. As a graduate student, you'll receive training in both theory and modern field research and observation strategies. You'll study:

• The collection and analysis of water-related data
• Water chemistry
• Aquifer test design and analysis
• Computer modeling
• Aquifer characterization
• Watershed management
• Groundwater resource evaluation and management
• Nuclear waste disposal and CO₂ sequestration

Group projects and research opportunities with faculty, local businesses and government agencies will give you experience you can apply immediately on the job.

Prepare for Success

Are you a problem solver interested in learning how to develop and manage hydrologic studies and geophysical surveys? Or, are you intrigued by consulting work, where you can study water quality and determine ways to conserve our water resources for growing populations? If yes, an advanced degree in hydrology will give you the skills you need to achieve your career aspirations.

In addition to working in labs and in the outdoors, as a hydrologist you should also be comfortable with technology, including its uses in applied research efforts. Hydrologists are expected to be familiar with computer modeling, data analysis and integration, digital mapping, remote sensing, and Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Your First Year

Here is a sample list of classes for our graduate hydrology students. Many of these courses also include field trips and lab requirements:

• Advanced Field Methods in Hydrogeology (Hydr 502)
• Quantitative Hydrogeology (Hydr 509)
• Environmental Hydrogeology (Hydr 512)
• Ground Water Resource Evaluation (Hydr 513)
• Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction (Hydr 514)
• The Geochemistry of Natural Waters (Hydr 564)

What You Can Do

Those with a master's in hydrology are in high demand by leading environmental and development firms. These organizations need specialists to help them comply with environmental standards and to solve challenges when it comes to groundwater decontamination and flood control processes. With an advanced degree in hydrology, you may choose a career in any of the following areas:

• Professor and researcher at a university (Ph.D. required)
• Teacher at the secondary or community college level
• Hydrologist
• Environmental scientist
• Engineering geologist

Opportunities

The need for hydrologists continues to increase as government agencies and private businesses strive to be more proactive about securing and protecting our water resources. Hydrology consultants work with organizations on critical water initiatives such as waste minimization, resource recovery, pollution prevention and the consideration of environmental impacts during development. Here are some examples of employers of hydrologists:

• Scientific, environmental consulting firms
• Architecture, engineering firms
• Oil and mining companies
• U.S. Department of the Interior for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• U.S. Department of Defense
• State departments of geological surveys and conservation
• Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. Forest Service

Current Research

In addition to being excellent educators, our faculty are also very active in research pursuits. Faculty members design their research projects specifically around the involvement of students. Examples of some our most significant research efforts include:

• Computational Hydrology
• Hydrogeology Program (Idaho Falls)
• Hydrogeology Program (Moscow)
• Tectonics and Water on Mars

Activities

The Department of Geological Sciences seminar series brings you lectures and workshops from some of the top geologists in the field today.

Hands-On Experience

Laboratory work and study in the field will prepare you to tackle real-world challenges you’ll face throughout your career. Here are examples of some research project titles our graduate students are working on:

• Implementation of a Groundwater Monitoring Program and Aquifer Testing in the Wanapum Aquifer System.
• Observations of Recharge to the Wanapum Aquifer System in the Moscow Area, Latah County, Idaho.
• Development of Spatial-Statistical Models for Simulation of CO2 Injection into Fractured Basalts.
• Estimation of Temporal and Spatial Water Flux in a Deep Vadose Zone.

Facilities

The University of Idaho has extensive research facilities.  In addition, our faculty has also established relationships with professors at neighboring universities, which gives you access to even more high-tech equipment. Available equipment and facilities include:

• Computing facilities
• Geovisualization Facility
• Geochemical and mineralogical facilities, including state-of-the-art ICP, AES, and HPLC chemical laboratory
• Geophotography and remote sensing laboratory
• Geophysical equipment

Faculty Involvement

With about 100 undergraduate and graduate geology students, our department will allow you to have direct interaction with our 10 active faculty and support personnel who are nationally recognized for their excellence in research and teaching. Specializing in hydrology are the following Geological Sciences faculty members:

Jerry Fairley, Ph.D.
Professor - Hydrogeology
Research Interests: Multiphase flow and transport in heterogeneous porous media; Faults and fluid flow; Geothermal systems/EGS
» View profile

Gary Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Hydrogeology
Research Interests: Surface and ground water interaction; Regional modeling of ground water and surface water; Water and energy interactions
» View profile

James Osiensky, Ph.D.
Professor - Groundwater Hydrology
Research Interests: Contaminant hydrogeology; Hydrogeologic site characterization; Hydrogeophysical applications in hydrogeology; Groundwater resource evaluation
» View profile