Drew Westerman – 2008 Wilson Memorial Scholarship

Biography and MS Research Topic: Drew is from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and he was honored for his Masters thesis research project on the geomorphology, geochemistry, and hydrology of Fitton Cave, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. The cave carries water from numerous cave and karst inputs on the plateau it under drains. The cave, being in a National Park, acts as a nearly pristine control site to understand what natural background levels of flow, dissolved materials, and particulate matter are carried by cave streams in their natural state. With this information, the degree to which cave and karst flow systems are modified by human impact can be estimated, resulting in more efficient and safer use of karst aquifers.

Current Work: Drew currently works as a hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center at Little Rock, in Little Rock, Arkansas.  He is one of the administrators of the Arkansas Water Use Program.