DAVIS, ARDEN D (1982-1983,1984)
Chair/Mickelson Professor
Geology & Geological Engineering Department
B.A., University of Minnesota
M.S., Ph.D., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Registered Professional Engineer (South Dakota)
MI 303 / GEOL
(605) 394-2473
arden.davis@sdsmt.edu

Academic/Professional Expertise:
Ground water, aquifer contamination, water supplies, water wells, environmental contamination, geological engineering.
Academic/Professional Interests:
Ground water, aquifer contamination, water supplies, water wells, environmental contamination, geological engineering.
Research Expertise:
Arsenic removal from drinking water, ground water, water supplies, aquifer contamination, abandoned mines.
Research Interests:
Arsenic removal from drinking water, ground water, water
                                      supplies, aquifer contamination, abandoned mines.

Gravel Spring, about one kilometer (0.6 miles) downgradient from sinkholes on Boxelder Creek.
Ground water travels from the sinkholes to Gravel Spring in about one hour, from dye tracing experiments. Dye then travels six miles downgradient to Rapid City wells in about one month.
This dramatically illustrates the extreme vulnerability of the Madison aquifer to contamination. The City of Rapid City obtains most of its drinking water from the Madison aquifer. During the past several years we have worked with Rapid City to develop an aquifer vulnerability map and to consider more stringent regulations for on-site wastewater disposal systems at residential sites on the Madison Limestone's outcrop.

Ground-water protection for the Madison aquifer and other water sources in the Black Hills region is a major part of my community involvement. Graduate students have worked with me to produce an aquifer vulnerability map for the Rapid Creek watershed above Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Perry Rahn and I have assisted the City of Rapid City and Pennington County in reviewing existing regulations for private, on-site wastewater disposal systems (primarily septic tanks and drain fields) where development is occurring on the Madison Limestone's outcrop area west of Rapid City. This photo shows Gravel Spring about one hour after Rhodamine WT dye was injected at sinkholes in the Madison aquifer, one kilometer upgradient.