Department of Earth Resources Collection

Collection

Identifier: WDER

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The CSU Department of Earth Resources faculty and researchers maintained centralized reference and research files. This collection is comprised of selections of their water-related files with documents dated 1966 to 2004. The largest set of files is research related to water quality, erosion, and sedimentation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including rain gauge charts, reports, correspondence, and reference materials. Lee MacDonald led much of this work.

Other projects relate to vegetation and forests in relation to fire, acid rain, and oil shale. Aerial photos of the Comanche Alpine Area (now the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area) and Roosevelt National Forest in north-central Colorado exist here as well, along with photos from a flight over the San Juan Basin. Additional materials document a variety of topics or places to a limited extent, including the Upper South Platte River Watershed, Clear Creek, and the 1976 Big Thompson flood.

Dates

Creation: 1966-2004

Creator

Colorado State University. Department of Earth Resources (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection. However, this collection is stored off-site, so advance notice is required.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

History

In 1973, Colorado State University's Department of Earth Resources was formed within its College of Forestry and Natural Resources by combining the existing Department of Watershed Sciences with the Department of Geology from the College of Natural Sciences. In 2003, the Department of Earth Resources became the Department of Geosciences.

Extent

2 linear feet (4 document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Colorado State University Department of Earth Resources faculty and researchers maintained centralized reference and research files. This collection is comprised of selections of their water-related files. In addition to a set of files on the U.S. Virgin Islands, the collection contains various reports and files related to vegetation and forests in relation to fire, acid rain, and oil shale as well as the South Platte River and Clear Creek. Aerial photos of the Comanche Alpine Area (now the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area) and Roosevelt National Forest in north-central Colorado exist here as well, along with photos from a flight over the San Juan Basin.

Arrangement

Materials generally remain in the order found. The collection consists of 1 series in 4 boxes:

Series 1: Documents, 1966-2004 and undated

Acquisition

The Department of Earth Resources Collection was transfered to the Water Resources Archive by Lee MacDonald, professor emeritus, in May 2014.

Processing

Processing was completed in March 2024. Most materials were inserted in acid-free folders, and some photographs were sleeved. Files were rehoused in acid-free boxes. Files of grant proposals as well as materials not directly related to CSU or the department's research were not retained.