Papers of Robert A. Longenbaugh

Over the course of his career, Robert A. Longenbaugh witnessed and participated in significant developments in Colorado groundwater use, legislation, and administration. He made numerous contributions to groundwater research and education. Longenbaugh, an agricultural and civil engineer with a focus on groundwater administration and water resource planning, also worked in water rights and water court procedures, well permitting, and the design and operation of agricultural irrigation systems.

Robert Allen "Bob" Longenbaugh was born in 1935 in Durango, Colorado. He grew up in Cortez, Colorado, and worked on his family's irrigated farm from a young age. His early experiences with farming and irrigation taught him the importance of adequate water supply. After graduating from high school in Cortez, Longenbaugh attended Colorado A&M University (now, Colorado State University). He earned a B.S. in agricultural engineering, with a focus on soil and water management, in 1957. Immediately after graduating he was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a weather forecaster, receiving meteorology training at the University of California in Los Angeles and studying tropical meteorology at the University of Hawaii.

Longenbaugh completed his Air Force service in March 1960 and returned to Colorado State University to pursue a master's degree in agricultural engineering, completing it in 1962. During that time, he worked as a graduate research assistant in the Ground Water Program of CSU's Civil Engineering Department, collecting data for studies on irrigation and well development and contributing to education for the public and legislators on the need for groundwater management.

In July 1961, Longenbaugh was offered a junior civil engineer position at CSU and rose into assistant professor and associate professor of civil engineering positions, staying until 1980. During his time with the university, Longenbaugh conducted research, taught graduate and undergraduate courses, and served on local and national committees, some of which organized important groundwater conferences. In the 1970s, he also served as the irrigation specialist for CSU’s Extension Service, organizing and participating in irrigation education projects throughout eastern Colorado.

In 1981, Longenbaugh began working as assistant state engineer for the State of Colorado. In this position, he supervised the groundwater section of the Colorado Division of Water Resources in Denver. During this time, he advised the State Engineer on groundwater problems, served as secretary of the Ground Water Commission, participated in the litigation of groundwater issues, and worked on geological and hydrologic studies quantifying available groundwater and assessing impacts on groundwater use. He also worked with well drillers and issued 3,000-10,000 new well permits each year. Longenbaugh retired in May 1991.

After retiring, Longenbaugh continued his involvement with groundwater consulting, education, and legislation. Particular interests included the American Ground Water Trust and South Platte Basin groundwater issues. Over the course of his career, Longenbaugh served as a professional witness in more than 50 water court cases, hearings, and legal proceedings. He was author or co-author of over 35 technical publications and numerous newspaper and magazine articles. In 1982, Longenbaugh married Eulalia "Lale" Muhlbradt. He was stepfather of her five children. He passed away in 2020.