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Dr. Eric Peterson

Chair & University Professor of Geology
Geography-Geology-Environment
Office
FHS Felmley Hall Of Science 206c
Office Hours
MWF 9:00-10:00 am or by appointment
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Current Courses

314.001Aqueous Geochemistry

318.001Aquifer Systems

418.001Aquifer Systems

361.001Hydrology

461.001Hydrology

499.002Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

499.006Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

499.101Independent Research For The Masters Thesis Final Year

400.001Independent Study

287.006Independent Study - Geology

360.001Hydrogeology

460.001Hydrogeology

499.001Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

499.101Independent Research For The Masters Thesis Final Year

287.004Independent Study - Geology

Teaching Interests & Areas

Teaching: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Karst Hydrogeology, Aquifer Systems, Principles of Geology, & Problems in Environmental Geology

Research Interests & Areas

Research Interests: Surface water – ground water interaction within the hyporheic zone of low gradient streams and in karst systems, fluid flow and thermal transport modeling, and physical processes of karst systems.

Ph D Geological Sciences

University of Missouri
Columbia

MS Geology

University of Arkansas
Fayetteville

MA Mathematics

University of South Dakota
Vermillion

BS Earth Science and Mathematics

University of South Dakota
Vermillion

Outstanding Scholarship Award

Illinois State University
2023

Outstanding Service Award

Illinois State University
2023

George Burke Maxey Distinguished Service Award

Geological Society of America Hydrogeology Division
2022

Outstanding Scholarship Award

College of Arts and Sciences
2022

Outstanding Service Award

College of Arts and Sciences
2020

Kenneth A. and Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Fellowship

College of Arts and Sciences
2018

Geological Society of America Fellow

Geological Society of America
2013

Outstanding College Teacher Award in Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences
2011

Busy Bee

University Research Office
2008

Research Initiative Award

Illinois State University
2006

Book, Chapter

Vesper, D., Schindel, G., Beck, B., Brahana, J., Cate, J., Engler, D., Ewers, R., Falkenberg, J., Halihan, T., Idstein, P., Krothe, N., Peterson, E., Toran, L., Veni, G., White, E., & Williams, S. Focus Group on Karst Resources and Other Applied Issues. Frontiers of Karst Research. Karst Waters Institute (2008)
Peterson, E., Davis, R., & Brahana, J. The use of regression analysis to predict nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in springs of Northwest Arkansas. Groundwater flow and contaminant transport in carbonate aquifers. A.A Balkema (2000): 43-63.

Conference Proceeding

Francis, A., Peterson, E. W., and Dogwiler, T. J., 2018, Lithology as an erosional control on the Cave Branch and Horn Hollow fluviokarst watersheds in Carter County, Kentucky, in Sasowsky, I. D., Byle, M. J., and Land, L., eds., 15th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst and the 3rd Appalachian Karst Symposium, Volume 6: Shepherdstown, West Virginia, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, p. 279-288.
Peterson, E., Dogwiler, T., and Harlan, L., 2011, Using GIS to identify cave levels and discern the speleogenesis of the Carter Caves karst area, Kentucky, in Kuniansky, E. L., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas (April 26-29, 2011), Volume Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5031: Reston, Virginia, United States Geological Survey, p. 94-103.
Peterson, E., and Hughes, K., 2011, Temporal Stability of Cave Sediments, in Kuniansky, E. L., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas (April 26-29, 2011), Volume Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5031: Reston, Virginia, United States Geological Survey, p. 57-65.

Journal Article

Persico, G., Seyoum, W.M., Peterson, E.W., 2024. Interrelationships Between NDVI, Surface Water, and Regional Hydro-Climatic Variables In the Sudd Wetland. Wetlands, 44(7). DOI:10.1007/s13157-024-01851-2
Becker, J. P., and Peterson, E. W., 2022, Stream Recovery Post Channelization: A Case Study of Low-Gradient Streams in Central Illinois, USA: Hydrology, v. 9, no. 9, p. 160, doi:10.3390/hydrology9090160.
Riedel, J. W., Peterson, E. W., Dogwiler, T. J., and Seyoum, W. M., 2022, Investigating Thermal Controls on the Hyporheic Flux as Evaluated Using Numerical Modeling of Flume-Derived Data: Hydrology, v. 9, no. 9, p. 156, doi:10.3390/hydrology9090156
Bosompemaa, P., Peterson, E., Perry, W., & Seyoum, W. Recycling of nitrate and organic matter by plants in the vadose zone of a saturated riparian buffer. Water, Air, and Soil (2021)
Bosompemaa, P., Peterson, E.W., Perry, W., Seyoum, W.M., 2021. Recycling of Nitrate and Organic Matter by Plants in the Vadose Zone of a Saturated Riparian Buffer. Water, Air, Soil Pollut., 232(6): 245. DOI:10.1007/s11270-021-05202-3

Map/Diagram/Artwork

Wirth, H.*, Peterson, E. W., and Malone, D. H., 2018, Surficial Geologic of the 7.5-Minute Gibson City West Quadrangle, Champaign, Ford, and McLean Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, http://isgs.illinois.edu/sites/isgs/files/maps/isgs-quads/gibsoncitywest-ed-sg.pdf Illinois State Geological Survey, scale 1:24,000.
Ludwikowski, J.*, Malone, D. H., and Peterson, E. W., 2016, Surficial Geologic Map, Bloomington East Quadrangle, McLean County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, scale 1:24,000.
Maxwell, E.L.*, Malone, D.H., Peterson, E.W, and Nelson, R.S., 2015Surficial Geologic Map, Colfax Quadrangle, McLean County, Illinois. Illinois State Geological Survey: https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps/isgs-quads/surficial-geology/edmap/colfax Illinois State Geological Survey.
Seipel, L.C.*, Thomason, J. F., Malone, D.H., and Peterson, E.W., 2015, Surficial Geology of Garden Prairie 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Boone and McHenry Counties, Illinois, Illinois State Geological Survey: https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps/isgs-quads/surficial-geology/garden-prairie Illinois State Geological Survey.

Presentations

Assessment of Floating Gardens to Improve the Water Quality of the Chicago River. C-U Hydraulic Engineering Luncheon. U.S. Geological Survey. (2024)
AWUKU, J. AND PETERSON, E. W., 2024, INVESTIGATING HETEROGENEITY OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON GROUNDWATER DYNAMICS WITHIN A SATURATED RIPARIAN BUFFER IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA, pp., doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404792.
CHUKWUDI, D. AND PETERSON, E. W., 2024, APPLICATION OF FLOATING WETLANDS TO IMPROVE URBAN STREAM QUALITY, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404828.
IJIGADE, F., SEYOUM, W., AND PETERSON, E. W., 2024, EXPLORING NITRATE REDUCTION IN A SATURATED RIPARIAN BUFFER THROUGH A THREE-DIMENSIONAL REACTIVE CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT MODEL: IMPLICATIONS FOR DESIGNING BETTER RIPARIAN BUFFERS, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA, pp., doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-403953.
OBI, C. AND PETERSON, E. W., 2024, SULFATE SOURCES IN GROUNDWATER FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AREA CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA, pp., doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404761.
https://www.bolton-menk.com/salt-symposium/
Assessment of spatial and temporal variations in chloride concentration in an agricultural tile-drained area in central Illinois. Illinois Groundwater Association Spring Meeting. Illinois Groundwater Association. (2023)
Effectiveness of saturated riparian buffers: A case study in central Illinois. Illinois Groundwater Association Spring Meeting. Illinois Groundwater Association. (2023)
Effectiveness of saturated riparian buffers: A case study in central Illinois. South-Central Section - 57th Annual Meeting - 2023. Geological Society of America. (2023)
Influence of tile water on nitrate concentrations in the groundwater: A case study of a saturated riparian buffer zone, McLean County, central Illinois. The Geological Society of America Connects 2023. Geological Society of America. (2023)

Grants & Contracts

2020 - 2022 - City of Bloomington: Understanding and monitoring local water quality. City of Bloomington. Local. (2020)
2017 - 2019 - City of Bloomington: Understanding and monitoring local water quality. City of Bloomington. Local. (2017)