Mark E. Grismer, Professor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
209 Veihmeyer Hall
Phone: 530-304-5797
Email:megrismer@ucdavis.edu
My primary research efforts are driven by practical environmental problems facing land and resource managers and discovery of the underlying processes affecting derivation of development of applicable methods or solutions to these problems. My focus remains largely directed at gaining a better understanding of hillslope hydrology, wetland and irrigation/drainage processes in the field. In brief summary, my research can be broadly categorized as below.
(a) Hydrologic Processesó This includes ground- and surface-water modeling efforts directed at determining unsaturated irrigation return flow times to deeper (>200 ft) aquifers in the Antelope Valley, parameter population of the WEPP (hillslope erosion) model, scaling (1 m2) field measurements of infiltration, runoff and erodibility to the catchment scale, development of shallow interflow zone model for use in forested catchments, and modeling non-uniform flow in wetlands and hydraulics of tidal marsh channels. There is also a considerable field research component considering assessment of hillslope flows and erosion processes and their amelioration.
(b) Irrigation/DrainageóMy multi-year field studies consider soil drainage processes, evaluation of cut-off surface irrigation techniques on yield, soil salinity and water conservation, effects of biosolids application on infiltration rates and shallow ground water quality, and simpler methods for estimating reference ET. We have also developed novel means by which to evaluate irrigation project performance, water conservation and possible rehabilitation.
(c) Water QualityóThis work includes both field/lab/modeling and literature review studies of water quality in the Tahoe Basin from hillslope processes to treatment wetland systems, performance evaluation of constructed treatment wetlands and processes and efficacy of vegetative filter strips or ìbio-retentionî cells and more recently stormwater treatment through LID type structures (from which little, if any real data exists from which to base designs). The wetlands research is directed at not only determination of the treatment wetland design parameters and development of design guidelines, but also the biochemical degradation processes as affected by the wetland substrate CEC, specific surface and plantroots and/or biofilms.
Education
Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering, Colorado State University (1984) Study Emphasis: Groundwater Hydrology
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University (1981) Study Emphasis: Hydrology and Water Quality
B.S., Agricultural Engineering, Oregon State University (1980) Study Emphasis: Soil and Water Science
EIT Engineer-in-Training Registration, Oregon (1980)
PE Civil Enginerring, California (#72703)
Teaching
Scientific and Professional Societies
American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
Research Support
Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act
United States Forest Service
Federal Highways
Representative Recent Publications
Grismer, M.E., S. Bachman and T. Powers. 2000. Comparison of groundwater recharge estimation methods from irrigated in a semi-arid, coastal avocado/citrus orchard, Ventura County, CA. Hydrological Proc: 14(14):2527-2543.
Grismer, M. E. 2001. Regional alfalfa yield, ETc, and water value in the western states. ASCE J. Irrig. & Drain. Engr. 127(3):131-139.
Watanabe, H. and M. E. Grismer. 2001. Diazinon transport through inter-row vegetative filter strips: micro-ecosystem modeling. J. Hydrology 247(2-3):183-199.
Grismer M. E. 2005. Simulation evaluation of the effects of non-uniform flow and degradation parameter uncertainty on subsurface flow constructed wetland performance. Water Env. Research 77(7):3047-3053.
Grismer, M.E., C. Shnurrenberger, R. Arst and M.P. Hogan. 2008. Integrated Monitoring and Assessment of Soil Restoration Treatments in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Environ. Monitoring & Assessment. 150:365-383.
Fristensky, A. and M.E Grismer. 2008. A modeling approach for ultrasonic soil aggregate stability assessment. Catena 74:153-164.
Fristensky, A. and M.E Grismer. 2009. Evaluation of ultrasonic aggregate stability and rainfall erosion resistance of disturbed and amended soils in the Lake Tahoe Basin, USA. Catena. 79:93-102.
Grismer, M.E. 2011. Erosion Modeling for Land Management in the Tahoe Basin ñ Scaling from plots to small forest catchments. J. Environ. Management. Submitted.
Grismer, M.E. 2011. Erosion Modeling for Land Management in the Tahoe Basin ñ Soil restoration thresholds. J. Environ. Management. Submitted.
Collison R.S. and M.E. Grismer. 2012. Nitrogen and COD Removal from Septic Tank Wastewater in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands: 3. Substrate (CEC) Effects. Water Environment Research, Submitted.
Collison R.S. and M.E. Grismer. 2012. Nitrogen and COD Removal from Septic Tank Wastewater in Subsurfae Flow Constructed Wetlands: 4. Annamox Bacteria. Water Environment Research, Submitted.
Extensive review of Rainfall Simulation methods for Tahoe Science Consortium, March, 2011.