Evans, prominent water-quality specialist, named BAE department
head at NC State University
 |
|
Dr. Robert Evans |
Dr. Robert Evans, a prominent water-quality expert
based at North Carolina State University, is the new head of the
university’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
His appointment is effective Oct. 1, said Dr.
Johnny Wynne, the college’s dean.
Evans, recently named a fellow of the American
Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, has been a BAE
Department professor since 2003 and its extension leader since 1997.
His 1991 doctorate, 1981 master’s and 1976
undergraduate degrees in biological and agricultural engineering are
from NC State’s BAE Department.
Evans is recognized nationally and internationally
as a leader in water table management and drainage water quality.
His applied research led to significant publications and extension
education in several areas, including: design and evaluation of
drainage practices for manipulating shallow water tables, wetlands
hydrologic evaluation using both field monitoring and simulation
modeling techniques for delineation and restoration purposes,
stormwater water quality analysis emphasizing practices to reduce
nutrients and sediment transport to sensitive surface waters and
riparian and in-stream constructed wetlands’ design and management.
He has mentored more than 35 graduate students and chaired 14
graduate advisory committees.
A licensed professional engineer registered in
North Carolina, Evans is a leading authority on the use of DRAINMOD.
This simulation model is used to evaluate high water table soils’
hydrology and to measure on-site soil and site hydraulic properties
critical to hydrologic evaluation. He initiated the Extension Water
Table Management Program, which led to the adoption of controlled
drainage as a best management practice for North Carolina and its
implementation across more than 600,000 acres. His water-quality
research and extension initiatives increased state net farm income
by $8 million annually and reduced unwanted agricultural nitrogen in
streams by three million pounds.
Evans has provided technical counsel to state and
federal agencies on issues relating to drainage and stormwater
management, wetlands delineation and restoration, wastewater
irrigation and riparian buffers. He served on the state Senate’s
coastal river water quality and fish kills select committee and has
been technical advisor to the state Division of Water Quality’s
water quality team, developing best management practice mandates to
control unwanted nitrogen in the Neuse and Tar river basins. He also
testified before former Gov. Jim Hunt's animal waste commission and
is an SB1217 interagency committee member. Evans has served on
review teams to evaluate national and Southeastern water management
programs. He recently served on a National Research Council panel to
evaluate the effectiveness of methods for compensating for wetland
losses under the Clean Water Act.
Author or co-author of more than 180 research,
extension or technology transfer publications, he has received
awards and honors from many professional groups, including the N.C.
Irrigation Society, for which he has been a technical advisor since
1993. He has received the North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation
Society's Professional Achievement in Water Quality award and USDA
superior service and group excellence awards.
A 32-year American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineers member, Evans guided many ASABE drainage and
water-quality committees and was general chair of its 1998
International Drainage Symposium. Five of his extension publications
won ASABE blue ribbon awards, and he received the group’s
Outstanding Soil and Water Technical Reviewer recognition.
He also is an American Society of Civil Engineers
member, chairing ASCE’s Irrigation and Drainage Council. He belongs
to the International Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, the Soil
and Water Conservation Society, the Society of Wetland Scientists,
the Water Resources Association of North Carolina and the North
Carolina Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists.
Evans’ previous BAE department posts include
associate professor and department extension leader from 1998 to the
present, assistant professor from 1992 to 1998 -- he took on
department extension leader’s duties in 1997 -- and North Carolina
Cooperative Extension specialist from 1983 to 1992.
More of his awards, memberships, professional
activities and publications are posted on his Web page at
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/evans/index.html |
