By Jane Ice

This week the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a few researchers at the Center—Jack Keeley, Joe Williams, and Dave Jewett—to discuss how science has changed here over the last 50 years . Afterward I was in awe, and felt as if I’d just interviewed The Beatles. Keeley, Williams, Jewett, and others stationed at the Center over the last five decades are truly the rock stars of groundwater science.

Scientists at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center over the last 50 years

Keeley began his environmental career in 1965 at the Kerr Center and worked at EPA from its inception in 1970. His work led to the creation of EPA’s first groundwater program in 1979, a time when nobody understood much about groundwater or groundwater research. Keeley remembers, “It was considered mysterious and cult-like.”

The 70s and 80s brought positive changes and opportunities for the Center. More efficient methods made scientific results easier to obtain and more accurate. Keeley and staff worked for years with local and regional colleges and universities to help build their curricula. “We created a new profession of scientists equipped to deal with all phases of groundwater research,” said Keeley. “We literally had people from all over the world come to this laboratory just to work with our scientists – Sweden, Germany, France, and other countries. We were that famous at one time.”

Williams joined EPA in 1987, when information technology was becoming more common in the workplace. Among his many contributions was his leading role in creating EPA’s first public wiki internet site: EPA Watershed Central Wiki. “This site helps managers discover the correct tools to use in developing a watershed management plan; and creates an environment to foster the exchange of lessons learned and best watershed management practices across the nation,” said Williams.

Jewett joined EPA in 1997, when much of the research focused on contaminated site characterization and groundwater remediation. Ecosystem restoration was also part of the Center’s mission at that time.

When discussing future directions Jewett said, “Research will always be necessary to improve efficacy and cost effectiveness of various technologies and strategies to characterize and remediate contaminated groundwater.” Williams commented, “I definitely see a relevance and need of aquifer storage and recovery for water reuse where that might apply to drinking water supplies or support for watershed scale ecosystems. The need for subsurface remediation research for in situ remediation at contaminated sites remains a high priority for the nation.”

As world leaders of unprecedented, successful, sustainable ground water science, Keeley, Williams, and Jewett shared their passion and appreciation for the ability to share information with other science organizations “We are experts in understanding subsurface groundwater flow and transport of naturally occurring and human-generated contaminant mass,” said Jewett. “We have transitioned from contaminated sites research to national and global studies regarding water resources. We study how water impacts ecosystem goods and services, how we value those water resources, and determine what we can do to improve those resources for future use.”

With the help of these scientists and everyone at the Center, groundwater research has become an integral part of human health and environmental protection today. As we look back on all that has been accomplished here over the last 50 years, one thing is clear—all you need is science!

Note: Jack Keeley, Director of Research, retired in 1988. Joe Williams is Deputy National Program Director for Office of Research and Development’s Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research program, Dave Jewett is the Chief of the Subsurface Remediation Branch and Co-Chair for EPA’s Tribal Science council.

About the Author: Jane Ice is a Public Affairs Specialist with the National Risk Management Research Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio. She joined EPA in 1990.

By Richard Lowrance

On Wednesday, June 8^th, a group of us gathered with anticipation and nostalgia at EPA’s Robert S Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma, as a cornerstone box was dusted off and unsealed. As division director, I had the honor of opening the time capsule and displaying the contents which included time-stamped artifacts representing preserved memories, major milestones, and key accomplishments of our predecessors dating back 50 years.

Time capsule contents

Current center employees gathered along with twenty former employees, including one of our former directors, Clint Hall (1980-2001). Originally opened in 1996 on the 30^th anniversary of our research center, the time capsule was opened again in honor of the center’s 50^th anniversary, which will be commemorated during our 50th Anniversary Event and Technical Symposium on August 3^rd.

Items placed in the time capsule during the Center’s dedication in 1966 include a copy of the Robert S. Kerr’s book Land, Wood and Water; a 1966 Kerr Lab employee roster; a poem, “White Oak,” written by Thelma Stroud as she sat beneath an oak tree near Kerr’s memorial; a copy of the memorial address delivered in Congress upon Kerr’s death in 1963; and an invitation to the original dedication of the RSKERC building.

Additional items placed in the time capsule in 1996 include a video message from Lab Director Clinton W. Hall describing the role of the lab and EPA; a newspaper clipping from the Ada News on the opening of the time capsule; a laboratory brochure; a 1996 organizational chart and employee roster; and various reports produced by researchers at the Kerr Lab.

A group of us gathered to open the cornerstone box. From left to right: Ann Runyan, retiree (she was here in 1966), Jack Keeley, retiree (also here in 1966), former Division Director Clint Hall, me, Michael Brooks, and John Skender (behind Michael).

Built in the 1960s, the Kerr center is one of the original regional water research laboratories established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. It became part of the newly-formed EPA in 1970. By the late 1990s, the research mission expanded to include ground water remediation and ecosystems restoration. Over the last 50 years, our scientific excellence and research advancements have changed how communities, regions, and the Nation protect and manage its ground water and ecological resources.

The Anniversary Event and Symposium will recognize our achievements and showcase past, current, and future research at the center to the scientific community, elected officials, regional and program representatives, and the greater community. The state of ground water issues and research in the United States will also be discussed. At the closing of the August 3^rd event, we will have an opportunity to add new items to the capsule before it is sealed and returned to the cornerstone box. New items will likely include documents identifying current employees, high profile research efforts, and major accomplishments that align with our mission to protect human health and the environment.

About the Author: Richard Lowrance has been the Ground Water and Ecosystems Restoration Division director since June 2014. Before that he was a research ecologist with USDA Agricultural Research Service for 31 years.