Curriculum Vitae
Don R. May
Don R. May, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor of Engineering
Department of Physics and Engineering
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970)-247-7545
Fax: (970)-247-7206
may_d@fortlewis.edu
Education
Ph.D., Civil Engineering (hydrology and hydraulics), Colorado State University, 1993
MS, Civil Engineering (hydraulics), Colorado State University, 1982
BS, Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1978
Employment
1984-present, Professor of Engineering, Department of Physics and Engineering, Fort Lewis College,
Durango, Colorado
1984-present, Consulting Engineer, Durango, Colorado
1982-1984, Hydraulic/Hydrologic Engineer, Water Resources Associates, Phoenix, Arizona
1980-1982, Hydraulic Engineering Research Assistant, Colorado State University
1878-1980, Hydraulic Engineer, Morrison-Maierle Consulting Engineering, Helena, Montana
Professional Membership and Registration
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Colorado
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Arizona
American Society of Civil Engineers, Member
American Society of Engineering Educators, Professional Member
Engineers Without Borders – USA, Member
Undergraduate Research
NSF Programs:
I have been directing undergraduate research projects for over 15 years. Originally as part of the
National Science Foundation program, Minority Engineering and Science Project (MESP, 1991-1996)
and then with the Colorado Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-COAMP, 1996 to present) I have
directed numerous projects including;
 Development of a GIS system for the San Jaun Skyway
 Application of GIS technology to agricultural water distribution systems
 Identification and mapping of point sources of agricultural pollution
 Field mapping using GIS on a large, commercial agricultural farm
 Validation of hydraulic flow models for steep channel slopes
 Biosand filter research
Engineers Without Borders:
In the spring of 2004 I started a chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Fort Lewis College. As the
director of EWB-FLC I direct students, initiate projects, acquire funding and supervise the technical and
administrative aspects of the program. EWB-FLC has worked on the design for a water supply,
renewable energy, and water filtration project in Nepal and the design and construction of a water
supply project in Thailand. I took a group of students and a local engineer to Thailand in May 2005 to
construct the water system.
I also direct student research projects which address the needs of communities in developing
countries. These include;
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The efficacy of the biosand filter for individual home use in underdeveloped countries
The development of a solar water heated shower facility for Humla Nepal.
Village Scale Water System Component Research and Development
All EWB-FLC projects focus on student learning, the philosophy of appropriate and sustainable
technology, and providing assistance to needy communities around the world. For more information
on EWB-FLC see:
http://www.fortlewis.edu/academics/school_arts_sciences/physics_engineering/ewb_webpage/ewbf
lc.htm
Professional Reports, Studies and Publications
As a practicing professional engineer and through research activities I have completed dozens of
engineering projects. These include open channel hydraulics (flood plain, and river channel
modeling), surface water hydrology, groundwater hydrology, groundwater adequacy studies for
potable water supply, groundwater aquifer testing, water supply system design, sanitary sewer design,
roadway design, site design, and other studies related to civil infrastructure. I also am experienced in
land surveying, GPS, and GIS.
The list below includes a sample of my projects and publications. Not listed are a number of residential
design projects that included the design of water supply, sewer, roads, drainage and site design.
Papers/Reports
 EWB-FLC Final Report, Water System in Huai Houk, Thailand, presented to Engineers Without
Borders-USA, Longmont, Colorado, June 2005.
 May, D.R., Lopez, A., Hamilton, J., Validation of the HEC-RAS Model with Observed Data from
Mountain Rivers, Amer. Water Res. Assoc, 2001 Nat. Conf. Proceedings, Albuquerque, NM. Oct.
2001.
 May, D.R., El-Hakim O., A Summary of educational programs for underrepresented students in
science, math, engineering and technology, National Minority Research Conferenc, Cancun,
Mexico, Nov. 2001.
 May, D.R., Gates, T.K., El-Hakim, O., et. al., Development of a geographic information system for an
farm management, Water Policy and Management, Proceedings of the 21 st Annual Conf. Water
Resour. Planning Div., Amer. Soc. Civil Engr., 1994.
 May, D.R., The space-time correlation structure of convective rainstorms in the Lagrangian
reference frame, Ph.D. Dissertation, Colo. St. Univ., Ft. Collins, CO, 1993.
 El-Hakim, O., May, D.R., Gates, T.K., and Nakai, T., Education, research and training model for
minority students in irrigated agriculture, Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems,
Proceedings: National Conf. of Irrig. and Drain. Engr., Amer. Soc. of Civil Engr., 1993.
 May, D.R. and Julien, P.Y., Raingage network resolution with spatial statistics, Conf. Proceedings;
National Conf. on Irrigation and Drain. Engr. and Watershed Mgmnt., Amer. Soc. of Civil Engr.,
Durango, CO, 1990.
 May, D.R., Interactive hydrologic modeling with a spreadsheet: maintaining contact with physical
and mathematical principles, Proceedings; Seventh Annual AGU Hydrology Days, Colo. State
Univ., 1987.
 May, D.R., Drop structures: a guide to choosing the proper type and location, M.S. Thesis, Colo. St.
Univ., Ft. Collins, CO, 1982.
Professional Studies
o Hydraulic assessment of drainage channels for the mine reclamation plan, National King Coal
Mine, La Plata County, CO. 2005.
o Design of civil infrastructure for River Trails Ranch, La Plata County, CO, 2005.
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Hydrologic drainage study for commercial development in Bayfield Industrial Park, Bayfield CO,
2004.
Expert testimony on the impact of gravel mining on regional groundwater before the Colorado
State Mine Land Reclamation Board, Division of Minerals and Geology, Denver, CO, 2003.
Assessment of the impact of gravel mine excavation on local groundwater levels, Montrose
County, CO, 2003.
Inspections of tailing dam stability and drainage features at the National King Coal Mine, Hesperus,
CO, 2003 – ongoing.
Water supply analysis and aquifer testing on Florida Mesa site, Sullivan, La Plata County, CO 2002.
Design of civil infrastructure for the Anderson residential project, Bayfield, CO, 2002
Flood plain study on Hermosa Creek, La Plata County, CO, 2001.
Traffic impact study on CR 213, La Posta Road, La Plata County, CO, 2001
Analysis and design of flood retention structure, Sabo property, Shenandoah Subdivision, La Plata
County, CO, 2001.
Drainage study of a small watershed tributary to the Animas River, Shenandoah, La Plata County,
CO, 2000.
Road design in the Shenandoah Subdivision, La Plata County, CO, 2000.
Flood plain study on the lower San Juan River, Archuletta County, CO, 2000.
Engineering design of civil infrastructure for Zoll development, Bayfield CO, 1999.
Design of mine waste tailings pile. National King Coal Mine, Hesperus, CO 1998
San Juan River restoration project, FEMA flood plain study, Pagosa Springs, CO, 1995-6.
Groundwater study – well to well interaction on the Florida Mesa, Sullivan property, La Plata
County, CO, 2002.
Flood plain study on Hermosa Creek, La Plata County, CO, 2000.
Drainage study of a small watershed tributary to the Animas River, Shenandoah, La Plata County,
CO, 2000.
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, La Farge-Wheeler Gravel Pit, La Plata County, Colo. June
2001.
Groundwater assessment of LaCoure property on Mancos River, June 1999.
Hydrologic Study of the Wetten Property, Groundwater Tributary Analysis, LaPlata County, Colo.
Nov. 1998.
Addendum: Water Adequacy Report - Pumping Test #2, Air Park Village, La Plata County, Colo.
Sept. 1998.
Aquifer Pumping Test, Well #2 - Southwest Horizon Ranch, La Plata County, Colo. Sept. 1998.
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, McCracken Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo. March
1998.
Groundwater Recharge on the Florida Mesa, A review of: Ground-Water Resources of the Florida
Mesa Area, La Platt County, Colorado, US Geological Survey, Water-Resources Investigation
Report 95-4190, by SAG. Robin and Winfield G. Wright, 1995., Nov. 1998.
Groundwater recharge on the Florida Mesa, La Plata County, CO, 1998.
Groundwater supply study for Southwest Community Resources Inc., La Plata County, CO, 1997
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Air Park Village, La Plata County, Colo. Dec. 1997.
Neuenschwander Hydrology Study, La Plata County, Colo. Jan. 1996.
Addendum to: Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Equestrian Estates Subdivision - Pumping
Test #2, La Plata County, Colo., Jan. 1996.
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Knolls Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo., Feb. 1996.
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Beeman/Church Hollow Subdivision, LaPlata County,
Colo., Aug. 1996.
Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Shining Mountain Cooperative Housing Project, LaPlata
County, Colo. May , 1996.
Pump Test Results, Clark Minor Exempt Subdivision, Dec. 1995.
Water Adequacy Study, Meadows II Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo., Dec. 1995.
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Water Adequacy Report / Pumping Test, Equestrian Estates Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo.,
May 1995.
Trimble Coldwater Spring Pumping Test, La Plata County, Colo., July 1995.
Pumping Test, May-Rose-Alane Mobile Home Park, La Plata County, Colo., 1994.
Pumping Test, Lille-Bell Mobile Home Park, La Plata County, Colo., June 1994.
Groundwater Well to Well Impact Analysis between the Kaime well and the Florida Water
Conservancy District Well / Pumping Test, La Plata County, Colo. Oct. 1995.
Water Adequacy Study / Pumping Test, Village East Subdivsion, La Plata County, Colo., 1995.
Eldorado Ranch Pumping Test, LaPlata County, Nov. 1994.
Pumping Test, Twilight Peaks Mountain Village Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo. April 1994.
Water Adequacy Study/Pumping Test, Valle Escondido Subdivision, La Plata County, Colo., April
1994.
Blue Spruce Lodge Pumping Test, La Plata County, Colo., May 1994.
Country Aire/Rodas v. Mountain Valley Ranches/Lewis. Groundwater Supply Study, LaPlata
County, Colo., Nov. 1993.