Engineering prof and dean receive international recognition

Wynn Walker, associate dean and professor of biological engineering systems in the College of Engineering at Utah State University, is the 2005 recipient of the Award for the Advancement of Surface Irrigation from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Walker received the award for his major contributions to worldwide improvement of surface irrigation systems and practices. He received the award July 20 at the association’s national conference in Tampa, Fla.

“This award was established by professor emeritus John Merriam of CalPoly, a gentleman most recognized as one of the true giants of irrigation engineering,” said Walker. “To be recognized in his name is an important standard on which to measure my own contributions to the field. I am also honored that my colleagues think enough of my 25 years of research to select me for this award.”

Walker’s expertise in irrigation allowed him to develop one of the first models to quantify the relationship between irrigation efficiency and the quality of irrigation return flows. His work in this area has been used to mitigate the salinity in the Colorado River Basin.

ASAE said that Wynn is an internationally recognized expert in surface irrigation, whose contributions have greatly improved the fundamental understandings of surface irrigation systems. They also said that he has provided practical tools for improving their design and operation.

Walker served for many years as head of Utah State’s biological and irrigation engineering department, where his leadership fostered the growth of a world-renowned program in irrigation engineering that continues to provide technical assistance in support of agricultural and economic development. He has led or participated in design teams for irrigation rehabilitation or modernization in 17 countries. During his career he has mentored more than 50 graduate students, who today are making water policy and management decisions worldwide.

Walker developed a number of international short courses that provide irrigation training, and he is a regular instructor at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Water Management course. He revised and updated the Border Irrigation and Furrow Irrigation manuals for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These manuals will be combined into a single Surface Irrigation manual that will provide information and design procedures for hundreds of NRCS offices throughout the nation and internationally. He is the author or co-author of numerous publications including two books, conference proceedings, refereed journal articles and technical publications covering simulation, field studies, infiltration measurement and parameter estimation and management.

“In my opinion, there are very few educators who have had such a positive impact on the management of the world’s scarce water resources, all to the benefit of the world’s most needy people,” said H. Scott Hinton, dean of USU’s College of Engineering.

A 31-year member of ASAE, Walker has held officer positions in the Pacific Northwest section, including chair. Awards and honors include the Utah State University Excellence in Research award and D. Wynne Thorne Research award; American Society of Civil Engineers Outstanding Research Paper award; American Water Resource Association Outstanding Water Education Service award; and the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology. 

Walker has a master’s in civil engineering and a doctorate in agricultural engineering from Colorado State University. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Utah State. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, the American Water Resources Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers, where he sits on several committees and task groups, including the On Farm Irrigation Committee and the Soil and Crop Hydraulic properties task committee.