Dr. Eric Peterson
Chair & University Professor of Geology
Geography-Geology-Environment
Office
FHS Felmley Hall Of Science 206c
Office Hours
MWF 9:00-10:00 am or by appointment
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Current Courses
GEO 361.001 Hydrology
GEO 461.001 Hydrology
GEO 499.002 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
GEO 499.006 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
GEO 499.101 Independent Research For The Masters Thesis Final Year
GEO 400.001 Independent Study
GEO 287.006 Independent Study - Geology
GEO 360.001 Hydrogeology
GEO 460.001 Hydrogeology
GEO 499.001 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
GEO 499.101 Independent Research For The Masters Thesis Final Year
GEO 287.004 Independent Study - Geology
GEO 410.001 Seminar In Hydrogeology Research
Teaching Interests & Areas
Teaching: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Karst Hydrogeology, Aquifer Systems, Principles of Geology, & Problems in Environmental Geology
Research Interests & Areas
Research Interests: Surface water – ground water interaction within the hyporheic zone of low gradient streams and in karst systems, fluid flow and thermal transport modeling, and physical processes of karst systems.
Ph D Geological Sciences
University of Missouri
Columbia
MS Geology
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville
MA Mathematics
University of South Dakota
Vermillion
BS Earth Science and Mathematics
University of South Dakota
Vermillion
Outstanding Scholarship Award
Illinois State University
2023
Outstanding Service Award
Illinois State University
2023
George Burke Maxey Distinguished Service Award
Geological Society of America Hydrogeology Division
2022
Outstanding Scholarship Award
College of Arts and Sciences
2022
Outstanding Service Award
College of Arts and Sciences
2020
Kenneth A. and Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Fellowship
College of Arts and Sciences
2018
Geological Society of America Fellow
Geological Society of America
2013
Outstanding College Teacher Award in Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
2011
Busy Bee
University Research Office
2008
Research Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2006
Book, Chapter
Vesper, D., Schindel, G., Beck, B., Brahana, J., Cate, J., Engler, D., Ewers, R., Falkenberg, J., Halihan, T., Idstein, P., Krothe, N., Peterson, E., Toran, L., Veni, G., White, E., & Williams, S. Focus Group on Karst Resources and Other Applied Issues. Frontiers of Karst Research. Karst Waters Institute (2008)
Peterson, E., Davis, R., & Brahana, J. The use of regression analysis to predict nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in springs of Northwest Arkansas. Groundwater flow and contaminant transport in carbonate aquifers. A.A Balkema (2000): 43-63.
Conference Proceeding
Commander, O., Peterson, E., O'Reilly, C., Thayn, J., Perry, W., & Twait, R. ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS IN CHLORIDE CONCENTRATION IN AN AGRICULTURAL TILE-DRAINED AREA IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Geological Society of America (2022)
DiVincenzo, A., Peterson, E., & Hackley, K. USING SEASONAL GROUNDWATER SHIFTS IN NITRATE ISOTOPES TO EXAMINE THE TRANSPORT AND FATE OF NITRATE WITHIN A SATURATED BUFFER ZONE. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Geological Society of America (2019)
Francis, A., Peterson, E. W., and Dogwiler, T. J., 2018, Lithology as an erosional control on the Cave Branch and Horn Hollow fluviokarst watersheds in Carter County, Kentucky, in Sasowsky, I. D., Byle, M. J., and Land, L., eds., 15th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst and the 3rd Appalachian Karst Symposium, Volume 6: Shepherdstown, West Virginia, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, p. 279-288.
Peterson, E., Dogwiler, T., and Harlan, L., 2011, Using GIS to identify cave levels and discern the speleogenesis of the Carter Caves karst area, Kentucky, in Kuniansky, E. L., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas (April 26-29, 2011), Volume Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5031: Reston, Virginia, United States Geological Survey, p. 94-103.
Peterson, E., and Hughes, K., 2011, Temporal Stability of Cave Sediments, in Kuniansky, E. L., ed., U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas (April 26-29, 2011), Volume Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5031: Reston, Virginia, United States Geological Survey, p. 57-65.
Journal Article
Commander, O., Peterson, E. W., and Perry, W.L., (2025), Agricultural contribution of chloride to a saturated riparian buffer system: A case study in central Illinois: Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, v. 31, no. 2,doi https://doi.org/10.21663/EEG-D-23-00061
Persico, G., Seyoum, W.M., Peterson, E.W., 2024. Interrelationships Between NDVI, Surface Water, and Regional Hydro-Climatic Variables In the Sudd Wetland. Wetlands, 44(7). DOI:10.1007/s13157-024-01851-2
Sahad, A., and Peterson, E. W., (2024), Agricultural contribution of chloride to a saturated riparian buffer system: A case study in central Illinois: Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, v. 30, no. 3, doi: https://doi.org/10.21663/EEG-D-23-00078
Becker, J. P., and Peterson, E. W., 2022, Stream Recovery Post Channelization: A Case Study of Low-Gradient Streams in Central Illinois, USA: Hydrology, v. 9, no. 9, p. 160, doi:10.3390/hydrology9090160.
Riedel, J. W., Peterson, E. W., Dogwiler, T. J., and Seyoum, W. M., 2022, Investigating Thermal Controls on the Hyporheic Flux as Evaluated Using Numerical Modeling of Flume-Derived Data: Hydrology, v. 9, no. 9, p. 156, doi:10.3390/hydrology9090156
Map/Diagram/Artwork
Wirth, H.*, Peterson, E. W., and Malone, D. H., 2018, Surficial Geologic of the 7.5-Minute Gibson City West Quadrangle, Champaign, Ford, and McLean Counties, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, http://isgs.illinois.edu/sites/isgs/files/maps/isgs-quads/gibsoncitywest-ed-sg.pdf Illinois State Geological Survey, scale 1:24,000.
Ludwikowski, J.*, Malone, D. H., and Peterson, E. W., 2016, Surficial Geologic Map, Bloomington East Quadrangle, McLean County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey, scale 1:24,000.
Maxwell, E.L.*, Malone, D.H., Peterson, E.W, and Nelson, R.S., 2015Surficial Geologic Map, Colfax Quadrangle, McLean County, Illinois. Illinois State Geological Survey: https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps/isgs-quads/surficial-geology/edmap/colfax Illinois State Geological Survey.
Seipel, L.C.*, Thomason, J. F., Malone, D.H., and Peterson, E.W., 2015, Surficial Geology of Garden Prairie 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Boone and McHenry Counties, Illinois, Illinois State Geological Survey: https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps/isgs-quads/surficial-geology/garden-prairie Illinois State Geological Survey.
Other
Davis, R., Schaefer, V., Illes, D., Kortran, J., Koch, W., & Peterson, E. Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry of Clayey Till at the Runge Landfill, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. South Dakota Geological Survey Open-File Report 9-BAS (1997)
Davis, R., Versch, M., Carr, J., Peterson, E., Dormedy, D., Merrick, M., & Saunsoci, Q. Baseline Assessment of Water Quality on the Reservation of the Omaha Tribe: Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. Nebraska Environmental Protection Department (1995): 61.
Presentations
Assessment of Floating Gardens to Improve the Water Quality of the Chicago River. Brimfield (IL) Public Library. Brimfield (IL) Public Library. (2025)
Environmental and Engineering Geoscience. Salt Symposium 2025. Bolten and Menk. (2025)
Daniel Chukwudi and Eric W. Peterson (2025), Long-Term Impact of Floating Wetlands on Nutrient Reduction in Urban Streams. National Association of Black Geoscientists Sept 3-6, 2025, Golden, Colorado. (Poster Presentation).
Suleiman, Z., Peterson, E., Tranel, L. Thayn, J. B., 2025, Assessing the impacts of chloride concentration on nitrate loss in sediment using column studies, GSA 2025 Joint Northeastern/North-Central Section Meeting, Geological Society of America, Erie, PA
Assessment of Floating Gardens to Improve the Water Quality of the Chicago River. C-U Hydraulic Engineering Luncheon. U.S. Geological Survey. (2024)
Awuku, J. and Peterson, E. W., 2024, Investigating heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity and its influence on groundwater dynamics within a saturated riparian buffer in central Illinois, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA,, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404792
Chukwudi, D.. and Peterson, E.W., 2024, Application of floating wetlands to improve urban stream quality, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404828.
Ijigade, F.*, Seyoum, W. and Peterson, E.W., 2024, Exploring nitrate reduction in a saturated riparian buffer through a three-dimensional reactive contaminant transport model: Implications for an optimized remedial design to improve water quality, AGU 2024. American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C
Ijigade, F.*, Seyoum, W. and Peterson, E.W., 2024, Exploring nitrate reduction in a saturated riparian buffer through a three-dimensional reactive contaminant transport model: Implications for designing better riparian buffers, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-403953.
Obi, C. and Peterson, E.W., 2024, Sulfate sources in groundwater from an agricultural area in central Illinois, Geological Society of America Connects 2024. Geological Society of America, Anaheim, CA, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404761.
Grants & Contracts
2020 - 2022 - City of Bloomington: Understanding and monitoring local water quality. City of Bloomington. Local. (2020)
2017 - 2019 - City of Bloomington: Understanding and monitoring local water quality. City of Bloomington. Local. (2017)