Assistant Professor, Hydrogeology
Dr. Zhuping Sheng, Professional Engineer, is an Assistant Professor in Hydrogeology at the El Paso Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) and Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. His areas of special expertise are in hydrogeology and numerical modeling, management strategies of water resources, aquifer storage and recovery, aquifer mechanics, and geological engineering. He is developing a transboundary water resource - geohydrology research program for the Rio Grande Basin and other arid and semi-arid areas. The program aims at integrating theoretical progresses and technological advances in planning and management of shared regional water resources, conjunctive uses of surface water and groundwater resources, water conservation, protection of water quality and extension of the useful “life” of stressed regional aquifers to sustain regional development and improve the quality of life of communities that depend on these aquifers.
He received his Doctoral degree in Hydrogeology/Hydrology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1996. Prior to joining the TA&MU, Dr. Sheng worked for El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) as a hydrogeologist. He is familiar with general hydrogeology of the regional aquifers in the Far West Texas, especially the Hueco and Mesilla Bolsons. He has extensive working experience on numerical modeling of groundwater flow, assessment of groundwater availability and evaluation of groundwater and surface water interaction. He is chairing the Aquifer Storage and Recovery Technical Committee of American Water Resources Association and the Cost Guide of Environmental Documentation Task Committee of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute. He also served in other regional, national committees and councils.
Assadian, N. C. Gogel, Z. Sheng, and U.V. Figueroa. 2003. Heavy Metal
Distribution in Open Canals and Drains in the Upper Rio Grande Basin, Int.
Journal of Soil and Sediment Contamination, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp.305-323.
Sheng Z., A. Michelsen, M. P. Fahy and J. Ashworth. 2003. Conflicts and
Cooperation: Water Resources Planning in Far West Texas, Proc. Of World
Environmental and Water Resources Conference, ASCE, Philadelphia, PA, June
23-26, 2003, 10p.
Sheng Z., J. P. King, L. S. Aristizabal, J. Davis. 2003. Assessment of Water
Conservation by Lining Canals in the Paso Del Norte Region: The Franklin
Canal Case Study, Proc. Of World Environmental and Water Resources
Conference, ASCE, Philadelphia, PA, June 23-26, 2003, 7p.
Sheng, Z. 2002. Options for preservation of a transboundary aquifer, Hueco
Bolson in the Paso del Norte region. In Proceedings, Integrated Transboundary
Water Management, Joint UCOWR, EWRI, NGWA, COE-IWR Conference,
Traverse City, Michigan, July 23-26, 2002, pp.86-94.
Fahy, M.P., Z. Sheng, and S. Reinert. 2001. Wellhead protection program
safeguards groundwater, AWWA Opflow, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.10-14.
Burkstaller J., Z. Sheng, E. Fierro, and S. Morgan. 2001. Elements of a brackish
water resource master plan for El Paso, Texas, in Proceedings, New Horizons In
Drinking Water, AWWA 2001 Annual Conference, Washington D.C., June 17
21, 2001, CD ROM, AWWA, Denver, CO, 11p.
