SURVEY NOTES

A Brief History of the UGS

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Utah Geological Survey (UGS). In 1949, the Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey was created within the University of Utah’s State School of Mines and Mineral Industries. Today, the UGS is a state executive branch applied science agency within the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The UGS currently comprises six technical programs— Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Mapping & Paleontology, Groundwater & Wetlands, Geologic Information & Outreach, and Data Management—and has a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) group that provides key support for data analysis and release. Additionally, the UGS operates the Utah Core Research Center, UGS Library, and the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore retail outlet. Most of our approximately 90 employees work out of the main Salt Lake City office, and five staff work out of the Southern Utah Office in Cedar City.

To mark the UGS’s 50th anniversary, a timeline of important events in the history of the UGS from 1949 to 1999 was published in Survey Notes (v. 31, no. 3). The following summary highlights some of the important events that occurred in the 25 years since then.

Explore an interactive UGS timeline:

UGS Interactive Timeline link
UGS Interactive Timeline link

Timeline of Events 1999-2024

1999: Director Lee Allison steps down, Deputy Director Kimm Harty assumes role as acting director. UGS establishes the Crawford Award, named after Arthur L. Crawford, to recognize outstanding achievement, accomplishments, or contributions by current UGS scientists to the understanding of some aspect of Utah geology or earth science; David Madsen is the first recipient of the award.

2000: Dr. Richard G. (Rick) Allis is appointed as the Survey’s sixth director; Rick establishes a priority of making all UGS information and reports available through the UGS website.

2001: Several UGS programs are renamed to more clearly highlight the focus of their work: “Applied Geology” becomes “Geologic Hazards,” “Economic Geology” becomes “Energy and Mineral Resources,” and “Geologic Extension Services” becomes “Geologic Information and Outreach.” The State of Utah transfers the Energy and Resource Planning Office, comprising three staff, into the UGS for a brief period of time. UGS hosts the first annual Earth Science Week activities for school kids at the Utah Core Research Center (similar activities were previously offered as part of Utah’s Prehistory and Heritage Week celebrations).

2002: UGS Southern Utah Regional Office moves from its location on the campus of Southern Utah University to office space on Fiddlers Canyon Road in Cedar City.

2003: Utah Geological Association and UGS establish the Lehi Hintze Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Geology of Utah; Dr. Lehi Hintze is the award’s first recipient. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention and Exhibition is held in Salt Lake City, Tom Chidsey serves as General Chair.

2004: Mike Lowe receives the DNR Manager of the Year award.

2005: State legislation transfers the State Energy Program (SEP), formerly of the Utah Energy Office, to the UGS; the five SEP staff provide direct support and access to federal funding for energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable energy programs and projects in Utah. UGS “Environmental Sciences” program changes its name to “Ground Water and Paleontology.”

2006: Dr. Wally Gwynn is named as the first recipient of the Director’s Sovereign Land Award from the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the history, science, and well-being of Great Salt Lake. Kimm Harty receives the DNR Manager of the Year award.

2007: UGS produces the inaugural annual Calendar of Utah Geology, presenting scenic geology photos taken by UGS staff. The “Energy and Mineral Resources” program shortens its name to “Energy and Minerals.”

2008: Partnering with several entities, UGS helps create and open the G.K. Gilbert Geologic View Park at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County. Utah Core Research Center undergoes expansion and improvements including a larger classroom space for meetings and workshops, a digital imaging lab, a microscope examination room, and new office space for visiting scientists and researchers. Janae Wallace and Mike Lowe receive the Calvin K. Sudweeks Award from the Utah Water Quality Board for leadership and achievement in the field of water quality improvement in the State of Utah.

2009: Bill Lund is awarded the 2009 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology. UGS hosts the annual meeting of the Association of American State Geologists in Park City.

2010: UGS expands its scope of water-related research by hiring a wetlands specialist into the Groundwater and Paleontology program.

2011: State legislation transfers the State Energy Program out of the UGS and into the newly created Office of Energy Development.

2012: UGS receives the Western States Seismic Policy Council 2012 National Award in Excellence for Research for the ongoing work of the Utah Earthquake Working Groups, convened under the auspices of the UGS in cooperation with the Utah Seismic Safety Commission and U.S. Geological Survey. Buck Ehler receives the DNR Manager of the Year award. Two dinosaurs are named in honor of UGS employees: Martharaptor greenriverensis (Martha Hayden) and Yurgovuchia doellingi (Hellmut Doelling).

2014: UGS paleontologists successfully collect a 9-ton, fully intact sandstone block containing thousands of bones belonging to Utahraptor dinosaurs and other species. The “megablock” is transported from its collection site near Arches National Park to the North American Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah, where fossil preparation work begins.

2015: UGS Southern Utah Regional Office moves into the newly completed Department of Natural Resources Southwest Regional Complex in Cedar City. Tyler Knudsen, Paul Inkenbrandt, Bill Lund, Mike Lowe, and Steve Bowman receive the 2015 John C. Frye Memorial Award in Environmental Geology, from the Association of American State Geologists and the Geological Society of America.

2016: Due to sharp price drops for oil and natural gas as well as reduced production on federal lands, Mineral Lease revenues to UGS decline by 60% between 2014 and 2016, prompting a reduction in full-time-equivalent staff from 80 to 65. UGS receives the Western States Seismic Policy Council 2016 National Award in Excellence for Educational Outreach to Business and Government, for the Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit III.

2017: UGS “Groundwater and Paleontology” program becomes “Groundwater,” as the paleontology staff transfer to the Geologic Mapping program. Bob Biek leads the Geological Society of America Thompson Field Forum, showcasing two of the largest terrestrial landslides on Earth, recently recognized and documented in Utah by Bob and colleagues. Steve Bowman and Bill Lund receive the Claire P. Holdredge Award from the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, for their publication of geologic-hazard investigation guidelines.

2018: Utah Legislature names Utahraptor the official state dinosaur; Utahraptor was discovered by Jim Kirkland in 1990. Tom Chidsey receives the 2018 Public Service Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Hellmut Doelling receives the Governor’s Distinguished Service Award, honoring 65 years of service to the State of Utah. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention and Exhibition is held in Salt Lake City, Michael Vanden Berg serves as General Chair.

2019: Rick Allis retires after 18 years as UGS director and State Geologist. R. William (Bill) Keach II is appointed as the Survey’s seventh director; Bill establishes two priorities for the UGS: 1) stabilization of ongoing funding, and 2) outreach to the public and the Utah Legislature. Partnering with several entities, UGS helps create and open the Park City Sunrise Rotary Regional Geologic Park near Park City in Summit County.

2020: UGS “Groundwater” program changes its name to “Groundwater and Wetlands” to reflect its growing emphasis on wetlands research. Utahraptor “megablock” is moved from Thanksgiving Point to recently renovated space in the Utah Core Research Center. COVID-19 pandemic prompts the State of Utah to implement a telework directive; two days after nearly all UGS staff began working from home, the magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake strikes Salt Lake Valley; UGS office experiences minimal damage.

2021: Utah Legislature creates the Utah Geological Survey Oil, Gas, and Mining Restricted Account, intended to use deposits of severance tax revenue to help offset volatility of Mineral Lease revenue to the UGS. The Web Services Section of the Geologic Information and Outreach Program is reorganized into the Data Management Program. Tom Chidsey receives the Robert J. Weimer Lifetime Contribution Award from the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). Michael Vanden Berg receives the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from AAPG.

2022: UGS receives the Best Use of Social Media award at the 2022 Utah Digital Government Summit, for the Arch Challenge social media campaign.

2023: Stemming largely from UGS outreach efforts to legislators and water district managers, Utah Legislature appropriates $50 million to improve the seismic resilience of Wasatch Front aqueducts. UGS hosts the 14th Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems paleontology conference, the first time this international conference is held in the U.S.; Jim Kirkland is recognized for 50 years of outstanding contributions to the field of paleontology. UGS Earth Science Week team (Stephanie Carney, Mackenzie Cope, Jim Davis, Torri Duncan, Mark Milligan, and Jackson Smith) receives the DNR Community Outreach Award.

2024: New legislation provides for deposits of Mineral Lease revenue into the UGS restricted account, as another means of reducing budgeting uncertainties associated with volatile Mineral Lease revenue. UGS to host the annual meeting of the Association of American State Geologists in Park City in June.

Lehi Hintze Award

In 2003, the Utah Geological Association and Utah Geological Survey established the Lehi Hintze Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Geology of Utah. Dr. Lehi Hintze, the award’s namesake, was honored with the inaugural award for his outstanding body of work completed during a long and noteworthy career with Brigham Young University and the UGS. Other UGS employees who have received this prestigious award include the following:

Explore an interactive UGS timeline:

UGS Interactive Timeline link
UGS Interactive Timeline link