Walter, Michael Faivre

Professor

I apply basic hydrologic, hydraulic and soil water information to rural water management problems such as erosion, drainage, water quality, and water supplies. My international research is aimed at the development of a better understanding of irrigation and water management in tropical developing countries. This research is focused on tropical hydrology and other watershed processes. My domestic research includes investigation of basic hydrology processes relating to small watersheds, using mathematical models, laboratory studies, and field projects. Variable area hydrology and management alternatives to erosion control are of particular interest.

research

research and scholarship focus

my efforts are focused on water security issues particularly as related to developing countries. I am also interested in land use changes (e.g. as a result of bioenergy feedstocks) and the impacts of these on the environment.

research areas

agricultural biotechnology | collaborative research area (CALS)
agricultural engineering | collaborative research area (CALS)
biogeochemistry | collaborative research area (CALS)
biological and environmental engineering | collaborative research area (CALS)
environmental sciences | collaborative research area (CALS)
hydrology | collaborative research area (CALS)
international agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
international development | collaborative research area (CALS)
landscape ecology | collaborative research area (CALS)
sustainable agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
sustainable development | collaborative research area (CALS)
waste management | collaborative research area (CALS)
water resource management | collaborative research area (CALS)
watershed science | collaborative research area (CALS)

international geographic focus

Bangladesh | country
Nepal | country
Peru | country
Philippines | country
Sri Lanka | country
Venezuela | country
West Africa | trans-national region

submitted impact statement

Chair of the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering | 2007 Impact statement
Chair of the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering | 2006 Impact statement
Variable source runoff allows agency staff, educators and landowners to predict the location of NPS pollution from landscapes in a scientific way using GIS | 2005 Impact statement
Using the variable source runoff model to locate non-point source pollution from landscapes using GIS | 2004 Impact statement

affiliations

other Cornell affiliations

Asian Studies | graduate field
Center for the Environment (CFE) | former research center
South Asia Program | academic program office

teaching

teaching focus

Curriculum development, international agreiculture, and program accreditation.

teaches

BEE 4970 - Individual Study in Biological and Environmental Engineering (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 4990 - Undergraduate Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 5951 - Master of Engineering Design Project (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 6970 - Graduate Individual Study in Biological and Environmental Engineering (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 7710 - Soil and Water Engineering Seminar (F 02:30:PM-03:30:PM) | fall 2009 class
BEE 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
BEE 1200 - The BEE Experience (T 01:25:PM-02:15:PM) | spring 2009 class
BEE 3299 - Sustainable Development: Web-Based Course (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
BEE 5952 - Master of Engr Design Project (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
BEE 6970 - Graduate Individual Study in Biological and Environmental Engineering (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
BEE 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
BEE 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
ENGRG 1050 - Engineering Seminar (R 03:35:PM-04:25:PM) | fall 2008 class

service

outreach focus

My extension is focused on rural water issues, particularly as related to communities.

current professional activities

American Society of Agricultural Engineers
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Engineering Educators
American Society of Civil Engineering
Soil Conservation Society of America

background

educational background

Ph.D., Water Resource Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
M.S., Hydrology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
B.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Illinois

professional background

Chair of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, 1994 - present
Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1987 - present
Associate Professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1979 - 1987
Irrigation Management Advisor, USAID India, New Delhi, India, 1984 - 1985 and 1988 - 1989
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1974 - 1979
Farm Manager-Electric Research Farm, Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1971 - 1974
Civil Engineer, Bureau of Water Resources, Division of Waterways, Springfield, IL, 1969 - 1971
Faculty Council of Representatives and the University Council

awards and distinctions

President's Award, ASAE, 1994
Outstanding Teaching Award - Cornell ASAE, 1993
Young Engineer of the Year Award, NAR-ASAE, 1985
Gamma Sigma Delta, 1993
Golden Key Outstanding Faculty Award, 1992
Alpha Epsilon, 1969
ASAE Blue Ribbon Publications, (4)
ASAE Technical Paper Awards, (3)

featured in

Merrill scholars honor high school, Cornell teachers | Cornell Chronicle feature

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

Malvicini, C.F., T.S. Steenhuis, M.T. Walter, M.F. Walter. Evaluation of spring flow in uplands of Matalom, Leyte, Philippines. Adv. Water Resources. 2005.
Walter, M.T., V.K. Mehta, A.M. Monrone, J.Boll, P. Gerard-Merchant, T.S. Steenhuis, M.F. Walter. Closure: A simple estimation of the prevalence of Hortonian flow in New York City?s watersheds. ASCE J. Hydrol. Eng. 2005 (in press March issue).
Mehta, V.K., M.T. Walter, E.S. Brooks, T.S. Steenhuis, M.F. Walter, M. Johnson, J. Boll, D. Thengs. 2003 Evaluation and application of SMR for watershed modeling in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. Envir. Modeling and Assessment. Land Degrad. Develop. 15: 367-381, 2004.
Walter, M.T., V.K. Mehta, A.M. Marrone, J. Boll, P. Gerard-Marchant, T.S. Steenhuis, M.F. Walter. Simple estimation of prevalence of Hortonian flow in New York City watersheds. J. Hydrol. Eng. 8(4):214-218. Jul-Aug, 2001.
Scott, C.A., Walter, M.F., G.N. Nagle, M.T. Walter, N.V. Sierra, E.S. Brooks. Residual phosphorus in runoff from successional forest on abandoned agricultural land: 1. Biologeochemical and hydrological processes. Biogeochemistry 55: 293-309, 2001.
Scott, C.A., M.F. Walter. Residual phosphorus in runoff from successional forest on abandoned agricultural land: 2. Hydrological and soluble reactive P Budgets. Biochemistry 55(3):311-325, 2001.
Geohring, L.D., O.V. McHugh, M.T. Walter, T.S. Steenhuis, M. S. Akhtar, M.F. Walter. Phosphorus transport into subsurface drains by macropores after manure applications: Implications for best manure management practices. Soil Sci. 166(12):896-909. Dec. 2001.
Walter, M.T., J.Y. Parlange, M. Walter, X. Xin and C. Scott. Modeling pollutant release from a surface source during rainfall runoff. J. Envir. Qual 30(1) 151-159. Jan-Feb. 2001.
Norman, W. R., Walter, M. Todd, Michael F. Walter. 2000. Water Distribution Management in Small West African Canal Systems. J. of Irrigation and Drainage Eng. Sep/Oct. 2000 V.126/5.
Walter, M.T., Brooks, E.S., Walter, M.F., Steenhuis, T.S., Scott, C.A., Boll, J.A. Hydrologically sensitive areas: Variable source area hydrology implications for water quality with assessment. J. Soil Water Conserv. 55(3) 277-284. 2000.