After receiving his master’s and doctoral degrees from SD Mines, Davis taught for more than 30 years at the university, impacting the graduate students who completed degrees under his advisement, as well as thousands of students who benefitted from his courses.
As a groundwater hydrologist and geological engineering consultant, Davis has undertaken numerous projects involving groundwater contamination, aquifer evaluation, low-level radioactive waste site evaluation, spring-flow measurements and mine site development throughout his career. He has worked with the cities of Rapid City, Hill City and Custer in characterizing and quantifying aquifer vulnerability in these developing areas, as well, ultimately designing a unique approach for quantifying aquifer vulnerability in areas such as the Black Hills uplift.
Davis also served as an expert witness regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in South Dakota and assisted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a member of a technical advisory team concerning the Gilt Edge Superfund Site. He has shared his expertise relating to groundwater contamination and remediation at various locations throughout the state of South Dakota, including the Williams Pipeline/Hayward School site in Sioux Falls.
The 2016 J. Paul Gries “Geologist of the Year” Award honors the memory of Paul Gries, Ph.D., a renowned geologist who made great strides in understanding the geology of South Dakota.