Division of Geology and Land Survey
News Archive

2008  |  2007  |  2006

News Releases Gasconade and Maries Counties Receive assistance from department to resore and establish survey corners
ROLLA, MO, MAY 23, 2008 -- Surveying work has begun as a result of a request from local surveyors and the Gasconade County commissioners to have a 12-mile stretch of the boundary between Gasconade and Maries counties retraced. Corners of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) which define this boundary will be remonumented. More...

Geologists evaluate predawn earthquake centered in Illinois
 ROLLA, MO, APRIL 18, 2008 -- Missourians experienced the shocks of 5.2 and 4.5 earthquakes in Mount Carmel, Illinois, along the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Mount Carmel is approximately 130 miles east of St. Louis. The Wabash Valley Seismic Zone is located in southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana. More...

Department responds to sinkhole collapses in Cape Girardeau
ROLLA, MO, FEB. 28, 2008 -- Geologists with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey are helping the city of Cape Girardeau to identify what is causing recent sinkhole collapses and likely locations where additional sinkholes may appear in the southeast portion of the city. More...

Department announces mapping partnership with State Farm Insurance
ROLLA, MO, FEB. 29, 2008 -- Geologists with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources met with State Farm Insurance executives today at the department's St. Louis Regional office to accept a check for $26,000 in support of an earthquake hazard mapping project under way at the department's Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla. More...

2007

Counties enter into survey monument restoration contracts with department
ROLLA, MO, DEC. 19-28, 2007 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey recently entered into contracts with a number of county commissioners and their respective county surveyors to help restore land survey monuments. More...

Rolla staff send Christmas gifts to soldiers serving in Iraq and Kuwait
ROLLA, MO, DEC. 5, 2007 – Five soldiers serving in Iraq and Kuwait whose family members are employees at the Rolla office of the Department of Natural Resources are set to receive Christmas gifts from home. Thanks to the generosity of department staff, cash donations totaled $616.45. More...

Fill the stockings with geologic treasures from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
ROLLA, MO., DEC. 3, 2007 -- Looking for a Christmas gift for your rock enthusiast, fossil hunter, outdoors person, naturalist or historian?  If so, be sure to visit to 111 Fairgrounds Road in Rolla the next time you venture out to do your holiday shopping. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey has four sets of trading cards that make great stocking stuffers.  Also available are beautiful books about our state's amazing geology. More...

Rolla third and fourth grade students tour Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology
 ROLLA, MO, NOV. 20, 2007 -- Third and fourth grade students who are members of the Mark Twain Science Club toured the Department of Natural Resources' Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology last week. The museum, located at the Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla, features many aspects of Missouri geology. Minerals, rocks, fossils, geologic maps, karst models and historical equipment that geologists and surveyors have used are a few examples of items on display.   More...

Missouri Geological Survey Program commended by Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists
ROLLA, MO, NOV. 2, 2007 -- Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers recently recognized Division of Geology and Land Survey, Geological Survey Program staff for their recent commendation from the Kansas City/Omaha Section of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists.  More...

Staff participate in National Cave and Karst Managment Symposium
ROLLA MO, OCT. 31, 2007 -- Department of Natural Resources staff from the Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla attended the 2007 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium, October 8 through Oct. 12 in St. Louis. Four geologists who deal with environmental challenges associated with the karst landscape in Missouri presented information at the symposium. Also participating were speakers representing other karst areas, including the Virginias, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and the Yucatan peninsula. More...

Students learn about land surveying, geology during Earth Science Week
ROLLA, MO, OCT. 30, 2007 -- The 10th annual Earth Science Week celebration was held Oct. 14 through Oct. 20 and, as is customary, the Division of Geology and Land Survey led the effort for the Department of Natural Resources.  More...

Geologic treasures on display at Rolla High School
ROLLA, MO, OCT. 26, 2007 – Some of Missouri’s geologic treasures are on display at the Rolla High School library through the end of October, thanks to Rolla High School Library media specialist Jennifer Elmore and the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey (DGLS).  More...

Forrester Group donates rock core to McCracken Core Library
ROLLA, MO, OCT. 18, 2007 -- A recent donation of approximately 420 feet of rock core, including core descriptions, petrographic thin sections and electrical and nuclear geophysical well logs, was made to the McCracken Core Library by The Forrester Group Inc., an environmental consulting company with offices in Missouri and Kansas. These materials from the greater Springfield area had been used for purposes of environmental site characterization and remedial action planning. Thanks to The Forrester Group, this geologic record is now in the public domain and can be used by anyone needing geologic data in this area. The Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey manages the McCracken Core Library in Rolla. More...

Pratte named President-Elect at Missouri Society of Professional Surveyor's 50th Anniversary Meeting
ROLLA, MO, OCT. 15, 2007—At their 50th Anniversary meeting held Oct. 4-6, the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors elevated Darrell Pratte as the 2008 President-Elect. Pratte is a Professional Land Surveyor with the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla. He has served as chair of the organization's Scholarship Committee and on the Board of Directors. MSPS, with headquarters in Jefferson City, helps foster the land surveying profession.  More...

Gov. Blunt proclaims Earth Science Week Oct. 14-20
JEFFERSON CITY MO, OCT. 11, 2007—Gov. Matt Blunt has declared the week of Oct. 14-20 as Earth Science Week to bring awareness to the fact that earth sciences are fundamental to the health, safety and welfare of all Missourians.  More...

Ray and Lafayette County boundary determined
 ROLLA, MO, SEPT. 19, 2007 -- After years of uncertainty and pending litigation, the legal position for the boundary between Ray and Lafayette counties at the Camden Bend on the Missouri River has been determined. County commissioners from Ray and Lafayette counties met with State Land Surveyor Mike Flowers, Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey, at the Lexington County Courthouse Monday, Sept. 17, to put the final touches on the surveying project. The elected officials signed land plats that depict the legal boundary between the two counties. More...

Geologic mapping tool for society
ROLLA, MO, SEPT. 19, 2007 -- This year marks the fourteenth year that the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey has participated in the portion of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program known as STATEMAP. The national program is administered through the U.S. Geological Survey whose headquarters are in Reston, Virginia. More...

State Land Survey Index on the Web
 ROLLA, MO, SEPT. 12, 2007 – Visitors to the Department of Natural Resources’ Land Survey Program’s Web site are now able to perform a number of searches from their home computers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the vast holdings at the state’s Land Survey Repository. Searches on the Land Survey Index include legal descriptions (township, range and section), subdivision plats, U.S. survey number, General Land Office plats and field notes by township, surveyor name or number and City of St. Louis city blocks and roads.  More...

Belle school children visit Rolla facility
ROLLA, MO, MAY 29, 2007 -- Missouri geology, the environment, water wells and paper models were all the rage on Friday, May 4, for Belle second grade students. Nearly 60 students and a number of teachers and parents visited the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla. More...

Rolla fifth graders tour Rolla offices
 ROLLA, MO, MAY 24, 2007 -- Three hundred fifth graders from Rolla Middle School attended the annual "Rolla School Daze" event at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on May 17. Students enjoyed the beautiful weather during their half-day visit at the department's Fairgrounds Road facility. Earth science presentations concentrated on environmental protection, geology, land surveying and groundwater issues.  More...

Earthquake Awareness Week observed
 ROLLA, MO, JAN. 25, 2007 -- "Knowledge is the key to being prepared," is the advice from Mimi Garstang, state geologist and director of the Division of Geology and Land Survey as Missourians observe Earthquake Awareness Week Feb. 1-11. During Earthquake Awareness Week, citizens are encouraged to attend at least one of the various public events that will be held throughout the state. Geologists from the department will help expand the knowledge base for Missourians by participating in a variety of events, activities and workshops.  More...

Completion of abandoned oil well plugging project in Cass County
ROLLA, MO, JAN. 18, 2007 -- Seven abandoned oil and gas wells no longer pose safety or environmental threats to Cass County residents, thanks to a Missouri Department of Natural Resources program that permanently plugged the wells in the county near Garden City.  Geologists from the department's Division of Geology and Land Survey conducted a final inspection of the abandoned wells, which were recently cleaned and plugged by a contractor.  More...

New Madrid Seismic Zone debate causing rumbles in scientific community
Despite Debate, Earthquake Preparedness Still Urged
ROLLA, MO, JAN. 12, 2007 -- Differing opinions about the causes of earthquakes in southeast Missouri are stirring debate among scientists, but are not diminishing the importance of earthquake preparedness, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey.  "Not all scientists are in agreement on how to interpret data or extrapolate what is observed," said Mimi Garstang, state geologist and Division of Geology and Land Survey director.  More...

2006

Division Hosts Regional Meeting of State Geologists

AASG group photo

The division hosted the Association of American State Geologists Central States Cluster meeting Oct. 31-Nov. 2.  Discussion focused on new and ongoing projects for each of the states and ways in which states learn or benefit from the experiences of a neighboring geological survey.  Discussion topics included geologic hazards, mineral and energy resources, geologic maps, earthquakes, oil and gas production, core sample storage, STATEMAP, source water protection, water supply and rights, ethanol plants, and Web site design and maintenance.  More...

Governor Commends Employees for Efficiency, Productivity

Three Division of Geology and Land Survey employees were honored by Gov. Matt Blunt as recipients of the Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity in the innovation category. Team members from the department are Mimi Garstang, state geologist and division director; Peter Price and Myrna Rueff, geologists in the Geological Survey Program. The department, in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, used innovative solutions to protect human health and the environment at the Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project, a nuclear and hazardous waste site in St. Charles County. The team was recognized by Gov. Blunt at a ceremony on October 11 in the Capitol Rotunda.  More...

Earth Science Week LogoCitizens across the nation celebrated Earth Science Week Oct. 8-14, 2006

Governor Matt Blunt proclaimed the week of Oct. 8-14 as Earth Science Week in Missouri (read the Governor's Proclamation). This year's theme was "Be a Citizen Scientist!"  You don't have to have a Ph.D. or even formal education in Earth science to be a citizen scientist, only an interest and desire to learn. A citizen scientist is YOU involved in real science and research, throughout the year!  Find more ideas about how you and others can become involved in Earth science by visiting earthsciweek.org.