Annual Awards

William Barfield Award for Outstanding Contributions in Water Resource Research

The Barfield Award for Outstanding Contributions in Water Resource Research honors an individual who has developed a national or international reputation in a water-related research field and has made significant contributions to developing new knowledge, methods, and/or applications in addressing water resources challenges. The award is named for Dr. William Barfield. Dr. Barfield received all three of his degrees from Texas A&M in the 60s. Dr. Barfield served as the head of the biosystems and agricultural engineering program at the University of Kentucky as well as the head of the biosystems and agricultural engineering program at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Barfield served as director of the KWRRI from 1988 to 1992. He is a licensed professional engineer, a licensed professional hydrologist, and a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Barfield continues to serve state and national advisory groups on environmental issues. He also led the development of SEDIMOT II, SEDIMOT III, SEDIMOT IV, SEDPro, and IDEAL software packages to analyze and design structures and methodologies for controlling runoff, sediment, nutrients, and bacteria from construction and post-construction watersheds. In addition, Barfield authored and co-authored five books and numerous publications and had 39 consultancies for private companies and government agencies, both nationally and internationally.

Past Recipients:

Lyle Sendlein Award for Outstanding Contributions in Water Resource Practice

The Sendlein Award for Outstanding Water Resource Practice is presented to a water resource practitioner who has made significant contributions in addressing water resource problems in Kentucky through water and environmental administration and management, water-related public service, or engineering practice. The award is named for Dr. Lyle Sendlein. Dr. Sendlein received degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and Iowa State University. He taught in the department of earth sciences at Iowa State and was the co-director of the Iowa coal project until he went to Southern Illinois University in 1977 to lead their coal research center. He came to UK in August 1982 as director of the Institute for Mining and Mineral Research and Professor of Geological Sciences. Dr. Sendlein served as director of the KWRRI from 1992 to 1998.

Past Recipients:

Robert Lauderdale Award for Outstanding Contributions in Water Quality

The Lauderdale Award for Outstanding Contributions in Water Quality is presented to an individual who has helped improve the water quality and sustainability of Kentucky’s water resources through leadership and service with academia, environmental consulting, environmental NGOs, state and local government, and/or cooperative extension. The award is named for Dr. Robert Lauderdale, who was the first director of the KWRRI and served from 1964 to 1973. Dr. Lauderdale received his Ph.D. from MIT and was instrumental in building the water quality and environmental program in the UK Civil Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky until his retirement in 1988. Dr. Lauderdale passed away in 1999.

Past Recipients:

Past Award Winners