Professor and Department Head
MG 213E
406-496-4809
I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where I learned to appreciate the outdoors, nature, and cold climates. Although I spent the majority of my growing up years in Alaska, my father was a professor and took sabbatical leaves where I lived in Switzerland and Arizona. Since leaving Alaska I've lived in Utah, Minnesota, California, and South Korea. I've lived in Butte since 2009, which is sort of like coming to my second home because my parents grew up here and my grandfather received a B.S. and M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Montana Tech.
My research focuses on investigating groundwater and surface water interactions in mountain systems. Both my M.S. and Ph.D. research has focused on using environmental tracers and isotopes to investigate how groundwater interacts in with surface water, but current research often includes the use of groundwater flow modeling. I am interested in estimating groundwater residence times, cycling rates and flows, as well as identifying source waters within mountain catchments. Since 2015 my research focus has expanded to studying how river restoration impacts mountains rivers (particularly using beaver mimicry structures). Past projects have included contaminant transport, mine hydrology, leaky irrigation canals, mountain front recharge, and lake/groundwater hydrology.
I enjoy mentoring students in both teaching and research. This includes teaching and working with students to the point that they become independent thinkers and learn how to solve problems. It may be building on homework assignments in a class so that they can successfully complete a design project or it may be aiding in the thought process for completing a research project.
Names in bold correspond to graduate students
Peer Reviewed
Prudhomme KD, Khalil MA, Shaw GD, Speece MA, Zodrow KR, Malloy TM (2019) Integrated geophysical methods to characterize subsidence features in Butte, Montana, U.S.A. Applied Geophysics. 164, 87-105.
Orubu A, Khalil MA, Rutherford B, Shaw G, Gebril A, Carstarphen C (2018) Geophysical investigation of dewatering in Lolo Creek, southwest Missoula, Montana, USA. Journal of Applied Geophysics. 155, 149-161.
Schweizer D, Cisneros R, Traina S, Ghezzehei T, Shaw G (2017) Using national air quality standards for fine particulate matter to assess regional wildland fire smoke and air quality, Journal of Environmental Management, 201, 345-356.
Liu, F, Conklin MH, Conrad ME, Shaw G (2017) Insights into hydrologic and hydrochemical processes based on concentration-discharge and end-member mixing analyses in the mid-Merced River basin, Sierra Nevada, California, Water Resources Research, 53, 832-850.
Shaw GD, Mitchell KL, Gammons CH (2016) Estimating groundwater inflow and leakage outflow for an intermontane lake with a structurally complex geology: Georgetown Lake in Montana USA, Hydrogeology Journal, 25, 135-149.
Schweizer D., Cisneros R., Shaw G. (2016) A comparative analysis of temporary and permanent beta attenuations monitors: The importance of understanding data and equipment limitations when creating PM2.5 air quality health advisories. Atmospheric Pollution Research. 7, 865-875.
Cisneros R., Schweizer D., Preisler H., Bennett DH, Shaw G., Bytnerowicz A. (2014) Spatial and seasonal patterns of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. Atmospheric Pollution Research. 5, 581-590.
Shaw G., Conklin MH, Nimz GJ, Liu F. (2014) Groundwater and surface water flow to the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, California: 36Cl and Cl- Evidence. Water Resources Research. 50(3), 1943-1959.
Shaw G., Cisneros R., Schweizer D., Sickman J., Fenn M. (2013) Critical loads of acid deposition for wilderness lakes in the Sierra Nevada (California) estimated by the steady state water chemistry model. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 225:1804.
Shaw G., White E., Gammons C., (2013) Characterizing groundwater-lake interactions and its impact on lake water quality. Journal of Hydrology. 492. 69-78.
Non Peer Reviewed Reports
Abdo G., Butler J., Myse T., Wheaton J., Snyder D., Metesh J., Shaw G. (2013) Hydrogeologic Investigation of the Beaverhead River Study Area. Groundwater Investigations Program, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open File Report. 132 p.
Shaw G. White E., (2013) Nutrients and Groundwater-Lake Interactions at Georgetown Reservoir, MT. Montana Department of Environmental Quality Report. 40 p.
Shaw G. (2011) Water Quality Review: Sierra Nevada (2011) Lake Monitoring and Critical Load Assessment. U.S. Forest Service Region 5 Air Quality Program. 32 p.
I enjoy hiking, running, or going to the gym to un-stress. Since the summer of 2015 I have DJed a weekly two-hour volunteer radio show on Butte America’s local community radio station, where I play share my favorite music. I also travel all over the western U.S. to attend concerts.