John McCray, Ph.D. Professor

Director Hydrologic Science and Engineering Program

John McCray

Education

Ph.D. Hydrology and Water Resources, The University of Arizona, 1998.
M.S. Environmental Systems Engineering, Clemson University, 1994.
B.S. Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University, 1986.

Other Academic Affiliations

Director, Hydrologic Science and Engineering Graduate Program
Chair, ASCE National Ground Water Quality Committee
Associate Director, Center for Environmental Study of Subsurface Processes (CESEP)
Associate Editor, Ground Water
Associate Editor, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Associate Editor, Vadose Zone Journal
Interdisclipinary Graduate Program in Geochemistry
International Ground Water Modeling Center (IGWMC)
Adjunct Assistant Professor Soil and Crop Sciences Dept., Colorado State University

Research Interests

My students and I conduct research on movement of water and chemicals in hydrologic systems. I have several research groups: carbon sequestration, ground water remediation, onsite water reclamation, and watershed hydrology. For carbon sequestration, we are investigating the impacts that potential leakage of CO2 imparts on aquifer water quality and the associated risks to downstream users. This project involves multiphase flow of CO2 into overlying aquifers, hydrochemical reactions in the aquifer and associated modeling, and risk simulations to quantify the uncertain risk of any water quality changes. Second, we are evaluating how hydrochemical reactions associated with CO2 in saline aquifers may reduce injectibility or cap rock integrity. These projects involve 2D laboratory experiments using field material and hydrochemical modeling. Another project investigates the impact of the mountain pine beetle in Rocky Mountain watersheds. We are trying to understand the impact the beetle infestation has on local hydrology, root zone water quality, and the impact on transport of metals and dissolved organic carbon. This work involves field work and modeling, with supporting lab experiments. Our water reclamation work focuses on treatment of wastewater pollutants (nitrogen, virus, and emerging organic wastewater chemicals) during infiltration in unsaturated soil. Much of this work is conducted at our Mines Park reclamation test facility. This project involves laboratory, field, and modeling research. I have two current projects in ground water remediation. One uses polymers to improve the deliverability of remediation agents (chemical oxidants, microbes for bioaugmentation, and nutrients for bioattenuation) to hydraulically inaccessible areas. This project consists of 2D laboratory studies, modeling, and a field demonstration in North Carolina. Another project investigates the mass transfer processes of immiscible organic liquids in fractured rock during natural ground water flow, and during chemical oxidation remediation and bioremediation. This project utilizes 3D fractured rock laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling.

Current and Former Graduate Students

Theses and Dissertations of McCray's Students

Funded Research Projects (pdf)

Some Recent Publications

McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., 2009. Joint sustainability of water resources and petroleum-energy production, Editorial, Ground Water, 47(5), 11.

Geza M. and McCray J.E., 2009. Phosphorus transport and reaction in a small mountain watershed, J. Environ. Qual., accepted pending minor revisions.

McCray, J.E., Tick, G., Annable, M., Brusseau, M.L., Falta, R., Gierke, J., Jawitz, J., Knox, R., Sabatini, D., Remediation of NAPL Source-Zones: Lessons Learned from Legacy Field Studies , Ground Water (invited paper).

Deardorff, J., McCray, J.E., Nummedal, D., 2009. Risk-based method to screen saline aquifers for CO2 sequestration potential, in preparation for ES&T.

Smith, M M., Silva, J.A.K., Munakata-Marr, J., McCray, J.E., 2008. Compatibility of polymers and
chemical oxidants for enhanced groundwater remediation. Environ. Sci. Technol., 42 (24) 9296-9301.

Smith, M., Silva, J.A.K., Marr, J.M., McCray, J.E.. Use of polymers for heterogeneity control and electron donors during bioremediation, in preparation for Environ. Sci. Technol.

Skold, M.E., Thyne, G.D., McCray, J.E., Drexler, J.W., Macalady, D., 2008. Enhanced solubilization of a metal-organic contaminant mixture (Pb, Sr, Zn, and PCE) by cyclodextrin. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42, 8930-8934.

Schaeffer, C., E., Callaghan, A.V., King, J., McCray, J.E., 2008. DNAPL morphology and dissolution in discretely fractured sandstone blocks, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43(6), 1877–1883.

Lemonds, P.J., McCray, J.E., 2007. Modeling hydrology in a small Rocky Mountain watershed serving large urban populations, J. Amer. Water Resources Assoc. (JAWRA), 43(4), 875-887.

Gurdak, J.J., Hanson, R.T., McMahon, P.B., Bruce, B.W., McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., 2007. Climate variability controls on unsaturated water and chemical movement, High Plains aquifer, United States, Vadose Zone Journal, 6, 533–547.

Bumgarner, J., McCray, J.E., 2007. Estimating biozone hydraulic conductivity in wastewater soil-infiltration systems using inverse numerical modeling, Water Research, 41 (11), 2349-2360.

Lee, K., Fetter, C.W., McCray, J.E., 2002. Hydrogeology Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

McCray, J.E., Tick, G., Annable, M., Brusseau, M.L., Falta, R., Gierke, J., Jawitz, J., Knox, R., Sabatini, D., Innovative Source-Zone Remediation Studies at Hill and Dover A.F.B: Lessons Learned, Ground Water (invited paper).

Geza, M., McCray, J.E., Poeter, E.P. 2009. Quantifying predictive uncertainty for a mountain-watershed model, J. Hydrology, 376, 170–181.

McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., 2009. Joint sustainability of water resources and petroleum-energy
production, Editorial, Ground Water, 47(5), 11.

Schaeffer, C., E., Callaghan, A.V., King, J., McCray, J.E., 2008. DNAPL morphology and dissolution in discretely fractured sandstone blocks, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43(6), 1877–1883.

Smith, M M., Silva, J.A.K., Munakata-Marr, J., McCray, J. E., 2008. Compatibility of polymers and
chemical oxidants for enhanced groundwater remediation. Environ. Sci. Technol., 42 (24) 9296-9301.

Lemonds, P.J., McCray, J.E., 2007. Modeling hydrology in a small Rocky Mountain watershed serving large urban populations, J. Amer. Water Resources Assoc. (JAWRA), 43(4), 875-887.

Gurdak, J.J., Hanson, R.T., McMahon, P.B., Bruce, B.W., McCray, J.E., Thyne, G.D., 2007. Climate
variability controls on unsaturated water and chemical movement, High Plains aquifer, United States,
Vadose Zone Journal, 6, 533–547.

Complete list of publications (pdf)

additional

Contact Info