Niel Allen

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Division Head Irrigation

Contact Information

Office Location: ENGR 227
Phone: 435-797-3926
Email: n.allen@usu.edu
Website: https://extension.usu.edu/irrigation/
Curriculum Vitae: Download

Educational Background

PhD, Civil Engineering, University of Idaho, 1991 Dissertation

Economic and Statistical Based On-Farm Irrigation Scheduling

MS, Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering, Utah State University, 1980 Thesis

Advance Rates in Furrow Irrigation of Cycled Flow

BS, Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering, Utah State University, 1979

Licensures & Certifications

New Mexico Professional Civil Engineer, New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Professional Surveyors, 2002

Nevada Professional Civil Engineer, Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, 1995

California Professional Civil Engineer, California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, 1994

Utah Professional Civil Engineer, Utah (Department of Commerce - Divsion of Occupation & Professional Licensing, 1987

Biography

I received my BS and MS from USU in Agriculture and Irrigation Engineering and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Idaho. I worked in the irrigation business for 5 years, 8 years with Cooperative Extension, and 19 years with consulting engineering firms.

Teaching Interests

My teaching opportunities are in workshops to water users and water agency personnel, one-on-one teaching with farmers, landscapers, gardeners, and county agents, preparation of documents, and as invited to lecture in classes. My objective is to provide information to water users and managers to help solve water and irrigation problems and manage water resources in Utah. My career has provided me opportunities to work with water managers, attorneys, and water users in the resolution of complex water allocation and water rights conflicts. Irrigation as the largest water use in Utah is my primary focus.

Research Interests

My interest is to help facilitate the effective utilization of water resources in the State of Utah to benefit the citizens based on established water rights, current water uses, and future water use needs and opportunities. I am focused on 1) developing efficient irrigation management practices and technologies, 2) exploring opportunities for cooperation that mutually benefit agriculture, domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial, energy, and environmental water users, 3) integrating information from multiple disciplines that utilize or impact water and 4) implementing methods to disseminate information from researchers and industry to water users and managers. I am developing management practices that can be implemented by irrigation system operators, farmers, homeowners, landscapers, gardeners, and small acreage operators. My current research proposal concerns deficit irrigation of pasture to provide water for critical water uses for the growing population and during droughts or water shortages. I'm also interested in using remotely sensed information for estimating consumptive use for water administration and accounting.