Lucas T Haffner

Lucas began his USGS career in January 2016 as a student with the Iowa Water Science Center (IAWSC), now known as the Central Midwest Water Science Center (CMWSC), in Fort Dodge, IA. While prepping for study at Iowa State University (ISU) he earned an Associate's Degree from Iowa Central Community College, exposing him to the IAWSC field office and 5 employees that held the central part of Iowa’s gage work. Although they were not looking to hire a student at that time, they created a position, and Lucas was able to get a foot in the door. During his experience with the IAWSC,  he received exposure to groundwater, water quality, and surface water disciplines. After graduation from ISU, Lucas headed west where he explored job opportunities in Washington State, Oregon, and Idaho before finally taking a position in Colorado with the COWSC. After touring multiple COWSC offices, he found the Pueblo Field Office to be the best fit.

Beginning June 2018 Lucas assisted the Water Quality Division by collecting discrete water samples, processing bacteria runs, providing sediment collection (both discrete and continuous), and assisting with lab work along with reservoir studies and monitoring. Lucas developed a robust understanding of sample collection over the years he spent working with water quality. He later followed the opportunity to explore other water disciplines by participating in a surface water run including meteorological (MET) station parameter analysis. This analysis included wind, precipitation, and environmental studies at the Indian Springs MET Station near Great Sand Dunes National Park. Lucas also now performs reservoir data collection for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at the Trinidad Reservoir, monitors continuous groundwater wells and organizes a robust groundwater discrete program. The Pueblo Field Office has provided him the opportunity to grow in multiple disciplines for which he is thankful.

A snippet from his supervisor, Dustin Ethredge, best describes the atmosphere at the Pueblo Field Office and explains why Lucas intends on remaining at this office for years to come: “Providing high quality data to a variety of stakeholders and cooperators is of the utmost importance and something that Dustin strives to accomplish, but he thoroughly enjoys getting to work with a group of people that share similar passions that consistently come together to reach common goals. He hopes to continue sharing knowledge and encouraging others to strive for career goals that will hopefully lead them to fulfilling, and enjoyable, careers.” After his years working for Dustin, Lucas finds that Dustin's words are indeed proven by his actions.