David W. Eckhoff papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 2317

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The David W. Eckhoff papers (1870s-2001) contain materials on the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics and various Utah water projects, mainly the West Desert Pumping Project. Eckhoff and his associates (Eckhoff, Watson, and Preator Engineering) were awarded design reponsibility for the Salt Lake Olympics Winter Sports Park. The collection contains design analyses and various other papers pertaining to the bobsled/luge track. Also included is information from the Environmental Advisory Committee, of which Eckhoff was a member, among other papers. Also in the collection are various reports, legal documents, and data concerning Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake. The West Desert Pumping Project is the subject for the bulk of these materials. This was a project to control flooding on the Great Salt Lake and enhance the lake's natural evaporation process. The project began in 1987 and ended in 1989.

Dates

1870s-2001

Creator

Eckhoff, David W. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

David W. Eckhoff, P.E., has forty years of experience in engineering. His focus has been on government projects, consulting engineering practice, teaching, and research. His early experience involved both geotechnical and structural aspects of highway and pavement systems for Caltrans. Subsequently, he focused on environmental issues, working on research associated with water quality and wastewater reclamation. One of the highlights of Eckhoff's career was his selection as Project Director of the Salt Lake County 208 Water Quality Management Project by the Salt Lake County Council of Governments. This $1-million project resulted in the regionalization of wastewater treatment plants for the Salt Lake Valley, proposed ultimately to involve nearly $300-million worth of construction.

In 1971, Eckhoff joined the faculty of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Utah where he served as the head of the Environmental Engineering Division until 1973 when he was appointed Chairman of the Department. His independent research and work with graduate students expanded to include a wide spectrum of engineering projects, such as the Utah Lake-Jordan River Water Quality Study and the Wasatch Canyons Land Use Impacts on Water Quality Studies.

Eckhoff was appointed by the Governor in 1980 to serve on the Utah Drinking Water Board, setting policies and standards for public water supply systems throughout the State. He served on this Board for fifteen years. He joined PSOMAS in 1997 as Vice President and Regional Manager and was responsible for developing the Utah Office. Eckhoff provided valuable engineering insight to the Envision Utah program that was assembled by Utah's Governor. He served on the Quality Growth Efficiency Team (QGET) which made valuable recommendations to the development of growth for the State. He was recognized for his efforts on the QGET team and, in 1999, he received a Common Good Award from Governor Leavitt for this work. An outgrowth of this process was his development of the Municipal Infrastructure Planning and Cost Model (MIPCOM), which factilitates the inclusion of infrastructure costs in community planning efforts.

Eckhoff received his Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors from California State University at Sacramento in Civil Engineering, and his Master of Science and Doctor of Philsophy Degrees from the University of California at Berkeley in Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering. He is affiliated with the American Society of Civil Engineers, is the Past President of the Utah Section of the American Water Resources Association. Eckhoff serves as a member of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Trustees and Chairman of the University of Utah's Civil Engineering Department Advisory Board. In 1991, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Utah Engineers Council.

(This biography was taken from the 2002 Marriott Library Gould Lecture Series)

Extent

7.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The David W. Eckhoff papers (1870s-2001) contain materials on the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics and various Utah water projects, mainly the West Desert Pumping Project. Eckhoff, a civil engineer with degrees from various California institutions, has won several awards for his engineering projects, including the 1991 Engineer of the Year award by the Utah Engineers Council.