Professional Background

Dr. Drohan received his B.S from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ in 1992. Following graduation, he worked for the USDOI Bureau of Land Management in Kremmling, CO (river ranger and fire crew), the USDA Forest Service in Fairplay, CO (Initial attack engine foreman), and Penn State University (forestry and hydrology technician). He started his M.S in Environmental Pollution Control at Penn State in 1994 working on water chemistry changes associated with land use, geomorphology and insect defoliation under Dr. David DeWalle. He finished his M.S. in 1996 and stayed on at Penn State to work on his Ph.D with Drs. Gary Peterson, Ed Ciolkosz, David DeWalle, Rick Day and Susan Stout (USFS). His dissertation was an examination of soils, geomorphology, climate and biotic factors associated with an episode of sugar maple decline in northern Pennsylvania between 1979-1989. He was formerly employed at Shepherd College (now University) in Shepherdstown, WV (2000-2003) and in the Department of Environmental Studies at UNLV (2003-2004). Patrick recently joined the Geoscience faculty in the Summer of 2004.

Professional Society Memberships
# University of Nevada-Las Vegas GIS Users Group
# American Geophysical Union (AGU)
# Ecological Society of America (ESA)
# Gamma Sigma Delta
# Geological Society of America (GSA)
# Nevada Geographic Information Society
# Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
# West Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists (WVAPSS)

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Research

Dr. Drohan is a soil scientist who examines: soil genesis, classification, and mapping; geomorphology; hydropedology; applications of soil survey databases; the interaction of soils with land use change; and soil and water degradation, soil and plant interactions, and the remediation of soil physical and chemical properties in urban environments. He often incorporates geographic information system analysis in his work.

He is also very interested in how people perceive soil. To help increase the awareness of the importance of soil in your everyday life, he is helping to create an exhibit in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

Download the Smithsonian Exhibit Project Brochure.

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Current Funded Research

2005 Bureau of Land Management. $59,334.00. Soils analysis in the Las Vegas formation. P.J. Drohan and B.J. Buck.

2005 University of Nevada Las Vegas. $14,984. Soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical development associated with Cercocarpus ledifolius stands on Mt. Charleston, Nevada. P.J. Drohan.

2005 University of Nevada Las Vegas. $2,900. Determining the composition of mortars and finding the source of the soil used in mortars to construct Ancient Puebloan ruins in Mesa Verde National Park, CO. P.J. Drohan and S. Rumsey.

2004 Bureau of Land Management. $70,000. Funding for a postdoctoral scholar to assess dust transport in the Las Vegas Valley. P.J. Drohan and B.J. Buck.

2001 Soil Science Society of America Outreach Grant. Smithsonian Soil Exhibit, $13,000. P.J. Drohan.

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Students

Graduate:

Joshua Boxell: MS: Surface and subsurface controls on soil erosion in rehabilitated burn areas.

Peggy Elliott: MS: Mineralogical relationships in argillic horizons along a toposequence on Mt. Charleston, NV: relic formation process or current development?

Colin Robins: PhD: to be announced.

Shane Rumsey: MS: (advisor Karen Harry in Anthropology): chemical composition of mortars between kivas in Mesa Verde National Park.

Rekha Saxena: MS: Soil chemical relationships associated with Arctomecon californica in gypsiferous and non-gypsiferous soils.

Nancy Williams: MAS: Soil physical and chemical relationships associated with rare plant species in the White River Valley, NV.

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Teaching

Graduate:

-GEY 630/630L - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Theory and Application
-Soil Mapping and Land use
-Soil Biogeochemistry
-Western Soils and Geomorphology

Undergraduate:

-GEY 430/430L - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Theory and Application
-Physical Geography
-Soil Mapping and Land Use

Dr. Drohan has taught courses in: soil science (various areas), hydrology, advanced geographic information systems, introductory environmental studies, forestry, sustainable agriculture, introductory biology, international environmental policy, and research methods.

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Refereed Publications

D.J. Merkler, P.J. Drohan, and M. Sappington. Spatial and temporal variation of solar insolation over landscapes as a tool for mapping soils in the field. (To be submitted: Soil Science Society of America Journal).

Drohan, P.J. and H. Neil. Soil and geologic hazards and their effect on housing prices in Las Vegas, NV: the smut on dirt in “Sin City”. (To be submitted: Soil Use and Management).

Drohan, P.J and T.J. Farnham. A proposal for the formal designation of rare and threatened soils. (In review: Soil Science Society of America Journal).

Mrozek, S.A.; B.J. Buck; A.L. Brock; and P.J. Drohan. Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination. (In Review: Geology).

Himes, J., and P.J. Drohan. Distribution, Habitat, and Soil Patterns of the Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis, in Eastern and Central Nevada (In Review: Journal of Arid Environments).

Joiner, J. A., P.J. Drohan, and Ebeling, J. M. Evaluation of the hot mustard field sampling protocol for sampling Eisenia hortensis. (In Review: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis).

Drohan, P. J., C.N. Ross, J. Anderson, R. Fortney, and J. Rentch. Soil and hydrological drivers of Typha latifolia encroachment in a marl wetland. (In Press: Wetlands Ecology and Management).

Drohan, P.J., D.J. Merkler, and B.J. Buck. 2005. Suitability of the Plant Root Simulator (PRS) Probe for Use in the Mojave Desert. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69:1482-1491.

Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and E.J. Ciolkosz. 2003. Soil survey mapping unit accuracy in forested field plots in northern Pennsylvania. Soil Science Society of America Journal 67:208-214.

Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. 2002. A study of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) decline during 1979 to 1989 in northern Pennsylvania. Forest Ecology and Management 170(1-3), 1-17.

Drohan, P.J. and K.L. Butler. 2002. Evaluating many instructors across multiple lab sections—consistency and equity. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 31:73-80.

Drohan, P.J. and D.R. DeWalle. 2002. Defoliation and atmospheric deposition influences on spring baseflow chemistry in 56 Pennsylvania mixed land-use watersheds. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 133(1-4), 31-48.

Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. 1998. Preliminary indications of sugar maple decline in ecoregions 212F and 212G. Sugar Maple Ecology and Health—Proceedings of an international symposium. General Technical Report NE-261, USDA Forest Service, Irvine, PA pp. 46-50.

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Non-refereed Publications

Dunkerhill, C. and T. Radford (editors). 2004. Olympic National Park visitor center movie. US DOI, NPS. Patrick Drohan listed in credits for conducting GIS and imaging analysis used in the movie. Time: 25 min.

Drohan, P.J. 2003. Conference committee 3--New inventory techniques and delivery systems in production soil survey. pp. 108-110. National Cooperative Soil Survey Committee.

Drohan, P.J. 2002. Constructing a history of soil survey in WV. WV Assoc. of Prof. Soil Scientists Newsletter. 25(1).

Drohan, P.J. 2002. Smithsonian Soils Display Update. WV Assoc. of Prof. Soil Scientists Newsletter. 24(2).

Drohan, P.J., L. Donaldson, D. Hancock, S.C. McClarin, A. Rugh, S. Shaffer, and N. Thomsen. 2002. An analysis of big horn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat in Zion National Park. Submitted to Elena Robisch, GIS Analyst, Zion National Park. 21 pp.

Drohan, P.J., L. Donaldson, D. Hancock, S.C. McClarin, A. Rugh, S. Shaffer, and N. Thomsen. 2002. A greenways analysis of cultural and natural areas in Jefferson County, WV. Submitted to Steve Bockmiller, Jefferson County Planner. 44 pp.

Drohan, P.J. 2001. Shepherd College, Tabler Farm land management plan. 33 pp.

Drohan, P.J. 2001. Julia ‘Butterfly’ Hill: leader and writer in the environmental movement. Good Shepherd, Shepherdstown, WV. March.

Drohan, P.J. 2000. A study of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) decline during 1979 to 1989 in northern Pennsylvania. Ph.D. Thesis in Soil Science. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. 1999. An assessment of sugar maple decline on the Appalachian Plateau, ecoregions 212F and 212G. In W.E. Sharpe and J.R. Drohan (eds.), The Effects of Acidic Deposition on Pennsylvania’s Forests. Environmental Resources Research Institute, University Park, PA. pp. 265-266.

Drohan, P.J. 1996. Use of a geographic information system to determine effects of defoliation, land use, and atmospheric deposition on stream water chemistry in Pennsylvania watersheds. M.S. Thesis. Intercollegiate Program in Environmental Pollution Control. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Drohan, P.J., D.R. DeWalle, and W.E. Sharpe. 1995. Annual data report, Northern Appalachian Plateau Long-Term Monitoring Project. School of Forest Resources and Environmental Resources Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Submitted to: U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR.

Drohan, P.J., D.R. DeWalle, and W.E. Sharpe. 1994. Annual data report, Northern Appalachian Plateau Long-Term Monitoring Project. School of Forest Resources and Environmental Resources Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Submitted to: U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR.

Drohan, P.J. 1991. "The Trees of Johns Brook Lodge." Adirondack Mountain Club, NY.

Drohan, P.J. 1990. "Staff Guide to Hikers and the High Peaks." Adirondack Mountain Club, NY.

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Invited presentations

2005 University of California, Riverside; Department of Environmental Sciences; Changes in soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties due to Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass) establishment over 2 decades in northern NV.

2004 Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Meeting: Jackson Wyoming. Status of the Smithsonian soil display project. June 2004.

2003 Nevada State Soil Planning Conference. The Smithsonian Soils Display Project and the Nevada Association of Professional Soil Scientists. November 2003, Reno, NV.

2003 Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. The role of professional soil scientists in the Smithsonian soil display project. November 2003.

2003 Department of Geosciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The rarest soils, do they matter? Las Vegas, NV. October, 2003.

2003 Department of Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, United Kingdom. Environmental Stress and Forest Decline. Plymouth, England. March, 2003 .

2002 Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. Soils and wetland delineation, Purceville, VA.

2002 Eisenhower Grant Teachers Workshop. Soils and society; the importance of soils in every-day life. The Mountain Institute, Spruce Knob, WV.

2001 Penn State University. Soils and geomorphology of Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry West Virginia, and the C&O Canal National Park. Mid-Atlantic pedology field tour for Penn State University.

2001 WV Solid Waster Authority. Composting success in municipal facilities—feedstocks to marketing. WV Solid Waste Authority Annual Meeting, Snowshoe, WV.

2001 USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station. Drohan, P.J. 2001. Relationships between soils and sugar maple decline in northern Pennsylvania. USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV.

2001 WV Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and WV Soild Waste Authority. Composting at college and university campuses. West Virginia Governor’s Conference on the Environment. Charleston, WV.
Published Abstracts

(*presenter or co-presenter of paper, workshop, or panel: "s" student)

2004. *Hirsch, AAron C., McEwan, Darlene J., Howley, Robyn A., Mehling, James., Snelson, Catherine M., and Drohan Patrick. 2004. A Geophysical Study of Fissures in Pahrump, Nevada. EOS Trans. AGU, 85 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl.

2004. *Hirsch, A. C., Snelson, C. M., McEwan, D. J., Howley, R. A., Mehling, J. B., and Drohan, P. J. A geophysical study of fissures in Pahrump, NV. Geological Society of America, XXXXX (to be added), Denver, CO.

2004. *Drohan, P.J., D.J. Merkler, and B.J. Buck. Evaluation of the suitability of the PRS probe in the Mojave Desert. Annual Meeting Abstracts, XXXXX (to be added), American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Seattle, WA.

2004. *D.J. Merkler, P.J. Drohan, and M. Sappington. Spatial and temporal variation of solar insolation over landscapes as a tool for mapping soils in the field. Annual Meeting Abstracts, XXXXX (to be added), American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Seattle, WA.

2004. *Buck, B.J., P.J. Drohan, and D.J. Merkler. New Graduate Soil Science Emphasis in Geoscience M.S. and Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Annual Meeting Abstracts, XXXXX (to be added), American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Seattle, WA.

2004 Paper presentation. Drohan, P.J and *H. Neill. Soil and geological hazards as drivers of housing prices in Las Vegas, NV. American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting, Captive Island, FL. April 2004.

2003. *sMcClaren, S.C. and P.J. Drohan. Big horn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat in Zion National Park. West Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Wesleyan College, West Virginia.

2003. *sShaffer, S. and P.J. Drohan. A Greenways design model for Jefferson County, WV. West Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Wesleyan College, West Virginia.

2002. *sRoss, C.N. and P.J. Drohan. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon concentrations in a fine-loamy, carbonatic, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquoll A horizon encroached upon by Typha latifolia. Annual Meeting Abstracts, S10-drohan074821, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.

2002. *sHancock, D., *sK. Rishel, and P.J. Drohan. A comparison to Soil Survey data and an estimate of the variability in field and laboratory data of a hillslope transect crossing two mapping units of an Ultic Hapludalf and Typic Hapudult. Annual Meeting Abstracts, S05-drohan075515, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Indianapolis, IN.

2002. *sRoss, C. N. and P.J. Drohan. Preliminary results on water depth and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in a fine-loamy, carbonatic, mesic fluventic calciudoll A horizon encroached upon by Typha latifolia. West Virginia Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, West Virginia University.

2001. *Drohan, P.J., E.J. Ciolkosz, and G.W. Petersen. Parent material and topographic relationships in northern Pennsylvania forested soils. Annual Meeting Abstracts, s07-drohan105900-P, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Charlotte, NC.

2001. *Butler, K. and P.J. Drohan. Feats and failures: Achieving consistency among multiple TAs of large introductory courses. Annual Meeting Abstracts, a01-butler115440-P, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Charlotte, NC.

2000. *Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. 2000. Soil and foliar calcium relationships in northern Pennsylvania healthy and declining sugar maple plots. Annual Meeting Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Minneapolis, MN. p. 335.

2000. *Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. Soil physical and chemical relationships in declining and non-declining plots of sugar maple in Pennsylvania. Penn State Environmental Chemistry Symposium, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA.

1999. *Drohan, P.J., G.W., Petersen, and S.L. Stout. Soil physical and chemical relationships in declining and non-declining plots of sugar maple in Pennsylvania. Annual Meeting Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Salt Lake City, UT. p. 306.

1999. *Butler, K.L. and P.J. Drohan. Many instructors - one class: An insurmountable challenge? Annual Meeting Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Salt Lake City, UT. p. 5.

1998. *Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. Preliminary indications of sugar maple decline in ecoregions 212F and 212G. Sugar Maple Ecology and Health—An International Symposium, Warren, PA.

1998. *Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. A comparison of mapping unit accuracy and sample size variability. Annual Meeting Abstracts, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Baltimore, MD. p. 268.

1998. *Drohan, P.J., G.W. Petersen, and S.L. Stout. An assessment of sugar maple decline on the Appalachian Plateau, ecoregions 212F and 212G. Pennsylvania Acidic Deposition Conference, University Park, PA.
Non-Published Presentations

2004. Stephanie Mrozek, B. Buck, Amy Brock, and Patrick Drohan. Heavy Metal Contamination and Salt Efflorescence Associated with Decorative landscaping Rocks, Las Vegas Nevada: the Need for Regulations, NRCS MO#3 Soil Science Meeting, Nov. 15, 2004.

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