TALES FROM THE FIELD
Casting for Data: Where Fieldwork Meets Fishing Trips
Mark Nickels, Elena Muir, Dr. Joe C. Yelderman, Jr. M
y graduate research at Baylor University was conducted in the Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer where I investigated surface water and groundwater interactions. Since I needed to measure groundwater levels for an extended period, several water level data loggers were
deployed in selected wells using 1/16th-inch galvanized steel cable. This cabling was looped through the data logger, crimped, and secured to the casing. The thought process being that a strong connection would be dependable for data collection.
Approximately a month after deployment, my advisor, Dr. Joe
Yelderman, and I returned to the first study site to check on the data loggers and collect data. We found the first data logger with no issues and recovered the data. Our luck started to take a turn for the worse with the second well when we discovered that the steel cable had corroded and was approximately 1/10 of the original thickness. Only a couple of the smaller steel strands remained con- nected to the data logger, and they were black and brittle. Upon further investigation we were able to disaggregate the steel in our hands and considered it a miracle that we successfully recovered the logger with the data.
Following the trip to the field, we attempted to determine the cause of the rapid degradation of the steel cabling and assumed that due to the heterogenous nature of the aquifer, that specific well was contaminated with an unknown substance. This assumption would soon lead to dire consequences. Approximately 10 weeks after
deploying loggers at the second study site, Elena Muir, another graduate student from my lab, and I returned to collect data. We visited two wells at the second study site: a large irrigation well with limited access due to a turbine pump and an empty 16-inch casing with three steel plates welded to the top.
When we were pulling the cable up in the irrigation well, we noticed that it was suspiciously light as we approached the end where the data logger was attached and there was also a marked difference in the brittleness of the cable where it was submerged. To our collective shock the data logger was missing and there were signs of corrosion with a dark black coating and in several instances a white slimy crust (with the appearance of a calcium deposit) on the cable.
Figure 2. The cable that pulled from the open casing with no datalogger attached due to corrosion.
The results were the same at the second well with the open cas-
ing. After taking a moment to worry about the state of my project’s budget since I just lost $3,400 worth of equipment, we returned to Baylor to take on the daunting task of informing Dr. Yelderman. Thankfully, he was shocked more than angered and was extremely gracious, so I only had to endure some mild teasing which was a tolerable outcome.
Figure 1. The open casing well at the second study site with three metal plates welded on top.
44 TPG •
Jan.Feb.Mar 2026
Once I emotionally recovered, Elena and I set off into the field on October 15th with renewed determination to recover the lost equipment. After some words of encouragement, and an edict to not lose any more data loggers, Dr. Yelderman sent us to the field with the promise that after a few hours of actively attempting to
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