NELSON M.L.

NELSON M.L. 24.09. 1908 Cliff WA/USA 09.05. 1972 Boise ID/USA Mark Lee Nelson received the BSc degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, in 1930, later taking graduate work at University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA. His entire career was with the US Corps of Engineers, with earlier assignments in the field of water resources investigations. He performed and supervised many technical studies related to the planning and design of projects and river basin developments. He held responsible assignments in Corps offices, including at the Portland OR, Savannah GA, and Los Angeles Districts, covering a period of 42 years. At the time of his passing he was chief of the Water Control Branch, North Pacific Division, a position he held during 18 years. Under this assignment, he directed the operation of Corps and other reservoirs designated for operation by the Corps in the Columbia River System. He also developed and applied advanced system techniques in river regulation, whereby the operation was integrated for optimum functional utilization. His assignment as chief of the Water Control Branch also involved direct supervision of hydraulic, hydrologic power, and water quality investigations required for water resource planning, design, and operation of projects in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Nelson’s assignment involved dealings with engineers from other Federal or State agencies, as well as public and private utilities, to achieve his high management mission for the coordinated operation of the Columbia River System. Nelson was prominent as a water resource engineer, not only in the USA, but also internationally. He spent considerable time from 1962 to 1972 working with engineers in Southeast Asia and Brazil. His efforts led to applying advanced systems analysis techniques for studying the Mekong and the Upper Paraguay Rivers. He also was in charge of various studies relating to the planning of water resource developments for the Mekong River. Nelson also participated in local ASCE activities, particularly with the Oregon Section, and co-authored a paper on flood regulation. He was a member of the International Committee of Large Dams ICOLD. Anonymous (1973). Mark L. Nelson. Trans. ASCE 138: 637-638. Anonymous (1930). M.L. Nelson. Beaver yearbook: 243. Oregon State University: Corvallis. P Lewis, D.J., Nelson, M.L. (1963). Report on computer application to system analysis: Lower Mekong River. US Army Corps of Engineers, North Pacific Division: Portland OR. Nelson, M.L. (1971). Report on Vientiane Laos flood control project. US Army Engineer Division: North Pacific.