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From the State Geologist- 2004 was a challeng- ing year for the CGS. A new Executive Director of the DNR, a new State Geologist, a flat appropriation for the fifth straight year, a significant reor- ganization, and a leg- islative mandate to study whether the CGS should move to the Colorado School of Mines —all created uncer- tainty. And, as usual, everyone rose to meet the chal- lenges. The year was also a rewarding one. We completed a major study on the potential for underground stor- age of water and aquifer recharge in Colorado that was praised by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Water Resources. We received awards and recogni- tion for our publications and presentations from the Colorado Scientific Society, Rocky Mountain Associ- ation of Geologists, Association of Earth Science Edi- tors, Colorado Center for the Book, American Library Association, and Department of Natural Resources. We were able to accomplish some important updates for our operation that will enable us to carry out our work more effectively. By the end of the year we had significantly improved the quality of our office space on the 7th floor; updated everyone's computer hardware and software; organized our 12,000 land - use files into a digital, GIS database; added an earth- quake layer to our interactive, Late Cenozoic Fault and Fold Map Server; created an online bookstore; scanned and geo- referenced (in partnership with USGS) all 375 of the 1:24,000 geologic maps in Colo- rado; and re- designed the look and feel of our Web site to be more user- friendly. I invite you to visit our new Web presence and online bookstore. Users report that both are easy to use. If you find that they are not, let me know. What you now find on our Web site is but a taste of what is to come. We will have much, much more on Colo- rado geology including an excellent photo gallery. So visit early, and visit often. Vince Matthews Scarp Investigations on the Eastern Plains The CGS is investigating Colorado's eastern plains for evi- dence of young faulting and earth movements. Unlike the state's mountain and plateau areas, not much is known about past earthquake activity in this part of Colorado. In 2004, our efforts concentrated on a 95- mile -long feature that we informally call the Anton scarp. A large trench was dug into the 80 -foot high slope near Anton ( -90 miles east of Den- ver) and described in detail. In addition, El Paso Natural Gas graciously allowed us access to their Cheyenne Plains Pipeline trench, which we logged along a 28 mile long traverse. CGS staff for this project included Vince Matthews, Dave Noe, Peter Barkmann, Jennifer McHarge, Matt Morgan, Beth Wid- mann, Andy Gleason, Pam Mencin, and Mary Brady. Renowned paleoseismologist, Jim McCalpin, was the con- tractor in charge of trenching and logging. Geologists logging the 15 -foot deep, 600 -foot trench Multiple Award Winning Publication passes 225,000 in sales! DNR Executive Director Russell _ George presented Dave Noe and the CGS a "gold record" for reaching the mark of selling 225,000 copies of A Guide to Swelling Soils for Colorado Homebuyers and Homeowners. The book, authored by Noe, Candace Jochim and William Pat Rogers, was published by the CGS in 1997. It is the winner of both the Frye and the Burwell Awards from the Geological Society of America. Not content with success, Dave Noe is currently preparing an updated and revised edition. CGS ROCKTALK Vol. 8, No. 1