"To further the knowledge of past civilizations through the study of ancient water management and practices."

WPI is best known for our extensive scientific discoveries at the ancient Machu Picchu site near Cusco, Peru and our annual Machu Picchu calendars.   WPI directors have done research at Machu Picchu since 1994, performing studies to determine the Inca's agricultural practices, drainage techniques, hydrologic and hydraulic abilities, planning capabilities, construction methods, and even the existence of the previously unchartered Inca Trail.   WPI tested pollen types from Machu Picchu to determine the likely crops, medicinal plants and other foliage existing there during the time of occupation.  Our most recent field trip to Machu Picchu involved the discovery of more trails.  Scientific papers documenting all of the above work are available and our work is described in Machu Picchu; A Civil Engineering Marvel, published by ASCE Press in November 2000.

Our work at Machu Picchu involved a unique publication by Ruth Wright and Dr. Alfredo Valencia Zegarra entitled, The Machu Picchu Guidebook; A Self-guided Tour.  This book is in its second printing and available from Amazon.com.  

Other archaeological sites in Peru examined by WPI include Tipon and Moray.  Our recent trip to Moray is highlighted on the linked photo log.  Our book on Tipon was published by ASCE Press in August 2006.

WPI is also known for our work at Mesa Verde National Park (5MVNP), exploring and analyzing ancient potential water features, such as Far View Reservoir (Mummy Lake), Morefield Reservoir (5MV1931), Sagebrush Reservoir (5MV1936) and Box Elder Reservoir (5MV4505).  Our work at MVNP has been funded, in part, by the Colorado Historical Society (CHS) with in-kind monetary and staffing contributions from Wright Water Engineers, Inc. and many private individuals.   

Mesa Verde reservoir studies have been summarized By Kenneth R. Wright in his 2006 book, Water Mysteries of Mesa Verde.  The book is available through Johnson Books.  Basically, we have found that the Ancestral Puebloans of Mesa Verde had significant engineering skills which allowed them to build and maintain water supply reservoirs for periods of up to 350 years in an environment most water supply engineers would not dream of tackling. 

Our Mummy Lake Paleohydrological Research Project was undertaken to resolve the longstanding question of the purpose of the site.  This goal was achieved and the mystery of Mummy Lake on Chapin Mesa in Mesa Verde National Park was resolved using engineering and scientific procedures.  We found that Mummy Lake was not a dance pavilion or a giant kiva, but a water storage facility from A.D. 950 – 1180.  Its ancient water supply was defined and proven. 

At Morefield Reservoir, the WPI performed a similar sleuthing exercise to determine the ancient history of a mound on a valley floor in the Morefield Canyon area of MVNP.  Theories abounded about the mound’s former use as a dance platform, erosional remnant or reservoir, but no proof was available.  Through patient excavating and soil testing, the WPI crew found the floor, stone walls and hydrological evidence of an ancient 120,000 gallon water storage tank.  Click here to see a Meter Setter article about our Morefield Reservoir work.

Sagebrush Reservoir is another MVNP site whose prehistorical purpose was uncertain.  We performed field work in Fall 2000 to quantify the drainage area, potential flow paths, and other hydrologic characteristics of the drainage area and structure, including infiltration rates and soils characteristics.  Work continued in the spring of 2001 to further explore this enigma.  WPI proved this structure was a domestic water supply some 1000 years old.

Box Elder Reservoir was our most recent major project at Mesa Verde.  No one knew the site existed until the Bircher Fire of 2000 left the reservoir mound exposed so that NPS Ranger Jim Kleidon was able to notice it and its remarkable similarities to Morefield Reservoir in an adjacent canyon.  Probably the most remarkable thing about Box Elder Reservoir is the technology transfer between Ancestral Puebloan communities that it demonstrates.

The WPI has other public service projects underway, along with other types of paleohydrological research projects for federal and state agencies. One potential project of WPI is the analysis of the ancient flood that covered Olympia with sediment and thus preserved its treasures for modern man.  Another is the analysis of a Roman site in southern France that had 16 waterwheels to process grain.   The WPI crew is also planning to evaluate the Mug House cistern at Mesa Verde beginning in May 2007.

WPI has developed many technical articles and reports in the course of our studies.  Most are available for free downloading.