Publications
This list of Upper Midwest Water Science Center publications spans from 1899 to present. It includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists. To access the full, searchable catalog of USGS publications, please visit the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 2356
Climate-driven sulfate export in alpine watersheds may stimulate methylmercury production Climate-driven sulfate export in alpine watersheds may stimulate methylmercury production
Climate change is increasing sulfate export and changing wetland extent in mountain regions. These changes may increase microbially mediated production of the neurotoxic substance methylmercury due to enhanced sulfate metabolism in mountain environments. Here, we assess methylmercury concentrations and formation rates across high-elevation wetlands in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We...
Authors
Hannah R. Miller, Charles T. Driscoll, Sarah E. Janssen, Eve-Lyn S. Hinckley
One-hundred fundamental, open questions to integrate methodological approaches in lake ice research One-hundred fundamental, open questions to integrate methodological approaches in lake ice research
The rate of technological innovation within aquatic sciences outpaces the collective ability of individual scientists within the field to make appropriate use of those technologies. The process of in situ lake sampling remains the primary choice to comprehensively understand an aquatic ecosystem at local scales; however, the impact of climate change on lakes necessitates the rapid...
Authors
Joshua Culpepper, Sapna Sharma, Grant Gunn, Madeline R. Magee, Michael Frederick Meyer, Eric Anderson, Christoper D. Arp, Sarah Cooley, Wayana Dolan, Hilary A. Dugan, Claude R. Duguay, Benjamin C. Jones, Georgiy Kirillin, Robert Ladwig, Matti Lepparanta, Di Long, John J. Magnuson, Tamlin Pavelsky, Sebastiano Piccolroaz, Dale M. Robertson, Bethel Steele, Manu Tom, Gesa A. Weyhenmeyer, R. Iesytn Woolway, Marguerite A. Xenopoulos, Xiao Yang
Sources and risk factors for nitrate, pathogens, and fecal contamination of private wells in rural southwestern Wisconsin, USA Sources and risk factors for nitrate, pathogens, and fecal contamination of private wells in rural southwestern Wisconsin, USA
Household well water can be degraded by contaminants from the land's surface, but private well owners lack means to protect the source water from neighboring disturbances. Rural residents of southwestern Wisconsin, USA, rely on private well water, and the combination of land use and fractured carbonate bedrock makes groundwater vulnerable to contamination. To identify the extent, sources...
Authors
Joel P. Stokdyk, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Kenneth Bradbury, Maureen A. Muldoon, Burney Kieke Jr., Mark A. Borchardt
Nonstationary flood frequency analysis using regression in the north-central United States Nonstationary flood frequency analysis using regression in the north-central United States
Traditional flood frequency methods assume that the statistical properties of peak streamflow do not change with time and may not be appropriate for many areas in the north-central United States. This study examines a nonstationary flood frequency analysis method that uses ordinary least squares linear regression to estimate flood magnitudes at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages that...
Authors
Sara B. Levin
Groundwater budget for the surficial aquifer surrounding Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota Groundwater budget for the surficial aquifer surrounding Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota
During prolonged periods of above-average precipitation, rising groundwater levels have the potential to cause damage to and interfere with underground infrastructure and building foundations. To understand the relations between precipitation and groundwater in the vicinity of Lake Nokomis, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, quantified five...
Authors
Colin T. Livdahl
Suspended sediment and bedload transport along the Main and South Branches, Wild Rice River, northwestern Minnesota, 1979 through 2023 Suspended sediment and bedload transport along the Main and South Branches, Wild Rice River, northwestern Minnesota, 1979 through 2023
The geologic history and anthropogenic modifications of Minnesota’s Wild Rice River have caused major morphological adjustments, which induce erosion and excess fluvial sediment transport. The excess sediment deposits in the lower Wild Rice River, exacerbating flooding. To help mitigate these problems, the Wild Rice Watershed District has future plans to implement a river restoration on...
Authors
Joel T. Groten, Sara B. Levin, Gerald G. Storey, Erin N. Coenen, Jim D. Blount, J. William Lund, David J. Brannon
Seasonal stratification drives bioaccumulation of pelagic mercury sources in eutrophic lakes Seasonal stratification drives bioaccumulation of pelagic mercury sources in eutrophic lakes
Increased lake eutrophication, influenced by changing climate and land use, alters aquatic cycling and bioaccumulation of mercury (Hg). Additionally, seasonally dynamic lake circulation and plankton community composition can confound our ability to predict changes in biological Hg concentrations and sources. To assess temporal variation, we examined seasonal total Hg (THg) and...
Authors
Grace Jane Armstrong, Sarah Elizabeth Janssen, Ryan F. Lepak, Tylor Rosera, Benjamin D. Peterson, Samia T. Cushing, Michael Tate, James W. Hurley
Sediment nutrient dynamics in selected Milwaukee metropolitan area streams, Wisconsin, 2022 Sediment nutrient dynamics in selected Milwaukee metropolitan area streams, Wisconsin, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District in Wisconsin have an ongoing partnership to monitor water quality in streams in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and to assess the effects of stream restoration on habitat and water quality. Because sediment nutrient dynamics can improve or further impair water quality, we measured sediment nitrogen and phosphorus
Authors
Rebecca M. Kreiling, Lynn A. Bartsch, Kenna J. Gierke, Patrik Mathis Perner, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Hayley T. Olds
Sulfate reduction drives elevated methylmercury formation in water column of eutrophic freshwater lake Sulfate reduction drives elevated methylmercury formation in water column of eutrophic freshwater lake
Mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic food webs is controlled in part by the formation and accumulation of toxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg production is mediated by metabolically diverse microorganisms carrying the hgcAB gene pair, while the demethylation reaction is mediated by several biotic and abiotic processes. However, the relative importance of these two...
Authors
Benjamin D. Peterson, Sarah E. Janssen, Brett A. Poulin, Jacob M. Ogorek, Amber White, Elizabeth A. McDaniel, Robert A. Marick, Grace Jane Armstrong, Nicholas D. Scheel, Michael T. Tate, David P. Krabbenhoft, Katherine D. McMahon
Leveraging invasive mussel contaminant survey data for stepwise prioritization of chemicals of potential concern in the Great Lakes basin Leveraging invasive mussel contaminant survey data for stepwise prioritization of chemicals of potential concern in the Great Lakes basin
Historical and ongoing anthropogenic activities coupled with advancements in analytical techniques have led to the detection of large numbers of contaminants in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Consequently, identifying and prioritizing chemicals likely to cause ecological harm represents a challenge for natural resource managers. Previous prioritization efforts have focused on contaminants...
Authors
Neil Fuller, Kimani Kimbrough, Michael Edwards, Erin Maloney, Steven R. Corsi, Matthew A. Pronschinske, Laura A. DeCicco, John R. Frisch, Austin K. Baldwin, Stephanie L. Hummel, Natalia Vinas, Daniel L. Villeneuve
A model uncertainty quantification protocol for evaluating the value of observation data A model uncertainty quantification protocol for evaluating the value of observation data
The history-matching approach to parameter estimation with models enables a powerful offshoot analysis of data worth—using the uncertainty of a model forecast as a metric for the worth of data. Adding observation data will either have no impact on forecast uncertainty or will reduce it. Removing existing data will either have no impact on forecast uncertainty or will increase it. The...
Authors
Michael N. Fienen, Laura A. Schachter, Randall J. Hunt
Peak streamflow trends in Minnesota and their relation to changes in climate, water years 1921–2020 Peak streamflow trends in Minnesota and their relation to changes in climate, water years 1921–2020
This report chapter summarizes the effect of hydroclimatic variability of annual peak streamflow in Minnesota and is part of a larger U.S. Geological Survey multistate study to assess potential nonstationarity in annual peak streamflows across the Midwest. Spatial and temporal patterns were examined for nonstationarity in annual peak streamflow, daily mean streamflow, and modeled...
Authors
Tara Williams-Sether, Chris Sanocki