Kirk Smith is a Supervisory Physical Scientist for the New England Water Science Center.
Kirk has been with the USGS since 1993. He has conducted numerous studies in the field of stormwater and urban hydrology and specializes in the design and construction of integrated turnkey water-quality monitoring and sampling systems for the study of time-variable water-quality contaminant sources in surface water and groundwater. Kirk holds two U.S. Government Patents for the development of an automated self-calibrating water quality monitoring sensor-housing assembly and an automated groundwater monitoring system and method.
Professional Experience
1993 - present, U.S. Geological Survey - Physical Scientist
Education and Certifications
B.S. Environmental Management (Wildlife and Fisheries Science minor), Pennsylvania State University
Science and Products
Water-quality conditions and constituent loads, water years 2013–19, and water-quality trends, water years 1983–2019, in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2019
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2018
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2017
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2016
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, water year 2015
Nutrient and metal loads estimated by using discrete, automated, and continuous water-quality monitoring techniques for the Blackstone River at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island State line, water years 2013–14
Characterization of stormwater runoff from bridge decks in eastern Massachusetts, 2014–16
Loads and yields of deicing compounds and total phosphorus in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2009–15
Streamflow, water quality and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2014
Water-quality trends in the Scituate reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, 1983-2012
Streamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2013
Quality of Stormwater Runoff Discharged from Connecticut Highways
Effectiveness of Open-Graded Friction Course Pavement in Reducing Suspended-Sediment Loads Discharged from Massachusetts Highways
Water Quality Monitoring in the Cambridge Drinking-Water Source Area, Massachusetts
Water Quality Monitoring in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island
Hydrologic Interpretive Program
Water-Quality, Streamflow, and Quality-Control Data Supporting Estimation of Nutrient and Sediment Loads in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Years 2016-19
Water-quality data from the Providence Water Supply Board for tributary streams to the Scituate Reservoir (ver. 3.0, November 2023)
Highway-Runoff Database (HRDB) Version 1.0.0b
Water quality data from the Providence Water Supply Board for tributary streams to the Scituate Reservoir, water year 2016
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 34
Water-quality conditions and constituent loads, water years 2013–19, and water-quality trends, water years 1983–2019, in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island
The Scituate Reservoir is the primary source of drinking water for more than 60 percent of the population of Rhode Island. From October 1, 1982, to September 30, 2019, water years (WYs) 1983–2019 (a water year is the period between October 1 and September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends), the Providence Water Supply Board maintained a fixed-frequency sampling program at 37 statioAuthorsAlana B. Spaetzel, Kirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2019
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2018
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2017
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board, collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calcAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Year 2016
As part of a long-term cooperative program to monitor water quality within the Scituate Reservoir watershed, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board collected streamflow and water-quality data at the Scituate Reservoir and tributaries. Streamflow and concentrations of chloride and sodium estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculateAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, water year 2015
Streamflow and concentrations of sodium and chloride estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of sodium and chloride during water year (WY) 2015 (October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and water-quality data used in the study were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Providence WAuthorsKirk P. SmithNutrient and metal loads estimated by using discrete, automated, and continuous water-quality monitoring techniques for the Blackstone River at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island State line, water years 2013–14
Flow-proportional composite water samples were collected in water years 2013 and 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, from the Blackstone River at Millville, Massachusetts (U.S. Geological Survey station 01111230), about 0.5 mile from the border with Rhode Island. Samples were collected in order to better understand the dAuthorsJason R. Sorenson, Gregory E. Granato, Kirk P. SmithCharacterization of stormwater runoff from bridge decks in eastern Massachusetts, 2014–16
The quality of stormwater runoff from bridge decks (hereafter referred to as “bridge-deck runoff”) was characterized in a field study from August 2014 through August 2016 in which concentrations of suspended sediment (SS) and total nutrients were monitored. These new data were collected to supplement existing highway-runoff data collected in Massachusetts which were deficient in bridge-deck runoffAuthorsKirk P. Smith, Jason R. Sorenson, Gregory E. GranatoLoads and yields of deicing compounds and total phosphorus in the Cambridge drinking-water source area, Massachusetts, water years 2009–15
The source water area for the drinking-water supply of the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, encompasses major transportation corridors, as well as large areas of light industrial, commercial, and residential land use. Because of the large amount of roadway in the drinking-water source area, the Cambridge water supply is affected by the usage of deicing compounds and by other constituents that areAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2014
Streamflow and concentrations of sodium and chloride estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of sodium and chloride during water year (WY) 2014 (October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and water-quality data used in the study were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Providence WAuthorsKirk P. SmithWater-quality trends in the Scituate reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, 1983-2012
The Scituate Reservoir is the primary source of drinking water for more than 60 percent of the population of Rhode Island. Water-quality and streamflow data collected at 37 surface-water monitoring stations in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, from October 2001 through September 2012, water years (WYs) 2002-12, were analyzed to determine water-quality conditions and constituent lAuthorsKirk P. SmithStreamflow, water quality, and constituent loads and yields, Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, water year 2013
Streamflow and concentrations of sodium and chloride estimated from records of specific conductance were used to calculate loads of sodium and chloride during water year (WY) 2013 (October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2013) for tributaries to the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island. Streamflow and water-quality data used in the study were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or the ProvidAuthorsKirk P. Smith - Science
Quality of Stormwater Runoff Discharged from Connecticut Highways
Existing highway-runoff data do not adequately address the informational needs of stormwater professionals in Connecticut because there have been relatively few studies of highway runoff in the Northeastern United States. Consequently, the U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), is conducting a 4-year project...Effectiveness of Open-Graded Friction Course Pavement in Reducing Suspended-Sediment Loads Discharged from Massachusetts Highways
The U.S. Geological Survey New England Water Science Center, in cooperation with Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), is evaluating how a type of porous pavement affects the discharge of suspended sediment in comparison to the asphalt surface commonly used on Massachusetts highways. The project will expand the understanding of highway runoff concentrations of suspended sediment...Water Quality Monitoring in the Cambridge Drinking-Water Source Area, Massachusetts
The Cambridge Water Department supplies approximately 13 million gallons per day of drinking water to more than 100,000 customers. Raw water is obtained from a serial system of three primary storage reservoirs—Cambridge Reservoir (also known as the Hobbs Brook Reservoir), Stony Brook Reservoir, and Fresh Pond Reservoir—in parts of Cambridge, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, and Weston, Massachusetts...Water Quality Monitoring in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island
The Scituate Reservoir system is the largest inland body of water in Rhode Island and the principal drinking-water supply for more than 60 percent of the State’s population. The system includes the Scituate Reservoir and five tributary reservoirs with a maximum storage capacity of 37 billion gallons. The drainage basin that contributes water to the reservoir extends across 93 square miles in...Hydrologic Interpretive Program
The mission of the Hydrologic Interpretive Program is to work with stakeholders to design, carry out, and publish scientific studies addressing critical water-resources issues facing New England and the Nation. - Data
Water-Quality, Streamflow, and Quality-Control Data Supporting Estimation of Nutrient and Sediment Loads in the Scituate Reservoir Drainage Area, Rhode Island, Water Years 2016-19
Annual loads of selected constituents were estimated for five stations in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, Rhode Island, for water years 2016 to 2019 as part of a long-term monitoring program in cooperation with the Providence Water Supply Board. This data release includes the water-quality and streamflow data used to estimate annual loads of total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, total nitrWater-quality data from the Providence Water Supply Board for tributary streams to the Scituate Reservoir (ver. 3.0, November 2023)
Water-quality data were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) from tributaries in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, October 2017 through September 2019 (water years 2018 and 2019). Water-quality samples were collected by the PWSB either monthly or quarterly at fixed stations on 37 tributaries in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area. These data were used to calculate instantaneoHighway-Runoff Database (HRDB) Version 1.0.0b
The Highway-Runoff Database (HRDB) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide planning-level information for decision makers, planners, and highway engineers to assess and mitigate possible adverse effects of highway runoff on the Nation's receiving waters. The HRDB was assembled by using a Microsoft Access databaseWater quality data from the Providence Water Supply Board for tributary streams to the Scituate Reservoir, water year 2016
Water-quality data were collected by the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) from tributaries in the Scituate Reservoir drainage area, October 2015 through September 2016 (water year 2016). These data were used to calculate instantaneous loads and yields of constituents in a report by the U.S. Geological Survey. Water-quality samples were collected by the PWSB either monthly or quarterly at fixed - Multimedia
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