Sarah M Elliott
Sarah is a hydrologist with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
Sarah began working at the Minnesota Water Science Center as a student in 2009. Since joining the USGS, Sarah has participated or led several projects investigating the occurrence, sources, and ecological effects of emerging contaminants in waters throughout Minnesota and the Great Lakes basin. Sarah has also worked on developing statistical models to predict groundwater quality in Minnesota and across the glacial aquifer. Sarah recently joined a national project team working to build capacity to rapidly assess and predict post-fire water availability issues
Additional Training:
8/2017 Supervisory Challenge
6/2015 Applied Multivariate Methods for Ecological and Environmental Data
5/2012 Statistical Methods for Environmental Data Analysis
6/2011 Field Water-Quality Methods for Groundwater and Surface Water
Professional Experience
2010-present Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
2009-2010 Student Trainee (hydrologist), U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Education and Certifications
2010 M.S., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., Water Resources Science, “Water quality characteristics of three rain gardens located within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, MN”
2008 B.S., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
Abstracts and Presentations
American Fisheries Society - 2018
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America - 2017
St. Croix Research Rendezvous - 2017
International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum - 2016, 2011
Midwest Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - 2015, 2012
Minnesota Water Resources Conference - 2017, 2014, 2012, 2011
Emerging Contaminant International Conference - 2014
Science and Products
Chemicals of Concern in the Great Lakes Basin
The Great Lakes are an important freshwater source of drinking water, fisheries, and habitat. Chemicals of concern are introduced to the environment by human activities, but resulting ecological consequences are little understood. With federal and University partners, we are characterizing the presence of contaminants and potential effects to fish in Great Lakes tributaries.
Federal and State Partnerships Advance Understanding of Contaminants in a Human-Health Context
Partnerships between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) enhance the State's ability to evaluate human-health risks from chemicals of concern (CECs). MDH considers CECs for toxicological review and development of drinking-water guidance. The human-health information generated by the MDH puts the chemical data into an environmental health context.
Plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium) glochidia counts and transformation rates collected during laboratory exposures to agriculture and urban contaminant mixtures and measured contaminant concentrations, 2018
This data release includes datasets provided by the Woolnough Laboratory at Central Michigan University. These data were collected as a part of a laboratory exposure experiment, conducted in 2018, examining the effects of agricultural and urban contaminant mixtures on two life stages (larval and juvenile) of the freshwater mussel, plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium), using largemouth bass (Microp
Annotated bibliography of 64 papers reviewed and summarized in a conceptual framework to assess post-wildfire water quality
We conducted a scoping review to assess the current state of the science and knowledge gaps of post-wildfire water quality. A scoping review is a rapid, systematic approach that is more superficial compared to traditional reviews, and can be considered a preliminary study that informs future in-depth reviews, meta-analyses, or modelling efforts (Robinne et al., 2020). We developed a driver, factor
Contaminant Data from a Survey of Minnesota Source and Finished Drinking Waters, 2019-2022
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in source and finished drinking waters throughout Minnesota. Minnesota relies on both groundwater and surface water sources for drinking water, which may be vulnerable to influences such as wastewater discharge and/or agricultural activities.
Concentrations and laboratory quality-assurance data for six unregulated contaminants measured in source and finished drinking-water samples collected from public water systems throughout Minnesota by using ELISA and MS-based analytical methods
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of six unregulated contaminants in source and finished drinking-water samples collected from 67 public water supply systems throughout Minnesota. Minnesota relies on groundwater and surface water sources for drinking water. Land use, such as wastewater discharge and agr
Pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater indicator compounds in water and bottom sediment samples collected from Great Lake tributaries, 2019
This dataset consists of select contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) including pesticides and transformation products, pharmaceuticals and transformation products, and wastewater indicator compound results measured in 131 surface water, 129 bottom sediment, 7 field replicate, and 6 field blank samples collected from 131 sites located on 27 tributaries of the Great Lakes during the summer of 2019
Groundwater data, predictor variables, and rasters used for predicting redox conditions in the glacial aquifer, northern continental United States
This data release contains input data used in model development and TIF raster files used to predict the probability of low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high dissolved iron (Fe) in groundwater within the glacial aquifer system in the northern continental United States. Input data include measured DO and Fe concentrations at groundwater wells, and associated predictor variable data. The probability of
Groundwater arsenic data and ASCII grids for predicting elevated arsenic in northwestern and central Minnesota using boosted regression tree methods
This data release contains: (1) ASCII grids of predicted probability of elevated arsenic in groundwater for the Northwest and Central Minnesota regions, (2) input arsenic and predictive variable data used in model development and calculation of predictions, and (3) ASCII files used to predict the probability of elevated arsenic across the two study regions. The probability of elevated arsenic was
Surface water and bottom sediment chemical data and landscape variable input datasets for predicting the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern in 25 U.S. river basins in the Great Lakes basin
This data release includes concentrations of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), by chemical class, for sites sampled within 25 river basins in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes basin and associated watershed characteristics. The CEC data include concentrations in surface water and sediment samples that were collected during 2010-2014. During the first 3 years, sample sites near mostly urban
Supplementary data for journal article "Detecting sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine in groundwater: Is ELISA a reliable screening tool?" published in the Journal of Environmental Pollution
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of micropollutants in: (1) shallow groundwater near large subsurface treatment systems and rapid infiltration basins and (2) shallow groundwater and soil from an agricultural field that land applies domestic wastewater. Water samples were analyzed with enzyme linked
Chemicals of Emerging Concern and Fish Biological Endpoints Data Collected From Select Tributaries of the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2011-12
The U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, St. Cloud State University, and the University of St. Thomas conducted a cooperative study to investigate the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) and potential effects to aquatic biota in select tributaries of the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2011, treated wastewater effluent samples were collected from 22 sites in
Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Water and Bottom Sediment in Great Lakes Tributaries, 2014 - Collection Methods, Analytical Methods, Quality Assurance Analyses, and Data
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2014 at 65 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2014 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are colle
Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Water and Bottom Sediment in Great Lakes Areas of Concern, 2013 - Analytical Methods, Collection Methods, Environmental Data, and Quality Assurance
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this direct
Filter Total Items: 30
A conceptual framework to assess post-wildfire water quality: State of the science and knowledge gaps
Wildfire substantially alters aquatic ecosystems by inducing moderate to catastrophic physical and chemical changes. However, the relations of environmental and watershed variables that drive those effects are complex. We present a Driver-Factor-Stressor-Effect (DFSE) conceptual framework to assess the current state of the science related to post-wildfire water-quality. We reviewed 64 peer-reviewe
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Michelle I. Hornberger, Donald O. Rosenberry, Rebecca Frus, Richard M. Webb
Reduced freshwater mussel juvenile production as a result of agricultural and urban contaminant mixture exposures
Freshwater mussels provide invaluable ecological services but are threatened by habitat alteration, poor water quality, invasive species, climate change, and contaminants, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Contaminants of emerging concerns are well documented in aquatic environments, including the Great Lakes Basin, but limited information is available on how environmentally relev
Authors
Molly Anne Richard, Sarah M. Elliott, Stephanie L. Hummel, D.A. Woolnough, Lacey D. Rzodkiewicz, Stephanie Gill, Justin Rappold, Mandy Annis
Exposures and potential health implications of contaminant mixtures in linked source water, finished drinking water, and tapwater from public-supply drinking water systems in Minneapolis/St. Paul area, USA
Continued improvements in drinking-water quality characterization and treatment/distribution infrastructure are required to address the expanding number of documented environmental contaminants. To better understand the variability in contaminant exposures from the drinking water resource (surface and groundwater), through the distribution process, to the point-of-use (tapwater), in 2019 a synopti
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Paul M. Bradley, Kristin M. Romanok, Sarah M. Elliott, Jane de Lambert, Michael J. Focazio, Stephanie Gordon, James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, Michelle Hladik, Keith Loftin, R. Blaine McCleskey, Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley, Mary C. Cardon, Nicola Evans, Christopher P. Weis
Data summary report: Unregulated contaminants monitoring project
The Drinking Water Protection Section of the Minnesota Department of Health conducted reconnaissance monitoring of selected public water systems in Minnesota. Funding was obtained primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Sampling was conducted in 2019 and 2021. Laboratory analysis of samples was conducted for a variety of different contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), i
Authors
Jane de Lambert, Alycia Overbo, Steve Robertson, Sarah M. Elliott
Comparison of the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to mass-spectrometry based analytical methods for six unregulated contaminants in source water and finished drinking-water samples
Regulatory entities, such as the Minnesota Department of Health, monitor public water systems for conformance with Federal and State monitoring requirements and water-quality standards. Although some contaminants have Federal and (or) State regulations and guidance values, many contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are unregulated in that only non-enforceable health-based guidance
Authors
Aliesha L. Krall, Sarah M. Elliott, Jane R. de Lambert, Stephen W. Robertson
A pilot study to assess the influence of infiltrated stormwater on groundwater: Hydrology and trace organic contaminants
Underground infiltration basins (UIBs) mimic the natural hydrologic cycle by allowing stormwater to recharge local groundwater aquifers. However, little is known about the potential transport of organic contaminants to receiving groundwater. We conducted a pilot study in which we collected paired grab samples of stormwater runoff flowing into two UIBs (inflow) and shallow groundwater adjacent to t
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Richard L. Kiesling, Andrew M. Berg, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Multiple lines of evidence for identifying potential hazards to fish from contaminants of emerging concern in Great Lakes tributaries
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs; e.g., pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, pesticides, and industrial chemicals) are omnipresent throughout tributaries to the Great Lakes. Furthermore, CECs are often present at concentrations that are potentially hazardous to aquatic species. Since 2010, we characterized the presence of CECs at 309 sites within 47 Great Lakes tributaries and characterized re
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Daniel J. Gefell, Richard L. Kiesling, Stephanie L. Hummel, Chryssa K. King, Charles H. Christen, Satomi Kohno, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Machine-learning predictions of high arsenic and high manganese at drinking water depths of the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Globally, over 200 million people are chronically exposed to arsenic (As) and/or manganese (Mn) from drinking water. We used machine-learning (ML) boosted regression tree (BRT) models to predict high As (>10 μg/L) and Mn (>300 μg/L) in groundwater from the glacial aquifer system (GLAC), which spans 25 states in the northern United States and provides drinking water to 30 million people. Our BRT mo
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy, Charles A. Cravotta
Identifying sources of contaminants in urban stormwater and evaluation of their removal efficacy across a continuum of urban best management practices
Precipitation events in urban areas often result in stormwater runoff containing a diverse array of chemical contaminants. Although many traditional contaminants, such as nutrients, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been studied extensively, only recently has evidence emerged showing that trace organic compounds (TrOCs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products and p
Authors
Heiko L. Schoenfuss, Richard L. Kiesling, Sarah M. Elliott, Satomi Kohno
Machine learning predicted redox conditions in the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Groundwater supplies 50% of drinking water worldwide and 30% in the United States. Geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants can, however, compromise water quality, thus limiting groundwater availability. Reduction/oxidation (redox) processes and redox conditions affect groundwater quality by influencing the mobility and transport of common geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants. In the glacial aqu
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy
Machine learning predictions of pH in the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern USA
A boosted regression tree model was developed to predict pH conditions in three dimensions throughout the glacial aquifer system of the contiguous United States using pH measurements in samples from 18,386 wells and predictor variables that represent aspects of the hydrogeologic setting. Model results indicate that the carbonate content of soils and aquifer materials strongly controls pH and, when
Authors
Paul Stackelberg, Kenneth Belitz, Craig J. Brown, Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Leon J. Kauffman, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy
Assessing the influence of natural copper-nickel-bearing bedrocks of the Duluth Complex on water quality in Minnesota, 2013–15
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute, completed an assessment of regional water quality in areas of potential base-metal mining in Minnesota. Bedrock, soil, streambed sediment, and surface-water samples were collected in three watersheds that cross the basal part of the Duluth Complex with different mineral-deposit
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Perry M. Jones, Laurel G. Woodruff, Carrie E. Jennings, Aliesha L. Krall, Daniel L. Morel
Science and Products
Chemicals of Concern in the Great Lakes Basin
The Great Lakes are an important freshwater source of drinking water, fisheries, and habitat. Chemicals of concern are introduced to the environment by human activities, but resulting ecological consequences are little understood. With federal and University partners, we are characterizing the presence of contaminants and potential effects to fish in Great Lakes tributaries.
Federal and State Partnerships Advance Understanding of Contaminants in a Human-Health Context
Partnerships between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) enhance the State's ability to evaluate human-health risks from chemicals of concern (CECs). MDH considers CECs for toxicological review and development of drinking-water guidance. The human-health information generated by the MDH puts the chemical data into an environmental health context.
Plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium) glochidia counts and transformation rates collected during laboratory exposures to agriculture and urban contaminant mixtures and measured contaminant concentrations, 2018
This data release includes datasets provided by the Woolnough Laboratory at Central Michigan University. These data were collected as a part of a laboratory exposure experiment, conducted in 2018, examining the effects of agricultural and urban contaminant mixtures on two life stages (larval and juvenile) of the freshwater mussel, plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium), using largemouth bass (Microp
Annotated bibliography of 64 papers reviewed and summarized in a conceptual framework to assess post-wildfire water quality
We conducted a scoping review to assess the current state of the science and knowledge gaps of post-wildfire water quality. A scoping review is a rapid, systematic approach that is more superficial compared to traditional reviews, and can be considered a preliminary study that informs future in-depth reviews, meta-analyses, or modelling efforts (Robinne et al., 2020). We developed a driver, factor
Contaminant Data from a Survey of Minnesota Source and Finished Drinking Waters, 2019-2022
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in source and finished drinking waters throughout Minnesota. Minnesota relies on both groundwater and surface water sources for drinking water, which may be vulnerable to influences such as wastewater discharge and/or agricultural activities.
Concentrations and laboratory quality-assurance data for six unregulated contaminants measured in source and finished drinking-water samples collected from public water systems throughout Minnesota by using ELISA and MS-based analytical methods
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Health, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of six unregulated contaminants in source and finished drinking-water samples collected from 67 public water supply systems throughout Minnesota. Minnesota relies on groundwater and surface water sources for drinking water. Land use, such as wastewater discharge and agr
Pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater indicator compounds in water and bottom sediment samples collected from Great Lake tributaries, 2019
This dataset consists of select contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) including pesticides and transformation products, pharmaceuticals and transformation products, and wastewater indicator compound results measured in 131 surface water, 129 bottom sediment, 7 field replicate, and 6 field blank samples collected from 131 sites located on 27 tributaries of the Great Lakes during the summer of 2019
Groundwater data, predictor variables, and rasters used for predicting redox conditions in the glacial aquifer, northern continental United States
This data release contains input data used in model development and TIF raster files used to predict the probability of low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high dissolved iron (Fe) in groundwater within the glacial aquifer system in the northern continental United States. Input data include measured DO and Fe concentrations at groundwater wells, and associated predictor variable data. The probability of
Groundwater arsenic data and ASCII grids for predicting elevated arsenic in northwestern and central Minnesota using boosted regression tree methods
This data release contains: (1) ASCII grids of predicted probability of elevated arsenic in groundwater for the Northwest and Central Minnesota regions, (2) input arsenic and predictive variable data used in model development and calculation of predictions, and (3) ASCII files used to predict the probability of elevated arsenic across the two study regions. The probability of elevated arsenic was
Surface water and bottom sediment chemical data and landscape variable input datasets for predicting the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern in 25 U.S. river basins in the Great Lakes basin
This data release includes concentrations of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), by chemical class, for sites sampled within 25 river basins in the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes basin and associated watershed characteristics. The CEC data include concentrations in surface water and sediment samples that were collected during 2010-2014. During the first 3 years, sample sites near mostly urban
Supplementary data for journal article "Detecting sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine in groundwater: Is ELISA a reliable screening tool?" published in the Journal of Environmental Pollution
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, conducted a study to determine the occurrence of micropollutants in: (1) shallow groundwater near large subsurface treatment systems and rapid infiltration basins and (2) shallow groundwater and soil from an agricultural field that land applies domestic wastewater. Water samples were analyzed with enzyme linked
Chemicals of Emerging Concern and Fish Biological Endpoints Data Collected From Select Tributaries of the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2011-12
The U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, St. Cloud State University, and the University of St. Thomas conducted a cooperative study to investigate the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) and potential effects to aquatic biota in select tributaries of the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2011, treated wastewater effluent samples were collected from 22 sites in
Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Water and Bottom Sediment in Great Lakes Tributaries, 2014 - Collection Methods, Analytical Methods, Quality Assurance Analyses, and Data
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2014 at 65 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2014 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this directory are colle
Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Water and Bottom Sediment in Great Lakes Areas of Concern, 2013 - Analytical Methods, Collection Methods, Environmental Data, and Quality Assurance
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and bottom sediment collected in 2013 at 57 sites throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The 2013 effort is part of a long-term study that began in 2010. Included in this direct
Filter Total Items: 30
A conceptual framework to assess post-wildfire water quality: State of the science and knowledge gaps
Wildfire substantially alters aquatic ecosystems by inducing moderate to catastrophic physical and chemical changes. However, the relations of environmental and watershed variables that drive those effects are complex. We present a Driver-Factor-Stressor-Effect (DFSE) conceptual framework to assess the current state of the science related to post-wildfire water-quality. We reviewed 64 peer-reviewe
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Michelle I. Hornberger, Donald O. Rosenberry, Rebecca Frus, Richard M. Webb
Reduced freshwater mussel juvenile production as a result of agricultural and urban contaminant mixture exposures
Freshwater mussels provide invaluable ecological services but are threatened by habitat alteration, poor water quality, invasive species, climate change, and contaminants, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Contaminants of emerging concerns are well documented in aquatic environments, including the Great Lakes Basin, but limited information is available on how environmentally relev
Authors
Molly Anne Richard, Sarah M. Elliott, Stephanie L. Hummel, D.A. Woolnough, Lacey D. Rzodkiewicz, Stephanie Gill, Justin Rappold, Mandy Annis
Exposures and potential health implications of contaminant mixtures in linked source water, finished drinking water, and tapwater from public-supply drinking water systems in Minneapolis/St. Paul area, USA
Continued improvements in drinking-water quality characterization and treatment/distribution infrastructure are required to address the expanding number of documented environmental contaminants. To better understand the variability in contaminant exposures from the drinking water resource (surface and groundwater), through the distribution process, to the point-of-use (tapwater), in 2019 a synopti
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Paul M. Bradley, Kristin M. Romanok, Sarah M. Elliott, Jane de Lambert, Michael J. Focazio, Stephanie Gordon, James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, Michelle Hladik, Keith Loftin, R. Blaine McCleskey, Elizabeth Medlock-Kakaley, Mary C. Cardon, Nicola Evans, Christopher P. Weis
Data summary report: Unregulated contaminants monitoring project
The Drinking Water Protection Section of the Minnesota Department of Health conducted reconnaissance monitoring of selected public water systems in Minnesota. Funding was obtained primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Sampling was conducted in 2019 and 2021. Laboratory analysis of samples was conducted for a variety of different contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), i
Authors
Jane de Lambert, Alycia Overbo, Steve Robertson, Sarah M. Elliott
Comparison of the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to mass-spectrometry based analytical methods for six unregulated contaminants in source water and finished drinking-water samples
Regulatory entities, such as the Minnesota Department of Health, monitor public water systems for conformance with Federal and State monitoring requirements and water-quality standards. Although some contaminants have Federal and (or) State regulations and guidance values, many contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are unregulated in that only non-enforceable health-based guidance
Authors
Aliesha L. Krall, Sarah M. Elliott, Jane R. de Lambert, Stephen W. Robertson
A pilot study to assess the influence of infiltrated stormwater on groundwater: Hydrology and trace organic contaminants
Underground infiltration basins (UIBs) mimic the natural hydrologic cycle by allowing stormwater to recharge local groundwater aquifers. However, little is known about the potential transport of organic contaminants to receiving groundwater. We conducted a pilot study in which we collected paired grab samples of stormwater runoff flowing into two UIBs (inflow) and shallow groundwater adjacent to t
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Richard L. Kiesling, Andrew M. Berg, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Multiple lines of evidence for identifying potential hazards to fish from contaminants of emerging concern in Great Lakes tributaries
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs; e.g., pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, pesticides, and industrial chemicals) are omnipresent throughout tributaries to the Great Lakes. Furthermore, CECs are often present at concentrations that are potentially hazardous to aquatic species. Since 2010, we characterized the presence of CECs at 309 sites within 47 Great Lakes tributaries and characterized re
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Daniel J. Gefell, Richard L. Kiesling, Stephanie L. Hummel, Chryssa K. King, Charles H. Christen, Satomi Kohno, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Machine-learning predictions of high arsenic and high manganese at drinking water depths of the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Globally, over 200 million people are chronically exposed to arsenic (As) and/or manganese (Mn) from drinking water. We used machine-learning (ML) boosted regression tree (BRT) models to predict high As (>10 μg/L) and Mn (>300 μg/L) in groundwater from the glacial aquifer system (GLAC), which spans 25 states in the northern United States and provides drinking water to 30 million people. Our BRT mo
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy, Charles A. Cravotta
Identifying sources of contaminants in urban stormwater and evaluation of their removal efficacy across a continuum of urban best management practices
Precipitation events in urban areas often result in stormwater runoff containing a diverse array of chemical contaminants. Although many traditional contaminants, such as nutrients, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been studied extensively, only recently has evidence emerged showing that trace organic compounds (TrOCs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products and p
Authors
Heiko L. Schoenfuss, Richard L. Kiesling, Sarah M. Elliott, Satomi Kohno
Machine learning predicted redox conditions in the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Groundwater supplies 50% of drinking water worldwide and 30% in the United States. Geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants can, however, compromise water quality, thus limiting groundwater availability. Reduction/oxidation (redox) processes and redox conditions affect groundwater quality by influencing the mobility and transport of common geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants. In the glacial aqu
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy
Machine learning predictions of pH in the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern USA
A boosted regression tree model was developed to predict pH conditions in three dimensions throughout the glacial aquifer system of the contiguous United States using pH measurements in samples from 18,386 wells and predictor variables that represent aspects of the hydrogeologic setting. Model results indicate that the carbonate content of soils and aquifer materials strongly controls pH and, when
Authors
Paul Stackelberg, Kenneth Belitz, Craig J. Brown, Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Leon J. Kauffman, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy
Assessing the influence of natural copper-nickel-bearing bedrocks of the Duluth Complex on water quality in Minnesota, 2013–15
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute, completed an assessment of regional water quality in areas of potential base-metal mining in Minnesota. Bedrock, soil, streambed sediment, and surface-water samples were collected in three watersheds that cross the basal part of the Duluth Complex with different mineral-deposit
Authors
Sarah M. Elliott, Perry M. Jones, Laurel G. Woodruff, Carrie E. Jennings, Aliesha L. Krall, Daniel L. Morel