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Sharon A Fitzgerald, PhD

Sharon Fitzgerald is a Hydrologist with the South Atlantic Water Science Center.

I am a biogeochemist who has been with the Survey since 1991. I was born and raised in Queens, NY and have lived in Wisconsin (doctorate and hired into the USGS), Michigan (post doc), Florida (attached to the USGS), Puerto Rico (attached to the USGS), Alberta (attached to the USGS), and now in Raleigh still with the USGS. I am trained in early diagenetic processes involving organic matter decomposition in bed sediments and pelagic-benthic coupling processes. I have extensive experience with sediment coring and porewater extraction.  I have an interest in using biogenic silica in lake sediments to reconstruct paleoclimate.

 

Professional Experience

  • 1991 - Present - USGS Hydrologist/Research Hydrologist Madison/Middleton WI, St. Petersburg FL, Guaynabo Puerto Rico, Calgary Alberta Canada, Raleigh NC

  • 1990 - 1991 - NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI. Research Proposal/Topic: "An Organic Carbon Budget for Pelagic/Benthic Coupling in Lake Michigan".

Education and Certifications

  • 1989 - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee: PhD - 1989, Geosciences/Biogeochemistry (major), Limnology (minor), Dissertation: "The Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids in Sediments from the Great Lakes".

  • 1982 - Queens College (City University of New York): B.A. - Environmental Biogeochemistry within Geosciences

Science and Products

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Albemarle-Pamlico Basin Map

Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Study Unit

The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
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National Water Quality Program, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
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Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Study Unit

The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
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Albemarle Sound National Monitoring Network Pilot, S.C. and Virginia

Albemarle Sound, NC -- National Monitoring Network Demonstration Site

The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and...
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
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Albemarle Sound, NC -- National Monitoring Network Demonstration Site

The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and...
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Water and Bed Sediment Data Associated with the Occurrence and Distribution of Mercury in Streams and Reservoirs in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, July 2007 - June 2009

As part of the Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Program, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of mercury in 14 streams and 15 reservoirs in the Triangle area of North Carolina. This Data Release contains the associated data described in the Scientific Investigations Report, "Occurrence and Distribution of Mercury in Streams and Reservoirs in
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Concentration of chemical constituents in lake sediments from selected coring locations on Lake Lanier, Georgia, May 2018

The data herein were collected in support of a larger study in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on the potential impacts of on-site waste water treatment (septic systems) on Lake Lanier water quality. Until recently, a missing component in this assessment was the inclusion of historical sediment and associated nutrient accumulation data from the lake to place results in a broader context. To this end, th
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Datasets for Characterization of Water-Quality and Bed-Sediment Conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, 2011-18

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, conducted a study to establish baseline water-quality conditions and bed-sediment chemistry in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. This Data Release contains the associated data described in the Open-File Report, "Characterization of Water-Quality and Bed-Sediment
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Assessing Water Quality from Highway Runoff at Selected Sites in North Carolina with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM)

In 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a new national stormwater quality model called the Stochastic Empirical Loading Dilution Model (SELDM). The model is optimized for roadway projects but in theory can be applied to a broad range of development types. SELDM is a statistically-based empirical model pre-populated w
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), StreamStats

Highway-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 database
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New England Water Science Center

Associated data for Water- and Sediment-Quality in the Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 201214

This data release contains environmental and quality control results for chemical, biological, and physical sampling of water and bed sediment from Albemarle Sound and associated tributaries between 2012 and 2014 referenced in USGS OFR 2016-1171. Appendix 1 contains all quality control results to characterize the bias and variability of sampling, handling, and analysis of water, phytoplankton, and
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South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
Filter Total Items: 16

Occurrence and distribution of mercury in streams and reservoirs in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, July 2007–June 2009

During the time period 2001–2006, the U.S. Geological Survey reported mercury-concentration measurements that exceeded the North Carolina water-quality criterion (NCWQC) of 0.012 microgram per liter for total recoverable mercury in streams and reservoirs across the Triangle Area of North Carolina. Mercury data were sparse, however, generally consisting of only one or two water samples per year. Ad
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Anna M. McKee, Sharon Fitzgerald, Mary J. Giorgino
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–18

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority plans to improve transportation in the Currituck Sound area by constructing a two-lane bridge—the Mid-Currituck Bridge—across Currituck Sound from the mainland to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The results of the final environmental impact statement for the project indicate potential water-quality and habitat effects for Currituck Sound associated with the b
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Stephen L. Harden, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Chad R. Wagner, Emilia L. Bristow, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
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Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Assessing water quality from highway runoff at selected sites in North Carolina with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM)

In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) entered into a cooperative agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to develop a North Carolina-enhanced variation of the national Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM) with available North Carolina-specific streamflow and water-quality data and to demonstrate use of the model by documenting selected simulat
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J. Curtis Weaver, Gregory E. Granato, Sharon A. Fitzgerald
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), New England Water Science Center

Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–15

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority, a division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is planning to make transportation improvements in the Currituck Sound area by constructing a two-lane bridge from U.S. Highway 158 just south of Coinjock, North Carolina, to State Highway 12 on the Outer Banks just south of Corolla, North Carolina. The results of the Final Environmental Impact St
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Chad R. Wagner, Sharon Fitzgerald, Dominick J. Antolino
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Effect of land-applied biosolids on surface-water nutrient yields and groundwater quality in Orange County, North Carolina

Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids is the most common method of biosolids management used in North Carolina and the United States. Biosolids have characteristics that may be beneficial to soil and plants. Land application can take advantage of these beneficial qualities, whereas disposal in landfills or incineration poses no beneficial use of the waste. Some independent studies and
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Chad R. Wagner, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Kristen Bukowski McSwain, Stephen L. Harden, Laura N. Gurley, Shane W. Rogers
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge runoff on receiving streams

The presentation will provide an overview of a collaborative study between USGS, NC Department of Transportation and URS Corporation to characterize stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge runoff on receiving streams. This investigation measured bridge deck runoff from 15 bridges for 12-15 storms, stream water-quality data for baseflow and storm conditions at fou
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Chad Wagner, Sharon Fitzgerald, Matthew Lauffer
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Baseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012

Records were obtained for 305 wells and 1 spring in northwestern Lee and southeastern Chatham counties, North Carolina. Well depths ranged from 26 to 720 feet and yields ranged from 0.25 to 100 gallons per minute. A subset of 56 wells and 1 spring were sampled for baseline groundwaterquality constituents including the following: major ions; dissolved metals; nutrients; dissolved gases (including m
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Melinda J. Chapman, Laura N. Gurley, Sharon A. Fitzgerald
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Water-quality characteristics indicative of wastewater in selected streams in the upper Neuse River Basin, Durham and Orange Counties, North Carolina, from 2004 to 2013

Data were collected during three time periods to assess the effects of wastewater treatment and disposal practices on the occurrence of selected contaminants indicative of wastewater in the upper Neuse River Basin, North Carolina. The first phase of data collection, December 2004 to June 2005, and the second phase, April to October 2008, addressed the effects of point and nonpoint sources of waste
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Gloria M. Ferrell, Matthew S. Yearout, Barbara H. Grimes, Alexandria K. Graves, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Michael T. Meyer
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Estuarine monitoring programs in the Albemarle Sound study area, North Carolina

Albemarle Sound was selected in 2012 as one of the two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and their tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. coastal waters and tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems and inla
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Michelle Moorman, Katharine R. Kolb, Stacy Supak
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge deck runoff on receiving streams

In 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2436 that required the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to study the water-quality effects of bridges on receiving streams. In response, the NCDOT and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated on a study to provide information necessary to address the requirements of the Bill. To better understand the effects of
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Chad R. Wagner, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Roy D. Sherrell, Douglas A. Harned, Erik L. Staub, Brian H. Pointer, Loren L. Wehmeyer
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Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Nutrient, trace-element, and ecological history of Musky Bay, Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin, as inferred from sediment cores

Sediment cores were collected from Musky Bay, Lac Courte Oreilles, and from surrounding areas in 1999 and 2001 to determine whether the water quality of Musky Bay has declined during the last 100 years or more as a result of human activity, specifically cottage development and cranberry farming. Selected cores were analyzed for sedimentation rates, nutrients, minor and trace elements, biogenic sil
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Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Paul J. Garrison, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, John F. Elder
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Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Emerging scientific tools for studies of water quality, coral reef health, and watershed management in the tropics/Caribbean

No abstract available.
Authors
Sharon A. Fitzgerald
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Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Non-USGS Publications**

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

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