Alissa Coes is the Director of the Office of Quality Assurance in the Water Resources Mission Area.
Alissa joined the USGS in 1995 as a student and is currently the Director of the Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) in the Water Mission Area. As the Director of OQA, she oversees a team responsible for independently verifying the quality-assurance practices of projects, investigations, and data-collection activities throughout the Water Enterprise through coordinating development and maintenance of technical guidelines and policy, providing technical and data-management support, identifying risk and providing guidance for addressing risk, coordinating technical reviews of investigative and data projects, and fulfilling Freedom of Information Act requests. Alissa received her B.S. in Geology-Biology from the University of Rochester and her M.S. in Hydrology from the University of Arizona.
Prior to joining the Water Mission Area, Alissa was a hydrologist in the Arizona and North Carolina Water Science Centers where she was involved in a wide range of studies, including groundwater-quality surveys, hydrogeologic studies, and recharge studies in southern Arizona; recharge studies and groundwater flow modeling in the Atlantic Coastal Plain; organic contaminant studies in southern and northern Arizona; and salinity studies on the Lower Colorado River. Alissa was also the Arizona Water Science Center’s Water-Quality Specialist for over 10 years.
Science and Products
Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016)
Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Concentration and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Load Data Flow weighted monthly mean dissolved-solids concentrations (mg/L) data and monthly mean dissolved-solids load data from 1928-2016 were computed by USGS using raw data from the Bureau of Reclamation. These data were computed by USGS for all of the seven sites (listed below). Colorado River above Imperial Dam,
Supplemental Continuous Temperature Data, Temperature Profile Data, SPMD Environmental Concentration Data and SPMD Quality-control Data for the Assessment of Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Southern Lake Powell (2016-2017)
This data release contains five datasets that were used in a Scientific Investigations Report to be published in 2018. These datasets are continuous temperature data, temperature profiles data, SPMD environmental concentration data in picograms per liter of water, SPMD environmental concentration data in nanograms per SPMD, and SPMD quality-control concentration data. SPMD Environmental Concentra
Supplemental Discharge Data, Discrete Dissolved-solids Data, Quality-control Discrete Dissolved-solids Data, and Computed Mean Dissolved-solids Data used in the Conceptual and Numerical Models of Dissolved Solids in the Colorado River (1990-2016)
This data release contains six different datasets that were used in the report SIR 2018-5108. These datasets contain discharge data, discrete dissolved-solids data, quality-control discrete dissolved data, and computed mean dissolved solids data that were collected at various locations between the Hoover Dam and the Imperial Dam. Study Sites: Site 1: Colorado River below Hoover Dam Site 2: Bill
Supplemental stream-stage, discharge, and Escherichia coli datasets used in the assessment of water quality at Tumaccori National Historical Park and the Upper Santa Cruz River, 20092017
Tumaccori National Historical Park (TUMA) was established in 1908 to protect, preserve, and communicate the history of the old Spanish and Oodham mission church. In 2002, Congress expanded the Parks purpose and mission, increasing the Parks area to include more than 1 mile of the Santa Cruz River and its associated riparian area. As part of the USGSNPS Water-Quality Partnership, a three year inves
Filter Total Items: 20
Estimation of dissolved-solids concentrations using continuous water-quality monitoring and regression models at four sites in the Yuma area, Arizona and California, January 2017 through March 2019
Multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate dissolved-solids concentrations in water at four sites in the Yuma area between Imperial Dam, Arizona and California and the southerly international boundary with Mexico at San Luis, Arizona. Continuous and discrete water-quality data were collected at gaging stations in the Colorado River upstream from Imperial Dam, Arizona-California,
Authors
Jay R. Cederberg, Nicholas V. Paretti, Alissa L. Coes, Edyth Hermosillo, Lucia Andrade
Spatial and temporal distribution of bacterial indicators and microbial-source tracking within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, southern Arizona and northern Mexico, 2015–2016
Tumacácori National Historical Park (TUMA) in southern Arizona protects the culturally important Mission San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a part of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. The quality of the water flowing through depends solely on upstream watershed activities, and among the water-quality issues concerning TUMA is the microbiological pathogens
Authors
Nicholas V. Paretti, Christopher M. Kephart, Thomas J. Porter, Edyth Hermosillo, Jay R. Cederberg, Justine P. Mayo, Bruce Gungle, Alissa L. Coes, Rachel S. Tucci, Laura M. Norman
Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in southern Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah, 2016–17
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination related to boat use is one of the most important water-quality issues affecting Lake Powell. High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water are common around marinas and other areas with extensive motorboat activity because of releases of uncombusted or partially combusted oil and gasoline from boat engines. The fate of these compound
Authors
Alissa L. Coes, Nicholas V. Paretti, David A. Alvarez, Jamie P. Macy
Investigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river
Beginning in the late 1970s, 10- to 15-year cyclical oscillations in salinity were observed at lower Colorado River monitoring sites, moving upstream from the international border with Mexico, above Imperial Dam, below Hoover Dam, and at Lees Ferry. The cause of these cyclical trends in salinity was unknown. These salinity cycles complicate the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) responsibi
Authors
Fred D. Tillman, Alissa L. Coes, David W. Anning, Jon P. Mason, Tyler B. Coplen
Conceptual and numerical models of dissolved solids in the Colorado River, Hoover Dam to Imperial Dam, and Parker Dam to Imperial Dam, Arizona, California, and Nevada
Conceptual and numerical models were developed to understand and simulate monthly flow-weighted dissolved-solids concentrations in the Colorado River at Imperial Dam. The ability to simulate dissolved-solids concentrations at this location will help the Bureau of Reclamation satisfy the binational agreement on the volume and salinity of Colorado River water delivered to Mexico. A robust spatial- a
Authors
David W. Anning, Alissa L. Coes, Jon P. Mason
Collection methods and quality assessment for Escherichia coli, water quality, and microbial source tracking data within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, Arizona, 2015-16
Tumacácori National Historical Park protects the culturally important Mission, San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a portion of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. This report describes the methods and quality assurance procedures used in the collection of water samples for the analysis of Escherichia coli (E. coli), microbial source tracking markers, suspen
Authors
Nicholas V. Paretti, Alissa L. Coes, Christopher M. Kephart, Justine P. Mayo
Characterization of the quality of water, bed sediment, and fish in Mittry Lake, Arizona, 2014–15
Water, bed-sediment, and fish sampling was conducted in Mittry Lake, Arizona, in 2014–15 to establish current water-quality conditions of the lake. The parameters of temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific conductance, and alkalinity were measured in the field. Water samples were collected and analyzed for dissolved major ions, dissolved trace elements, dissolved nutrients, dissolved
Authors
Edyth Hermosillo, Alissa L. Coes
Hydrogeology, hydrologic effects of development, and simulation of groundwater flow in the Borrego Valley, San Diego County, California
Executive Summary
The Borrego Valley is a small valley (110 square miles) in the northeastern part of San Diego County, California. Although the valley is about 60 miles northeast of city of San Diego, it is separated from the Pacific Ocean coast by the mountains to the west and is mostly within the boundaries of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. From the time the basin was first settled, groundwate
Authors
Claudia C. Faunt, Christina L. Stamos, Lorraine E. Flint, Michael T. Wright, Matthew K. Burgess, Michelle Sneed, Justin T. Brandt, Peter Martin, Alissa L. Coes
Initial characterization of the groundwater system near the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, Imperial Valley, California
In 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Needles, began a study of the hydrogeology along the All-American Canal, which conveys water from the Colorado River to the Imperial Valley. The focus of this study was to gain a better understanding of the effect of lining the All-American Canal, and other management actions, on future total dissolved solids concentrations in gr
Authors
Alissa L. Coes, Michael Land, Jill N. Densmore, Michael T. Landrum, Kimberly R. Beisner, Jeffrey R. Kennedy, Jamie P. Macy, Fred D. Tillman
Sampling trace organic compounds in water: a comparison of a continuous active sampler to continuous passive and discrete sampling methods
A continuous active sampling method was compared to continuous passive and discrete sampling methods for the sampling of trace organic compounds (TOCs) in water. Results from each method are compared and contrasted in order to provide information for future investigators to use while selecting appropriate sampling methods for their research. The continuous low-level aquatic monitoring (CLAM) sampl
Authors
Alissa L. Coes, Nicholas V. Paretti, William T. Foreman, Jana L. Iverson, David A. Alvarez
Groundwater availability in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina
The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifers and confining units of North and South Carolina are composed of crystalline carbonate rocks, sand, clay, silt, and gravel and contain large volumes of high-quality groundwater. The aquifers have a long history of use dating back to the earliest days of European settlement in the late 1600s. Although extensive areas of some of the aquifers have or currently (2009
Authors
Bruce G. Campbell, Alissa L. Coes
Multiple-method estimation of recharge rates at diverse locations in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, USA
Recharge rates determined at diverse study sites in a shallow, unconfined aquifer differed from one another depending on the analytical method used and on each method's applicability and limitations. Total recharge was quantified with saturated-zone methods using water-table fluctuations at seven sites in North Carolina, USA and using groundwater-age dating at three of the seven sites; at two of t
Authors
A. L. Coes, T. B. Spruill, M.J. Thomasson
Science and Products
- Data
Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016)
Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Concentration and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Load Data Flow weighted monthly mean dissolved-solids concentrations (mg/L) data and monthly mean dissolved-solids load data from 1928-2016 were computed by USGS using raw data from the Bureau of Reclamation. These data were computed by USGS for all of the seven sites (listed below). Colorado River above Imperial Dam,Supplemental Continuous Temperature Data, Temperature Profile Data, SPMD Environmental Concentration Data and SPMD Quality-control Data for the Assessment of Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Southern Lake Powell (2016-2017)
This data release contains five datasets that were used in a Scientific Investigations Report to be published in 2018. These datasets are continuous temperature data, temperature profiles data, SPMD environmental concentration data in picograms per liter of water, SPMD environmental concentration data in nanograms per SPMD, and SPMD quality-control concentration data. SPMD Environmental ConcentraSupplemental Discharge Data, Discrete Dissolved-solids Data, Quality-control Discrete Dissolved-solids Data, and Computed Mean Dissolved-solids Data used in the Conceptual and Numerical Models of Dissolved Solids in the Colorado River (1990-2016)
This data release contains six different datasets that were used in the report SIR 2018-5108. These datasets contain discharge data, discrete dissolved-solids data, quality-control discrete dissolved data, and computed mean dissolved solids data that were collected at various locations between the Hoover Dam and the Imperial Dam. Study Sites: Site 1: Colorado River below Hoover Dam Site 2: BillSupplemental stream-stage, discharge, and Escherichia coli datasets used in the assessment of water quality at Tumaccori National Historical Park and the Upper Santa Cruz River, 20092017
Tumaccori National Historical Park (TUMA) was established in 1908 to protect, preserve, and communicate the history of the old Spanish and Oodham mission church. In 2002, Congress expanded the Parks purpose and mission, increasing the Parks area to include more than 1 mile of the Santa Cruz River and its associated riparian area. As part of the USGSNPS Water-Quality Partnership, a three year inves - Publications
Filter Total Items: 20
Estimation of dissolved-solids concentrations using continuous water-quality monitoring and regression models at four sites in the Yuma area, Arizona and California, January 2017 through March 2019
Multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate dissolved-solids concentrations in water at four sites in the Yuma area between Imperial Dam, Arizona and California and the southerly international boundary with Mexico at San Luis, Arizona. Continuous and discrete water-quality data were collected at gaging stations in the Colorado River upstream from Imperial Dam, Arizona-California,AuthorsJay R. Cederberg, Nicholas V. Paretti, Alissa L. Coes, Edyth Hermosillo, Lucia AndradeSpatial and temporal distribution of bacterial indicators and microbial-source tracking within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, southern Arizona and northern Mexico, 2015–2016
Tumacácori National Historical Park (TUMA) in southern Arizona protects the culturally important Mission San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a part of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. The quality of the water flowing through depends solely on upstream watershed activities, and among the water-quality issues concerning TUMA is the microbiological pathogens
AuthorsNicholas V. Paretti, Christopher M. Kephart, Thomas J. Porter, Edyth Hermosillo, Jay R. Cederberg, Justine P. Mayo, Bruce Gungle, Alissa L. Coes, Rachel S. Tucci, Laura M. NormanAssessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in southern Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah, 2016–17
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination related to boat use is one of the most important water-quality issues affecting Lake Powell. High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water are common around marinas and other areas with extensive motorboat activity because of releases of uncombusted or partially combusted oil and gasoline from boat engines. The fate of these compoundAuthorsAlissa L. Coes, Nicholas V. Paretti, David A. Alvarez, Jamie P. MacyInvestigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river
Beginning in the late 1970s, 10- to 15-year cyclical oscillations in salinity were observed at lower Colorado River monitoring sites, moving upstream from the international border with Mexico, above Imperial Dam, below Hoover Dam, and at Lees Ferry. The cause of these cyclical trends in salinity was unknown. These salinity cycles complicate the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) responsibiAuthorsFred D. Tillman, Alissa L. Coes, David W. Anning, Jon P. Mason, Tyler B. CoplenConceptual and numerical models of dissolved solids in the Colorado River, Hoover Dam to Imperial Dam, and Parker Dam to Imperial Dam, Arizona, California, and Nevada
Conceptual and numerical models were developed to understand and simulate monthly flow-weighted dissolved-solids concentrations in the Colorado River at Imperial Dam. The ability to simulate dissolved-solids concentrations at this location will help the Bureau of Reclamation satisfy the binational agreement on the volume and salinity of Colorado River water delivered to Mexico. A robust spatial- aAuthorsDavid W. Anning, Alissa L. Coes, Jon P. MasonCollection methods and quality assessment for Escherichia coli, water quality, and microbial source tracking data within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, Arizona, 2015-16
Tumacácori National Historical Park protects the culturally important Mission, San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a portion of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. This report describes the methods and quality assurance procedures used in the collection of water samples for the analysis of Escherichia coli (E. coli), microbial source tracking markers, suspenAuthorsNicholas V. Paretti, Alissa L. Coes, Christopher M. Kephart, Justine P. MayoCharacterization of the quality of water, bed sediment, and fish in Mittry Lake, Arizona, 2014–15
Water, bed-sediment, and fish sampling was conducted in Mittry Lake, Arizona, in 2014–15 to establish current water-quality conditions of the lake. The parameters of temperature, dissolved-oxygen concentration, specific conductance, and alkalinity were measured in the field. Water samples were collected and analyzed for dissolved major ions, dissolved trace elements, dissolved nutrients, dissolvedAuthorsEdyth Hermosillo, Alissa L. CoesHydrogeology, hydrologic effects of development, and simulation of groundwater flow in the Borrego Valley, San Diego County, California
Executive Summary The Borrego Valley is a small valley (110 square miles) in the northeastern part of San Diego County, California. Although the valley is about 60 miles northeast of city of San Diego, it is separated from the Pacific Ocean coast by the mountains to the west and is mostly within the boundaries of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. From the time the basin was first settled, groundwateAuthorsClaudia C. Faunt, Christina L. Stamos, Lorraine E. Flint, Michael T. Wright, Matthew K. Burgess, Michelle Sneed, Justin T. Brandt, Peter Martin, Alissa L. CoesInitial characterization of the groundwater system near the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, Imperial Valley, California
In 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the city of Needles, began a study of the hydrogeology along the All-American Canal, which conveys water from the Colorado River to the Imperial Valley. The focus of this study was to gain a better understanding of the effect of lining the All-American Canal, and other management actions, on future total dissolved solids concentrations in grAuthorsAlissa L. Coes, Michael Land, Jill N. Densmore, Michael T. Landrum, Kimberly R. Beisner, Jeffrey R. Kennedy, Jamie P. Macy, Fred D. TillmanSampling trace organic compounds in water: a comparison of a continuous active sampler to continuous passive and discrete sampling methods
A continuous active sampling method was compared to continuous passive and discrete sampling methods for the sampling of trace organic compounds (TOCs) in water. Results from each method are compared and contrasted in order to provide information for future investigators to use while selecting appropriate sampling methods for their research. The continuous low-level aquatic monitoring (CLAM) samplAuthorsAlissa L. Coes, Nicholas V. Paretti, William T. Foreman, Jana L. Iverson, David A. AlvarezGroundwater availability in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina
The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifers and confining units of North and South Carolina are composed of crystalline carbonate rocks, sand, clay, silt, and gravel and contain large volumes of high-quality groundwater. The aquifers have a long history of use dating back to the earliest days of European settlement in the late 1600s. Although extensive areas of some of the aquifers have or currently (2009AuthorsBruce G. Campbell, Alissa L. CoesMultiple-method estimation of recharge rates at diverse locations in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, USA
Recharge rates determined at diverse study sites in a shallow, unconfined aquifer differed from one another depending on the analytical method used and on each method's applicability and limitations. Total recharge was quantified with saturated-zone methods using water-table fluctuations at seven sites in North Carolina, USA and using groundwater-age dating at three of the seven sites; at two of tAuthorsA. L. Coes, T. B. Spruill, M.J. Thomasson