Amy M Russell
Amy Russell is a Supervisory Hydrologist for the USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Statistical Hydrology and Water Availability Section, in the Urbana, Illinois, Office.
Amy joined the USGS in 2015 and is a licensed professional engineer in Illinois with 18 years of experience in surface water investigations. Her current projects include watershed modeling of a small agricultural watershed and assisting with the evaluation of statistical methods to estimate streamflow at ungaged sites.
Prior to joining the USGS, Amy was a hydrologist at the Illinois State Water Survey, where her research experience included watershed monitoring, analysis of streamflow records for water supply studies, assessments of watershed and lake hydrology, bathymetric and sedimentation surveys, development of regional regression equations, evaluation of load estimation techniques, and development of websites, databases, and custom applications to disseminate data and technical analyses to water resource managers.
As manager of the Surface Water and Floodplain Information Program, she and her staff routinely prepared reports on the condition of Illinois’ surface water resources including during several droughts and flooding events. In addition to her public service responsibilities, she also developed proposals and obtained funding from state agencies and local municipalities. Project management responsibilities included development of data management workflows, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance project plans, as well as hiring, managing, and supervising staff. Amy was also responsible for sample tracking and coordination with contract laboratories, monitoring all project expenditures, and budgeting salary obligations. Her technical oversight for projects included final QA review of all surface water data delivered to funding agencies.
Professional Experience
2015-Present USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center, Urbana, IL
Science and Products
Streamflow benchmark locations for hydrologic model evaluation within the conterminous United States (cobalt gages)
A list of stream gages within the conterminous United States that will serve as the initial list of sites (version 1.0) used for streamflow benchmarking of hydrologic models. Sites within this list were chosen based on their presence in the GAGES-II dataset, their availability of modeled streamflow data from the most recent version of the National Hydrologic Model application of Precipitation-Runo
Statistical daily streamflow estimates at GAGES-II non-reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow at 5,439 GAGES-II non-reference streamgages in 19 study regions across the conterminous United States from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2017, using five statistical techniques: nearest-neighbor drainage area ratio (NNDAR), map-correlation drainage area ratio (MCDAR), nearest-neighbor nonlinear spatial interpolati
Cross-validation results for five statistical methods of daily streamflow estimation at 1,385 reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow for 1,385 streamgages in 19 study regions in the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980, through September 30, 2017. These estimates are provided for gages from mostly undisturbed watersheds as defined by Falcone (2011), using five statistical techniques: nearest-neighbor drainage area ratio (NNDAR), map-correlation drain
Statistical daily streamflow estimates at HUC12 outlets in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow at the outlets of more than 80,000 12-digit hydrologic units in 19 study regions across the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2017, using three statistical techniques: Nearest-Neighbor Drainage Area Ratio (NNDAR), Map-Correlation Drainage Area Ratio (MCDAR), and Ordinary Kriging of the logarithm
Streamflow, flow-duration curves, basin characteristics, and regression models of flow-duration curves for selected streamgages in the conterminous United States
This data release contains the input used and the output files interpreted in the publication 'Refinement of a Regression-Based Method for Prediction of Flow-Duration Curves of Daily Streamflow in the Conterminous United States'. This data release contains daily streamflow data for 1,378 streamgages in 19 study regions in the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2013 from m
Summaries of selected SSURGO soil attributes within the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA) system
As part of the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District (USACE-Chicago) uses Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) models to estimate runoff from the ungaged portion of the diverted Lake Michigan watershed. Simulation accuracy is evaluated at nine gaged watersheds in or adjacent to the diverted watershed. This data release consists of
The consequences of neglecting reservoir storage in national-scale hydrologic models: An appraisal of key streamflow statistics
A better understanding of modeled streamflow errors related to basin reservoir storage is needed for large regions, which normally have many ungaged basins with reservoirs. We quantified the difference between modeled and observed streamflows for one process-based and three statistical-transfer hydrologic models, none of which explicitly accounted for reservoir storage. Streamflow statistics repre
Authors
Glenn A. Hodgkins, Thomas M. Over, Robert W. Dudley, Amy M. Russell, Jacob H. LaFontaine
Comparing trends in modeled and observed streamflows at minimally altered basins in the United States
We compared modeled and observed streamflow trends from 1984–2016 using five statistical transfer models and one deterministic, distributed-parameter, process-based model, for 26 flow metrics at 502 basins in the United States that are minimally influenced by development. We also looked at a measure of overall model fit and average bias. A higher percentage of basins, for all models, had relativel
Authors
Glenn A. Hodgkins, Robert W. Dudley, Amy M. Russell, Jacob H. LaFontaine
Assessing the impact of site-specific BMPs using a spatially explicit, field-scale SWAT model with edge-of-field and tile hydrology and water-quality data in the Eagle Creek watershed, Ohio
The Eagle Creek watershed, a small subbasin (125 km2) within the Maumee River Basin, Ohio, was selected as a part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) “Priority Watersheds” program to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) funded through GLRI at the field and watershed scales. The location and quantity of BMPs were obtained from the U.S. Department
Authors
Katherine R. Merriman, Prasad Daggupati, Raghavan Srinivasan, Chad Toussant, Amy M. Russell, Brett A. Hayhurst
Refinement of a regression-based method for prediction of flow-duration curves of daily streamflow in the conterminous United States
Regional regression is a common tool used to estimate daily flow-duration curves (FDCs) at ungaged locations. In this report, several refinements to a particular implementation of the regional regression method for estimating FDCs are evaluated by consideration of different methodological options through a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure in the 19 major river basins of the conterminous Un
Authors
Thomas M. Over, William H. Farmer, Amy M. Russell
Calibration of a field-scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model with field placement of best management practices in Alger Creek, Michigan
Subwatersheds within the Great Lakes “Priority Watersheds” were targeted by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to determine the effectiveness of the various best management practices (BMPs) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service National Conservation Planning (NCP) Database. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is created for Alger Creek,
Authors
Katherine R. Merriman-Hoehne, Amy M. Russell, Cynthia M. Rachol, Prasad Daggupati, Raghavan Srinivasan, Brett A. Hayhurst, Todd D. Stuntebeck
Science and Products
- Data
Streamflow benchmark locations for hydrologic model evaluation within the conterminous United States (cobalt gages)
A list of stream gages within the conterminous United States that will serve as the initial list of sites (version 1.0) used for streamflow benchmarking of hydrologic models. Sites within this list were chosen based on their presence in the GAGES-II dataset, their availability of modeled streamflow data from the most recent version of the National Hydrologic Model application of Precipitation-RunoStatistical daily streamflow estimates at GAGES-II non-reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow at 5,439 GAGES-II non-reference streamgages in 19 study regions across the conterminous United States from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2017, using five statistical techniques: nearest-neighbor drainage area ratio (NNDAR), map-correlation drainage area ratio (MCDAR), nearest-neighbor nonlinear spatial interpolatiCross-validation results for five statistical methods of daily streamflow estimation at 1,385 reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow for 1,385 streamgages in 19 study regions in the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980, through September 30, 2017. These estimates are provided for gages from mostly undisturbed watersheds as defined by Falcone (2011), using five statistical techniques: nearest-neighbor drainage area ratio (NNDAR), map-correlation drainStatistical daily streamflow estimates at HUC12 outlets in the conterminous United States, Water Years 1981-2017
This data release contains daily time series estimates of natural streamflow at the outlets of more than 80,000 12-digit hydrologic units in 19 study regions across the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2017, using three statistical techniques: Nearest-Neighbor Drainage Area Ratio (NNDAR), Map-Correlation Drainage Area Ratio (MCDAR), and Ordinary Kriging of the logarithmStreamflow, flow-duration curves, basin characteristics, and regression models of flow-duration curves for selected streamgages in the conterminous United States
This data release contains the input used and the output files interpreted in the publication 'Refinement of a Regression-Based Method for Prediction of Flow-Duration Curves of Daily Streamflow in the Conterminous United States'. This data release contains daily streamflow data for 1,378 streamgages in 19 study regions in the conterminous U.S. from October 1, 1980 through September 30, 2013 from mSummaries of selected SSURGO soil attributes within the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA) system
As part of the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District (USACE-Chicago) uses Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) models to estimate runoff from the ungaged portion of the diverted Lake Michigan watershed. Simulation accuracy is evaluated at nine gaged watersheds in or adjacent to the diverted watershed. This data release consists of - Publications
The consequences of neglecting reservoir storage in national-scale hydrologic models: An appraisal of key streamflow statistics
A better understanding of modeled streamflow errors related to basin reservoir storage is needed for large regions, which normally have many ungaged basins with reservoirs. We quantified the difference between modeled and observed streamflows for one process-based and three statistical-transfer hydrologic models, none of which explicitly accounted for reservoir storage. Streamflow statistics repreAuthorsGlenn A. Hodgkins, Thomas M. Over, Robert W. Dudley, Amy M. Russell, Jacob H. LaFontaineComparing trends in modeled and observed streamflows at minimally altered basins in the United States
We compared modeled and observed streamflow trends from 1984–2016 using five statistical transfer models and one deterministic, distributed-parameter, process-based model, for 26 flow metrics at 502 basins in the United States that are minimally influenced by development. We also looked at a measure of overall model fit and average bias. A higher percentage of basins, for all models, had relativelAuthorsGlenn A. Hodgkins, Robert W. Dudley, Amy M. Russell, Jacob H. LaFontaineAssessing the impact of site-specific BMPs using a spatially explicit, field-scale SWAT model with edge-of-field and tile hydrology and water-quality data in the Eagle Creek watershed, Ohio
The Eagle Creek watershed, a small subbasin (125 km2) within the Maumee River Basin, Ohio, was selected as a part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) “Priority Watersheds” program to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) funded through GLRI at the field and watershed scales. The location and quantity of BMPs were obtained from the U.S. DepartmentAuthorsKatherine R. Merriman, Prasad Daggupati, Raghavan Srinivasan, Chad Toussant, Amy M. Russell, Brett A. HayhurstRefinement of a regression-based method for prediction of flow-duration curves of daily streamflow in the conterminous United States
Regional regression is a common tool used to estimate daily flow-duration curves (FDCs) at ungaged locations. In this report, several refinements to a particular implementation of the regional regression method for estimating FDCs are evaluated by consideration of different methodological options through a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure in the 19 major river basins of the conterminous UnAuthorsThomas M. Over, William H. Farmer, Amy M. RussellCalibration of a field-scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model with field placement of best management practices in Alger Creek, Michigan
Subwatersheds within the Great Lakes “Priority Watersheds” were targeted by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to determine the effectiveness of the various best management practices (BMPs) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service National Conservation Planning (NCP) Database. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is created for Alger Creek,AuthorsKatherine R. Merriman-Hoehne, Amy M. Russell, Cynthia M. Rachol, Prasad Daggupati, Raghavan Srinivasan, Brett A. Hayhurst, Todd D. Stuntebeck