Ben is a Physical Scientist in the Water Quality Research section of the U.S. Geological Survey New York Water Science Center.
Ben's primary areas of interest are in hydrologic and water quality modeling, environmental sensitivity indices, groundwater aquifer characterizations, ground/surface water quality, constituent loading, and GIS applications.
Professional Experience
Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY, 2019-Present
Hydrologic Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Ithaca, NY, 2013-2019
Volunteer, U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Ithaca, NY, 2012-13
Education and Certifications
BA, Geography, Earth Systems Science and GIS Distinction, University at Buffalo, 2013
BSc, Geography, Study Abroad Program, University of Sheffield, 2012
Science and Products
Methods of data collection and analysis for an assessment of karst aquifer systems between Albany and Buffalo, New York
Geohydrology and water quality of the northern and central parts of the Tug Hill glacial aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, north-central New York
Streamflow and estimated loads of phosphorus and dissolved and suspended solids from selected tributaries to Lake Ontario, New York, water years 2012–14
Geohydrology and water quality of the stratified-drift aquifers in West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
Geohydrology and water quality of the unconsolidated aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North Central New York
Geohydrology of the Valley-Fill Aquifer in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Town of Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
Geohydrology of the Unconsolidated Aquifer in Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
Water Quality Data for Tributaries to Lake Ontario in New York-- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Lakewide Impairment Study
Geospatial Datasets for the Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North-Central New York
Horizontal-to-Vertical Seismic Method (HVSR) Soundings in the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North Central New York
Geospatial data to assess karst aquifer systems between Albany and Buffalo, New York (ver. 3.0, October 2022)
Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio and Depth-to-Bedrock for Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Stratified-Drift Aquifer in West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Town of Newfield, Tompkins County, New York, July 2011 - November 2016
Geospatial datasets for the geohydrology and water quality of the stratified-drift aquifers in West Branch Cayuga Inlet/Fish Kill aquifers in Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
Lake Ontario Water Quality and Velocity Transect Data 2015-18
Geospatial Datasets for the Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Unconsolidated Aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
Lake Ontario Nearshore Nutrient Study (LONNS), 2018, Lake Ontario, New York
Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio Soundings and Depth-to-Bedrock Data for Geohydrology and Water Quality Investigation of the Unconsolidated Aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York, April 2013 - August 2015
Records of Selected Wells for Data Source for Geohydrology and Water Quality Investigation of the Unconsolidated Aquifer in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York, 2013-18
Science and Products
- Publications
Methods of data collection and analysis for an assessment of karst aquifer systems between Albany and Buffalo, New York
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, catalogued aquifers and closed depressions in a karst-prone area between Albany and Buffalo, New York to provide resource managers information to more efficiently manage and protect groundwater resources. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has been working with theAuthorsBradley A. Sporleder, Benjamin N. Fisher, Douglas S. Keto, William M. Kappel, James E. Reddy, Laura M. DeMottGeohydrology and water quality of the northern and central parts of the Tug Hill glacial aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, north-central New York
The northern and central parts of the Tug Hill glacial aquifer consist of a 29-mile-long, crescent-shaped, mixture of glaciofluvial, glaciolacustrine, and recent alluvial deposits of predominantly sand and gravel on the western side of the Tug Hill Plateau in Jefferson and Oswego Counties in north-central New York. Approximately 11,400 people are supplied by groundwater that is withdrawn from muniAuthorsTodd S. Miller, Benjamin N. Fisher, William M. KappelStreamflow and estimated loads of phosphorus and dissolved and suspended solids from selected tributaries to Lake Ontario, New York, water years 2012–14
This report presents results of the evaluation and interpretation of hydrologic and water-quality data collected as part of a cooperative program between the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Streamflow, phosphorus, and solids dissolved and suspended in stream water were the focus of monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey at 10 sites on 9 selected tributaries tAuthorsBrett A. Hayhurst, Benjamin N. Fisher, James E. ReddyGeohydrology and water quality of the stratified-drift aquifers in West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
From 2011 to 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Newfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, performed a study of the stratified-drift aquifers in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys in Newfield, Tompkins County, New York. Both confined and unconfined aquifers were identified, mostly in the valleys. The confined aquifer consists of a discontinAuthorsBenjamin N. Fisher, Paul M. Heisig, William M. KappelGeohydrology and water quality of the unconsolidated aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
From 2013 to 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Enfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, studied the unconsolidated aquifer in the Enfield Creek Valley in the town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York. The valley will likely undergo future development as the population of Tompkins County increases and spreads out from the metropolitan areas. The Town ofAuthorsBenjamin N. Fisher, Paul M. Heisig, William M. Kappel - Science
Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North Central New York
Problem - The entire Tug Hill glacial aquifer is a 47-mile-long, crescent-shaped mixture of glacial deposits of predominantly sand and gravel on the western side of the Tug Hill Plateau in Jefferson, Oswego, and Oneida Counties in north central New York. The Tug Hill aquifer can be divided into three parts (northern, central, and southern) based on geohydrological setting, depositional history, anGeohydrology of the Valley-Fill Aquifer in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Town of Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
PROBLEM The valley-fill aquifers in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill valleys (designated as aquifer 15, fig.1), within the Town of Newfield, were mapped by Miller (2000) and identified as one of 17 unconsolidated aquifers in Tompkins County that need to be studied in more detail. The valley-fill in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill valleys contain a heterogeneous mix of glacialGeohydrology of the Unconsolidated Aquifer in Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
PROBLEM The unconsolidated aquifer in Enfield Creek Valley (fig. 1) was mapped by Miller (2000) and identified as one of 17 unconsolidated aquifers in Tompkins County that needs to be studied in more detail. Well records in Enfield Creek valley indicate that the northern part of Enfield Creek valley contains sand and gravel deposits which may be under unconfined conditions in some areas, confinWater Quality Data for Tributaries to Lake Ontario in New York-- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Lakewide Impairment Study
Lake Ontario is the easternmost Great Lake and has a direct drainage area of 24,720 square miles (mi2)(excluding the Niagara River and upper Great Lakes watershed), and is bounded by the Canadian Province of Ontario to the north and west and New York State to the south and east. Lake Ontario receives its primary inflow from the watersheds of the upper Great Lakes through the Niagara River near Yo - Data
Geospatial Datasets for the Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North-Central New York
The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Tug Hill Commission, the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Tug Hill Land Trust studied the northern and central parts of the Tug Hill glacial aquifer to better understand and explain the dynamics of theHorizontal-to-Vertical Seismic Method (HVSR) Soundings in the Northern and Central Parts of the Tug Hill Glacial Aquifer, Jefferson and Oswego Counties, North Central New York
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Tug Hill Commission, the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Tug Hill Land Trust collected horizontal-to-vertical seismic soundings at 139 locations in the Northern and Central parts of the Tug Hill GlaciGeospatial data to assess karst aquifer systems between Albany and Buffalo, New York (ver. 3.0, October 2022)
Publicly available geospatial data were identified, collated, and analyzed for a region of karst terrain extending from Albany to Buffalo, New York. A series of geospatial datasets were assembled to determine the location and extent of karstic rock; bedrock geology and depth to bedrock; average water-table configuration; surficial geology; soil type, thickness, and hydraulic conductivity; land covHorizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio and Depth-to-Bedrock for Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Stratified-Drift Aquifer in West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill Valleys, Town of Newfield, Tompkins County, New York, July 2011 - November 2016
From July 2011 to November 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Newfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, collected horizontal-to-vertical seismic surveys at 58 locations in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill valleys to help determine thickness of unconsolidated deposits and depth to bedrock. The HVSR technique, commonly referred to as the passive-Geospatial datasets for the geohydrology and water quality of the stratified-drift aquifers in West Branch Cayuga Inlet/Fish Kill aquifers in Newfield, Tompkins County, New York
In 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Newfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, began a study of the stratified-drift aquifers in the West Branch Cayuga Inlet and Fish Kill valleys in the Town of Newfield, Tompkins County, New York. The objective of this study was to characterize the hydrogeology and water quality of the stratified-drift aquifers in the WLake Ontario Water Quality and Velocity Transect Data 2015-18
From May of 2015 through September of 2018, water-quality were collected at 178 locations and velocity data were collected along 7 transects from select tributaries, embayments, and nearshore lake locations along New York's Lake Ontario waterfront in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Lakewide Action Management Plan. These data include: depth, velocity magnitude, velocity diGeospatial Datasets for the Geohydrology and Water Quality of the Unconsolidated Aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York
From 2013 to 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Enfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, studied the unconsolidated aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley in the town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York. The objective of this study was to characterize the geohydrology and water quality of the unconsolidated aquifers in the Enfield Creek valley and produceLake Ontario Nearshore Nutrient Study (LONNS), 2018, Lake Ontario, New York
From April through September of 2018, water-quality data were collected at 35 locations from select tributaries, embayments, and nearshore lake locations along New York's portion of Lake Ontario in support of the 2018 Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and the Lakewide Action Management Plan. These data include environmental, replicate, and blanHorizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio Soundings and Depth-to-Bedrock Data for Geohydrology and Water Quality Investigation of the Unconsolidated Aquifers in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York, April 2013 - August 2015
From April 2013 to August 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Enfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, collected horizontal-to-vertical seismic soundings at 69 locations in the Enfield Creek valley to help determine thickness of the unconsolidated deposits and depth to bedrock. The HVSR technique, commonly referred to as the passive-seismic method, is uRecords of Selected Wells for Data Source for Geohydrology and Water Quality Investigation of the Unconsolidated Aquifer in the Enfield Creek Valley, Town of Enfield, Tompkins County, New York, 2013-18
From 2013 to 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Town of Enfield and the Tompkins County Planning Department, collected and compiled well records (306 in total) within and outside the unconsolidated aquifers in the Town of Enfield, New York. Sources of well data included previous USGS groundwater studies, the USGS National Water Information System, and well records obtaine - Multimedia