Benjamin V Miller
Benjamin Miller is a Physical Scientist in the Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center and is based out of Nashville, Tennessee. His research focuses on the hydrogeology of karst landscapes.
Professional Experience
Hydrologic Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Nashville, TN
September 2013 – September 2016
Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Nashville, TN
September 2016 – Present
Education and Certifications
Master of Science in Geosciences, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 2010
Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation & Tourism, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 2002
Science and Products
Tennessee Karst Groundwater Dye Tracing Water Year 2023
Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (
Tennessee Karst Groundwater Dye Tracing Water Year 2022
Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater in karst landscapes. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC)
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee
The Little Sequatchie River and Pryor Cove Creek watersheds are located in southern Tennessee and drain the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau to the Sequatchie River. The Little Sequatchie River has the largest drainage area of any Sequatchie River tributary, with over 130 square miles in the topographic confines of the watershed. The hydrology of both watersheds has been largely alte
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for Fern Cave, Alabama through the use of dye tracing
Fern Cave in Jackson County, Alabama is the longest and deepest cave in Alabama with over 15 miles of cave passages and 536 feet of depth. The cave is cooperatively managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. At least three different streams flow through the cave including the Surprise, Lower North, and Bottom Cave streams. Two of these streams, Lower North
Dye tracing data related to karst hydrologic processes in carbonate fensters of the western Great Smoky Mountains
Dye tracing investigations were conducted in Cades Cove and Tuckaleechee Cove, two carbonate fensters in the western Great Smoky Mountains. These investigations were conducted as part of a two-year study examining the karst hydrology in the carbonate fensters. Main objectives of the dye tracing investigations were to determine resurgences for cave systems, delineate recharge areas for major spring
Electric Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys conducted near campgrounds on the Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Karst environments present many challenges to agencies and engineers attempting to work in these landscapes, particularly towards building infrastructure. The interconnectivity of karst hydrologic systems means that activities occurring on the surface of a karst landscape can have an impact on water quality and quantity. Additionally, soil thickness in karst landscape is often highly variable due
Seepage investigation and dye tracing to characterize base flow stream behavior in Big Creek watershed, Newton County, Arkansas
This data release pertains to a seepage investigation and dye tracing study conducted in the Big Creek watershed of Newton County, Arkansas. The seepage dataset includes geospatial files of discharge measurement points and zero-flow observations along with vector lines delineating losing and gaining stream reaches. The dye tracing dataset consists of geospatial files of monitoring sites, dye injec
Use of dye-tracing to delineate the recharge area of Manitou Cave, Alabama, towards assessing sensitive stygobiont habitat
In 2019, dye tracing investigations were conducted near Manitou Cave in Dekalb County, northeast Alabama. The purpose of the dye tracing was to delineate a recharge area for the stream in Manitou Cave, a 1.7-kilometer-long stream cave and the only known habitat for the Manitou Cavesnail (Antroribus breweri). In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was petitioned by the Center for Biological Di
Waterborne Resistivity Inverted Models, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 2016-2018
This data release consists of two .csv files of inverted models of electrical resistivity created from the processed resistivity data in the accompanying two data releases: (Miller and Others, 2018) and (2018 Raw and Processed, in progress). During 2016, 17, and 18, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted continuous resistivity profiling along 15 rivers or lakes in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain of M
Geophysical surveys and geospatial data for Bob Kidd Lake, Washington County, Arkansas
This data release consists of three different types of data: including direct current (DC) resistivity profiles, frequency domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey data, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinate data of the geophysical measurement locations. A data dictionary is included along with the data and defines all of the table headings, definitions, and units.
Earthen dam
Waterborne resistivity surveys for streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 2017
This data release has three components for each of the eight stream lengths: 1) a geospatial dataset of the processed data; 2) tabular data of the processed waterborne resistivity profiling data and associated water-quality data; 3) tabular data of the raw waterborne resistivity data and associated water-quality data. In fresh water aquifers, the geoelectric resistivity of earth materials comm
Water-borne continuous resistivity profiling data from select streams of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in northwestern Mississippi
This data release consists of two different datasets, waterborne resistivity profiling data and water quality data collected during profiling.
In fresh water aquifers, the geoelectric resistivity of earth materials commonly has a positive correlation with hydraulic conductivity. In June 2016, continuous resistivity profiling data were collected, as a proxy for streambed hydraulic conductivity,
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for Fern Cave, Alabama, through the use of dye tracing
Fern Cave in Jackson County, Alabama, is a 15.6-mile-long (25.1-kilometer) cave system, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Southeastern Cave Conservancy, that has the second highest biodiversity of any cave in the southeastern United States. Groundwater in karst ecosystems is known to be susceptible to impacts from human-induced land-use activities in watersheds that contribute rech
Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region
Introduction The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States, and crop productivity relies on groundwater irrigation from an aquifer system whose full capacity is unknown. Groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer have resulted in substantial groundwater-level declines and reductions in base flow in streams with
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee
The Little Sequatchie River and Pryor Cove Branch, in southern Tennessee, drain the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau to the Sequatchie River near the southern end of the Sequatchie Valley. The Little Sequatchie River is the largest tributary to the Sequatchie River by drainage area, covering over 120 square miles. The hydrology of the two drainage areas has been largely altered by kars
Authors
Benjamin V. Miller
The use of dye-tracing studies to delineate the recharge area for Manitou Cave in northwestern Alabama
In 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) was petitioned to federally list the Manitou Cave Snail, (Antrorbis breweri ), a stygobiont endemic to Manitou Cave in northwestern Alabama. When an agency is tasked with determining whether to add a species to the Endangered Species List, one of the components examined is potential threats to the biota. Knowing the recharge area for a cave or spring is c
Authors
Benjamin Miller
Karst hydrogeology of Tuckaleechee Cove and the western Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
The geology of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) in Tennessee and North Carolina is dominated by siliciclastics and metamorphic strata. However, in the western portion of GRSM, a series of carbonate fensters (windows) expose the Lower Ordovician–age section of the Knox Group, a series of dolomite and limestone units that are partially marbleized as a result of contact metamorphism from th
Authors
Benjamin Miller, Mike Bradley, Teresa L. Brown
Science and Products
Tennessee Karst Groundwater Dye Tracing Water Year 2023
Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (
Tennessee Karst Groundwater Dye Tracing Water Year 2022
Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater in karst landscapes. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC)
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee
The Little Sequatchie River and Pryor Cove Creek watersheds are located in southern Tennessee and drain the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau to the Sequatchie River. The Little Sequatchie River has the largest drainage area of any Sequatchie River tributary, with over 130 square miles in the topographic confines of the watershed. The hydrology of both watersheds has been largely alte
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for Fern Cave, Alabama through the use of dye tracing
Fern Cave in Jackson County, Alabama is the longest and deepest cave in Alabama with over 15 miles of cave passages and 536 feet of depth. The cave is cooperatively managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Southeastern Cave Conservancy. At least three different streams flow through the cave including the Surprise, Lower North, and Bottom Cave streams. Two of these streams, Lower North
Dye tracing data related to karst hydrologic processes in carbonate fensters of the western Great Smoky Mountains
Dye tracing investigations were conducted in Cades Cove and Tuckaleechee Cove, two carbonate fensters in the western Great Smoky Mountains. These investigations were conducted as part of a two-year study examining the karst hydrology in the carbonate fensters. Main objectives of the dye tracing investigations were to determine resurgences for cave systems, delineate recharge areas for major spring
Electric Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys conducted near campgrounds on the Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Karst environments present many challenges to agencies and engineers attempting to work in these landscapes, particularly towards building infrastructure. The interconnectivity of karst hydrologic systems means that activities occurring on the surface of a karst landscape can have an impact on water quality and quantity. Additionally, soil thickness in karst landscape is often highly variable due
Seepage investigation and dye tracing to characterize base flow stream behavior in Big Creek watershed, Newton County, Arkansas
This data release pertains to a seepage investigation and dye tracing study conducted in the Big Creek watershed of Newton County, Arkansas. The seepage dataset includes geospatial files of discharge measurement points and zero-flow observations along with vector lines delineating losing and gaining stream reaches. The dye tracing dataset consists of geospatial files of monitoring sites, dye injec
Use of dye-tracing to delineate the recharge area of Manitou Cave, Alabama, towards assessing sensitive stygobiont habitat
In 2019, dye tracing investigations were conducted near Manitou Cave in Dekalb County, northeast Alabama. The purpose of the dye tracing was to delineate a recharge area for the stream in Manitou Cave, a 1.7-kilometer-long stream cave and the only known habitat for the Manitou Cavesnail (Antroribus breweri). In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was petitioned by the Center for Biological Di
Waterborne Resistivity Inverted Models, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 2016-2018
This data release consists of two .csv files of inverted models of electrical resistivity created from the processed resistivity data in the accompanying two data releases: (Miller and Others, 2018) and (2018 Raw and Processed, in progress). During 2016, 17, and 18, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted continuous resistivity profiling along 15 rivers or lakes in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain of M
Geophysical surveys and geospatial data for Bob Kidd Lake, Washington County, Arkansas
This data release consists of three different types of data: including direct current (DC) resistivity profiles, frequency domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey data, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinate data of the geophysical measurement locations. A data dictionary is included along with the data and defines all of the table headings, definitions, and units.
Earthen dam
Waterborne resistivity surveys for streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, 2017
This data release has three components for each of the eight stream lengths: 1) a geospatial dataset of the processed data; 2) tabular data of the processed waterborne resistivity profiling data and associated water-quality data; 3) tabular data of the raw waterborne resistivity data and associated water-quality data. In fresh water aquifers, the geoelectric resistivity of earth materials comm
Water-borne continuous resistivity profiling data from select streams of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in northwestern Mississippi
This data release consists of two different datasets, waterborne resistivity profiling data and water quality data collected during profiling.
In fresh water aquifers, the geoelectric resistivity of earth materials commonly has a positive correlation with hydraulic conductivity. In June 2016, continuous resistivity profiling data were collected, as a proxy for streambed hydraulic conductivity,
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for Fern Cave, Alabama, through the use of dye tracing
Fern Cave in Jackson County, Alabama, is a 15.6-mile-long (25.1-kilometer) cave system, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Southeastern Cave Conservancy, that has the second highest biodiversity of any cave in the southeastern United States. Groundwater in karst ecosystems is known to be susceptible to impacts from human-induced land-use activities in watersheds that contribute rech
Estimating streambed hydraulic conductivity for selected streams in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain using continuous resistivity profiling methods—Delta region
Introduction The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is one of the most important agricultural regions in the United States, and crop productivity relies on groundwater irrigation from an aquifer system whose full capacity is unknown. Groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer have resulted in substantial groundwater-level declines and reductions in base flow in streams with
Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee
The Little Sequatchie River and Pryor Cove Branch, in southern Tennessee, drain the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau to the Sequatchie River near the southern end of the Sequatchie Valley. The Little Sequatchie River is the largest tributary to the Sequatchie River by drainage area, covering over 120 square miles. The hydrology of the two drainage areas has been largely altered by kars
Authors
Benjamin V. Miller
The use of dye-tracing studies to delineate the recharge area for Manitou Cave in northwestern Alabama
In 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) was petitioned to federally list the Manitou Cave Snail, (Antrorbis breweri ), a stygobiont endemic to Manitou Cave in northwestern Alabama. When an agency is tasked with determining whether to add a species to the Endangered Species List, one of the components examined is potential threats to the biota. Knowing the recharge area for a cave or spring is c
Authors
Benjamin Miller
Karst hydrogeology of Tuckaleechee Cove and the western Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
The geology of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) in Tennessee and North Carolina is dominated by siliciclastics and metamorphic strata. However, in the western portion of GRSM, a series of carbonate fensters (windows) expose the Lower Ordovician–age section of the Knox Group, a series of dolomite and limestone units that are partially marbleized as a result of contact metamorphism from th
Authors
Benjamin Miller, Mike Bradley, Teresa L. Brown