Caelan E Simeone
Caelan Simeone is a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey at the Oregon Water Science Center in Portland, Oregon.
Caelan Simeone joined the Oregon Water Science Center in 2021. Before that he worked at the New England Water Science Center in Augusta, Maine. His work focuses on hydrologic drought and he is working on projects looking at drought nationally, in the Colorado River Basin, and in the Donner und Blitzen Basin in southeastern Oregon. He is also involved in some water quality focused projects in the Klamath Basin.
Professional Experience
Hydrologist, USGS Oregon Water Science Center, November 2022 - Present
Hydrologist, USGS New England Water Science Center, May 2018 - Present
Education and Certifications
University of Montana, B.S. in Geosciences, 2016
University of Montana, M.S. in Geosciences, 2018
Science and Products
Data and metrics for evaluating hydrologic model performance and simulation of drought duration, severity, deficit, and occurrence in the conterminous United States
This data release presents truth data and benchmark results describing simulation of hydrologic drought events in the conterminous United States. This data release supports a publication (Simeone and others, 2024) which documents drought benchmarking methods and their application to the results of the National Water Model (NWM) version 2.1. Truth data used were observations at U.S. Geological Surv
Streamflow drought Hytest NHM
This data release presents truth data and benchmark results describing simulation of hydrologic drought events in the conterminous United States. This data release supports a publication (Simeone and others, 2024) which documents drought benchmarking methods and their application to the results of the National Hydrologic Model Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System v1.0 (NHM-PRMS). Truth data used w
Metrics to Characterizing Periods of Anomalously Low Water Storage for Selected Reservoirs in the Conterminous U.S. from 1981 to 2020
This metadata record describes a series of tabular datasets containing metrics used to characterize periods of anomalously low storage for select large reservoirs across the Conterminous United States for the climate years (April 1 – March 31) from 1981 to 2020. These data support the associated Simeone and others (2024) publication. The reservoirs in this dataset are those included in the ResOpsU
Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Upper Donner und Blitzen River Basin, Oregon, August 2020
This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a polyline shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profiles, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profiles for the Donner und Blitzen River and its tributaries, Oregon. The aeria
Low-Flow Period Seasonality, Trends, and Climate Linkages Across the United States Data Release
This metadata record describes data that characterize low-flow period duration and seasonality, as well as trends and climate linkages at streamgages across the conterminous United States. These data are associated with a publication which looks to answer three questions about low-flow periods in the conterminous United States: (1) how long are these periods and when do they typically start and en
Streamflow Drought Metrics for Select United States Geological Survey Streamgages for Three Different Time Periods from 1921 - 2020
This metadata record describes a series of datasets containing metrics used to characterize drought for four sets of United States Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in the conterminous United States (CONUS) for three different time periods between 1921 and 2020 outlined below. The streamgages used are a subset based on the criteria used in Geospatial Attributes of Gages for Evaluating Streamflo
U.S. Streamflow Drought During the Last Century: annual drought and low flow metrics, annual climate, and trends for the periods 1921-2020, 1951-2020 and 1981-2020
This dataset contains annual flow metrics quantifying drought and low streamflows for USGS GAGES-2 gages in the contiguous U.S. satisfying data completeness checks for the periods 1921-2020, 1951-2020, and 1981-2020. The dataset also contains annual climate variables from the USGS Monthly Water Balance Model (MWBM). The dataset provides trend analysis outputs for annual drought and low flow metric
Daily streamflow performance benchmark defined by D-score (v0.1) for the National Hydrologic Model application of the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (v1 byObs Muskingum) at benchmark streamflow locations
This data release contains the D-score (version 0.1) daily streamflow performance benchmark results for the National Hydrologic Model Infrastructure application of the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (NHM) version 1 "byObs" calibration with Muskingum routing computed at streamflow benchmark locations (version 1) as defined by Foks and others (2022). Model error was determined by evaluating pr
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
Data and hydraulic models at selected dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States
This dataset contains U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed hydraulic models, USGS developed hydrology data, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supplied data (topography/bathymetry and structure data for pre removal conditions), and USGS field surveyed data at nine dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States (Olson and Simeone, 2021). The hydrology, the USFWS suppl
Bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of the Passumpsic River, Lyndon, Vermont and Kedron Brook, Woodstock, Vermont, 2019
This dataset is a bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of the Passumpsic River and Kedron Brook. The dataset consists of stream channel cross-section data and structural data for bridges, culverts, and dams.
2019 Hydrographic Survey of Whetstone Brook
This dataset is a bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of Whetstone Brook and two tributaries. The dataset consists of stream channel cross-section data and structural data for bridges, culverts, and dams.
Below are publications that Caelan has authored.
Evaluating hydrologic model performance for characterizing streamflow drought in the conterminous United States
Hydrologic models are the primary tools that are used to simulate streamflow drought and assess impacts. However, there is little consensus about how to evaluate the performance of these models, especially as hydrologic modeling moves toward larger spatial domains. This paper presents a comprehensive multi-objective approach to systematically evaluating the critical features in streamflow drought
Authors
Caelan Simeone, Sydney Foks, Erin Towler, Timothy O. Hodson, Thomas M. Over
Declining reservoir reliability and increasing reservoir vulnerability: Long-term observations reveal longer and more severe periods of low reservoir storage for major United States reservoirs
Hydrological drought is a pervasive and reoccurring challenge in managing water resources. Reservoirs are critical for lessening the impacts of drought on water available for many uses. We use a novel and generalized approach to identify periods of unusually low reservoir storage—via comparisons to operational rule curves and historical patterns—to investigate how droughts affect storage in 250 re
Authors
Caelan Simeone, John C. Hammond, Stacey A. Archfield, Dan Broman, Laura Condon, Hisham Eldardiry, Carolyn G. Olson, Jen Steyaert
Low-flow period seasonality, trends, and climate linkages across the United States
Low-flow period properties, including timing, magnitude, and duration, influence many key processes for water resource managers and ecosystems. We computed annual low-flow period duration and timing metrics from 1951 to 2020 for 1032 conterminous United States (CONUS) streamgages and analyzed spatial patterns, trends through time, and relationships to climate. Results show northwestern and eastern
Authors
Caelan Simeone, Gregory J. McCabe, Jory Seth Hecht, John C. Hammond, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Carolyn G. Olson, Michael Wieczorek, David M. Wolock
Total phosphorus and suspended-sediment concentrations and loads from two main tributaries to Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014–20
Total phosphorus (TP) and suspended-sediment concentrations (SSC) and loads were computed at two U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in the upper Klamath River Basin on the Sprague (USGS site ID 11501000) and Williamson (USGS site ID 11502500) Rivers using high temporal resolution turbidity and streamflow data to develop surrogate regression models. Regression models were updated and validat
Authors
Liam N. Schenk, Caelan Simeone
Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models
Process-based, large-scale (e.g., conterminous United States [CONUS]) hydrologic models have struggled to achieve reliable streamflow drought performance in arid regions and for low-flow periods. Deep learning has recently seen broad implementation in streamflow prediction and forecasting research projects throughout the world with performance often equaling or exceeding that of process-based mode
Authors
Scott Douglas Hamshaw, Phillip J. Goodling, Konrad Hafen, John C. Hammond, Ryan R. McShane, Roy Sando, Apoorva Ramesh Shastry, Caelan E. Simeone, David Watkins, Elaheh (Ellie) White, Michael Wieczorek
A hydrologic perspective of major U.S. droughts
Drought is a recurring natural hazard that has substantial human and environmental impacts. Given continued global warming and associated climate change, there is concern that droughts could become more severe and longer lasting. To better monitor and understand drought development and persistence, it is helpful to understand the development and climatic drivers of past droughts. In this study we
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock, Melissa Lombard, Robert W. Dudley, John Christopher Hammond, Jory Seth Hecht, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Carolyn G. Olson, Roy Sando, Caelan E. Simeone, Michael E. Wieczorek
Going beyond low flows: Streamflow drought deficit and duration illuminate distinct spatiotemporal drought patterns and trends in the U.S. during the last century
Streamflow drought is a recurring challenge, and understanding spatiotemporal patterns of past droughts is needed to manage future water resources. We examined regional patterns in streamflow drought metrics and compared these metrics to low flow timing and magnitude using long-term daily records for 555 minimally disturbed watersheds. For each streamgage, we calculated streamflow drought duration
Authors
John C. Hammond, Caelan E. Simeone, Jory Seth Hecht, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Melissa Lombard, Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock, Michael Wieczorek, Carolyn G Olson, Todd Caldwell, Robert W. Dudley, Adam N. Price
Hydraulic modeling at selected dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States
Aquatic connectivity projects, such as removing dams and modifying culverts, have substantial benefits. The restoration of natural flow conditions improves water quality, sediment transport, aquatic and riparian habitat, and fish passage. These projects can also decrease hazards faced by communities by lowering water-surface elevations of flood waters and by removing the risk of dam breaches assoc
Authors
Scott A. Olson, Caelan E. Simeone
Climate change indicators: Streamflow
No abstract available.
Authors
Caelan E. Simeone, Robert W. Dudley, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Michael McHale
Practical field survey operations for flood insurance rate maps
The U.S. Geological Survey assists the Federal Emergency Management Agency in its mission to identify flood hazards and zones for risk premiums for communities nationwide, by creating flood insurance rate maps through updating hydraulic models that use river geometry data. The data collected consist of elevations of river channels, banks, and structures, such as bridges, dams, and weirs that can a
Authors
Nicholas J. Taylor, Caelan E. Simeone
Below is software that Caelan has helped developed.
HyMED Hydrologic Model Evaluation for Drought
This package facilitates the analysis and evaluation of hydrologic model streamflow output during periods of drought. This package calculates the Cohen's Kappa, Spearman correlation coefficient, ratio of standard deviation, percent bias, normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) in the annual time series of drought duration, NMAE in the annual times series of the distance the minimum percentile is bel
Low Flow Period Seasonality Trend and Climate Linkages Across the United States Software Release version 1.0.0
This is scientific code released to support the paper Low Flow Period Seasonality Trend And Climate Linkages Across The United States.
Hydrologic Model Evaluation and Time-Series Tools (HyMETT) R-package
Hydrologic Model and Evaluation Time-series Tools (HyMETT) software facilitates the analysis and evaluation of hydrologic model output and time-series data with functions focused on comparison of modeled and observed data, period-of-record statistics, and trends.
altimDSWE and RSQcomp R Packages For Remote Sensing Discharge
Projects and apps to support computation of stream discharge using remotely-sensed satellite data. (RSQ, Remotely Sensed Discharge):
altimDSWE: Shiny app tool to support development of relations between satellite altimetry and DSWE data
RSQcomp: Shiny app tool for computing stream discharge using remotely sensed data
Science and Products
Data and metrics for evaluating hydrologic model performance and simulation of drought duration, severity, deficit, and occurrence in the conterminous United States
This data release presents truth data and benchmark results describing simulation of hydrologic drought events in the conterminous United States. This data release supports a publication (Simeone and others, 2024) which documents drought benchmarking methods and their application to the results of the National Water Model (NWM) version 2.1. Truth data used were observations at U.S. Geological Surv
Streamflow drought Hytest NHM
This data release presents truth data and benchmark results describing simulation of hydrologic drought events in the conterminous United States. This data release supports a publication (Simeone and others, 2024) which documents drought benchmarking methods and their application to the results of the National Hydrologic Model Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System v1.0 (NHM-PRMS). Truth data used w
Metrics to Characterizing Periods of Anomalously Low Water Storage for Selected Reservoirs in the Conterminous U.S. from 1981 to 2020
This metadata record describes a series of tabular datasets containing metrics used to characterize periods of anomalously low storage for select large reservoirs across the Conterminous United States for the climate years (April 1 – March 31) from 1981 to 2020. These data support the associated Simeone and others (2024) publication. The reservoirs in this dataset are those included in the ResOpsU
Airborne Thermal Infrared and High-resolution True-color Imagery and Longitudinal Profiles of Stream Temperatures, Upper Donner und Blitzen River Basin, Oregon, August 2020
This dataset includes georeferenced, high-resolution, airborne thermal infrared (TIR) and high-resolution true-color imagery, a polyline shapefile of the channel centerline, a polyline shapefile with TIR sample points for longitudinal stream temperature profiles, and a tabular file with longitudinal stream temperature profiles for the Donner und Blitzen River and its tributaries, Oregon. The aeria
Low-Flow Period Seasonality, Trends, and Climate Linkages Across the United States Data Release
This metadata record describes data that characterize low-flow period duration and seasonality, as well as trends and climate linkages at streamgages across the conterminous United States. These data are associated with a publication which looks to answer three questions about low-flow periods in the conterminous United States: (1) how long are these periods and when do they typically start and en
Streamflow Drought Metrics for Select United States Geological Survey Streamgages for Three Different Time Periods from 1921 - 2020
This metadata record describes a series of datasets containing metrics used to characterize drought for four sets of United States Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in the conterminous United States (CONUS) for three different time periods between 1921 and 2020 outlined below. The streamgages used are a subset based on the criteria used in Geospatial Attributes of Gages for Evaluating Streamflo
U.S. Streamflow Drought During the Last Century: annual drought and low flow metrics, annual climate, and trends for the periods 1921-2020, 1951-2020 and 1981-2020
This dataset contains annual flow metrics quantifying drought and low streamflows for USGS GAGES-2 gages in the contiguous U.S. satisfying data completeness checks for the periods 1921-2020, 1951-2020, and 1981-2020. The dataset also contains annual climate variables from the USGS Monthly Water Balance Model (MWBM). The dataset provides trend analysis outputs for annual drought and low flow metric
Daily streamflow performance benchmark defined by D-score (v0.1) for the National Hydrologic Model application of the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (v1 byObs Muskingum) at benchmark streamflow locations
This data release contains the D-score (version 0.1) daily streamflow performance benchmark results for the National Hydrologic Model Infrastructure application of the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (NHM) version 1 "byObs" calibration with Muskingum routing computed at streamflow benchmark locations (version 1) as defined by Foks and others (2022). Model error was determined by evaluating pr
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
Data and hydraulic models at selected dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States
This dataset contains U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed hydraulic models, USGS developed hydrology data, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) supplied data (topography/bathymetry and structure data for pre removal conditions), and USGS field surveyed data at nine dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States (Olson and Simeone, 2021). The hydrology, the USFWS suppl
Bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of the Passumpsic River, Lyndon, Vermont and Kedron Brook, Woodstock, Vermont, 2019
This dataset is a bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of the Passumpsic River and Kedron Brook. The dataset consists of stream channel cross-section data and structural data for bridges, culverts, and dams.
2019 Hydrographic Survey of Whetstone Brook
This dataset is a bathymetric and hydraulic structure survey of Whetstone Brook and two tributaries. The dataset consists of stream channel cross-section data and structural data for bridges, culverts, and dams.
Below are publications that Caelan has authored.
Evaluating hydrologic model performance for characterizing streamflow drought in the conterminous United States
Hydrologic models are the primary tools that are used to simulate streamflow drought and assess impacts. However, there is little consensus about how to evaluate the performance of these models, especially as hydrologic modeling moves toward larger spatial domains. This paper presents a comprehensive multi-objective approach to systematically evaluating the critical features in streamflow drought
Authors
Caelan Simeone, Sydney Foks, Erin Towler, Timothy O. Hodson, Thomas M. Over
Declining reservoir reliability and increasing reservoir vulnerability: Long-term observations reveal longer and more severe periods of low reservoir storage for major United States reservoirs
Hydrological drought is a pervasive and reoccurring challenge in managing water resources. Reservoirs are critical for lessening the impacts of drought on water available for many uses. We use a novel and generalized approach to identify periods of unusually low reservoir storage—via comparisons to operational rule curves and historical patterns—to investigate how droughts affect storage in 250 re
Authors
Caelan Simeone, John C. Hammond, Stacey A. Archfield, Dan Broman, Laura Condon, Hisham Eldardiry, Carolyn G. Olson, Jen Steyaert
Low-flow period seasonality, trends, and climate linkages across the United States
Low-flow period properties, including timing, magnitude, and duration, influence many key processes for water resource managers and ecosystems. We computed annual low-flow period duration and timing metrics from 1951 to 2020 for 1032 conterminous United States (CONUS) streamgages and analyzed spatial patterns, trends through time, and relationships to climate. Results show northwestern and eastern
Authors
Caelan Simeone, Gregory J. McCabe, Jory Seth Hecht, John C. Hammond, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Carolyn G. Olson, Michael Wieczorek, David M. Wolock
Total phosphorus and suspended-sediment concentrations and loads from two main tributaries to Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, 2014–20
Total phosphorus (TP) and suspended-sediment concentrations (SSC) and loads were computed at two U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in the upper Klamath River Basin on the Sprague (USGS site ID 11501000) and Williamson (USGS site ID 11502500) Rivers using high temporal resolution turbidity and streamflow data to develop surrogate regression models. Regression models were updated and validat
Authors
Liam N. Schenk, Caelan Simeone
Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models
Process-based, large-scale (e.g., conterminous United States [CONUS]) hydrologic models have struggled to achieve reliable streamflow drought performance in arid regions and for low-flow periods. Deep learning has recently seen broad implementation in streamflow prediction and forecasting research projects throughout the world with performance often equaling or exceeding that of process-based mode
Authors
Scott Douglas Hamshaw, Phillip J. Goodling, Konrad Hafen, John C. Hammond, Ryan R. McShane, Roy Sando, Apoorva Ramesh Shastry, Caelan E. Simeone, David Watkins, Elaheh (Ellie) White, Michael Wieczorek
A hydrologic perspective of major U.S. droughts
Drought is a recurring natural hazard that has substantial human and environmental impacts. Given continued global warming and associated climate change, there is concern that droughts could become more severe and longer lasting. To better monitor and understand drought development and persistence, it is helpful to understand the development and climatic drivers of past droughts. In this study we
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock, Melissa Lombard, Robert W. Dudley, John Christopher Hammond, Jory Seth Hecht, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Carolyn G. Olson, Roy Sando, Caelan E. Simeone, Michael E. Wieczorek
Going beyond low flows: Streamflow drought deficit and duration illuminate distinct spatiotemporal drought patterns and trends in the U.S. during the last century
Streamflow drought is a recurring challenge, and understanding spatiotemporal patterns of past droughts is needed to manage future water resources. We examined regional patterns in streamflow drought metrics and compared these metrics to low flow timing and magnitude using long-term daily records for 555 minimally disturbed watersheds. For each streamgage, we calculated streamflow drought duration
Authors
John C. Hammond, Caelan E. Simeone, Jory Seth Hecht, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Melissa Lombard, Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock, Michael Wieczorek, Carolyn G Olson, Todd Caldwell, Robert W. Dudley, Adam N. Price
Hydraulic modeling at selected dam-removal and culvert-retrofit sites in the northeastern United States
Aquatic connectivity projects, such as removing dams and modifying culverts, have substantial benefits. The restoration of natural flow conditions improves water quality, sediment transport, aquatic and riparian habitat, and fish passage. These projects can also decrease hazards faced by communities by lowering water-surface elevations of flood waters and by removing the risk of dam breaches assoc
Authors
Scott A. Olson, Caelan E. Simeone
Climate change indicators: Streamflow
No abstract available.
Authors
Caelan E. Simeone, Robert W. Dudley, Glenn A. Hodgkins, Michael McHale
Practical field survey operations for flood insurance rate maps
The U.S. Geological Survey assists the Federal Emergency Management Agency in its mission to identify flood hazards and zones for risk premiums for communities nationwide, by creating flood insurance rate maps through updating hydraulic models that use river geometry data. The data collected consist of elevations of river channels, banks, and structures, such as bridges, dams, and weirs that can a
Authors
Nicholas J. Taylor, Caelan E. Simeone
Below is software that Caelan has helped developed.
HyMED Hydrologic Model Evaluation for Drought
This package facilitates the analysis and evaluation of hydrologic model streamflow output during periods of drought. This package calculates the Cohen's Kappa, Spearman correlation coefficient, ratio of standard deviation, percent bias, normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) in the annual time series of drought duration, NMAE in the annual times series of the distance the minimum percentile is bel
Low Flow Period Seasonality Trend and Climate Linkages Across the United States Software Release version 1.0.0
This is scientific code released to support the paper Low Flow Period Seasonality Trend And Climate Linkages Across The United States.
Hydrologic Model Evaluation and Time-Series Tools (HyMETT) R-package
Hydrologic Model and Evaluation Time-series Tools (HyMETT) software facilitates the analysis and evaluation of hydrologic model output and time-series data with functions focused on comparison of modeled and observed data, period-of-record statistics, and trends.
altimDSWE and RSQcomp R Packages For Remote Sensing Discharge
Projects and apps to support computation of stream discharge using remotely-sensed satellite data. (RSQ, Remotely Sensed Discharge):
altimDSWE: Shiny app tool to support development of relations between satellite altimetry and DSWE data
RSQcomp: Shiny app tool for computing stream discharge using remotely sensed data