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Chris Sanocki

Christopher A. Sanocki is a supervisory geographer and water-use specialist for the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center. Chris has worked on many and varied projects including, watershed characterization, flood frequency, groundwater and water use. Chris has presented locally and nationally on “GIS Data and Application Management”, “Web based Watershed and Flood Frequency Applications” (Stream

 

Publications:

Hopkins, A. L., Dunn, N. A., Dooley, K. M., & Sanocki, C. A. (2021). Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Lake Ontario, U.S. [Data set]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9WUCQDU

Sanocki, C.A., Williams-Sether, T., Steeves, P.A., and Christensen, V.G., 2019, Techniques for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on small streams in the binational U.S. and Canadian Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, based on data through water year 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2019–5012, 17 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195012

Smith, E.A., Sanocki, C.A., Lorenz, D.L., and Jacobsen, K.E., 2017, Streamflow distribution maps for the Cannon River drainage basin, southeast Minnesota, and the St. Louis River drainage basin, northeast Minnesota: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3390, pamphlet 16 p., 2 sheets, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3390

Smith, E.A., Lorenz, D.L., Kessler, E.W., Berg, A.M., and Sanocki, C.A., 2017, Groundwater discharge to the Mississippi River and groundwater balances for the Interstate 94 Corridor surficial aquifer, Clearwater to Elk River, Minnesota, 2012–14: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5114, 54 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175114

Ziegeweid, Jeffrey R.; Lorenz, David L.; Sanocki, Chris A.; Czuba, Christiana R., 2015. Methods for Estimating Flow-Duration Curve and Low-Flow Frequency Statistics for Ungaged Locations on Small Streams in Minnesota. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5170, online-only

Kessler, Erich W.; Lorenz, David L.; Sanocki, Christopher A., 2013. Methods and results of peak-flow frequency analyses for streamgages in and bordering Minnesota, through water year 2011. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5110, Report: iv, 46 p.; Downloads Directory

Ellison, Christopher A.; Sanocki, Chris A.; Lorenz, David L.; Mitton, Gregory B.; Kruse, Gregory A. 2011 Floods of September 2010 in Southern Minnesota, USGS Scientific Investigations Report: 2011-5045

Sanocki, Christopher A.; Langer, Susan K.; Menard, Jason C. 2009 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5226 Potentiometric Surfaces and Changes in Groundwater Levels in Selected Bedrock Aquifers in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, March-August 2008 and 1988-2008

Lorenz, D. L.; Sano

Abstracts and Presentations

  • Sanocki, Christopher A., 2019 Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment, Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference October 2-4, 2019, St Cloud, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A., 2018 Bulletin 17B to 17C Updates, Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers Conference November 13-16, Mankato, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A., 2018 USGS StreamStats and High-Resolution DEMs, Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers Conference November 13-16, Mankato, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A., 2018 USGS Regional Flood Trends Report, Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers Conference November 13-16, Mankato, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A., Katrin Jacobsen, 2017 U.S. Geological Survey Site-specific Water-use Data System (SWUDS) Tracking and Reporting Water-use for the Nation, Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference October 4-6, 2017, Bemidji, Minnesota

  • Brandi J. Kastner, Victoria G. Christensen, Tanja N. Williamson, Christopher A. Sanocki 2016, Migratory Bird Habitat in Relation to Tile Drainage and Poorly Drained Hydrologic Soil Groups, 10th International Drainage Symposium Conference, 6-9 September 2016, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2015 WaterSMART and Water Use Guide USGS Science Goals and Priorities, Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference October 7-9, 2015, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2014 Bi-National Rainy River StreamStats Meeting, International joint Commission, Environment Canada, USGS July 7, 2014

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2012 Using NHDPlus to generate watersheds for 10,000 fish mercury sampling sites across the United States, Minnesota GIS/LIS Conference October 3-5, 2012, St Cloud, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2010 Harmonized Minnesota DNR Catchments, Federal Watershed Boundary Data, and Canadian Watersheds to Provide Tools for Binational Water Resource Analysis and Planning Minnesota GIS/LIS conference, Oct. 13-15, 2010 Duluth, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2009. Changes in Groundwater Level and Potentiometric Surfaces in Selected Bedrock Aquifers in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, 2008 Minnesota Water Resources Conference October 26-27, 2009 Saint Paul, Minnesota

  • Sanocki, Christoher A. 2008 USGS StreamStats program status in Minnesota”.Minnesota Governers Council Hydrography Subcommittee February 21, 2008

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2007 Panel: National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Stewardship and Hydrography Applications, Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium Conference, October 10-12, 2007, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, Minnesota.

  • Sanocki, Christopher A. 2006 Displaying Surface-Water Data and Spatial Information for USGS Gaging and Water-Quality Stations in Minnesota, U.S. Geological Survey Sixth Biennial Geographic Information Science Workshop, Denver, Colorado, April 24-28, 2006

  • Kocian M., C. Sanocki, B. Vondracek. 2006 Comparing Geographic Information System Stream Slope Methods to Field Measurements in Minnesota. U.S. Geological Survey Sixth Biennial Geographic Information Science Workshop (USGS GIS 2006), 24-28 April, Denver, Colorado

  • Kocian M., B. Vondracek. and C. Sanocki. 2006 Using a GIS to Estimate Stream Physical Characteristics. 26th Annual ESRI International User Conference. San Diego, California, 7-11 August 2006 . (POSTER)

  • Kocian, M., B. Vondracek, and C. Sanocki. 2006 Using a GIS to Estimate Stream Geomorphic Characteristics. Minnesota Natural Resources Conference, Brainerd, Minnesota 1-2 March (POSTER)

  • Kocian, M., C.Sanocki, B.Vondracek, and B.N.Wilson. 2005. Evaluation variability in stream slope estimates using GIS. 15th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium Conference and Workshops, St. Cloud, MN 3-5 October.

  • Sanocki, Chris A., 2004 Minnesota Stream and Lake Watershed Characteristics Available on the World Wide Web, 14th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium Conference and Workshops, St. Cloud, MN 4-6 October 2004.

  • Sanocki, Chris A., Rane, Sanjay 2004 StreamStats, ArcHydro, and a Nationally Consistent Stream-Slope Application, 14th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium Conference and Workshops, St. Cloud, MN 4-6 October 2004.

  • Sanocki C.A, Rane S.A., “Comparison of stream-slope estimation automated vs semi-automated techniques” ESRI International User Conference 2003, San Diego, CA

  • Sanocki C. A., Federal GIS users conference “Minnesota Model for GIS Data and Application Management” Spring 2001 Denver, CO

  • Sanocki C.A., Minnesota’s process to incorporate watershed information into National standards and EROS data centers Seamless Data Access, Base Layer Development and future cooperation with USGS Minnesota on Automated HUC Level 4 base map production. Second annual NED-H* Collaborators’ Meeting, June 26th-28th, 2001. USGS EROS Data Center Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

  • Sanocki, C.A., and Fischer, Brian, 2000, Web based watershed information system [abs.]: Minnesota Water 2000, April 25-26, 2000, Minneapolis, Minn., p. 16.

  • Sanocki C.A. Minnesota Watershed Information Project North-Central States Regional HUC Meeting  August 2000

  • Sanocki, C.A., and Fischer, Brian, “Minnesota Watershed Information Project and Automated Basin Characteristics and Flood Frequency Estimation” Minnesota GIS/LIS conference 2000

  • Sanocki, C.A. 1996, Using a geographic information system to create a gaging station data base for Minnesota and parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin [abs.], in U.S. Geological Survey National Computer Technology Meeting -- Programs and abstracts, Rancho Mirage, California, May 19-23, 1996.

Science and Products

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Upper Peninsula, U.S.: Degree Flowlines

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. These data represent the flowline network in the Upper Peninsula Restoration Assessment (UPRA). It is attributed with the number of disconnections (e.g., road crossings) between the reach and Lake Ontario. The more road crossings on a flowline the more disconnected that
By
Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Upper Peninsula, U.S.

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative and were used to assess the restorability of areas that historically supported coastal wetlands along the southern coastline of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The GLCWRA initiative uses principles of geodesign to identify coastal wetland areas that have the greatest potenti
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Upper Peninsula Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment: Dikes

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. These data represent the location of dikes within the Upper Peninsula Restoration Assessment (UPRA) study area. An ArcGIS model (Python script) identified dikes as having a difference in elevation above a certain threshold. If the elevation difference was below a certai
By
Great Lakes Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Green Bay, U.S.: Composite Model Layers

This dataset contains all the layers associated with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative for the Green Bay Restoration Assessment (GBRA) which aims to identify and rank coastal areas with the greatest potential for wetland habitat restoration. Each layer has a unique contribution to the identification of restorable wetlands. The 7 pa
By
Great Lakes Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Green Bay, U.S.: Degree Flowlines

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. These data represent the flowline network in the Green Bay Restoration Assessment (GBRA). It is attributed with the number of disconnections (e.g., road crossings) between the reach and Lake Ontario. The more road crossings on a flowline the more disconnected that area
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Green Bay, U.S.: Dikes

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. These data represent the location of dikes within the Green Bay Restoration Assessment (GBRA) study area. An ArcGIS model (Python script) identified dikes as having a difference in elevation above a certain threshold. If the elevation difference was below a certain thre
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Lake Ontario, U.S.

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. The GLCWRA initiative uses principles of geodesign to identify coastal wetland areas that have the greatest potential for habitat restoration. The data model uses the following seven primary parameters to identify and rank wetland restoration areas. The parameters are:
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Lake Ontario, U.S.: Degree Flowlines

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. The degree flowlines dataset was created to indicate how many culverts each flowline passes through within the Lake Ontario Restoration Assessment (LORA) study area. The more road crossings on a flowline the more disconnected that area is from the lake and the less suit
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) Lake Ontario, U.S.: Dikes

This dataset is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Restoration Assessment (GLCWRA) initiative. This data represents the location of dikes within the Lake Ontario Restoration Assessment (LORA) study area. The GLCWRA initiative identifies coastal wetland areas that have the greatest habitat restoration potential. The data model uses seven parameters to identify and
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Soil-Water Balance model datasets used to estimate groundwater recharge to the I-94 growth corridor surficial aquifer, Minnesota, 2010-2014

A soil-water balance model (SWB) was developed to estimate potential recharge to the Interstate 94 Corridor surficial aquifer, located in central Minnesota, for the period 2010 through 2014. The model was not calibrated; however, various water budget components from the model output compared reasonably well with other estimates. Furthermore, the model was based upon the statewide Minnesota SWB pot
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Streamflow distribution maps for the Cannon River drainage basin, southeast Minnesota, and the St. Louis River drainage basin, northeast Minnesota

Streamflow distribution maps for the Cannon River and St. Louis River drainage basins were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, to illustrate relative and cumulative streamflow distributions. The Cannon River was selected to provide baseline data to assess the effects of potential surficial sand mining, and the St.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Filter Total Items: 26

Techniques for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on small streams in Minnesota, excluding the Rainy River Basin, based on data through water year 2019

Annual peak-flow data collected at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in Minnesota and adjacent areas of neighboring states of Iowa and South Dakota were analyzed to develop and update regional regression equations that can be used to estimate the magnitude and frequency of peak streamflow for ungaged streams in Minnesota, excluding the Lake of the Woods-Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ont
Authors
Christopher A. Sanocki, Sara B. Levin
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, StreamStats

Estimating flood magnitude and frequency for unregulated streams in Wisconsin

Flood frequency characteristics and estimated flood discharges for the 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities were computed at 299 streamgaged locations in Wisconsin. The State was divided into four flood frequency regions using a cluster analysis to produce regions which are homogeneous with respect to physical basin characteristics. Regression equations
Authors
Sara B. Levin, Christopher A. Sanocki
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, StreamStats

Techniques for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on small streams in the binational U.S. and Canadian Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, based on data through water year 2013

A binational study was initiated to update statistical equations that are used to estimate the magnitude and frequency of peak flows on streams in Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota that are contained within the binational Lake of the Woods–Rainy River Basin upstream from Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Hydraulic engineers use peak streamflow data to inform designs of bridges, culverts, and dams
Authors
Christopher A. Sanocki, Tara Williams-Sether, Peter A. Steeves, Victoria G. Christensen
By
Upper Midwest Water Science Center, StreamStats

Groundwater discharge to the Mississippi River and groundwater balances for the Interstate 94 Corridor surficial aquifer, Clearwater to Elk River, Minnesota, 2012–14

The Interstate 94 Corridor has been identified as 1 of 16 Minnesota groundwater areas of concern because of its limited available groundwater resources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, completed six seasonal and annual groundwater balances for parts of the Interstate 94 Corridor surficial aquifer to better understand its long-term (nex
Authors
Erik A. Smith, David L. Lorenz, Erich W. Kessler, Andrew M. Berg, Christopher A. Sanocki
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mississippi River

Migratory bird habitat in relation to tile drainage and poorly drained hydrologic soil groups

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is home to more than 50% of the migratory waterfowl in North America. Although the PPR provides an abundance of temporary and permanent wetlands for nesting and feeding, increases in commodity prices and agricultural drainage practices have led to a trend of wetland drainage. The Northern Shoveler is a migratory dabbling duck species that uses wetland habitats and
Authors
Brandi Kastner, Victoria G. Christensen, Tanja N. Williamson, Christopher A. Sanocki
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Methods for estimating flow-duration curve and low-flow frequency statistics for ungaged locations on small streams in Minnesota

Knowledge of the magnitude and frequency of low flows in streams, which are flows in a stream during prolonged dry weather, is fundamental for water-supply planning and design; waste-load allocation; reservoir storage design; and maintenance of water quality and quantity for irrigation, recreation, and wildlife conservation. This report presents the results of a statewide study for which regional
Authors
Jeffrey R. Ziegeweid, David L. Lorenz, Christopher A. Sanocki, Christiana R. Czuba
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, StreamStats

Methods and results of peak-flow frequency analyses for streamgages in and bordering Minnesota, through water year 2011

Peak-flow frequency analyses were completed for 409 streamgages in and bordering Minnesota having at least 10 systematic peak flows through water year 2011. Selected annual exceedance probabilities were determined by fitting a log-Pearson type III probability distribution to the recorded annual peak flows. A detailed explanation of the methods that were used to determine the annual exceedance prob
Authors
Erich W. Kessler, David L. Lorenz, Christopher A. Sanocki
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Floods of September 2010 in Southern Minnesota

During September 22-24, 2010, heavy rainfall ranging from 3 inches to more than 10 inches caused severe flooding across southern Minnesota. The floods were exacerbated by wet antecedent conditions, where summer rainfall totals were as high as 20 inches, exceeding the historical average by more than 4 inches. Widespread flooding that occurred as a result of the heavy rainfall caused evacuations of
Authors
Christopher A. Ellison, Christopher A. Sanocki, David L. Lorenz, Gregory B. Mitton, Gregory A. Kruse
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Techniques for Estimating the Magnitude and Frequency of Peak Flows on Small Streams in Minnesota Based on Data through Water Year 2005

Knowledge of the peak flow of floods of a given recurrence interval is essential for regulation and planning of water resources and for design of bridges, culverts, and dams along Minnesota's rivers and streams. Statistical techniques are needed to estimate peak flow at ungaged sites because long-term streamflow records are available at relatively few places. Because of the need to have up-to-date
Authors
David L. Lorenz, Christopher A. Sanocki, Matthew J. Kocian
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Water-Quality and Biological Characteristics and Responses to Agricultural Land Retirement in Three Streams of the Minnesota River Basin, Water Years 2006-08

Water-quality and biological characteristics in three streams in the Minnesota River Basin were assessed using data collected during water years 2006-08. The responses of nutrient concentrations, suspended-sediment concentrations, and biological characteristics to agricultural land retirement also were assessed. In general, total nitrogen, suspended-sediment, and chlorophyll-a concentrations, and
Authors
Victoria G. Christensen, Kathy Lee, Christopher A. Sanocki, Eric H. Mohring, Richard L. Kiesling
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Riparian Land Use/Land Cover Data for Three Study Units in Group II of the Nutrient Enrichment Effects Topical Study of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

This data set was developed as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program, Nutrient Enrichment Effects Topical (NEET) study. This report is concerned with three of the eight NEET study units distributed across the United States: Ozark Plateaus, Upper Mississippi River Basin, and Upper Snake River Basin, collectively known as Group II of the NEET study. Ninety stream reaches were
Authors
Michaela R. Johnson, Jimmy M. Clark, Ross G. Dickinson, Christopher A. Sanocki, Andrew W. Tranmer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Nebraska Water Science Center

Potentiometric Surfaces and Changes in Groundwater Levels in Selected Bedrock Aquifers in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, March-August 2008 and 1988-2008

This report depicts potentiometric surfaces and groundwater- level changes in three aquifers that underlie the seven-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Approximately 350 groundwater levels were measured in wells from the three aquifers-the Prairie du Chien-Jordan, the Franconia-Ironton-Galesville, and the Mount Simon-Hinckley aquifers-in March and August of 2008. The report presents maps, assoc
Authors
Christopher A. Sanocki, Susan K. Langer, Jason C. Menard
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Science and Products