Christopher L Gazoorian is a Hydrologist at the New York Water Science Center.
Chris Gazoorian currently serves as the Surface Water Specialist for the USGS New York Water Science Center. Prior to this, he served as a Hydrologist, leading studies and field data collection relating to surface-water, groundwater and water-quality. Chris' research interests include innovative use of non-contact sensors, ice-jam flood monitoring, and streamflow uncertainly and statistical analysis.
As a Hydrologists at U.S. Geological Survey, the New York Water Science Center
- Estimation of unaltered daily streamflow at rural ungagged locations
- Streamflow statistics and trends
- Ice Jam monitoring and modeling in the Mohawk River, Schenectady, NY
- Computation of peak streamflow in open channels and through control structures by direct and indirect methods
- Flood documentation and flood frequency trends
- Develop streamflow ratings for stage-discharge and index-velocity relations.
As a Student Hydrologist at U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center
- Assisted with multiple research projects investigating biogeochemical nutrient cycles, acid deposition and water.
- Analyzed soil and water properties including total C and N using a Carlo Erba EA 1110 elemental analyzer.
- Reported data for publication in scientific journals and USGS reports.
- Developed the NY WSC Standard Operating Procedure manuals for soil analyses.
- Instructed students on analyses procedures and tracked progress to meet deadlines.
- Collected water, soil, sediment and biological samples and maintained field sites.
As a Graduate Research Assistant at State University of New York at Albany, Department of Geography and Planning
- Conducted soil analyses on archived and new samples to identify centennial scale changes in soil C in a Russian steppe.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center as Hydrologist February 2005 - present
U. S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center as Student Hydrologist August 2002 – February 2005
State University of New York at Albany, Department of Geography and Planning as Graduate Research Assistant May 2002 – August 2002
Education and Certifications
Master of Arts, Geography, 2004, State University of New York at Albany
Certificate of Graduate Study, GIS & Spatial Analysis, 2003, State University of New York at Albany
Bachelor of Science, Geology, 2002, State University of New York at Albany
Science and Products
Methods for Estimation Flood Magnitude and Frequency at Ungaged Streams in New York, excluding Long Island
Summary: Extreme flooding can threaten life and property in flood-prone areas, as well as cause damage to critical infrastructure along roadways and canals. The effective management of these areas, and appropriate design of structures along rivers and streams, relies on understanding the magnitude and frequency of floods at gaged locations, and the ability to estimate these data at ungaged strea
An Analysis of Trends in the Magnitude of Floods in Urbanized Watersheds on Long Island, New York
Summary: This study aims to do a thorough analysis of trends in peak streamflows on Long Island. Reliable information about the magnitude and frequency of floods is essential for flood insurance studies, flood-plain management, and the design of transportation and water-conveyance infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, culverts, dams, and levees. Federal, State, regional, and local officials need
Lake Ontario Flood Monitoring and Mapping
Problem– Lake Ontario experienced period-of-record (1918-2017) maximum monthly average water levels during May through July 2017. NOAA lake gages recorded instantaneous peaks-of record, 249.2 at Olcott, 249.1 at Rochester, and 249.0 at Oswego and St. Vincent. These high water levels along with wind-generated waves caused flooding of thousands of residences and businesses and the erosion of miles o...
Monthly Hydrologic Conditions for New York
The U.S. Geological Survey New York Water Science Center’s monthly summary reports and tables of hydrologic conditions for surface and ground water list the station, county, period of record, and several statistics, including color-coded percent exceedance* categories based on average monthly conditions for the period of record at each station.
New York Flood Information
For emergency situations, please contact Chris Gazoorian, Surface Water Specialist at the USGS New York Water Science Center or call our general number (518) 285-5600 and follow the directions to leave voicemail which will be immediately forwarded to a responsible party and responded to as quickly as possible.
Mohawk River Ice Jam Monitoring
The Mohawk River near Schenectady, NY is prone to ice jams during periods of river-ice break-up. Ice jams in this reach typically form at channel constrictions, bridge piers, lock and dam structures, and sections with a reduced floodplain (Foster and others, 2011). Ice jam related flooding can result from backwater associated with the jam or from water released downstream when a jam fails...
Flood-inundation mapping of Egypt Creek, Dryden, Tompkins County
Problem – Flooding is an annual problem along Egypt Creek in Dryden. Increased runoff from expanding development, sediment clogged channels, and undersized culverts that cannot convey increased flows contribute to the problem. Flood maps for extreme floods are available through the effective FEMA flood insurance study (FEMA, 1978), but these maps, which became effective in 1979, are considered no
A New Tool for Estimating Daily Mean Streamflow Statistics at Rural Streams in New York State, excluding Long Island
The lakes, rivers, and streams of New York State provide an essential water resource for the State. The information provided by time series hydrologic data is essential to understanding ways to promote healthy instream ecology and to strengthen the scientific basis for sound water management decision making in New York. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the
Surface-Water Data Collection in New York
Problem Surface-water information is needed for planning, design, hazard warning, and operation and management in water-related fields such as water supply, hydroelectric power, flood control, irrigation, bridge and culvert design, wildlife management, pollution abatement, flood-plain management, and water-resources development. Appropriate historical and real-time surface-water data, such as st
Science and Products
- Science
Methods for Estimation Flood Magnitude and Frequency at Ungaged Streams in New York, excluding Long Island
Summary: Extreme flooding can threaten life and property in flood-prone areas, as well as cause damage to critical infrastructure along roadways and canals. The effective management of these areas, and appropriate design of structures along rivers and streams, relies on understanding the magnitude and frequency of floods at gaged locations, and the ability to estimate these data at ungaged streaAn Analysis of Trends in the Magnitude of Floods in Urbanized Watersheds on Long Island, New York
Summary: This study aims to do a thorough analysis of trends in peak streamflows on Long Island. Reliable information about the magnitude and frequency of floods is essential for flood insurance studies, flood-plain management, and the design of transportation and water-conveyance infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, culverts, dams, and levees. Federal, State, regional, and local officials needLake Ontario Flood Monitoring and Mapping
Problem– Lake Ontario experienced period-of-record (1918-2017) maximum monthly average water levels during May through July 2017. NOAA lake gages recorded instantaneous peaks-of record, 249.2 at Olcott, 249.1 at Rochester, and 249.0 at Oswego and St. Vincent. These high water levels along with wind-generated waves caused flooding of thousands of residences and businesses and the erosion of miles o...Monthly Hydrologic Conditions for New York
The U.S. Geological Survey New York Water Science Center’s monthly summary reports and tables of hydrologic conditions for surface and ground water list the station, county, period of record, and several statistics, including color-coded percent exceedance* categories based on average monthly conditions for the period of record at each station.New York Flood Information
For emergency situations, please contact Chris Gazoorian, Surface Water Specialist at the USGS New York Water Science Center or call our general number (518) 285-5600 and follow the directions to leave voicemail which will be immediately forwarded to a responsible party and responded to as quickly as possible.Mohawk River Ice Jam Monitoring
The Mohawk River near Schenectady, NY is prone to ice jams during periods of river-ice break-up. Ice jams in this reach typically form at channel constrictions, bridge piers, lock and dam structures, and sections with a reduced floodplain (Foster and others, 2011). Ice jam related flooding can result from backwater associated with the jam or from water released downstream when a jam fails...Flood-inundation mapping of Egypt Creek, Dryden, Tompkins County
Problem – Flooding is an annual problem along Egypt Creek in Dryden. Increased runoff from expanding development, sediment clogged channels, and undersized culverts that cannot convey increased flows contribute to the problem. Flood maps for extreme floods are available through the effective FEMA flood insurance study (FEMA, 1978), but these maps, which became effective in 1979, are considered noA New Tool for Estimating Daily Mean Streamflow Statistics at Rural Streams in New York State, excluding Long Island
The lakes, rivers, and streams of New York State provide an essential water resource for the State. The information provided by time series hydrologic data is essential to understanding ways to promote healthy instream ecology and to strengthen the scientific basis for sound water management decision making in New York. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and theSurface-Water Data Collection in New York
Problem Surface-water information is needed for planning, design, hazard warning, and operation and management in water-related fields such as water supply, hydroelectric power, flood control, irrigation, bridge and culvert design, wildlife management, pollution abatement, flood-plain management, and water-resources development. Appropriate historical and real-time surface-water data, such as st - Data
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