Craig Brown is a Research Hydrologist in the New England Water Science Center.
Craig works primarily on studies involving aquifer geochemistry, occurrence and mobility of contaminants, groundwater/surface-water interactions, and geochemical modeling.
Professional Experience
1993 - present, U.S. Geological Survey - Research Hydrologist
1992 - 1993, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Biomedical & Environmental Assessment Group - Hydrogeologist--Technical Collaborator (multi-media modeling of radionuclides)
1988 - 1991, Geraghty & Miller, Inc., Annapolis, MD - Hydrogeologist (hydrogeologic and remedial investigations of groundwater contaminant sites throughout the U.S.)
1987 - 1988, Ewers Water Consultants, Inc., Richmond, KY - Hydrogeologist (hydrogeologic investigations at karst sites in the U.S. and Puerto Rico)
Science and Products
Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Assessment of the Effects of Leakage from the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts on the Local Bedrock and Overburden Aquifers in Southeastern New York
Data for Occurrence and Sources of Lead in Private Wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Data for machine learning predictions of pH in the glacial aquifer system, northern USA
Inventory of well-construction data, water-quality and quality control data, statistical data, and geochemical modeling data for wells in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers, eastern United States, 2012 and 2013
Inventory of arsenic and uranium water-quality results from private wells in Connecticut, 2013-2015
Occurrence and sources of lead in private wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Machine-learning predictions of high arsenic and high manganese at drinking water depths of the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Machine learning predicted redox conditions in the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Machine learning predictions of pH in the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern USA
Arsenic and uranium occurrence in private wells in Connecticut, 2013–18—A spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessment
A multi-model approach toward understanding iron fouling at rock-fill drainage sites along roadways in New Hampshire, USA
Fluoride occurrence in United States groundwater
Factors affecting the occurrence of lead and manganese in untreated drinking water from Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers, eastern United States—Dissolved oxygen and pH framework for evaluating risk of elevated concentrations
Major and trace element geochemistry and background concentrations for soils in Connecticut
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Science
Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Assessment of the Effects of Leakage from the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts on the Local Bedrock and Overburden Aquifers in Southeastern New York
PROBLEM As part of an effort to sustain a viable water-supply system for 8 million residents in New York City, and 1 million other residents in upstate New York that rely on City water, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has requested a multi-disciplinary study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to determine the source(s) of water to surface-water sites (springs - Data
Data for Occurrence and Sources of Lead in Private Wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
This dataset contains water-quality data, quality-control data, and input and output data for geochemical models that support the findings of a study of lead in drinking water in the Sturbridge, Massachusetts, study area. These data include major and trace element data for unfiltered and filtered (dissolved) samples collected from both taps and well heads at private well sites, and quality-controlData for machine learning predictions of pH in the glacial aquifer system, northern USA
A boosted regression tree (BRT) model was developed to predict pH conditions in three-dimensions throughout the glacial aquifer system (GLAC) of the contiguous United States using pH measurements in samples from 18,258 wells and predictor variables that represent aspects of the hydrogeologic setting. Model results indicate that the carbonate content of soils and aquifer materials strongly controlsInventory of well-construction data, water-quality and quality control data, statistical data, and geochemical modeling data for wells in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers, eastern United States, 2012 and 2013
This dataset provides analytical and other data in support of an analysis of lead and manganese in untreated drinking water from Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers, eastern United States. The occurrence of dissolved lead and manganese in sampled groundwater, prior to its distribution or treatment, is related to the potential presence of source minerals and specific environmental factors inclInventory of arsenic and uranium water-quality results from private wells in Connecticut, 2013-2015
This dataset contains the water-quality results from the testing of unfiltered water samples collected from 674 private wells in Connecticut for the analysis of arsenic and (or) uranium, using EPA method 200.8. All of the environmental water-quality data and georeferenced locations of the sampled wells were provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT-DPH). The water samples, collec - Multimedia
- Publications
Occurrence and sources of lead in private wells, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Lead (Pb) occurrence and sources and aqueous geochemistry were assessed in private wellhead and tap water at a targeted area of concern for possible exceedances and at a control area in the same geologic formation, and in wells at a nearby landfill in south-central Massachusetts (MA). Total Pb concentrations were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Action Level of 15 μg/L in allAuthorsLeah M. Santangelo, Craig J. Brown, James B. Shanley, Michael Pribil, Danny RutherfordMachine-learning predictions of high arsenic and high manganese at drinking water depths of the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Globally, over 200 million people are chronically exposed to arsenic (As) and/or manganese (Mn) from drinking water. We used machine-learning (ML) boosted regression tree (BRT) models to predict high As (>10 μg/L) and Mn (>300 μg/L) in groundwater from the glacial aquifer system (GLAC), which spans 25 states in the northern United States and provides drinking water to 30 million people. Our BRT moAuthorsMelinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. Reddy, Charles A. CravottaMachine learning predicted redox conditions in the glacial aquifer system, northern continental United States
Groundwater supplies 50% of drinking water worldwide and 30% in the United States. Geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants can, however, compromise water quality, thus limiting groundwater availability. Reduction/oxidation (redox) processes and redox conditions affect groundwater quality by influencing the mobility and transport of common geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants. In the glacial aquAuthorsMelinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Craig J. Brown, Paul Stackelberg, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. ReddyMachine learning predictions of pH in the Glacial Aquifer System, Northern USA
A boosted regression tree model was developed to predict pH conditions in three dimensions throughout the glacial aquifer system of the contiguous United States using pH measurements in samples from 18,386 wells and predictor variables that represent aspects of the hydrogeologic setting. Model results indicate that the carbonate content of soils and aquifer materials strongly controls pH and, whenAuthorsPaul Stackelberg, Kenneth Belitz, Craig J. Brown, Melinda L. Erickson, Sarah M. Elliott, Leon J. Kauffman, Katherine Marie Ransom, James E. ReddyArsenic and uranium occurrence in private wells in Connecticut, 2013–18—A spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessment
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, conducted a study to determine the presence of arsenic and uranium in private drinking water wells in Connecticut. Samples were collected during 2013–18 from wells completed in 115 geologic units, with 2,433 samples analyzed for arsenic and 2,191 samples analyzed for uranium. The study concluded four majorAuthorsEliza L. Gross, Craig J. BrownA multi-model approach toward understanding iron fouling at rock-fill drainage sites along roadways in New Hampshire, USA
Factors affecting iron fouling in wet areas adjacent to roadways were investigated by collecting field rock cut and aqueous physicochemical data; developing exploratory predictive models; and developing geochemical models. Basic data included the identification of iron fouling from aerial imagery and field visits at 374 New Hampshire rock cut locations, and their associated rock-fill sites. BasedAuthorsMelissa Lombard, Pamela J. Lombard, Craig J. Brown, James DegnanFluoride occurrence in United States groundwater
Data from 38,105 wells were used to characterize fluoride (F) occurrence in untreated United States (U.S.) groundwater. For domestic wells (n = 11,032), water from which is generally not purposely fluoridated or monitored for quality, 10.9% of the samples have F concentrations >0.7 mg/L (U.S. Public Health Service recommended optimal F concentration in drinking water for preventing tooth decay) (8AuthorsPeter B. McMahon, Craig J. Brown, Tyler D. Johnson, Kenneth Belitz, Bruce D. LindseyFactors affecting the occurrence of lead and manganese in untreated drinking water from Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers, eastern United States—Dissolved oxygen and pH framework for evaluating risk of elevated concentrations
Groundwater samples collected during 2012 and 2013 from public-supply wells screened in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain aquifers of the eastern and southeastern U.S. rarely contained lead or manganese concentrations that exceeded drinking-water limits, despite having corrosive characteristics. Data indicate that the occurrence of dissolved lead and manganese in sampled groundwater, prior to itAuthorsCraig J. Brown, Jeannie R. B. Barlow, Charles A. Cravotta, Bruce D. LindseyMajor and trace element geochemistry and background concentrations for soils in Connecticut
Soil samples were collected throughout Connecticut (CT) to determine the relationship of soil chemistry with the underlying geology and to better understand background concentrations of major and trace elements in soils. Soil samples were collected (1) from the upper 5 cm of surficial soil at 100 sites, (2) from the A horizon at 86 of these sites, and (3) from the deeper horizon, typically the C hAuthorsCraig J. Brown, Margaret A. ThomasNon-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.