Cyndi Rachol
Cyndi works for the USGS National Geospatial Program as the National Map Liaison to Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
National Map Liaisons build connections, provide outreach and education, and foster collaborations and partnerships for key initiatives of the National Geospatial Program.
Connect with National Map Liaisons
National Map Liaisons support users and stakeholders across all 50 states and U.S. territories.
User Engagement Activities
Learn about activities of Cyndi and other National Map Liaisons.
As the National Map Liaison to Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio for the USGS National Geospatial Program User Engagement Office, Cyndi uses her expertise on National Map products and services to engage with users and stakeholders.
In addition to her public-facing work as a liaison, Cyndi is a member of the USGS Geospatial Information Response Team (GIRT) as the Operations Officer. The GIRT is responsible for facilitating the coordination, communication, and dissemination of geospatial data and information through the GIRT Event Support Map.
Also, Cyndi is the team lead for the National Geospatial Program (NGP) User Engagement Office’s Educational Video Production Team. This team is responsible for working with subject matter experts to produce videos on a wide range of NGP products and services.
Prior to joining the NGP, Cyndi was a hydrologist for the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, where she held research interests in dam removal analysis, natural channel design evaluation, flood inundation modeling, and water quality monitoring in both urban and agricultural settings.
Professional Experience
USGS Geospatial Information Response Team Operations Officer, 2024 – Present
USGS National Map Liaison, 2021 – Present
USGS Hydrologist, 1999 – 2021
Education and Certifications
Certified Floodplain Manager, 2011 – Present
Bachelor of Science (BS), Geological Sciences; Michigan State University
Affiliations and Memberships*
Association of State Floodplain Managers, 2011 – Present
Geospatial Professional Network (formerly URISA), 2022 – Present
Improving Michigan's Access to Geographic Information Networks, 2021 – Present
Indiana Geographic Information Council, 2025 – Present
Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management, 2025 – Present
Michigan Communities Association of Mapping Professionals, 2022 – Present
Michigan Stormwater Floodplain Association, 2009 – Present
Water Management Association of Ohio, 2021 – Present
Honors and Awards
2019 George Hosek Michigan Stormwater Floodplain Association Outstanding Service Award
Abstracts and Presentations
“Curious About Careers: Hydrologist” for PBS’ Curious Crew, a STEM-focused children’s show: Curious About Careers | Hydrologist | Curious About Careers | Season 3 | PBS
Science and Products
The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Michigan’s economy
The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Ohio's economy
Calibration of a field-scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model with field placement of best management practices in Alger Creek, Michigan
Estimation of groundwater use for a groundwater-flow model of the Lake Michigan Basin and adjacent areas, 1864-2005
Water quality and hydrology of the Silver River Watershed, Baraga County, Michigan, 2005-08
Estimated bankfull discharge for selected Michigan rivers and regional hydraulic geometry curves for estimating bankfull characteristics in southern Michigan rivers
Water quality of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and their U.S. tributaries, 1946-2005
Areal distribution and concentration of contaminants of concern in surficial streambed and lakebed sediments, Lake St. Clair and tributaries, Michigan, 1990-2003
Historical and simulated changes in channel characteristics of the Kalamazoo River, Plainwell to Otesgo, Michigan
A pre-dam-removal assessment of sediment transport for four dams on the Kalamazoo River between Plainwell and Allegan, Michigan
Sediment characteristics and configuration within the Otsego City Dam impoundment on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2001-02
Sediment characteristics and configuration within three dam impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2000
Edge-of-field monitoring: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
Water Chemistry Monitoring Project - Rivers and Streams
Nutrient and sediment concentrations, loads, yields, and rainfall characteristics collected at a USGS subsurface-tile edge-of-field agricultural monitoring site in South Central Michigan within the Maumee River Basin, 2019-2023
Meteorological data from edge-of-field sites in Michigan and Wisconsin, 2015-18
Nutrient and sediment concentrations, loads, yields, and rainfall characteristics at USGS surface and subsurface-tile edge-of-field agricultural monitoring sites in Great Lakes States (ver. 3.0, November 2024)
Daily loads of nutrients, sediment, and chloride at Great Lakes Restoration Initiative USGS edge-of-field and tile stations
Cross section survey of a selected reach of Plaster Creek and Little Plaster Creek, Kentwood, MI, 2018
Photos of debris jams on Plaster Creek and Little Plaster Creek, Kentwood, MI, 2018
Estimated daily loads of nutrients, sediment, and chloride at USGS edge-of-field stations, tributaries to Lum Drain, Genesee County, Michigan, water years 2012-17
Flood-inundation maps for a 15-mile reach of the Kalamazoo River from Marshall to Battle Creek, Michigan
Learn About the Geospatial Information Response Team (GIRT)
National Map Training Videos
Event Support Map
Science and Products
The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Michigan’s economy
The 3D Elevation Program—Supporting Ohio's economy
Calibration of a field-scale Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model with field placement of best management practices in Alger Creek, Michigan
Estimation of groundwater use for a groundwater-flow model of the Lake Michigan Basin and adjacent areas, 1864-2005
Water quality and hydrology of the Silver River Watershed, Baraga County, Michigan, 2005-08
Estimated bankfull discharge for selected Michigan rivers and regional hydraulic geometry curves for estimating bankfull characteristics in southern Michigan rivers
Water quality of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and their U.S. tributaries, 1946-2005
Areal distribution and concentration of contaminants of concern in surficial streambed and lakebed sediments, Lake St. Clair and tributaries, Michigan, 1990-2003
Historical and simulated changes in channel characteristics of the Kalamazoo River, Plainwell to Otesgo, Michigan
A pre-dam-removal assessment of sediment transport for four dams on the Kalamazoo River between Plainwell and Allegan, Michigan
Sediment characteristics and configuration within the Otsego City Dam impoundment on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2001-02
Sediment characteristics and configuration within three dam impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2000
Edge-of-field monitoring: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)
Water Chemistry Monitoring Project - Rivers and Streams
Nutrient and sediment concentrations, loads, yields, and rainfall characteristics collected at a USGS subsurface-tile edge-of-field agricultural monitoring site in South Central Michigan within the Maumee River Basin, 2019-2023
Meteorological data from edge-of-field sites in Michigan and Wisconsin, 2015-18
Nutrient and sediment concentrations, loads, yields, and rainfall characteristics at USGS surface and subsurface-tile edge-of-field agricultural monitoring sites in Great Lakes States (ver. 3.0, November 2024)
Daily loads of nutrients, sediment, and chloride at Great Lakes Restoration Initiative USGS edge-of-field and tile stations
Cross section survey of a selected reach of Plaster Creek and Little Plaster Creek, Kentwood, MI, 2018
Photos of debris jams on Plaster Creek and Little Plaster Creek, Kentwood, MI, 2018
Estimated daily loads of nutrients, sediment, and chloride at USGS edge-of-field stations, tributaries to Lum Drain, Genesee County, Michigan, water years 2012-17
Flood-inundation maps for a 15-mile reach of the Kalamazoo River from Marshall to Battle Creek, Michigan
Learn About the Geospatial Information Response Team (GIRT)
National Map Training Videos
Event Support Map
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government