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Deborah Martin

Deborah Martin is a Scientist Emeritus with the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.

I started working with the U.S. Geological Survey in 1983. My initial research efforts were on the topics of carbon cycling and the geochemistry of large river systems. Since 1996 my research has focused on the hydrologic and erosional effects of wildfires in collaboration with John Moody and others. My particular expertise is the chemical and hydrological characteristics of wildfire ash and my recent research seeks to quantify and predict the effects of wildfire on water supplies, including water availability, timing, quality, and treatability for municipal use. I place a strong emphasis on communicating results to the public, legislators, and resource managers. Annually, I teach a class at the National Advanced Fire and Resource Institute, a multi-agency training center.

Education

  • M. S., Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, 1983. Thesis title: “Metal partitioning in the sediment of Woods Lake, New York.”
  • B. A., Geology/Science in Human Affairs, Cum Laude, Princeton University, 1976. Senior thesis title: “Groundwater contamination due to sanitary landfills; a field study.”

Professional Studies/Experience

  • Research Hydrologist: present, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, National Research Program, lead scientist “Wildfire Science” research topic.
  • Research Hydrologist: 2006-2012. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Central Region, National Research Program. Member of the project “Sediment-Water Chemistry of Large River Systems: Biogeochemical, Geomorphic, and Human Controls”, Fire Science task leader.
  • Hydrologist: 1988-2006. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Central Region, National Research Program. Member of the project “Sediment-Water Chemistry of Large River Systems: Biogeochemical, Geomorphic, and Human Controls.”
  • Hydrologist: 1983-1988. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Eastern Region, National Research Program. Member of the project “Carbon Fluxes in Hydrologic and Geologic Processes.”

Professional societies/affiliations/committees/editorial boards

  • American Geophysical Union
  • Geological Society of America
  • Rocky Mountain Hydrologic Research Center, elected trustee

Honors, awards, recognition, elected offices

  • Safety suggestion award, National Research Program, Central Region (2008)
  • Group Special Thanks for Achieving Results (STAR) Award for planning and leading field trip and facilitating sessions that were part of the Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds (2008)
  • Special Thanks for Achieving Results (STAR) Award for response to 2007 California fires to characterize ash and provide crucial health information to emergency personnel and the public (2008)
  • Special Thanks for Achieving Results (STAR) Award for serving as lead for USGS Fire Science Thrust (2007)
  • Safety suggestion award, National Research Program, Central Region (2007)
  • Superior Service Award for national leadership in fire science researc

Science and Products

Planning for an uncertain future - Monitoring, integration, and adaptation

The 6.7 billion human inhabitants of the earth have the ability to drastically alter ecosystems and the populations of species that have taken eons to evolve. By better understanding how our actions affect the environment, we stand a better chance of designing successful strategies to manage ecosystems sustainably. Toward this end, the Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds (IC
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Sample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires

Between November 2 through 9, 2007 scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected samples of ash and burned soils from 28 sites in six areas burned as a result of the Southern California wildfires of October 2007, including the Harris, Witch, Santiago, Ammo, Canyon, and Grass Valley Fires. The primary goal of this sampling and analysis effort was to understand how differences in ash a
Authors
Todd M. Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, Deborah A. Martin, Carlton J. Rochester, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Greg Mendez, Eric G. Reichard, Robert N. Fisher
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Leachate Geochemical Results for Ash Samples from the June 2007 Angora Wildfire Near Lake Tahoe in Northern California

This report releases leachate geochemical data for ash samples produced by the Angora wildfire that burned from June 24 to July 2, 2007, near Lake Tahoe in northern California. The leaching studies are part of a larger interdisciplinary study whose goal is to identify geochemical characteristics and properties of the ash that may adversely affect human health, water quality, air quality, animal ha
Authors
Philip L. Hageman, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd M. Hoefen, Monique Adams, Paul J. Lamothe, Todor I. Todorov, Michael W. Anthony
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Leachate Geochemical Results for Ash and Burned Soil Samples from the October 2007 Southern California Wildfires

This report is the second release of leachate geochemical data included as part of a multidisciplinary study of ash and burned soil samples from the October 2007 wildfires in southern California. Geochemical data for the first set of samples were released in an Open-File Report (Plumlee and others, 2007). This study is a continuation of that work. The objectives of this leaching study are to aid
Authors
Philip L. Hageman, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd M. Hoefen, Gregory P. Meeker, Monique Adams, Paul J. Lamothe, Michael W. Anthony
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Spectroscopy Lab

Preliminary analytical results for ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California wildfires

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected ash and burned soils from about 28 sites in southern California wildfire areas (Harris, Witch, Ammo, Santiago, Canyon and Grass Valley) from Nov. 2 through 9, 2007 (table 1). USGS researchers are applying a wide variety of analytical methods to these samples, with the goal of helping identify characteristics of the ash and soils from wildland and suburba
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, Philip Hageman, Alison Eckberg, Gregory P. Meeker, Monique Adams, Michael Anthony, Paul J. Lamothe
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Spectroscopy Lab

Hydrologic and sedimentologic response of two burned watersheds in Colorado

No abstract available.
Authors
John A. Moody, Deborah A. Martin
link
Rill erosion on a burned hillslope after the Buffalo Creek Fire

Hydrologic and Erosion Responses of Burned Watersheds

The enhanced probability of catastrophic wildfires has increased our need to understand the risk of floods, erosion, and debris and contaminant transport in burned watersheds. This project investigates the relation between rainfall intensity and peak discharge; erosion and deposition processes; and water-quality impacts to minimize the loss of life and property resulting from post-wildfire floods.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wildland Fire Science
link

Hydrologic and Erosion Responses of Burned Watersheds

The enhanced probability of catastrophic wildfires has increased our need to understand the risk of floods, erosion, and debris and contaminant transport in burned watersheds. This project investigates the relation between rainfall intensity and peak discharge; erosion and deposition processes; and water-quality impacts to minimize the loss of life and property resulting from post-wildfire floods.
Learn More

Science and Products

Planning for an uncertain future - Monitoring, integration, and adaptation

The 6.7 billion human inhabitants of the earth have the ability to drastically alter ecosystems and the populations of species that have taken eons to evolve. By better understanding how our actions affect the environment, we stand a better chance of designing successful strategies to manage ecosystems sustainably. Toward this end, the Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds (IC
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Sample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires

Between November 2 through 9, 2007 scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected samples of ash and burned soils from 28 sites in six areas burned as a result of the Southern California wildfires of October 2007, including the Harris, Witch, Santiago, Ammo, Canyon, and Grass Valley Fires. The primary goal of this sampling and analysis effort was to understand how differences in ash a
Authors
Todd M. Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, Deborah A. Martin, Carlton J. Rochester, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Greg Mendez, Eric G. Reichard, Robert N. Fisher
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Leachate Geochemical Results for Ash Samples from the June 2007 Angora Wildfire Near Lake Tahoe in Northern California

This report releases leachate geochemical data for ash samples produced by the Angora wildfire that burned from June 24 to July 2, 2007, near Lake Tahoe in northern California. The leaching studies are part of a larger interdisciplinary study whose goal is to identify geochemical characteristics and properties of the ash that may adversely affect human health, water quality, air quality, animal ha
Authors
Philip L. Hageman, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd M. Hoefen, Monique Adams, Paul J. Lamothe, Todor I. Todorov, Michael W. Anthony
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

Leachate Geochemical Results for Ash and Burned Soil Samples from the October 2007 Southern California Wildfires

This report is the second release of leachate geochemical data included as part of a multidisciplinary study of ash and burned soil samples from the October 2007 wildfires in southern California. Geochemical data for the first set of samples were released in an Open-File Report (Plumlee and others, 2007). This study is a continuation of that work. The objectives of this leaching study are to aid
Authors
Philip L. Hageman, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd M. Hoefen, Gregory P. Meeker, Monique Adams, Paul J. Lamothe, Michael W. Anthony
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Spectroscopy Lab

Preliminary analytical results for ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California wildfires

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected ash and burned soils from about 28 sites in southern California wildfire areas (Harris, Witch, Ammo, Santiago, Canyon and Grass Valley) from Nov. 2 through 9, 2007 (table 1). USGS researchers are applying a wide variety of analytical methods to these samples, with the goal of helping identify characteristics of the ash and soils from wildland and suburba
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Deborah A. Martin, Todd Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, Philip Hageman, Alison Eckberg, Gregory P. Meeker, Monique Adams, Michael Anthony, Paul J. Lamothe
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Spectroscopy Lab

Hydrologic and sedimentologic response of two burned watersheds in Colorado

No abstract available.
Authors
John A. Moody, Deborah A. Martin
link
Rill erosion on a burned hillslope after the Buffalo Creek Fire

Hydrologic and Erosion Responses of Burned Watersheds

The enhanced probability of catastrophic wildfires has increased our need to understand the risk of floods, erosion, and debris and contaminant transport in burned watersheds. This project investigates the relation between rainfall intensity and peak discharge; erosion and deposition processes; and water-quality impacts to minimize the loss of life and property resulting from post-wildfire floods.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Wildland Fire Science
link

Hydrologic and Erosion Responses of Burned Watersheds

The enhanced probability of catastrophic wildfires has increased our need to understand the risk of floods, erosion, and debris and contaminant transport in burned watersheds. This project investigates the relation between rainfall intensity and peak discharge; erosion and deposition processes; and water-quality impacts to minimize the loss of life and property resulting from post-wildfire floods.
Learn More