Donald O Rosenberry
Donald Rosenberry is a Research Hydrologist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Don is a research hydrologist with the Earth Surface Processes Division specializing in wetland hydrology, water budgets of lakes and wetlands, and hyporheic processes. Research is focused at the sediment-water interface with an emphasis on understanding processes that control exchanges between groundwater and surface water. Don also is the coordinator of the Shingobee Headwaters Aquatic Ecosystem Project where scientists from USGS and academia work together to study physical, chemical, and biological processes of lakes, wetlands, and streams at a small-watershed scale. Don's interests in groundwater, surface water, and the dynamic sediment-water interface stem from his formative years at Bemidji State University (next to Lake Bemidji), the University of Minnesota (on the banks of the Mississippi River), and the University of Colorado (through which Boulder Creek flows).
Current Research Topics
- Ground-water surface-water exchange in hyporheic settings (CA, CO, MA, MN, PA)
- Significance of ground-water discharge to nutrient loading (MN, WA)
- Significance of ground water to water supply (CA, MN, NM)
- Relating geophysics and seepage along shoreline margins (NH, WA)
- Decadal-scale hydrology of lakes and wetlands (MT, ND, MN, NH)
Current Editorships
- Editorial Board, Hydrological Processes (2014-present)
Professional Experience
2007-present: USGS, Lead Scientist, Hydrogeology of lakes, wetlands, and streams
1985-2007: USGS, Staff research hydrologist, Hydrology of lakes and wetlands
1982-1985: USGS, Hydrologic technician
1981-1982: Continental Laboratories, Hydrocarbon well analyst, Billings, MT
Education and Certifications
University of Colorado, Boulder. Geography/Geomorphology, Ph.D. 2007
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Hydrogeology, M.S. 1985
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN. Geology/Geography, B.S. 1981
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Society of Wetland Scientists
Minnesota Ground Water Association
Honors and Awards
Keynote Address, Minnesota Ground Water Association annual conference (2003, 2009)
Keynote Address, Canadian Geophysical Union annual conference (2005)
Elected Fellow of Geological Society of America (2008)
Keynote Address, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 21st Annual Water Quality Workshop, February 2011
Keynote Address, Alabama Department of Environmental Management 12th Annual Groundwater Conference, June 2012
Moos Family lecturer, Freshwater Society, June 2013
Meinzer Award, Geological Society of America Hydrogeology Division (2017)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 133
Temporal variability of exchange between groundwater and surface water based on high-frequency direct measurements of seepage at the sediment-water interface Temporal variability of exchange between groundwater and surface water based on high-frequency direct measurements of seepage at the sediment-water interface
Seepage at the sediment-water interface in several lakes, a large river, and an estuary exhibits substantial temporal variability when measured with temporal resolution of 1 min or less. Already substantial seepage rates changed by 7% and 16% in response to relatively small rain events at two lakes in the northeastern USA, but did not change in response to two larger rain events at a...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Rich W. Sheibley, Stephen E. Cox, Frederic W. Simonds, David L. Naftz
Groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear Lake, Minnesota, through 2011 Groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear Lake, Minnesota, through 2011
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the White Bear Lake Conservation District, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and other State, county, municipal, and regional planning agencies, watershed organizations, and private organizations, conducted a study to characterize groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear...
Authors
Perry M. Jones, Jared J. Trost, Donald O. Rosenberry, P. Ryan Jackson, Jenifer A. Bode, Ryan M. O’Grady
Statistical classification of vegetation and water depths in montane wetlands Statistical classification of vegetation and water depths in montane wetlands
Relationships between water depths and density of submergent vegetation were studied in montane wetlands using statistical techniques based on clustering and an extension of regression trees. Sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) was associated with lower average water depths than water milfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum). We detected a nonlinear relationship when average water depths were...
Authors
Julia L. Sharp, Richard S. Sodja, Mark Greenwood, Donald O. Rosenberry, Jeffrey M. Warren
Assessing and measuring wetland hydrology Assessing and measuring wetland hydrology
Virtually all ecological processes that occur in wetlands are influenced by the water that flows to, from, and within these wetlands. This chapter provides the “how-to” information for quantifying the various source and loss terms associated with wetland hydrology. The chapter is organized from a water-budget perspective, with sections associated with each of the water-budget components...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Masaki Hayashi
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Minnesota lakes - Water-quality and hydrological data from 2008 and 2010 Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Minnesota lakes - Water-quality and hydrological data from 2008 and 2010
Understanding the sources, fate, and effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals in aquatic ecosystems is important for water-resource management. This study was conducted during 2008 and 2010 to establish a framework for assessing endocrine disrupting chemicals, and involved a statewide survey of their occurrence in 14 Minnesota lakes and a targeted study of different microhabitats on a...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, Jeffrey H. Writer, Steffanie K. Keefe, Greg K. Brown, Mark L. Ferrey, Nathan D. Jahns, Richard L. Kiesling, James R. Lundy, Beth H. Poganski, Donald O. Rosenberry, Howard E. Taylor, Olivia P. Woodruff, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
In situ quantification of spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic exchange in static and mobile gravel-bed rivers In situ quantification of spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic exchange in static and mobile gravel-bed rivers
Seepage meters modified for use in flowing water were used to directly measure rates of exchange between surface and subsurface water in a gravel‐ and cobble bed river in western Pennsylvania, USA (Allegheny River, Qmean = 190 m3/s) and a sand‐ and gravel‐bed river in Colorado, USA (South Platte River, Qmean = 9·7 m3/s). Study reaches at the Allegheny River were located downstream from a...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, P. Zion Klos, Andrew Neal
Influence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration Influence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration
A thin layer of fine‐grained sediment commonly is deposited at the sediment–water interface of streams and rivers during low‐flow conditions, and may hinder exchange at the sediment–water interface similar to that observed at many riverbank‐filtration (RBF) sites. Results from a numerical groundwater‐flow model indicate that a low‐permeability veneer reduces the contribution of river...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Richard W. Healy
Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA
Millions of internally drained wetland systems in the Prairie Potholes region of the northern Great Plains (USA and Canada) provide indispensable habitat for waterfowl and a host of other ecosystem services. The hydrochemistry of these systems is complex and a crucial control on wetland function, flora and fauna. Wetland waters can have high concentrations of SO2-4 due to the oxidation...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Martin B. Goldhaber, Craig A. Stricker, JoAnn M. Holloway, Jean M. Morrison, Karl J. Ellefsen, Donald O. Rosenberry, Roland S. Thurston
Groundwater–surface-water exchange and the geologic setting of northern Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, and streams—Modern-day relevance of Tom Winter's legacy Groundwater–surface-water exchange and the geologic setting of northern Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, and streams—Modern-day relevance of Tom Winter's legacy
Tom Winter spent nearly 50 years conducting research in earth science, and he specialized in the exchange between groundwater and surface water. Tom's highly productive career began in Minnesota. This fi eld trip revisits many of the places where Tom conducted his early research and demonstrates the continuing relevance of that research. Stops and topics include the groundwater infl...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Robert C. Melchior, Perry M. Jones, Andrew Strietz, Kelton D. Barr, David R. Lee, James J. Piegat
Multi-scale clustering of functional data with application to hydraulic gradients in wetlands Multi-scale clustering of functional data with application to hydraulic gradients in wetlands
A new set of methods are developed to perform cluster analysis of functions, motivated by a data set consisting of hydraulic gradients at several locations distributed across a wetland complex. The methods build on previous work on clustering of functions, such as Tarpey and Kinateder (2003) and Hitchcock et al. (2007), but explore functions generated from an additive model decomposition...
Authors
Mark C. Greenwood, Richard S. Sojda, Julia L. Sharp, Rory G. Peck, Donald O. Rosenberry
The need to consider temporal variability when modelling exchange at the sediment-water interface The need to consider temporal variability when modelling exchange at the sediment-water interface
Most conceptual or numerical models of flows and processes at the sediment-water interface assume steady-state conditions and do not consider temporal variability. The steady-state assumption is required because temporal variability, if quantified at all, is usually determined on a seasonal or inter-annual scale. In order to design models that can incorporate finer-scale temporal...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry
Delineating a road-salt plume in lakebed sediments using electrical resistivity, piezometers, and seepage meters at Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A Delineating a road-salt plume in lakebed sediments using electrical resistivity, piezometers, and seepage meters at Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A
Electrical-resistivity surveys, seepage meter measurements, and drive-point piezometers have been used to characterize chloride-enriched groundwater in lakebed sediments of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A. A combination of bottom-cable and floating-cable electrical-resistivity surveys identified a conductive zone ((200–1800μeq/liter200–1800μeq/liter, and lake water has a chloride...
Authors
Laura Toran, Melanie Johnson, Jonathan E. Nyquist, Donald O. Rosenberry
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 133
Temporal variability of exchange between groundwater and surface water based on high-frequency direct measurements of seepage at the sediment-water interface Temporal variability of exchange between groundwater and surface water based on high-frequency direct measurements of seepage at the sediment-water interface
Seepage at the sediment-water interface in several lakes, a large river, and an estuary exhibits substantial temporal variability when measured with temporal resolution of 1 min or less. Already substantial seepage rates changed by 7% and 16% in response to relatively small rain events at two lakes in the northeastern USA, but did not change in response to two larger rain events at a...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Rich W. Sheibley, Stephen E. Cox, Frederic W. Simonds, David L. Naftz
Groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear Lake, Minnesota, through 2011 Groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear Lake, Minnesota, through 2011
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the White Bear Lake Conservation District, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and other State, county, municipal, and regional planning agencies, watershed organizations, and private organizations, conducted a study to characterize groundwater and surface-water interactions near White Bear...
Authors
Perry M. Jones, Jared J. Trost, Donald O. Rosenberry, P. Ryan Jackson, Jenifer A. Bode, Ryan M. O’Grady
Statistical classification of vegetation and water depths in montane wetlands Statistical classification of vegetation and water depths in montane wetlands
Relationships between water depths and density of submergent vegetation were studied in montane wetlands using statistical techniques based on clustering and an extension of regression trees. Sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) was associated with lower average water depths than water milfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum). We detected a nonlinear relationship when average water depths were...
Authors
Julia L. Sharp, Richard S. Sodja, Mark Greenwood, Donald O. Rosenberry, Jeffrey M. Warren
Assessing and measuring wetland hydrology Assessing and measuring wetland hydrology
Virtually all ecological processes that occur in wetlands are influenced by the water that flows to, from, and within these wetlands. This chapter provides the “how-to” information for quantifying the various source and loss terms associated with wetland hydrology. The chapter is organized from a water-budget perspective, with sections associated with each of the water-budget components...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Masaki Hayashi
Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Minnesota lakes - Water-quality and hydrological data from 2008 and 2010 Endocrine disrupting chemicals in Minnesota lakes - Water-quality and hydrological data from 2008 and 2010
Understanding the sources, fate, and effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals in aquatic ecosystems is important for water-resource management. This study was conducted during 2008 and 2010 to establish a framework for assessing endocrine disrupting chemicals, and involved a statewide survey of their occurrence in 14 Minnesota lakes and a targeted study of different microhabitats on a...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, Jeffrey H. Writer, Steffanie K. Keefe, Greg K. Brown, Mark L. Ferrey, Nathan D. Jahns, Richard L. Kiesling, James R. Lundy, Beth H. Poganski, Donald O. Rosenberry, Howard E. Taylor, Olivia P. Woodruff, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
In situ quantification of spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic exchange in static and mobile gravel-bed rivers In situ quantification of spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic exchange in static and mobile gravel-bed rivers
Seepage meters modified for use in flowing water were used to directly measure rates of exchange between surface and subsurface water in a gravel‐ and cobble bed river in western Pennsylvania, USA (Allegheny River, Qmean = 190 m3/s) and a sand‐ and gravel‐bed river in Colorado, USA (South Platte River, Qmean = 9·7 m3/s). Study reaches at the Allegheny River were located downstream from a...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, P. Zion Klos, Andrew Neal
Influence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration Influence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration
A thin layer of fine‐grained sediment commonly is deposited at the sediment–water interface of streams and rivers during low‐flow conditions, and may hinder exchange at the sediment–water interface similar to that observed at many riverbank‐filtration (RBF) sites. Results from a numerical groundwater‐flow model indicate that a low‐permeability veneer reduces the contribution of river...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Richard W. Healy
Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA
Millions of internally drained wetland systems in the Prairie Potholes region of the northern Great Plains (USA and Canada) provide indispensable habitat for waterfowl and a host of other ecosystem services. The hydrochemistry of these systems is complex and a crucial control on wetland function, flora and fauna. Wetland waters can have high concentrations of SO2-4 due to the oxidation...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Martin B. Goldhaber, Craig A. Stricker, JoAnn M. Holloway, Jean M. Morrison, Karl J. Ellefsen, Donald O. Rosenberry, Roland S. Thurston
Groundwater–surface-water exchange and the geologic setting of northern Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, and streams—Modern-day relevance of Tom Winter's legacy Groundwater–surface-water exchange and the geologic setting of northern Minnesota's lakes, wetlands, and streams—Modern-day relevance of Tom Winter's legacy
Tom Winter spent nearly 50 years conducting research in earth science, and he specialized in the exchange between groundwater and surface water. Tom's highly productive career began in Minnesota. This fi eld trip revisits many of the places where Tom conducted his early research and demonstrates the continuing relevance of that research. Stops and topics include the groundwater infl...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Robert C. Melchior, Perry M. Jones, Andrew Strietz, Kelton D. Barr, David R. Lee, James J. Piegat
Multi-scale clustering of functional data with application to hydraulic gradients in wetlands Multi-scale clustering of functional data with application to hydraulic gradients in wetlands
A new set of methods are developed to perform cluster analysis of functions, motivated by a data set consisting of hydraulic gradients at several locations distributed across a wetland complex. The methods build on previous work on clustering of functions, such as Tarpey and Kinateder (2003) and Hitchcock et al. (2007), but explore functions generated from an additive model decomposition...
Authors
Mark C. Greenwood, Richard S. Sojda, Julia L. Sharp, Rory G. Peck, Donald O. Rosenberry
The need to consider temporal variability when modelling exchange at the sediment-water interface The need to consider temporal variability when modelling exchange at the sediment-water interface
Most conceptual or numerical models of flows and processes at the sediment-water interface assume steady-state conditions and do not consider temporal variability. The steady-state assumption is required because temporal variability, if quantified at all, is usually determined on a seasonal or inter-annual scale. In order to design models that can incorporate finer-scale temporal...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry
Delineating a road-salt plume in lakebed sediments using electrical resistivity, piezometers, and seepage meters at Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A Delineating a road-salt plume in lakebed sediments using electrical resistivity, piezometers, and seepage meters at Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A
Electrical-resistivity surveys, seepage meter measurements, and drive-point piezometers have been used to characterize chloride-enriched groundwater in lakebed sediments of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, U.S.A. A combination of bottom-cable and floating-cable electrical-resistivity surveys identified a conductive zone ((200–1800μeq/liter200–1800μeq/liter, and lake water has a chloride...
Authors
Laura Toran, Melanie Johnson, Jonathan E. Nyquist, Donald O. Rosenberry
*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