Brian Selck, a USGS National Association of Geoscience Teachers intern, collects a water level measurement from a domestic well at a site north of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, June 2014.
Eliza L. Gross
Eliza is the National Map Liaison for Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
As a National Map Liaison with the National Geospatial Program's (NGP) User Engagement Office, I provide outreach and coordination of geospatial activities in support of NGP initiatives and USGS science. I began my USGS career as a graduate student intern with the Pennsylvania Water Science Center providing mapping and spatial data analysis support for several National Water Quality Assessment projects. I also served as project chief for studies characterizing the occurrence of arsenic and radon in groundwater using geospatial and statistical analyses and for a study assessing the prevalence of pesticides and nutrients in groundwater through sampling of domestic wells in agricultural areas.
Professional Experience
2020-present: National Map Liaison, U.S. Geological Survey, National Geospatial Program
2019-2020: GIS Specialist/Associate National Map Liaison, U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
2008-2019: Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
2007-2008: Hydrologic Technician (SCEP/STEP), U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Education and Certifications
2021: M.S. Geographic Information Systems, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
2008: M.S. Geoenvironmental Studies, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
2006: B.A. Geography, Writing Minor, Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania
Science and Products
Compilation and evaluation of data used to identify groundwater sources under the direct influence of surface water in Pennsylvania
Arsenic and uranium occurrence in private wells in Connecticut, 2013–18—A spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessment
Evaluation of radon occurrence in groundwater from 16 geologic units in Pennsylvania, 1986–2015, with application to potential radon exposure from groundwater and indoor air
Groundwater quality for 75 domestic wells in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 2014
Distribution of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1990-2007
Arsenic concentrations, related environmental factors, and the predicted probability of elevated arsenic in groundwater in Pennsylvania
Quality of major ion and total dissolved solids data from groundwater sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, 1992–2010
Factors affecting groundwater quality in the Valley and Ridge aquifers, eastern United States, 1993-2002
Pesticides in Pennsylvania Groundwaters
Groundwater Quality of Domestic Supply Wells in Pennsylvania
GIS Data Archive for Selected Studies in Pennsylvania
Evaluation of Radon in Groundwater and Indoor Air in Pennsylvania
Flood Data Collection in Pennsylvania – Site Selection Data for the Development of a Rapid Deployment Network
Data used to evaluate arsenic and uranium occurrence in Connecticut groundwater through spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessments
Evaluation of Radon Occurrence in Groundwater from 16 Geologic Units in Pennsylvania, 19862015, with Application to Potential Radon Exposure from Groundwater and Indoor Air (PaRadonGW)
Brian Selck, a USGS National Association of Geoscience Teachers intern, collects a water level measurement from a domestic well at a site north of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, June 2014.
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist recording water-quality parameters (pH, temperature, and specific conductance) during the purging of a domestic well that was sampled for radon at a site north of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist recording water-quality parameters (pH, temperature, and specific conductance) during the purging of a domestic well that was sampled for radon at a site north of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Flood Data for Rapid Deployment Network Site Selection
USGS is helping identify potential locations in Pennsylvania where additional or updated water-level data may be needed during or after major storm events. Pre-identification of these locations supports expedited decision-making for site selection, resulting in safer and more timely installation of flood monitoring instruments.
Science and Products
- Publications
Compilation and evaluation of data used to identify groundwater sources under the direct influence of surface water in Pennsylvania
A study was conducted to compile and evaluate data used to identify groundwater sources that are under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI) in Pennsylvania. In the early 1990s, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) implemented the Surface Water Identification Protocol (SWIP) for the identification of GUDI sources. Since the establishment of the SWIP, PADEP has claAuthorsEliza L. Gross, Matthew D. Conlon, Dennis W. Risser, Chad E. ReischArsenic 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. BrownEvaluation of radon occurrence in groundwater from 16 geologic units in Pennsylvania, 1986–2015, with application to potential radon exposure from groundwater and indoor air
Results from 1,041 groundwater samples collected during 1986‒2015 from 16 geologic units in Pennsylvania, associated with 25 or more groundwater samples with concentrations of radon-222, were evaluated in an effort to identify variations in radon-222 activities or concentrations and to classify potential radon-222 exposure from groundwater and indoor air. Radon-222 is hereafter referred to as “radAuthorsEliza L. GrossGroundwater quality for 75 domestic wells in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 2014
Groundwater is a major source of drinking water in Lycoming County and adjacent counties in north-central and northeastern Pennsylvania, which are largely forested and rural and are currently undergoing development for hydrocarbon gases. Water-quality data are needed for assessing the natural characteristics of the groundwater resource and the potential effects from energy and mineral extraction,AuthorsEliza L. Gross, Charles A. CravottaDistribution of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, 1990-2007
Results from 548,507 indoor radon tests from a database compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Radiation Protection, Radon Division, are evaluated in this report in an effort to determine areas where concentrations of radon are highest. Indoor radon concentrations were aggregated according to geologic unit and hydrogeologic setting for spatial analysis. IndoAuthorsEliza L. GrossArsenic concentrations, related environmental factors, and the predicted probability of elevated arsenic in groundwater in Pennsylvania
Analytical results for arsenic in water samples from 5,023 wells obtained during 1969–2007 across Pennsylvania were compiled and related to other associated groundwater-quality and environmental factors and used to predict the probability of elevated arsenic concentrations, defined as greater than or equal to 4.0 micrograms per liter (µg/L), in groundwater. Arsenic concentrations of 4.0 µg/L or grAuthorsEliza L. Gross, Dennis J. LowQuality of major ion and total dissolved solids data from groundwater sampled by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, 1992–2010
Proper interpretation of water quality requires consideration of the effects that contamination bias and sampling variability might have on measured analyte concentrations. The effect of contamination bias and sampling variability on major ion and total dissolved solids data in water samples collected in 48 of the 52 National Water-Quality Assessment Program study units from 1992–2010 is discussedAuthorsEliza L. Gross, Bruce D. Lindsey, Michael G. RupertFactors affecting groundwater quality in the Valley and Ridge aquifers, eastern United States, 1993-2002
Chemical and microbiological analyses of water from 230 wells and 35 springs in the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province, sampled between 1993 and 2002, indicated that bedrock type (carbonate or siliciclastic rock) and land use were dominant factors influencing groundwater quality across a region extending from northwestern Georgia to New Jersey. The analyses included naturally occurring compouAuthorsGregory C. Johnson, Tammy M. Zimmerman, Bruce D. Lindsey, Eliza L. Gross - Science
Pesticides in Pennsylvania Groundwaters
USGS annually samples domestic groundwater wells to characterize pesticides, nutrients, and radon in agricultural areas, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Beginning in 2021, samples for major ions, trace elements, bacteria, and isotopes will also be collected. A subset of wells will be sampled for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), emerging industrial...Groundwater Quality of Domestic Supply Wells in Pennsylvania
Most rural residents in Pennsylvania use groundwater from domestic supply wells for drinking, cleaning and other purposes. Some groundwater samples have been analyzed for private purposes, but those results generally are not readily available to the public. Many of the publicly available water-quality samples from rural areas were collected more than 30 years ago. Quality-assured groundwater...GIS Data Archive for Selected Studies in Pennsylvania
This is an archive. Visit the USGS National Geospatial Program or the Data Portal links below for current datasets.Evaluation of Radon in Groundwater and Indoor Air in Pennsylvania
Existing groundwater and indoor air radon-222, hereafter referred to as "radon", concentrations were aggregated and evaluated for 16 geologic units throughout the state of Pennsylvania to provide a better understanding of potential human exposure to radon. - Data
Flood Data Collection in Pennsylvania – Site Selection Data for the Development of a Rapid Deployment Network
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is working to identify priority locations across Pennsylvania where additional riverine flood information may be desirable during or after major storm events. Criteria involved in the identification of potential locations for flood data collection includes locations of bridges over water, scour-cData used to evaluate arsenic and uranium occurrence in Connecticut groundwater through spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessments
This data release contains two spatial datasets and a data table in support of an evaluation of arsenic and uranium occurrence in Connecticut groundwater through spatially weighted and bedrock geology assessments. Spatial datasets include 1) a shapefile of 130 equal-area grid cells with associated arsenic attribute data, and 2) a shapefile of 110 equal-area grid cells with associated uranium attEvaluation of Radon Occurrence in Groundwater from 16 Geologic Units in Pennsylvania, 19862015, with Application to Potential Radon Exposure from Groundwater and Indoor Air (PaRadonGW)
Results from 1,041 groundwater samples (U.S. Geological Survey, 2016) collected during 1986‒2015 from 16 geologic units in Pennsylvania, associated with 25 or more groundwater samples with concentrations of radon-222, were evaluated to create this dataset in an effort to identify variations in radon-222 activities or concentrations and to classify potential radon-222 exposure from groundwater and - Multimedia
Sampling a private well in Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaSampling a private well in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Brian Selck, a USGS National Association of Geoscience Teachers intern, collects a water level measurement from a domestic well at a site north of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, June 2014.
Brian Selck, a USGS National Association of Geoscience Teachers intern, collects a water level measurement from a domestic well at a site north of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, June 2014.
Purging a domestic well to be sampled for radonA U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist recording water-quality parameters (pH, temperature, and specific conductance) during the purging of a domestic well that was sampled for radon at a site north of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist recording water-quality parameters (pH, temperature, and specific conductance) during the purging of a domestic well that was sampled for radon at a site north of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
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Pennsylvania Flood Data for Rapid Deployment Network Site Selection
USGS is helping identify potential locations in Pennsylvania where additional or updated water-level data may be needed during or after major storm events. Pre-identification of these locations supports expedited decision-making for site selection, resulting in safer and more timely installation of flood monitoring instruments.