Emily Richardson
Emily Richardson is a Physical Scientist in the California Water Science Center’s Biogeochemistry Group.
Emily researches water quality and phytoplankton in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. Her research interests span many additional areas including the intersections of social and environmental sciences, spatial statistics, working with complex instrumentation, and more.
Professional Experience
2020-Present Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA
2019-2020 GIS and Data Management Technician AmeriCorps Member, National Parks Service, Gatlinburg, TN
2017-2019 Graduate Research Assistant, Phytoplankton Research Lab, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2016 Adirondack Corps Trail Maintenance Worker, Student Conservation Association, Long Lake, NY
2016 Academic Program Mentor and Tutor, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
2015 Wildlife Library Database Technician, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX
Education and Certifications
M.S., Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
B.S., Environmental Science, Minor in Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Science and Products
Biogeochemistry Group
The Biogeochemistry (BGC) Group uses an interdisciplinary approach to address surface water quality issues and food web dynamics throughout California, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.
KdPAR and surface water-quality data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 2013 and 2014
Data release provides diffuse light attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) derived from in-situ light measurements, along with surface water-quality and atmospheric data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rive Delta in California between January 2013 and May 2014. These associated surface level water-quality and atmospheric data, and categorical variables (for
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale: 2020-2021 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Suisun Bay of California, USA. The dataset includes nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as information about
Phytoplankton Species Composition and Abundance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Microscopic Enumeration of USGS Samples, beginning in 2016 (ver. 1.1, December 2023)
This dataset contains taxonomy, density (cells/mL), and biovolume (μm3/mL) data for phytoplankton sampled across the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta) beginning in 2016. Whole water phytoplankton samples were collected intermittently during special projects and during routine visits to service continuous monitoring stations. Samples were preserved with Lugol’s i
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta related to the 2015 installation of the False River Emergency Drought Barrier: 2015 and 2016 high-resolution m
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the western and central portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes water residence time, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and c
Spatial assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in Suisun Marsh with the salinity control gate reoperation experiment; a Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy experiment 2018
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in Suisun Marsh and Suisun Bay in the San Francisco Estuary of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue-green algal pigments, and
Assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in the North Delta during Yolo Bypass flooding events in March 2017
The data release contains data for the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll. Data-collection cru
Assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents at the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Confluence during a phytoplankton bloom in July 2017
This report documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll. Data-collection were conducted o
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale—2018 high resolution mapping surveys
Executive Summary This study examined the abundance and distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton in the tidal aquatic environments of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun Bay, comprising three spatial surveys conducted in May, July, and October of 2018 that used continuous underway high frequency sampling and measurements onboard a high-speed boat to characterize spatial variatio
Authors
Brian A. Bergamaschi, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Katy O'Donnell, Jeffrey A. Hansen, Jeniffer Soto Perez, Emily T. Richardson, Angela M. Hansen, Alan Gelber
Evaluation and refinement of chlorophyll-a algorithms for high-biomass blooms in San Francisco Bay (USA)
A massive bloom of the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo occurred in summer 2022 in San Francisco Bay, causing widespread ecological impacts including events of low dissolved oxygen and mass fish kills. The rapidly evolving bloom required equally rapid management response, leading to the use of near-real-time image analysis of chlorophyll from the Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) aboard Sen
Authors
Raphael M. Kudela, David B. Senn, Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Lawrence Sim
A simple approach to modeling light attenuation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta using commonly available data
The diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) is commonly used to predict light attenuation in aquatic productivity models, but obtaining measurements of PAR to compute KdPAR is difficult. In situ calculations of KdPAR require multiple measurements of PAR through the water column, and these measurements are infeasible for real-time recording. Instead, predictiv
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Katy O'Donnell, Brian A. Bergamaschi
A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems
Documenting dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and form at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is key to understanding aquatic ecosystem health, particularly as DIN fuels primary productivity. In addition to point and non-point source nutrient inputs, factors such as hydrology, geomorphology, temperature, light, and biogeochemical transformations influence nutrient dynamics in su
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Don Forsberg, John Stillian, Katy O'Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Brian A. Bergamaschi
Bay- Delta Water Quality, Nutrient and Phytoplankton Mapping | US Geological Survey
Data visualization tool created for California's Bay-Delta Regional Monitoring Program. This web applicaton visualizes nutrients and phytoplankton spatially and temporally.
Science and Products
Biogeochemistry Group
The Biogeochemistry (BGC) Group uses an interdisciplinary approach to address surface water quality issues and food web dynamics throughout California, particularly in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.
KdPAR and surface water-quality data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 2013 and 2014
Data release provides diffuse light attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) derived from in-situ light measurements, along with surface water-quality and atmospheric data collected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rive Delta in California between January 2013 and May 2014. These associated surface level water-quality and atmospheric data, and categorical variables (for
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale: 2020-2021 High-resolution mapping surveys
The dataset documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Suisun Bay of California, USA. The dataset includes nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll as well as information about
Phytoplankton Species Composition and Abundance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Microscopic Enumeration of USGS Samples, beginning in 2016 (ver. 1.1, December 2023)
This dataset contains taxonomy, density (cells/mL), and biovolume (μm3/mL) data for phytoplankton sampled across the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta) beginning in 2016. Whole water phytoplankton samples were collected intermittently during special projects and during routine visits to service continuous monitoring stations. Samples were preserved with Lugol’s i
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water quality constituents in the California Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta related to the 2015 installation of the False River Emergency Drought Barrier: 2015 and 2016 high-resolution m
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the western and central portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes water residence time, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and c
Spatial assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in Suisun Marsh with the salinity control gate reoperation experiment; a Delta Smelt Resiliency Strategy experiment 2018
This data release documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in Suisun Marsh and Suisun Bay in the San Francisco Estuary of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue-green algal pigments, and
Assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents in the North Delta during Yolo Bypass flooding events in March 2017
The data release contains data for the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll. Data-collection cru
Assessment of nutrients and water-quality constituents at the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Confluence during a phytoplankton bloom in July 2017
This report documents the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and related water quality parameters at high spatial resolution in the North Delta in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of California, USA. The data set includes nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll. Data-collection were conducted o
Assessing spatial variability of nutrients, phytoplankton, and related water-quality constituents in the California Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta at the landscape scale—2018 high resolution mapping surveys
Executive Summary This study examined the abundance and distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton in the tidal aquatic environments of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Suisun Bay, comprising three spatial surveys conducted in May, July, and October of 2018 that used continuous underway high frequency sampling and measurements onboard a high-speed boat to characterize spatial variatio
Authors
Brian A. Bergamaschi, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Katy O'Donnell, Jeffrey A. Hansen, Jeniffer Soto Perez, Emily T. Richardson, Angela M. Hansen, Alan Gelber
Evaluation and refinement of chlorophyll-a algorithms for high-biomass blooms in San Francisco Bay (USA)
A massive bloom of the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo occurred in summer 2022 in San Francisco Bay, causing widespread ecological impacts including events of low dissolved oxygen and mass fish kills. The rapidly evolving bloom required equally rapid management response, leading to the use of near-real-time image analysis of chlorophyll from the Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) aboard Sen
Authors
Raphael M. Kudela, David B. Senn, Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Lawrence Sim
A simple approach to modeling light attenuation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta using commonly available data
The diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (KdPAR) is commonly used to predict light attenuation in aquatic productivity models, but obtaining measurements of PAR to compute KdPAR is difficult. In situ calculations of KdPAR require multiple measurements of PAR through the water column, and these measurements are infeasible for real-time recording. Instead, predictiv
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Keith Bouma-Gregson, Katy O'Donnell, Brian A. Bergamaschi
A novel boat-based field application of a high-frequency conductometric ammonium analyzer to characterize spatial variation in aquatic ecosystems
Documenting dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration and form at appropriate temporal and spatial scales is key to understanding aquatic ecosystem health, particularly as DIN fuels primary productivity. In addition to point and non-point source nutrient inputs, factors such as hydrology, geomorphology, temperature, light, and biogeochemical transformations influence nutrient dynamics in su
Authors
Emily T. Richardson, Angela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Don Forsberg, John Stillian, Katy O'Donnell, Crystal Lee Sturgeon, Brian A. Bergamaschi
Bay- Delta Water Quality, Nutrient and Phytoplankton Mapping | US Geological Survey
Data visualization tool created for California's Bay-Delta Regional Monitoring Program. This web applicaton visualizes nutrients and phytoplankton spatially and temporally.