James J Duncker is a hydrologist with USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center in Urbana, Illinois.
James has been with the USGS since 1983, starting his USGS career as a student field assistant in the USGS DeKalb Field Office collecting streamflow and groundwater data throughout northern Illinois. In 1988, he transferred to the USGS Illinois District Office in Urbana as a hydrologist working on a wide range of urban hydrology studies. These projects allowed him to combine streamflow data collection experience with hydrologic studies to develop an understanding of urban hydrology in northeastern Illinois.
Some of his projects included: the Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting (LMDA) program, monitoring the diversion of Lake Michigan water to the Illinois River Basin. The LMDA project provided learning experience in hydroacoustic flow measurements using acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP's). The LMDA project helped define the complex hydraulic setting of the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) and contributed to the application of hydroacoustic flow measurement technologies within the USGS. For much of his career he worked jointly with the University of Illinois Department of Civil Engineering-Hydro systems Laboratory and the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). These projects have focused on urban hydraulics and hydrology throughout the Chicago area; and utilized our experience in hydroacoustic data collection to the challenging canal, sewer, and tunnel environments and provided data for calibration of hydraulic models. This partnership (U. of Illinois, MWRD and USGS) work continues today with studies to evaluate the effectiveness of urban stormwater best management practices.
In 2008, James began working on a large multi-agency effort to prevent invasive Asian carp from becoming established in the Great Lakes. This project is an interesting multi-disciplinary collaboration of biologists, hydrologists, and engineers to study the life history of these invasive species and to develop, test, and implement effective control technologies.
Science and Products
Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey 2023 - Illinois River Basin
Bathymetry and Water-Quality of Surface Water Bodies in Cook County, Illinois
Data for Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Near Lemont, IL
Fish Telemetry
Science and Products
- Science
Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey 2023 - Illinois River Basin
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting an Airborne ElectroMagnetic (AEM) Survey starting in late January 2023 and lasting three to four weeks. A helicopter towing a large hoop from a cable will begin making low-level flights over the Illinois River Basin, covering much of central Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana.Bathymetry and Water-Quality of Surface Water Bodies in Cook County, Illinois
Surface water bodies in Cook County are used for stormwater detention, domestic and industrial uses, recreation, and commercial navigation. However, the bathymetry (elevation of the bottom surface) of most water bodies in Cook County has not been measured or mapped comprehensively. Similarly, water quality in most of these water bodies is unknown.Data for Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Near Lemont, IL
Approved Mean Annual DischargeThe stream flow monitoring station on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont, Illinois has been in operation since December 7, 2004. The site is operated in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, Chicago, Illinois.Link to Approved Mean Annual DischargeLink to Real-Time Gage Data: 05536890Fish Telemetry
To monitor fish movement in selected rivers, the USGS has installed near real-time receivers for fish tags. These receivers detect the presence of acoustic tags that have been surgically implanted into a variety of fish species. The tag detection data can provide information about how far fish are moving in a river system, changes in fish population distribution, and, when viewed with flow and... - Data
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