James Richard Degnan
James Degnan is a hydrologist in the New England Water Science Center.
He is currently finishing a 4 year detail with the Groundwater Status and Trends, National Water Quality Program and working on some new program opportunities with the New England Water Science Center. James has been on numerous project teams tasked with multi-disciplinary investigations of hydrogeology, water chemistry, groundwater recharge dates, and riverbed sediment to help answer questions about water supply and contamination issues. He began work for the USGS in 1994 as a student working on a bridge scour project. He also participated in an exchange program in Budapest, Hungary in 1995 and received his B.S. in Geology from the University of New Hampshire in 1997. After graduation, his first duties as a hydrologist with the NH Bedrock Aquifer Assessment project included remote sensing, GIS, geophysics, and water quality data analysis. James has been involved in applied science and research projects across the US, and in Honduras and Abu Dhabi.
Professional Experience
Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 1997 to Present
Student Trainee, U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 1994 to 1997
Education and Certifications
B.S. Geology, University of New Hampshire, 1997
Science and Products
Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and refined conceptual model of groundwater flow for Coastal Plain aquifers at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2005-12
Geophysical logging of bedrock wells for geothermal gradient characterization in New Hampshire, 2013
Hydrogeologic framework, arsenic distribution, and groundwater geochemistry of the glacial-sediment aquifer at the Auburn Road landfill superfund site, Londonderry, New Hampshire
Characterization of mercury contamination in the Androscoggin River, Coos County, New Hampshire
Time series geophysical monitoring of permanganate injections and in situ chemical oxidation of PCE, OU1 area, Savage Superfund Site, Milford, NH, USA
Temperature logging of groundwater in bedrock wells for geothermal gradient characterization in New Hampshire, 2012
Geophysical bed sediment characterization of the Androscoggin River from the former Chlor-Alkali Facility Superfund Site, Berlin, New Hampshire, to the state border with Maine, August 2009
Geophysical and flow-weighted natural-contaminant characterization of three water-supply wells in New Hampshire
Preliminary Investigation of Paleochannels and Groundwater Specific Conductance using Direct-Current Resistivity and Surface-Wave Seismic Geophysical Surveys at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc., Superfund Site, Delaware City, Delaware, 2008
Bedrock, Borehole, and Water-Quality Characterization of a Methane-Producing Water Well in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Borehole Characterization of a Methane-Yielding Bedrock Well, Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
Geology and preliminary hydrogeologic characterization of the cell-house site, Berlin, New Hampshire, 2003-04
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 56
Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and refined conceptual model of groundwater flow for Coastal Plain aquifers at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2005-12
From 1966 to 2002, activities at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware chemical facility in New Castle County, Delaware resulted in the contamination of groundwater, soils, and wetland sediment. In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control began a multi-yearAuthorsMichael J. Brayton, Roberto M. Cruz, Luke Myers, James R. Degnan, Jeff P. RaffenspergerGeophysical logging of bedrock wells for geothermal gradient characterization in New Hampshire, 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Geological Survey, measured the fluid temperature of groundwater and other geophysical properties in 10 bedrock wells in the State of New Hampshire in order to characterize geothermal gradients in bedrock. The wells selected for the study were deep (five ranging from 375 to 900 feet and five deeper than 900 feet) and 6 had low waterAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Gregory Barker, Neil Olson, Leland WilderHydrogeologic framework, arsenic distribution, and groundwater geochemistry of the glacial-sediment aquifer at the Auburn Road landfill superfund site, Londonderry, New Hampshire
Leachate continues to be generated from landfills at the Auburn Road Landfill Superfund Site in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Impermeable caps on the three landfills at the site inhibit direct infiltration of precipitation; however, high water-table conditions allow groundwater to interact with landfill materials from below, creating leachate and ultimately reducing conditions in downgradient groundAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Philip T. HarteCharacterization of mercury contamination in the Androscoggin River, Coos County, New Hampshire
The former chloralkali facility in Berlin, New Hampshire, was designated a Superfund site in 2005. Historic paper mill activities resulted in the contamination of groundwater, surface water, and sediments with many organic compounds and mercury (Hg). Hg continues to seep into the Androscoggin River in elemental form through bedrock fractures. The objective of this study was to spatially characteriAuthorsAnn Chalmers, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, James R. Degnan, James Coles, Jennifer L. Agee, Darryl LuceTime series geophysical monitoring of permanganate injections and in situ chemical oxidation of PCE, OU1 area, Savage Superfund Site, Milford, NH, USA
In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) treatment with sodium permanganate, an electrically conductive oxidant, provides a strong electrical signal for tracking of injectate transport using time series geophysical surveys including direct current (DC) resistivity and electromagnetic (EM) methods. Effective remediation is dependent upon placing the oxidant in close contact with the contaminated aquifer.AuthorsPhilip T. Harte, Thor E. Smith, John H. Williams, James R. DegnanTemperature logging of groundwater in bedrock wells for geothermal gradient characterization in New Hampshire, 2012
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Geological Survey, measured the fluid temperature of groundwater in deep bedrock wells in the State of New Hampshire in order to characterize geothermal gradients in bedrock. All wells selected for the study had low water yields, which correspond to low groundwater flow from fractures. This reduced the potential for flow-induced temAuthorsJames Degnan, Gregory Barker, Neil Olson, Leland WilderGeophysical bed sediment characterization of the Androscoggin River from the former Chlor-Alkali Facility Superfund Site, Berlin, New Hampshire, to the state border with Maine, August 2009
The former Chlor-Alkali Facility in Berlin, New Hampshire, was listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List in 2005 as a Superfund site. The Chlor-Alkali Facility lies on the east bank of the Androscoggin River. Elemental mercury currently discharges from that bank into the Androscoggin River. The nature, extent, and the speciation of mercury and the production of meAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Andrew Teeple, Craig M. Johnston, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Darryl LuceGeophysical and flow-weighted natural-contaminant characterization of three water-supply wells in New Hampshire
Three bedrock water-supply systems in New Hampshire were studied, using borehole geophysics and flow-weighted sampling techniques, to determine the sources and distribution of natural contaminants in water entering the boreholes and to assess whether borehole modifications might be used to reduce contaminant levels. Well water in more than 100 community water-supply systems in New Hampshire have nAuthorsThomas J. Mack, Marcel Belaval, James R. Degnan, Stephen J. Roy, Joseph D. AyottePreliminary Investigation of Paleochannels and Groundwater Specific Conductance using Direct-Current Resistivity and Surface-Wave Seismic Geophysical Surveys at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc., Superfund Site, Delaware City, Delaware, 2008
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Region III of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State of Delaware, is conducting an ongoing study of the water-quality and hydrogeologic properties of the Columbia and Potomac aquifers and the extent of cross-aquifer contamination with benzene; chlorobenzene; 1,2-dichlorobenzene; 1,4-dichlorobenzene; and hydrogen chloridAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Michael J. BraytonBedrock, Borehole, and Water-Quality Characterization of a Methane-Producing Water Well in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
In August 2004, a commercial drill rig was destroyed by ignition of an explosive gas released during the drilling of a domestic well in granitic bedrock in Tyngsborough, MA. This accident prompted the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to sample the well water for dissolved methane - a possible explosive fuel. Water samples collected from the Tyngsborough domestic wellAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Gregory J. Walsh, Sarah M. Flanagan, Robert A. BurrussBorehole Characterization of a Methane-Yielding Bedrock Well, Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
In August 2004, a domestic water well was drilled into granitoid metamorphic rocks 5.38 kilometers southwest of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, on Scribner Hill. According to well driller Roger Skillings of Skillings and Sons, Inc. (oral commun., 2005), no water was encountered during drilling and when the borehole reached a depth of approximately 305.1 m, a blue flame exploded out of the well casingAuthorsHerbert A. Pierce, Gregory J. Walsh, Robert A. Burruss, James R. DegnanGeology and preliminary hydrogeologic characterization of the cell-house site, Berlin, New Hampshire, 2003-04
At the cell-house site, thin, generally less than 20-foot thick overburden, consisting of till and demolition materials, overlies fractured crystalline bedrock. Bedrock at the site consists of gneiss with thin discontinuous lenses of chlorite schist and discontinuous tabular pegmatite. Two distinct fracture domains, with principal trends to the west and northwest, and to the north, overlap near thAuthorsJames R. Degnan, Stewart F. Clark, Philip T. Harte, Thomas J. Mack - News