Shenandoah mobile laboratory fathead minnow experiment station
Jennifer L. Rapp
(She/her)Jennifer Rapp leads the Decision Support Branch of the Integrated Information Dissemination Division of the Water Resources Mission Area.
Within the Decision Support Branch she has many opportunities to build collaborations across disciplines (social scientists, geographers, decision scientists, physical scientists, modelers, and IT specialists) to study human factors that affect water availability and water insecurity, develop decision support tools, and enhance participatory science with indigenous groups, community science organizations, and under-represented groups across the Nation. Current project work in the branch involves development of the National Modeled Water Atlas to deliver routinely updated water availability information in the United States.
Jennifer has a Master's degree in Geography with a focus on aquatic habitat from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which led to USGS research focused on GIS and ecological flows for fish habitat in in Virginia. Throughout her career she has paired data science and visualizations to help policy makers and managers make sense of complex hydrologic and biologic information. Many of her studies involved anthropogenic impacts on endangered species and monitoring of environmental conditions to inform management actions.
Professional Experience
USGS Decision Support Branch, Integrated Information Dissemination Division: Branch Chief and Project Manager: 2020 – present. Lead social scientists, geographers, decision scientists, and physical scientists, to study human factors that affect water availability and water insecurity, develop decision support tools, and enhance participatory science.
USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center: Wastewater Re-use and Exposure Risk in the Chesapeake Bay: 2015 – 2020. Key member of an inter-disciplinary team studying wastewater treatment plan discharges to streams. Lead the modeling application development efforts to accumulate all wastewater and estimate concentrations of emerging contaminants, consumer products, and PFAS.
USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center: Team Lead Spatial Data and Analysis 2012 – 2020. Team lead of the Spatial Data Analysis and Mapping team with three developers working closely to bring the scientific data developed in our center into the hands of managers, stakeholders, and the public in creative and effective ways.
USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center: Clinch River Water-Quality, Energy production, and Endangered Freshwater Mussels: 2009 – 2013. Investigation spans two Regions of the USGS, FWS, EPA, USACE, multiple universities, and two states to synthesize water-quality, hydrology, geomorphology, biology, and land use change effects on freshwater mussel populations.
USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center: Ecohydrology: 2001 – 2020. Ecological Flows for Fish Habitat and Public Water Supply in the Shenandoah River Basin, throughout Virginia, and Chesapeake Bay watershed: Conduct field research and modeling to characterize fish habitat needs and water availability.
USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center: Project Manager 2001 – 2020. Works closely with scientists, stakeholders, planners, policy makers, and citizens to design applied research studies and management applications. Write proposals, manages budgets, conducts field research, writes peer-reviewed publications, and presents findings at local and national professional meetings.
Education and Certifications
University of Tennessee, Knoxville M.S. Geography (2001)
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso B.S. Biology and Geography (1998)
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Water Resources Association
American Fisheries Society
Honors and Awards
November 2021: Outstanding Technology Paper in JAWRA - Application of a New Species-Richness Based Flow Ecology Framework for Assessing Flow Reduction Effects on Aquatic Communities
Science and Products
Wastewater reuse and predicted ecological risk posed by contaminant mixtures in Potomac River watershed streams
Watershed-scale risk to aquatic organisms from complex chemical mixtures in the Shenandoah River
Temporal variations of de facto wastewater reuse and disinfection by-products in public water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed, USA
Linking altered flow regimes to biological condition: An example using benthic macroinvertebrates in small streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Application of a new species-richness based flow ecology framework for assessing flow reduction effects on aquatic communities
elfgen: A new instream flow framework for rapid generation and optimization of flow-ecology relations
De facto reuse and disinfection by-products in drinking water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed
Integrated assessment of wastewater reuse, exposure risk, and fish endocrine disruption in the Shenandoah River watershed
Virginia flow-ecology modeling results—An initial assessment of flow reduction effects on aquatic biota
Fluvial geomorphology and suspended-sediment transport during construction of the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project in Roanoke, Virginia, 2005–2012
Data Collection and Simulation of Ecological Habitat and Recreational Habitat in the Shenandoah River, Virginia
Freshwater mussel population status and habitat quality in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA: a featured collection
National Modeled Water Atlas
Refined Model Provides a Screening Tool to Understand Exposure to Contaminants from Incidental Wastewater Reuse
River Continuum Concept Ecological Limit Functions for Fish and Benthic Data in Virginia
GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Clinch River Water Quality and Mussel Health
James River Research Corridor: Mountains to Sea Innovative Water Quality Network
Shenandoah River Instream Flow Studies
Roanoke River Study
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring for the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project
Virginia Bankfull Regional Curves Project
Potomac River Watershed Accumulated Wastewater Ratios and Predicted Environmental Concentrations
Shenandoah River Accumulated Wastewater Ratio
Multidecadal Streamflow Trends and Ecological Flow Statistics at USGS Monitoring Stations within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (1940-2018)
Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model (TBDEM) of the Eastern Shore Peninsula of Virginia and adjacent parts of Maryland with a horizontal resolution of 1 meter and vertical resolution of 1 centimeter
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Flow-Ecology Regression Summary Statistics for Virginia
Shenandoah mobile laboratory fathead minnow experiment station
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed.
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed.
One of the mobile fish exposure laboratories that were deployed at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia. Fish were housed in the mobile laboratories and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study to understand exposure and effects on fish.
One of the mobile fish exposure laboratories that were deployed at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia. Fish were housed in the mobile laboratories and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study to understand exposure and effects on fish.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. Inside the laboratories (see inset photo) fish were placed in aquariums, and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. Inside the laboratories (see inset photo) fish were placed in aquariums, and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. This photo shows the aquariums in a laboratory where fish were exposed to stream water or wastewater.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. This photo shows the aquariums in a laboratory where fish were exposed to stream water or wastewater.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish.
james River Tidal Survey
james River Tidal Survey
Interactive Map: GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed. The model, complemented by field measurements, provides a screening tool to understand human and wildlife exposure to toxicants and pathogens associated with the incidental reuse of treated wastewater in the watershed.
Science and Products
Wastewater reuse and predicted ecological risk posed by contaminant mixtures in Potomac River watershed streams
Watershed-scale risk to aquatic organisms from complex chemical mixtures in the Shenandoah River
Temporal variations of de facto wastewater reuse and disinfection by-products in public water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed, USA
Linking altered flow regimes to biological condition: An example using benthic macroinvertebrates in small streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Application of a new species-richness based flow ecology framework for assessing flow reduction effects on aquatic communities
elfgen: A new instream flow framework for rapid generation and optimization of flow-ecology relations
De facto reuse and disinfection by-products in drinking water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed
Integrated assessment of wastewater reuse, exposure risk, and fish endocrine disruption in the Shenandoah River watershed
Virginia flow-ecology modeling results—An initial assessment of flow reduction effects on aquatic biota
Fluvial geomorphology and suspended-sediment transport during construction of the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project in Roanoke, Virginia, 2005–2012
Data Collection and Simulation of Ecological Habitat and Recreational Habitat in the Shenandoah River, Virginia
Freshwater mussel population status and habitat quality in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA: a featured collection
National Modeled Water Atlas
Refined Model Provides a Screening Tool to Understand Exposure to Contaminants from Incidental Wastewater Reuse
River Continuum Concept Ecological Limit Functions for Fish and Benthic Data in Virginia
GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Clinch River Water Quality and Mussel Health
James River Research Corridor: Mountains to Sea Innovative Water Quality Network
Shenandoah River Instream Flow Studies
Roanoke River Study
Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring for the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project
Virginia Bankfull Regional Curves Project
Potomac River Watershed Accumulated Wastewater Ratios and Predicted Environmental Concentrations
Shenandoah River Accumulated Wastewater Ratio
Multidecadal Streamflow Trends and Ecological Flow Statistics at USGS Monitoring Stations within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (1940-2018)
Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model (TBDEM) of the Eastern Shore Peninsula of Virginia and adjacent parts of Maryland with a horizontal resolution of 1 meter and vertical resolution of 1 centimeter
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Flow-Ecology Regression Summary Statistics for Virginia
Shenandoah mobile laboratory fathead minnow experiment station
Shenandoah mobile laboratory fathead minnow experiment station
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed.
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed.
One of the mobile fish exposure laboratories that were deployed at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia. Fish were housed in the mobile laboratories and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study to understand exposure and effects on fish.
One of the mobile fish exposure laboratories that were deployed at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia. Fish were housed in the mobile laboratories and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study to understand exposure and effects on fish.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. Inside the laboratories (see inset photo) fish were placed in aquariums, and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. Inside the laboratories (see inset photo) fish were placed in aquariums, and exposed to stream water or wastewater during the study.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. This photo shows the aquariums in a laboratory where fish were exposed to stream water or wastewater.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish. This photo shows the aquariums in a laboratory where fish were exposed to stream water or wastewater.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish.
Scientists deployed mobile fish exposure laboratories, such as these two, at sites in the Shenandoah River watershed, Virginia, to understand exposure and effects on fish.
james River Tidal Survey
james River Tidal Survey
Interactive Map: GIS-based landscape analysis to identify sources of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Scientists refined the existing national-scale "De facto Reuse Incidence in our Nation's Consumable Supply" (DRINCS) model for the Shenandoah River watershed. The model, complemented by field measurements, provides a screening tool to understand human and wildlife exposure to toxicants and pathogens associated with the incidental reuse of treated wastewater in the watershed.
*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