Joanna Thamke
Joanna is currently the Center Director for the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. She works with the ORWSC's leadership team to guide more than 100 scientists, technicians, administrative and information technology professionals.
Joanna has been with the USGS since the mid-1980s and has spent most of her career in Helena, MT. Her projects focus on water quality, water availability, water use, and energy in the Williston Basin.
Professional Experience
Center Director, USGS Oregon Water Science Center, July 2023 - Present
Acting Center Director, USGS Oregon Water Science Center, October 2022 - July 2023
Associate Director for Studies, USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, 2020 - 2023
Groundwater / Surface-Water Studies Section Chief, USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, 2016 - 2020
Groundwater Support Unit Chief, USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, 2015 - 2016
Groundwater Specialist, USGS Montana Water Science Center, 2008 - 2015
Hydrologist, USGS Montana Water Science Center, 1988 - 2015
Student Trainee, USGS Iowa District, 1984 - 1988
Education and Certifications
B.S., Geology, 1987, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Honors and Awards
2007 American Association of Petroleum Geologists Research Award
2008 U.S. Department of Interior Environmental Achievement Award
2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Honor Award
2019 American Water Resources Association Montana Water Legend Award
2020 University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award from the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department
Science and Products
Estimating national water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
Conceptual model of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
Hydrogeologic framework of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
Brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, United States
Delineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 2004-09
A framework for assessing water and proppant use and flowback water extraction associated with development of continuous petroleum resources
Borehole geophysical data for the East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993, 2004, and 2005
A GIS-based vulnerability assessment of brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in eastern Sheridan County, Montana
Water-quality and geophysical data for three study sites within the Williston Basin and Prairie Pothole Region
Strontium isotope systematics of mixing groundwater and oil-field brine at Goose Lake in northeastern Montana, USA
Examination of brine contamination risk to aquatic resources from petroleum development in the Williston Basin
Strontium isotope detection of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field, Montana
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 38
Estimating national water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP) goals are to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the United States and assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses. These assessments would identify long-term trends or changes in water availability since the 1950sAuthorsJanet M. Carter, Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Joanna N. Thamke, Gregory C. DelzerConceptual model of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
The three uppermost principal aquifer systems of the Northern Great Plains—the glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems—are described in this report and provide water for irrigation, mining, public and domestic supply, livestock, and industrial uses. These aquifer systems primarily are present in two nationally important fossil-fuelproducing areas: the Williston and Powder RivAuthorsAndrew J. Long, Katherine R. Aurand, Jennifer M. Bednar, Kyle W. Davis, Jonathan D.R.G. McKaskey, Joanna N. ThamkeHydrogeologic framework of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada
The glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins within the United States and Canada are the uppermost principal aquifer systems and most accessible sources of groundwater for these energy-producing basins. The glacial aquifer system covers the northeastern part of the Williston structural basin. The lower Tertiary and Upper CretAuthorsJoanna N. Thamke, Gary D. LeCain, Derek W. Ryter, Roy Sando, Andrew J. LongBrine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, United States
The Williston Basin, which includes parts of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota in the United States and the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan in Canada, has been a leading domestic oil and gas producing region for more than one-half a century. Currently, there are renewed efforts to develop oil and gas resources from deep geologic formations, spurred by advances in recovery technologiesAuthorsTara L. Chesley-Preston, James L. Coleman, Robert A. Gleason, Seth S. Haines, Karen E. Jenni, Timothy L. Nieman, Zell E. Peterman, Max Post van der Burg, Todd M. Preston, Bruce D. Smith, Brian A. Tangen, Joanna N. ThamkeDelineation of brine contamination in and near the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 2004-09
The extent of brine contamination in the shallow aquifers in and near the East Poplar oil field is as much as 17.9 square miles and appears to be present throughout the entire saturated zone in contaminated areas. The brine contamination affects 15–37 billion gallons of groundwater. Brine contamination in the shallow aquifers east of the Poplar River generally moves to the southwest toward the rivAuthorsJoanna N. Thamke, Bruce D. SmithA framework for assessing water and proppant use and flowback water extraction associated with development of continuous petroleum resources
The U.S. Geological Survey is developing approaches for the quantitative assessment of water and proppant involved with possible future production of continuous petroleum deposits. The assessment approach is an extension of existing U.S. Geological Survey petroleum-assessment methods, and it aims to provide objective information that helps decision makers understand the tradeoffs inherent in resouAuthorsSeth S. Haines, Troy Cook, Joanna N. Thamke, Kyle W. Davis, Andrew J. Long, Richard W. Healy, Sarah J. Hawkins, Mark A. EngleBorehole geophysical data for the East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993, 2004, and 2005
Areas of high electrical conductivity in shallow aquifers in the East Poplar oil field area were delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, in order to interpret areas of saline-water contamination. Ground, airborne, and borehole geophysical data were collected in the East Poplar oil field area from 1992 through 2005 as part ofAuthorsBruce D. Smith, Joanna N. Thamke, Christa TyrrellA GIS-based vulnerability assessment of brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in eastern Sheridan County, Montana
Water (brine) co-produced with oil in the Williston Basin is some of the most saline in the nation. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), characterized by glacial sediments and numerous wetlands, covers the northern and eastern portion of the Williston Basin. Sheridan County, Montana, lies within the PPR and has a documented history of brine contamination. Surface water and shallow groundwater in theAuthorsTodd M. Preston, Tara L. Chesley-Preston, Joanna N. ThamkeWater-quality and geophysical data for three study sites within the Williston Basin and Prairie Pothole Region
This report is a data release for water geochemical sample analyses and geophysical surveys for three sites within the Williston Basin and Prairie Pothole Region of Montana and North Dakota. The data collection sites and procedures are described.AuthorsTodd M. Preston, Bruce D. Smith, Joanna N. Thamke, Tara L. Chesley-PrestonStrontium isotope systematics of mixing groundwater and oil-field brine at Goose Lake in northeastern Montana, USA
Groundwater, surface water, and soil in the Goose Lake oil field in northeastern Montana have been affected by Cl−-rich oil-field brines during long-term petroleum production. Ongoing multidisciplinary geochemical and geophysical studies have identified the degree and local extent of interaction between brine and groundwater. Fourteen samples representing groundwater, surface water, and brine wereAuthorsZell E. Peterman, Joanna N. Thamke, Kiyoto Futa, Todd PrestonExamination of brine contamination risk to aquatic resources from petroleum development in the Williston Basin
U.S. Geological Survey scientists and cooperating partners are examining the potential risk to aquatic resources (for example, wetlands, streams) by contamination from saline waters (brine) produced by petroleum development in the Williston Basin of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The primary goals of this study are to provide a science-based approach to assess potential risk of brine conAuthorsRobert A. Gleason, Joanna N. Thamke, Bruce D. Smith, Brian A. Tangen, Tara L. Chesley-Preston, Todd M. PrestonStrontium isotope detection of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field, Montana
Brine contamination of groundwater in the East Poplar oil field was first documented in the mid-1980s by the U.S. Geological Survey by using hydrochemistry, with an emphasis on chloride (Cl) and total dissolved solids concentrations. Supply wells for the City of Poplar are located downgradient from the oil field, are completed in the same shallow aquifers that are documented as contaminated, and tAuthorsZell E. Peterman, Joanna N. Thamke, Kiyoto Futa, Thomas A. Oliver - Science
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