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
Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey maps and data, East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, August 2004
Arsenic and metal loads and source areas in the Middle Fork Warm Springs Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Montana, June 2001
Water-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data, for streams in the upper Prickly Pear Creek watershed, Montana, 2001
Ground-water quality for two areas in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993-2000
Arsenic loads and source areas in and along Bear Creek, Park County, Montana, September 2000
Water-quality, biology, and streambed sediment data and preliminary geochemical interpretations for streams in the upper Prickly Pear Creek watershed, Montana, 2000
Hydrology of the Helena area bedrock, west-central Montana, 1993-98
Dryland farming and livestock as sources of nitrate in ground water
Extent, magnitude, and sources of nitrate in the Flaxville and underlying aquifers, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana
Saline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits and the Poplar River, East Poplar Oil Field, northeastern Montana
Hydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
Reconnaissance of ground-water resources of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 38
Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey maps and data, East Poplar oil field area, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, August 2004
This report is a data release for a helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic survey that was conducted during August 2004 in a 275-square-kilometer area that includes the East Poplar oil field on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The electromagnetic equipment consisted of six different coil-pair orientations that measured resistivity at separate frequencies from about 400 hertz to about 140,000 herAuthorsBruce D. Smith, Joanna N. Thamke, Michael J. Cain, Christa Tyrrell, Patricia L. HillArsenic and metal loads and source areas in the Middle Fork Warm Springs Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Montana, June 2001
No abstract available.AuthorsThomas E. Cleasby, Joanna N. Thamke, David A. NimickWater-quality, bed-sediment, and biological data, for streams in the upper Prickly Pear Creek watershed, Montana, 2001
The upper Prickly Pear Creek watershed encompasses the upstream 15 miles of Prickly Pear Creek, south of Helena, Montana (fig. 1). The headwaters of Prickly Pear Creek and its tributaries (Beavertown Creek, Clancy Creek, Dutchman Creek, Golconda Creek, Lump Gulch, Spring Creek, and Warm Springs Creek) are primarily in the Helena National Forest, whereas the central part of the watershed primarilyAuthorsTerry L. Klein, Joanna N. Thamke, David D. Harper, Aïda M. Farag, David A. Nimick, David L. FeyGround-water quality for two areas in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana, 1993-2000
No abstract available.AuthorsJoanna N. Thamke, Karen S. MidtlyngArsenic loads and source areas in and along Bear Creek, Park County, Montana, September 2000
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.N. Thamke, T.R. Wotan, T.E. Cleasby, D. A. NimickWater-quality, biology, and streambed sediment data and preliminary geochemical interpretations for streams in the upper Prickly Pear Creek watershed, Montana, 2000
No abstract available.AuthorsTerry L. Klein, Joanna N. Thamke, Aïda M. FaragHydrology of the Helena area bedrock, west-central Montana, 1993-98
The Generalized Bedrock Geologic Map of the Helena Area, West-Central Montana (plate 1 in the report) provides an intermediate-scale overview of bedrock in the Helena area. The geologic map has been compiled at a scale of 1:100,000 from the most widely available sources of geologic map information (see index to geologic mapping on pl. 1). That information has been updated by M.W. Reynolds for thisAuthorsJoanna N. Thamke, Mitchell W. ReynoldsDryland farming and livestock as sources of nitrate in ground water
No abstract available.AuthorsJoanna N. Thamke, David A. NimickExtent, magnitude, and sources of nitrate in the Flaxville and underlying aquifers, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana
No abstract available.AuthorsD. A. Nimick, J.N. ThamkeSaline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits and the Poplar River, East Poplar Oil Field, northeastern Montana
The extent of saline-water contamination in Quaternary deposits in and near the East Poplar oil field may be as much as 12.4 square miles and appears to be present throughout the entire saturated zone. The saline-water contamination affects 9-60 billion gallons of ground water. Saline- contaminated water moves westward through Quaternary glacial deposits and merges with southward-flowing water iAuthorsJ.N. Thamke, S. D. CraiggHydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
This report presents selected hydrologic data for the East Poplar oil field, located in the south-central part of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. Data about the occurrence, quantity, and quality of ground and surface water are presented in tabular form. The tables contain records of privately owned wells (active and abandoned), monitoring wells installed by the U.S. GeoloAuthorsJ.N. Thamke, S. D. Craigg, T.M. MendesReconnaissance of ground-water resources of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, northeastern Montana
No abstract available.AuthorsJoanna N. Thamke - Science
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