Spalding, R. F., and Fulton, J. W., 1988, Groundwater munition residues and nitrate near Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S.A.: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 2, no. 2, p.139–153, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(88)90004-6.
John W Fulton
Biography
John is a hydraulic engineer, DOI sUAS remote pilot, and Surface Water Specialist for the Colorado Water Science Center. He has 35 years of experience in water resources engineering within the federal government and private sector with an emphasis in surface water, applied research, and project management. These works involved multi-agency collaborations including state DOTs, EPA, JPL, NASA, NOAA, USACE, and USFWS. His research interests include (1) remote sensing from fixed- and drone-based platforms, (2) operationalizing Doppler and pulsed radars to measure river discharge in small- and big-river systems, (3) deploying ground-penetrating radars to measure channel bathymetry and snow depth, and (4) installing flood alert networks related to extreme events including wildfires.
Education
M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering (Hydraulics), University of Pittsburgh
M.S., Geology, University of Nebraska
B.S., Geology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Relevant Work Experience
2000 – U.S. Geological Survey
1991 – 2000 ENSR Consulting and Engineering
1986 – 1991 Delta Environmental Consultants
1985 – 1986 Twin City Testing
Science and Products
Date published: April 5, 2021
Status: Active Streamflows at Baca and Alamosa National Wildlife Refuges using Non-Contact Technology
The goal of this study is to design, install, and operationalize non-contact radar monitoring to measure streamflow at two sites at National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Where traditional monitoring equipment in a stream channel is difficult to operate and maintain, non-contact radar technology is a solution that provides more cost-effective and accurate continuous...
Contacts: Michael S Kohn, P.E., John W Fulton, Brian Caruso, Ph.D., P.E
Attribution: Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2018
Status: Completed Under-Ice: Computing Real-time Discharge
Under-ice discharge is estimated using open-water reference hydrographs; however, the ratings for ice-affected sites are generally qualified as poor.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, conducted a proof-of-concept to develop an alternative method for computing under-ice discharge using hydroacoustics and the Probability...
Contacts: John W Fulton
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: April 19, 2017
Status: Completed Fountain Creek Watershed Flood and Sediment Transport Study
The Fountain Creek watershed, Colorado, is characterized by steep channel slopes and varied land use. Spatially distributed precipitation events result in varying rates of direct runoff. These dynamics contribute to large streamflows and sediment transport, which has caused periodic flooding, and sediment aggradation and deposition in Fountain Creek and its tributary streams. The U.S....
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: July 1, 2016
Status: Active Radar on Drones
Small, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) or drones can be used to monitor extreme flows in basins that (1) respond quickly to precipitation events, (2) are not gaged, (3) are located in terrain that restricts access and equipment deployments, and (4) are altered by events such as wildfires.
The research will explore the use of sUAS platforms to measure water depth, water levels,...
Contacts: John W Fulton
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: July 15, 2015
Status: Active Precipitation and Streamgage Flood Warning System
Rainfall amounts associated with the September 2013 Colorado Floods exceeded 15 inches in some locations and resulted in significant flooding along the Front Range (Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center, 2013). These events resulted in streamflows that compromised a variety of transportation structures such as bridges and culverts and roadways.
By coupling the National Oceanic and...
Contacts: John W Fulton
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2014
Status: Active DEFEnS DEbris and Flood Early warNing System
The Waldo Canyon wildfire burned more than 18,000 acres within a perimeter of more than 19,000 acres. In response to the July and August 2013 floods in the Waldo Canyon watershed and in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the U.S. Geological Survey developed a warning system for Waldo Canyon associated with a wildfire burn scar, which are at risk to debris...
Contacts: John W Fulton
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: March 1, 2013
Status: Active SWOT - Surface Water and Ocean Topography
Satellite altimetry associated with the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission offers a solution for measuring (1) river stage and slope, (2) water surface area including mean channel width and (3) derivatives such as river discharge. The measurements can be used to track changes in these variables and provide an accounting of the Earth's fresh-water bodies from space at the reach...
Contacts: John W Fulton
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: October 9, 2020
Drone- and ground-based measurements of velocity, depth, and discharge collected during 2017-18 at the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in Colorado and the Salcha and Tanana Rivers in Alaska, USA
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is actively investigating the use of innovative remote-sensing techniques to estimate surface velocity and discharge of rivers in ungaged basins and river reaches that lack the infrastructure to install conventional streamgaging equipment. By coupling discharge algorithms and sensors capable of measuring surface velocity, streamgage networks can be establis...
Attribution: Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: June 1, 2020
Radar-based field measurements of surface velocity and discharge from 10 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages for various locations in the United States, 2002-19.
Near-field remote sensing methods were used to collect Doppler velocity and pulsed stage radar data at 10 conventional U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in river reaches with varying hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics. Basin sizes ranged from 381 to 66,200 square kilometers and included agricultural, desert, forest, mixed, and high-gradient mountain environments. During the sitin
Attribution: Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2019
Water-surface elevations derived from submersible pressure transducers deployed along the Green River near Jensen, Utah, February-September 2018
Twenty one submersible pressure transducers were deployed along the Green River near Jensen, Utah in late February 2018. At some locations two transducers were deployed at different elevations to capture the expected range of water level fluctuations, an "upper" and "lower" transducer. Two additional transducers were left out of the water to correct for barometric pressure fluctuation
Attribution: Water Resources, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2019
Water-surface elevations derived from submersible pressure transducers deployed along the Salcha River, Alaska, July-October 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey deployed seven submersible pressure transducers on the bottom of the Salcha River in July 2018. An additional transducer was left out of the water to correct for barometric pressure fluctuations. At the time of deployment, the bank position near each transducer and the water-surface elevation were measured with real-time kinematic GPS equipment. The transducers...
Attribution: Water Resources, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2019
Bathymetric survey of the Green River near Jensen, Utah, March 26-29, 2018
A topographic and bathymetric survey was collected along a reach of the Green River downstream of Dinosaur National Monument. The surveyed reach extends approximately 16 kilometers upstream and 6 kilometers downstream of the U.S. Route 40 bridge near Jensen, Utah. The topographic and bathymetric data include survey point data for 382 cross sections over 22 kilometers and are provided as a text...
Attribution: Water Resources, Colorado Water Science Center
Date published: June 1, 2016
USGS HYDRoacoustic dataset in support of the Surface Water Oceanographic Topography satellite mission (HYDRoSWOT)
HYDRoSWOT – HYDRoacoustic dataset in support of Surface Water Oceanographic Topography – is a data set that aggregates channel and flow data collected from the USGS streamgaging network and includes 200,000+ records of USGS acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) discharge measurements. The data set includes a variety of fields including: mean depth, mean velocity,
Attribution: Colorado Water Science Center
Year Published: 2021
Uncertainty in remote sensing of streams using noncontact radars
Accounting for freshwater resources and monitoring floods are vital functions for societies throughout the world. Remote-sensing methods offer great prospects to expand stream monitoring in developing countries and to smaller, headwater streams that are largely ungauged worldwide. This study evaluates the potential to estimate discharge using...
Khan, Mushfiqur Rahman; Gourley, Jonathan J; Duarte, Jorge; Vergara, Humberto; Wasielewski, Daniel; Ayral, Pierre-Alain; Fulton, John
Year Published: 2020
QCam: sUAS-based doppler radar for measuring river discharge
The U.S. Geological Survey is actively investigating remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge (discharge) from satellite-, high altitude-, small, unmanned aircraft systems- (sUAS or drone), and permanent (fixed) deployments. This initiative is important in ungaged basins and river reaches that lack the infrastructure to deploy...
Fulton, John W.; Anderson, Isaac E.; Chiu, C.-L.; Sommer, Wolfram; Adams, Josip; Moramarco, Tommaso; Bjerklie, David M.; Fulford, Janice M.; Sloan, Jeff L.; Best, Heather; Conaway, Jeffrey S.; Kang, Michelle J.; Kohn, Michael S.; Nicotra, Matthew J.; Pulli, Jeremy J.
Year Published: 2020
Predicting the floods that follow the flames
No abstract available.
Gourley, Jonathan J; Vergara, Humberto; Arthur, Ami; Clark, Robert A III; Staley, Dennis M.; Fulton, John; Hempel, Laura A.; Goodrich, David C.; Rowden, Katherine; Robichaud, Peter R.
Year Published: 2020
Near-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge using radars and the probability concept at 10 USGS streamgages
Near-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge (discharge) were measured using coherent, continuous wave Doppler and pulsed radars. Traditional streamgaging requires sensors be deployed in the water column; however, near-field remote sensing has the potential to transform streamgaging operations through non-contact methods in...
Fulton, John; Mason, Christopher Allen; Eggleston, Jack R.; Nicotra, Matthew J.; Chiu, C.-L.; Henneberg, Mark F.; Best, Heather; Cederberg, Jay; Holnbeck, Stephen R.; Lotspeich, R. Russell; Laveau, Christopher; Moramarco, Tommaso; Jones, Mark E.; Gourley, Jonathan J; Wasielewski, Danny
Year Published: 2019
Remote sensing of river flow in Alaska—New technology to improve safety and expand coverage of USGS streamgaging
The U.S. Geological Survey monitors water level (water surface elevation relative to an arbitrary datum) and measures streamflow in Alaska rivers to compute and compile river flow records for use by water resource planners, engineers, and land managers to design infrastructure, manage floodplains, and protect life, property, and aquatic resources...
Conaway, Jeff; Eggleston, John R.; Legleiter, Carl J.; Jones, John W.; Kinzel, Paul J.; Fulton, John W.Attribution: Alaska Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 11: Alaska, , Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Conaway, J.S., Eggleston, J., Legleiter, C.J., Jones, J.W., Kinzel, P.J., and Fulton, J.W., 2019, Remote sensing of river flow in Alaska—New technology to improve safety and expand coverage of USGS streamgaging: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2019-3024, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193024.
Year Published: 2018
Computing under-ice discharge: A proof-of-concept using hydroacoustics and the Probability Concept
Under-ice discharge is estimated using open-water reference hydrographs; however, the ratings for ice-affected sites are generally qualified as poor. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, conducted a proof-of-concept to develop an alternative method for computing under-ice discharge using...
Fulton, John W.; Henneberg, Mark F.; Mills, Taylor J.; Kohn, Michael S.; Epstein, Brian; Hittle, Elizabeth ; Damschen, William C.; Laveau, Christopher D.; Lambrecht, Jason M.; Farmer, William H.View Citation
Fulton, J.W., Henneberg, M.F., Mills, T.J., Kohn, M.S., Epstein, B., Hittle, E.A., Damschen, W.C., Laveau, C.D., Lambrecht, J.M., and Farmer, W.H., 2018, Computing under-ice discharge: A proof-of-concept using hydroacoustics and the Probability Concept: Journal of Hydrology, v. 562, p.733-748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.04.073.
Year Published: 2017
Engaging the user community for advancing societal applications of the Surface Water Ocean Topography mission
Scheduled for launch in 2021, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will be a truly unique mission that will provide high-temporal-frequency maps of surface water extents and elevation variations of global water bodies (lakes/reservoirs, rivers, estuaries, oceans, and sea ice) at higher spatial resolution than is available with...
Hossain, Faisal; Srinivasan, Margaret; Peterson, Craig; Andral, Alice; Beighley, Ed; Anderson, Eric; Amini, Rashied; Birkett, Charon; Bjerklie, David M.; Blain, Cheryl Ann; Cherchali, Selma; David, Cédric H.; Doorn, Bradley D.; Escurra, Jorge; Fu, Lee-Lueng; Frans, Chris; Fulton, John W.; Gangopadhyay, Subhrendu; Ghosh, Subimal; Gleason, Colin; Gosset, Marielle; Hausman, Jessica; Jacobs, Gregg; Jones, John W.; Kaheil, Yasir; Laignel, Benoit; Le Moigne, Patrick; Li, Li; Lefèvre, Fabien; Mason, Robert R.; Mehta, Amita; Mukherjee, Abhijit; Nguy-Robertson, Anthony; Ricci, Sophie; Paris, Adrien; Pavelsky, Tamlin; Picot, Nicolas; Schumann, Guy; Shrestha, Sudhir; Le Traon, Pierre-Yves; Trehubenko, EricAttribution: Water Resources
Year Published: 2016
Occurrence and trends in the concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria and the relation to field water-quality parameters in the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers and selected tributaries, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 2001–09
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Allegheny County Health Department and Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, collected surface-water samples from the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers and selected tributaries during the period 2001–09 to assess the occurrence and trends in the concentrations of fecal-indicator...
Fulton, John W.; Koerkle, Edward H.; McCoy, Jamie L.; Zarr, Linda F.Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Fulton, J.W., Koerkle, E.H., McCoy, J.L., and Zarr, L.F., 2016, Occurrence and trends in the concentrations of fecal-indicator bacteria and the relation to field water-quality parameters in the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers and selected tributaries, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 2001–09: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5136, 47 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155136.
Year Published: 2015
Water-budgets and recharge-area simulations for the Spring Creek and Nittany Creek Basins and parts of the Spruce Creek Basin, Centre and Huntingdon Counties, Pennsylvania, Water Years 2000–06
This report describes the results of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with ClearWater Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to develop a hydrologic model to simulate a water budget and identify areas of greater than average recharge for the Spring Creek Basin in central Pennsylvania. The model...
Fulton, John W.; Risser, Dennis W.; Regan, R. Steve; Walker, John F.; Hunt, Randall J.; Niswonger, Richard G.; Hoffman, Scott A.; Markstrom, Steven L.Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Fulton, J.W., Risser, D.W., Regan, R.S., Walker, J.F., Hunt, R.J., Niswonger, R.G., Hoffman, S.A., and Markstrom, S.L., 2015, Water-budgets and recharge-area simulations for the Spring Creek and Nittany Creek Basins and parts of the Spruce Creek Basin, Centre and Huntingdon Counties, Pennsylvania, Water Years 2000–06: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5073, 86 p, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155073.
Year Published: 2015
Effects of high salinity wastewater discharges on unionid mussels in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania
We examined the effect of high salinity wastewater (brine) from oil and natural gas drilling on freshwater mussels in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, during 2012. Mussel cages (N = 5 per site) were deployed at two sites upstream and four sites downstream of a brine treatment facility on the Allegheny River. Each cage contained 20 juvenile...
Patnode, Kathleen A.; Hittle, Elizabeth ; Anderson, Robert; Zimmerman, Lora; Fulton, John W.Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Kathleen A. Patnode, Elizabeth Hittle, Robert M. Anderson, Lora Zimmerman, and John W. Fulton (2015) Effects of High Salinity Wastewater Discharges on Unionid Mussels in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management: June 2015, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 55-70.
Year Published: 2014
Using science to strengthen our Nation's resilience to tomorrow's challenges: understanding and preparing for coastal impacts
Hurricane Sandy caused unprecedented damage across some of the most densely populated coastal areas of the northeastern United States. The costly, landscape-altering destruction left in the wake of this storm is a stark reminder of our Nation’s need to become more resilient as we inevitably face future coastal hazards. As our Nation recovers from...
Simmons, Dale L.; Andersen, Matthew E.; Dean, Teresa A.; Focazio, Michael J.; Fulton, John W.; Haines, John W.; Mason, Robert R.; Tihansky, Ann B.; Young, John A.Attribution: Natural Hazards
View Citation
Using science to strengthen our Nation's resilience to tomorrow's challenges: understanding and preparing for coastal impacts; 2014; FS; 2014-3062; Simmons, Dale L.; Andersen, Matthew E.; Dean, Teresa A.; Focazio, Michael J.; Fulton, John W.; Haines, John W.; Mason, Robert R., Jr.; Tihansky, Ann B.; Young, John A.
Year Published: 2014
Calibration of a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model for parts of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, developed a validated two-dimensional Resource Management Associates2 (RMA2) hydrodynamic model of parts of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers (Three Rivers) to help assess the effects of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer...
Fulton, John W.; Wagner, Chad R.Attribution: Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Calibration of a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model for parts of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; 2014; SIR; 2013-5145; Fulton, John W.; Wagner, Chad R.
Pre-USGS Publications
Moramarco, T., Barbetta, S., Bjerklie, D. M., Fulton, J. W., & Tarpanelli, A. (2019). River bathymetry estimate and discharge assessment from remote sensing. Water Resources Research, 55, 6692– 6711. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR024220
Cardno, Catherine A. (2007). Hazard Forecasting Methods Could Revolutionize Hydrology Monitoring. Civil Engineering Magazine Archive, 87, 40-41. https://doi.org/10.1061/ciegag.0001251
Spalding, Roy F., Fulton, John W., 1988, Groundwater munition residues and nitrate near Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S.A. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology,
Volume 2, Issue 2, 1988, Pages 139-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(88)90004-6
Date published: May 13, 2019
2019 USGS Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aquatic Airshow
A USGS Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aquatic Airshow field testing and demonstration event occurred 4/30/2019 - 5/2/2019 on the Saco River near Biddeford, and the Androscoggin River near Lewiston in Maine, USA.