J. William Lund is a member of the River and Coastal Processes team of the Upper Midwest Water Science Center. His work focuses on sediment transport including physical samples, in-situ surrogates from hydro-acoustic and turbidity sensors, lidar and bathymetry surveys, and modeling using machine learning.
Research Experience:
- Improving predictions of sediment transport using physical samples, streamflow, geospatial datasets, and machine learning
- Perform single and multi-beam bathymetry surveys
- Perform lidar, RTK GNSS, and total station surveys
- Use USGS protocols to collect water quality, suspended sediment, bed load, and bed material samples
- Perform gage inspections and streamflow measurements
- Design, fabricate, install, and operate index-velocity streamgages
- Install, calibrate, and maintain acoustic Doppler velocity meters, turbidity sensors, and nitrate sensors
- Archive, analyze, and review time series data sets for continuous water quality
Professional Experience
2022 - Present: Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mounds View, Minnesota
2014- 2022: Hydrologic Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mounds View, Minnesota
Education and Certifications
MS 2021: University of Minnesota - Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management
Thesis "Using machine learning to improve predictions of fluvial sediment transport"
BS 2013: University of Minnesota - Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
Science and Products
Lake Superior Beach Nourishment and Near-Shore Bathymetric Surveys of Minnesota Point at Duluth, Minnesota
Development of a FluEgg Model for the St. Croix River
Measuring Suspended-Sediment Concentrations, Grain Sizes and Bedload using Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meters and Echologgers in the Lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin
Suspended-sediment concentrations, acoustic data, and linear regression models for the Lower Minnesota River, Mississippi River, and Lake Pepin, 2015-2017
A novel suspended-sediment sampling method: Depth-Integrated Grab (DIG)
How machine learning can improve predictions and provide insight into fluvial sediment transport in Minnesota
Comparing empirical sediment transport modeling approaches in Michigan rivers
Using machine learning to improve predictions and provide insight into fluvial sediment transport
The use of continuous sediment-transport measurements to improve sand-load estimates in a large sand-bedded river: The Lower Chippewa River, WI
Sediment monitoring and streamflow modeling before and after a stream restoration in Rice Creek, Minnesota, 2010–2019
The role of hydraulic and geomorphic complexity in predicting invasive carp spawning potential: St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, United States
Using acoustic Doppler velocity meters to estimate suspended sediment along the lower Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers
Science and Products
- Science
Lake Superior Beach Nourishment and Near-Shore Bathymetric Surveys of Minnesota Point at Duluth, Minnesota
The shoreline, beaches, and infrastructure in Duluth, Minnesota have been degraded along the Minnesota Point barrier island because of high water levels and heavy wave action. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is exploring the beneficial use of dredge material for beach nourishment on the Lake Superior side of the barrier island.Development of a FluEgg Model for the St. Croix River
The USGS partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to collect hydraulic and water chemistry data in the lower St. Croix River for development of a model that predicts the probability of successful egg hatching and survival of juvenile invasive carp over a range of water temperature and streamflow conditions.Measuring Suspended-Sediment Concentrations, Grain Sizes and Bedload using Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meters and Echologgers in the Lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin
Sediment from the Chippewa River deposits in the Mississippi River navigation channel, sometimes disrupting commercial barge traffic and resulting in expensive and ecologically disruptive dredging operations. The USGS is using new applications of hydroacoustic technologies to better understand sediment transport in the Chippewa River and associated effects on commercial navigation. - Data
Suspended-sediment concentrations, acoustic data, and linear regression models for the Lower Minnesota River, Mississippi River, and Lake Pepin, 2015-2017
A series of linear regression models were developed and calibrated for the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The linear regression models were calibrated using acoustic and suspended-sediment concentration data collected from March through November 2016 and 2017. The estimates of suspended-sediment concentrations from the linear regression were used to calculate loads. The calibrated models were u - Publications
A novel suspended-sediment sampling method: Depth-Integrated Grab (DIG)
Measuring suspended sediment in fluvial systems is critical to understanding and managing water resources. Sampling suspended sediment has been the primary means of understanding fluvial suspended sediment. Specialized samplers, sampling methods, and laboratory methods developed by select U.S. Federal Agencies are more representative of river and stream conditions than commonly used grab samplingAuthorsJoel T. Groten, Sara B. Levin, Erin N. Coenen, John (William) Lund, Gregory D. JohnsonHow machine learning can improve predictions and provide insight into fluvial sediment transport in Minnesota
Understanding fluvial sediment transport is critical to addressing many environmental concerns such as exacerbated flooding, degradation of aquatic habitat, excess nutrients, and the economic challenges of restoring aquatic systems. However, fluvial sediment transport is difficult to understand because of the multitude of factors controlling the potential sources, delivery, mechanics, and storageAuthorsJohn (William) Lund, Joel T. Groten, Diana L. Karwan, Chad BabcockComparing empirical sediment transport modeling approaches in Michigan rivers
Excess or limited fluvial sediment transport can contribute to and exacerbate many environmental issues including nutrient loading, aquatic habitat degradation, flooding, channel navigation dredging, dam operation, and stream degradation or aggradation. However, fluvial sediment transport is difficult and expensive to comprehensively characterize because it can vary substantially both temporally aAuthorsJoel T. Groten, Sara B. Levin, Erin N. Coenen, John (William) Lund, Bethany MatousekUsing machine learning to improve predictions and provide insight into fluvial sediment transport
A thorough understanding of fluvial sediment transport is critical to addressing many environmental concerns such as exacerbated flooding, degradation of aquatic habitat, excess nutrients, and the economic challenges of restoring aquatic systems. Fluvial sediment samples are integral for addressing these environmental concerns but cannot be collected at every river and time of interest. Therefore,AuthorsJ. William Lund, Joel T. Groten, Diana L. Karwan, Chad BabcockThe use of continuous sediment-transport measurements to improve sand-load estimates in a large sand-bedded river: The Lower Chippewa River, WI
Accurately determining sediment loads is necessary for managing river environments but is difficult because multiple processes can lead to large discharge-independent changes in sediment transport. Thus, estimations of sediment load using discharge–sediment rating curves fit to sparse or historical sediment-transport measurements can be inaccurate, necessitating alternative approaches to reduce unAuthorsDavid Dean, David Topping, D. D. Buscombe, Joel T. Groten, Jeffrey R. Ziegeweid, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, John (William) Lund, Erin Nicole CoenenSediment monitoring and streamflow modeling before and after a stream restoration in Rice Creek, Minnesota, 2010–2019
The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) cooperated with the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a 10-year suspended sediment and bedload monitoring and streamflow modeling study to evaluate the effects of two restored meander sections on middle Rice Creek in Arden Hills, Minnesota. The RCWD goals of this stream restoration were to reduce water quality impairments, improve aquatic habitat, and redAuthorsJoel T. Groten, Colin T. Livdahl, Stephen B. DeLong, J. William Lund, Jonathan M. Nelson, Erin N. Coenen, Jeffrey R. Ziegeweid, Matthew J. KocianThe role of hydraulic and geomorphic complexity in predicting invasive carp spawning potential: St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, United States
Since they were first introduced to the United States more than 50 years ago, invasive carp have rapidly colonized rivers of the Mississippi River Basin, with detrimental effects on native aquatic species. Their continued range expansion, and potential for subsequent invasion of the Great Lakes, has led to increased concern for the susceptibility of as-yet uncompromised lotic and lentic systems inAuthorsAlan Kasprak, P. Ryan Jackson, Evan M. Lindroth, J. William Lund, Jeffrey R. ZiegeweidUsing acoustic Doppler velocity meters to estimate suspended sediment along the lower Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers
Lake Pepin is the largest naturally formed lake on the Mississippi River and has complex management needs to satisfy economic, environmental, and cultural demands. Lake Pepin is filling in with sediment at a rapid rate compared to conditions before settlement by European immigrants and intense agricultural cultivation. Accordingly, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has developed aggressive plAuthorsJoel T. Groten, Jeffrey R. Ziegeweid, J. William Lund, Christopher A. Ellison, Samuel B. Costa, Erin N. Coenen, Erich W. Kessler