McManus, E., K. Jenni, M. Clancy, K. Ghalambor, I. Logan, S. Redman, B. Labiosa, K. Currens, T. Quinn, W. Landis, K. Stiles, J. Burke, The 2014 Puget Sound Pressures Assessment. Puget Sound Partnership Publication #2014-04. Tacoma, WA. 2014.
Karen E Jenni, Ph.D.
I am a Decision Scientist with the USGS Science and Decisions Center. I have spent my career as a professional decision consultant, and was excited to bring those skills into the USGS when I arrived in spring of 2016. My focus is on using decision science tools to help increase both the value and the use of USGS science in decision-making.
Biography
A key theme in my work is working collaboratively with experts, stakeholders, and decisions makers across multiple disciplines and multiple organizations to bring structure and sound science information to bear on challenging resource management problems. Today’s resource managers need management tools, expertise and sound science to make decisions that will not be second-guessed, inherently flawed, or result in catastrophic outcomes. Today’s scientists want to develop information that will be useful to, and used by, those managers as they address critical decisions affecting our nations natural resources and societal well-being. My research focus, and my passion, lies in connecting these two groups: in helping other scientists identify, develop, and deliver state-of-the-art, decision-relevant information, and in helping decision-makers make effective and efficient use of that information. Working together and using the tools of decision analysis and adaptive management, scientists and managers can maximize the likelihood of achieving desired management outcomes while simultaneously adding to scientific knowledge that will be useful for future decisions.
I have B.S in Mathematical and Computational Sciences from Stanford University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to joining the USGS, I was the founder of Insight Decisions, LCC, a Principal at Geomatrix Consultants, and a Senior Manager at Applied Decision Analysis. I currently serve as the President-Elect of the Decision Analyis Society (DAS) for INFORMS (the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science)
Science and Products
Year Published: 2020
Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management
Natural resource managers are coping with rapid changes in both environmental conditions and ecosystems. Enabled by recent advances in data collection and assimilation, short-term ecological forecasting may be a powerful tool to help resource managers anticipate impending near-term changes in ecosystem conditions or dynamics. Managers may use the...
Bradford, John B.; Weltzin, Jake F.; Mccormick, Molly; Baron, Jill; Bowen, Zack; Bristol, Sky; Carlisle, Daren; Crimmins, Theresa; Cross, Paul; DeVivo, Joe; Dietze, Mike; Freeman, Mary; Goldberg, Jason; Hooten, Mevin; Hsu, Leslie; Jenni, Karen; Keisman, Jennifer; Kennen, Jonathan; Lee, Kathy; Lesmes, David; Loftin, Keith; Miller, Brian W.; Murdoch, Peter; Newman, Jana; Prentice, Karen L.; Rangwala, Imtiaz; Read, Jordan; Sieracki, Jennifer; Sofaer, Helen; Thur, Steve; Toevs, Gordon; Werner, Francisco; White, C. LeAnn; White, Timothy; Wiltermuth, MarkAttribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Minnesota Water Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Wildlife Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, United States of America
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Bradford, J.B., Weltzin, J.F., McCormick, M., Baron, J., Bowen, Z., Bristol, S., Carlisle, D., Crimmins, T., Cross, P., DeVivo, J., Dietze, M., Freeman, M., Goldberg, J., Hooten, M., Hsu, L., Jenni, K., Keisman, J., Kennen, J., Lee, K., Lesmes, D., Loftin, K., Miller, B.W., Murdoch, P., Newman, J., Prentice, K.L., Rangwala, I., Read, J., Sieracki, J., Sofaer, H., Thur, S., Toevs, G., Werner, F., White, C.L., White, T., and Wiltermuth, M., 2020, Ecological forecasting—21st century science for 21st century management: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1073, 54 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201073.
Year Published: 2020
Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas, 2019
Building on a geology-based assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable petroleum resources in the Eagle Ford Group in south Texas, the U.S. Geological Survey has estimated the required water and proppant demands and formation water production volumes associated with possible future development of these petroleum resources. The results of...
Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Whidden, Katherine J.; Birdwell, Justin E.; Burke, Lauri A.; Drake, Ronald M.; Finn, Thomas M.; French, Katherine L.; Jenni, Karen E.; Kinney, Scott A.; Le, Phuong A.; Leathers-Miller, Heidi M.; Marra, Kristen R.; Mercier, Tracey J.; Paxton, Stanley T.; Pitman, Janet K.; Schenk, Christopher J.; Shaffer, Brian N.; Shorten, Chilisa M.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.; Woodall, Cheryl A.Attribution: Central Energy Resources Science Center, Energy Resources Program, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin
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Gianoutsos, N.J., Haines, S.S., Varela, B.A., Whidden, K.J., Birdwell, J.E., Burke, L.A., Drake, R.M, II, Finn, T.M., French, K.L., Jenni, K.E., Kinney, S.A., Le, P.A., Leathers-Miller, H.M., Marra, K.R., Mercier, T.J., Paxton, S.T., Pitman, J.K., Schenk, C.J., Shaffer, B.N., Shorten, C.M., Tennyson, M.E., and Woodall, C.A., 2020, Assessment of water and proppant quantities associated with petroleum production from the Eagle Ford Group, Gulf Coast, Texas, 2019 :U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2020–3037, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20203037.
Year Published: 2018
Multi-Resource Analysis—Methodology and synthesis
This document introduces the Multi-Resource Analysis (MRA), a set of products that are being designed to integrate information on multiple natural resources in a region, combine that information with models of resource interrelationships and scenarios of change, and provide meaningful insights on the implications of those...
Jenni, Karen E.; Pindilli, Emily J.; Bernknopf, Richard; Nieman, Timothy L.; Shapiro, CarlAttribution: , Science and Decisions Center
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Jenni, K.E., Pindilli, E., Bernknopf, R., Nieman, T.L., and Shapiro, C., 2018, Multi-Resource Analysis—Methodology and synthesis: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1442, 81 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1442.
Year Published: 2017
Conceptual modeling framework to support development of site-specific selenium criteria for Lake Koocanusa, Montana, U.S.A., and British Columbia, Canada
The U.S. Geological Survey, working with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy, has developed a conceptual modeling framework that can be used to provide structured and scientifically based input to the Lake Koocanusa Monitoring and Research Working Group as...
Jenni, Karen E.; Naftz, David L.; Presser, Theresa S.Attribution: , Science and Decisions Center
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Jenni, K.E., Naftz, D.L., and Presser, T.S., 2017, Conceptual modeling framework to support development of site-specific selenium criteria for Lake Koocanusa, Montana, U.S.A., and British Columbia, Canada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1130, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171130.
Year Published: 2017
Grand challenges for integrated USGS science—A workshop report
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of advancing the traditional Earth science disciplines and identifying opportunities to integrate USGS science across disciplines to address complex societal problems. The USGS science strategy for 2007–2017 laid out key challenges in disciplinary and interdisciplinary arenas,...
Jenni, Karen E.; Goldhaber, Martin B.; Betancourt, Julio L.; Baron, Jill S.; Bristol, Sky; Cantrill, Mary; Exter, Paul E.; Focazio, Michael J.; Haines, John W.; Hay, Lauren E.; Hsu, Leslie; Labson, Victor F.; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Ludwig, K.A.; Milly, Paul C. D.; Morelli, Toni L.; Morman, Suzette A.; Nassar, Nedal T.; Newman, Timothy R.; Ostroff, Andrea C. ; Read, Jordan S.; Reed, Sasha C.; Shapiro, Carl D.; Smith, Richard A.; Sanford, Ward E.; Sohl, Terry L.; Stets, Edward G.; Terando, Adam J.; Tillitt, Donald E.; Tischler, Michael A.; Toccalino, Patricia L.; Wald, David J.; Waldrop, Mark P.; Wein, Anne; Weltzin, Jake F.; Zimmerman, Christian E.Attribution: Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Science and Decisions Center, United States of America, Land Use Land Cover Modeling
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Jenni, K.E., Goldhaber, M.B., Betancourt, J.L., Baron, J.S., Bristol, R.S., Cantrill, Mary, Exter, P.E., Focazio, M.J., Haines, J.W., Hay, L.E., Hsu, Leslie, Labson, V.F., Lafferty, K.D., Ludwig, K.A., Milly, P.C., Morelli, T.L., Morman, S.A., Nassar, N.T., Newman, T.R., Ostroff, A.C., Read, J.S., Reed, S.C., Shapiro, C.D., Smith, R.A., Sanford, W.E., Sohl, T.L., Stets, E.G., Terando, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., Tischler, M.A., Toccalino, P.L., Wald, D.J., Waldrop, M.P., Wein, Anne, Weltzin, J.F., and Zimmerman, C.E., 2017, Grand challenges for integrated USGS science—A workshop report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1076, 94 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171076.
Year Published: 2014
Decision analysis of mitigation and remediation of sedimentation within large wetland systems: a case study using Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
Sedimentation has been identified as an important stressor across a range of wetland systems. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the responsibility of maintaining wetlands within its National Wildlife Refuge System for use by migratory waterbirds and other wildlife. Many of these wetlands could be negatively affected by accelerated rates of...
Post van der Burg, Max; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy L.; Eash, Josh D.; Knutsen, Gregory A.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
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Decision analysis of mitigation and remediation of sedimentation within large wetland systems: a case study using Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge; 2014; OFR; 2014-1180; Post van der Burg, Max; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy L.; Eash, Josh D.; Knutsen, Gregory A.
Year Published: 2014
Resource manager information needs regarding hydrologic regime shifts for the North Pacific Landscape Conservation
Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs) are a network of 22 public-private partnerships, defined by ecoregion, that share and provide science to ensure the sustainability of land, water, wildlife, and cultural resources in North America. LCCs were established by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in recognition of the fact that response...
Woodward, Andrea; Jenni, KarenAttribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Ecosystems
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Resource manager information needs regarding hydrologic regime shifts for the North Pacific Landscape Conservation; 2014; OFR; 2014-1178; Woodward, Andrea; Jenni, Karen
Year Published: 2014
Brine 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...
Gleason, Robert A.; Tangen, Brian A.; Gleason, Robert A.; Contributions by Chesley-Preston, Tara L.; Coleman, James L.; Haines, Seth S.; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy L.; Peterman, Zell E.; van der Burg, Max Post; Preston, Todd M.; Smith, Bruce D.; Tangen, Brian A.; Thamke, Joanna N.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems
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Brine contamination to aquatic resources from oil and gas development in the Williston Basin, United States; 2014; SIR; 2014-5017; Edited by Gleason, Robert A.; Tangen, Brian A.; Contributions by Chesley-Preston, Tara L.; Coleman, James L.; Gleason, Robert A.; Haines, Seth S.; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy L.; Peterman, Zell E.; van der Burg, Max Post; Preston, Todd M.; Smith, Bruce D.; Tangen, Brian A.; Thamke, Joanna N.
Year Published: 2014
Identifying stakeholder-relevant climate change impacts: a case study in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA
Designing climate-related research so that study results will be useful to natural resource managers is a unique challenge. While decision makers increasingly recognize the need to consider climate change in their resource management plans, and climate scientists recognize the importance of providing locally-relevant climate data and projections,...
Jenni, K.; Graves, D.; Hardiman, Jill M.; Hatten, James R.; Mastin, Mark C.; Mesa, Matthew G.; Montag, J.; Nieman, Timothy; Voss, Frank D.; Maule, Alec G.Attribution: Biology and Ecosystems, Western Fisheries Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Fisheries Program, Washington, United States of America
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Jenni, K. D. Graves, J. Hardiman, J. Hatten, M. Mastin, M. Mesa, J. Montag, T. Nieman, F. Voss, and A. Maule. 2014. Identifying stakeholder-relevant climate change impacts: A case study in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA. Climatic Change, 124 (1-2): 371-384
Year Published: 2010
Decision analysis framing study; in-valley drainage management strategies for the western San Joaquin Valley, California
Constraints on drainage management in the western San Joaquin Valley and implications of proposed approaches to management were recently evaluated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS found that a significant amount of data for relevant technical issues was available and that a structured, analytical decision support tool could help...
Presser, Theresa S.; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy; Coleman, JamesView Citation
Decision analysis framing study; in-valley drainage management strategies for the western San Joaquin Valley, California; 2010; OFR; 2009-1121; Presser, Theresa S.; Jenni, Karen E.; Nieman, Timothy; Coleman, James
Year Published: 2006
A Workshop Investigating the Potential for the Application of Decision Analysis Principles and Processes to Geoenvironmental Situations: Selenium in West Virginia
Coleman, James L.; Taylor, Ione L.; Nieman, Tim; Jenni, KarenView Citation
A Workshop Investigating the Potential for the Application of Decision Analysis Principles and Processes to Geoenvironmental Situations: Selenium in West Virginia; 2006; OFR; 2006-1283; Coleman, James L., Jr.; Taylor, Ione L.; Nieman, Tim; Jenni, Karen
Pre-USGS Publications
Gregory F. Nemet, Erin Baker, and Karen E Jenni, “Modeling the future costs of carbon capture using experts’ elicited probabilities under policy scenarios,” Energy: 56, pp. 218-228. 2013.
Karen E. Jenni, Erin D. Baker, Gregory F. Nemet, “Expert elicitations of energy penalties for carbon capture technologies,” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control: 12 pp. 136–145. 2013
Assessing expert judgments
Karen E. Jenni and Abe van Luik. “Assessing expert judgments,” in Geological Repositories for Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuels and Radioactive Materials: Advanced Technologies, Ahn, J., and Apted, M. (Eds), Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK. 2010.