Karen R Ryberg, Ph.D.
Biography
Expertise/Projects/Research Interests
- Statistical analysis of hydrologic data, including parametric and nonparametric trend analysis and cluster analysis
- Trend analysis for pesticide concentrations in surface water
- Research related to the impact of climate variability on surface water
- Data mining including automated data retrieval and analysis, outlier detection, and data cleaning
- Machine learning
- Graphical presentation of scientific data
- R - Open Source Statistical Software
- waterData package - Retrieval, analysis, and anomaly calculation of daily hydrologic time series data
- seawaveQ package - A model and utilities for analyzing trends in chemical concentrations in streams with a seasonal wave (seawave) and adjustment for streamflow (Q) and other ancillary variables
- Associate Editor, Hydrological Sciences Journal
- Course Coordinator and member of team teaching Statistical Methods for Environmental Data Analysis at USGS National Training Center
Education
- Doctorate of Philosophy, Environmental and Conservation Sciences - Environmental Science Track, 2015
North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota- Dissertation: The impact of climate variability on streamflow and water quality in the North Central United States
- Master of Science, Statistics, 2006
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado- Masters Project: Water-quality trend analysis for the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, January 1965 through September 2003
- Associate of Applied Science, Computer Support Specialist, 2003
Bismarck State College, Bismarck, North Dakota - Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics, 1995
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Certificates
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Management, 1996
University of Mary, Bismarck, North Dakota -
Graduate Certificate, Data Mining and Applications, 2008
Stanford University, Stanford, California -
Specialization Certificate in Executive Data Science—5-course specialization in assembling the right team, asking the right questions, and avoiding the mistakes that derail data science projects by Johns Hopkins University on Coursera, 2018
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Facilitator Training—Learning to Lead Reflective Conversations, an educational program of Humanities North Dakota and Bismarck State College, Bismarck, N. Dak., 2018
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Mathematics for Machine Learning Specialization Certificate—3-course specialization on the prerequisite mathematics for applications in data science and machine learning by Imperial College London on Coursera, 2020
Publications
Ryberg, K.R., 2021, The role of the U.S. Geological Survey in monitoring North Dakota’s environmental conditions: North Dakota Climate Bulletin, v. 15, no. 1, p. 11–14, https://www.ndsu.edu/ndsco/climatesummaries/quarterlyclimatebulletin/.
Helsel, D.R., Hirsch, R.M., Ryberg, K.R., Archfield, S.A., and Gilroy, E.J., 2020, Statistical methods in water resources: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 4, chapter A3, 458 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm4a3. [Supersedes USGS Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 4, chapter A3, version 1.1.]
- This text is available for purchase as a hardcover book in the USGS store. The purchase price is $18.49, with a $5 shipping and handling fee for standard delivery in the United States. There are extra fees for rush shipping and international purchases have special instructions. Go to https://store.usgs.gov/product/533012.
Ryberg, K.R., Kolars, K.A., Kiang, J.E., and Carr, M.L., 2020, Flood-frequency estimation for very low annual exceedance probabilities using historical, paleoflood, and regional information with consideration of nonstationarity: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5065, 89 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205065.
Ryberg, K.R., and York, B.C., 2020, seawaveQ—An R package providing a model and utilities for analyzing trends in chemical concentrations in streams with a seasonal wave (seawave) and adjustment for streamflow (Q) and other ancillary variables, version 2.0.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1082, 25 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201082.
Stets, E.G., Sprague, L.A., Oelsner, G.P., Johnson, H.M., Murphy, J.C., Ryberg, K., Vecchia, A.V., Zuellig, R.E., Falcone, J.A., and Riskin, M.L., 2020, Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of U.S. rivers: Environmental Science & Technology, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05344.
Ryberg, K.R., Hodgkins, G.A., and Dudley, R.W., 2020, Change points in annual peak streamflows—Method comparisons and historical change points in the United States: Journal of Hydrology, v. 583, 124307, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124307.
Blum, A.G., Ferraro, P.J., Archfield, S.A., and Ryberg, K.R., 2020, Causal effect of impervious cover on annual flood magnitude for the United States: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 47, no. 5, p. e2019GL086480, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086480.
Ryberg, K.R., Stone, W.W., and Baker, N.T., 2020, Causal factors for pesticide trends in streams of the United States—Atrazine and deethylatrazine: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 49, no. 1, p. 152–162, https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20045.
Ryberg, K.R., Blomquist, J.D., Sprague, L.A., Sekellick, A.J., and Keisman, J., 2018, Modeling drivers of phosphorus loads in Chesapeake Bay tributaries and inferences about long-term change: Science of The Total Environment, v. 616-617, p. 1423–1430, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.173.
Dudley, R.W., Archfield, S.A., Hodgkins, G.A., Renard, B., and Ryberg, K.R., 2018, Basin characteristics and peak-streamflow trends and change-points for 2,683 USGS streamgages in the conterminous U.S.: U.S. Geological Survey data release, DOI: 10.5066/P9AEGXY0.
Ryberg, K.R., Hodgkins, G.A., Dudley, R., 2018, Flood-frequency analysis in a changing world: 2018 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference Program and Abstracts, April 19, 2018, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, S. Dak., p. 15.
Farmer, W.H., Murphy, J.C., Riskin, M.L., Ryberg, K.R., and Zuellig, R.E., 2017, Daily streamflow datasets used to analyze trends in streamflow at sites also analyzed for trends in water quality and ecological condition in the Nation's rivers and streams: U.S. Geological Survey data release, DOI: 10.5066/F7D798JN.
Oelsner, G.P., Sprague, L.A., Murphy, J.C., Zuellig, R.E., Johnson, H.M., Ryberg, K.R., Falcone, J.A., Stets, E.G., Vecchia, A.V., Riskin, M.L., De Cicco, L.A., Mills, T.J., and Farmer, W.H., 2017, Water-quality trends in the Nation’s rivers and streams, 1972–2012—Data preparation, statistical methods, and trend results: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5006, 136 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175006.
Ryberg, K.R., 2017, Flood-frequency analysis in a changing world: Program and Abstracts, 2017 Western South Dakota Hydrology Meeting, April 6, 2017, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, S. Dak., p. 32.
Ryberg, K.R., 2017, Structural equation model for total phosphorus loads in the Red River of the North Basin: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 46, no. 5, p. 1072-1080, https://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2017.04.0131.
Ryberg, K.R., Goree, B.B., Williams-Sether, Tara, and Mason, R.R., Jr., 2017, The U.S. Geological Survey peak-flow file data verification project, 2008–16: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5119, 61 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175119.
Ryberg, K.R., Murphy, J.C., Falcone, J.A., Riskin, M.L., Wieben, C.M., and Vecchia, A.V., 2017, Pesticide concentration and streamflow datasets used to evaluate pesticide trends in the Nation’s rivers and streams, 1992–2012: U.S. Geological Survey data release, DOI: 10.5066/F7BC3WPC.
Ryberg, K.R., Sekellick, A.J., and Falcone, J.A., 2017, Ancillary data related to nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay—Data supporting structural equation modeling of nutrient loads: U.S. Geological Survey data release, DOI: 10.5066/F7NG4NQ4.
Williams-Sether, Tara, Ryberg, K.R., and Goree, B.B., 2017, Data documenting the U.S. Geological Survey peak-flow file data verification project, 2008-16: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7GH9G3P.
Kolars, K.A., Vecchia, A.V., and Ryberg, K.R., 2016, Stochastic model for simulating Souris River Basin precipitation, evapotranspiration, and streamflow for 2014–2050: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5185, 55 p., DOI: 10.3133/sir20155185.
Nustad, R.A., Kolars, K.A., Vecchia, A.V., and Ryberg, K.R., 2016, 2011 Souris River flood—Will it happen again?: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3073, 4 p., DOI: 10.3133/fs20163073.
Ryberg, K.R., Akyüz, F.A., Wiche, G.J., and Lin, W., 2016, Changes in seasonality and timing of peak streamflow in snow and semi-arid climates of the north central United States, 1910–2012: Hydrological Processes, v. 30, p. 1208–1218, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10693.
Ryberg, K.R., and Blomquist, J., May 5, 2016, Assessing the causes of changes in nutrient loading from major tributaries of Chesapeake Bay: Abstracts of the 10th National Monitoring Conference, May 2–6, 2016, Tampa, Florida, p. 61, http://acwi.gov/monitoring/conference/2016/2016-nmc-abstracts.pdf.
Ryberg, K.R., Falcone, J.A., and Kolars, K.A., 2016, Total phosphorus load and ancillary data related to sources of total phosphorus in the Red River of the North Basin—Data supporting structural equation modeling of total phosphorus loads: U.S. Geological Survey data release, DOI: 10.5066/F79G5JWD.
Ryberg, K.R., Hirsch, R.M., Helsel, D., Gilroy, E., and Archfield, S.A., May 4, 2016, Statistical methods in water resources—New edition, new methods, now using R: Abstracts of the 10th National Monitoring Conference, May 2–6, 2016, Tampa, Florida, p. 29, http://acwi.gov/monitoring/conference/2016/2016-nmc-abstracts.pdf.
Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., Akyüz, F.A., Lin, W., 2016, Tree-ring based estimates of long-term seasonal precipitation in the Souris River Region of Saskatchewan, North Dakota, and Manitoba: Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressources hydriques, v. 41, no. 3, p. 412–428, DOI: 10.1080/07011784.2016.1164627.
Ryberg, K.R., 2016, R vs. Python in Earth Sciences: Earth Science Women's Network newsletter, no. 11, Winter 2015-16, p. 8-9. [Link]
Ryberg, K.R, 2015, The impact of climate variability on streamflow and water quality in the North Central United States: Fargo, North Dakota State University, Ph.D. dissertation, 277 p.
Ryberg, K.R., Akyüz, F.A., and Lin, W., 2015, Changes in total phosphorus concentration in the Red River of the North Basin, 1970–2012: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers ASABE/CSBE North Central Intersectional Meeting, Fargo, N. Dak., April 10–11, 2015, paper number RRV15-054, 9 p., DOI: 10.13031/rrv2015054.
Ryberg, K.R., Akyüz, F.A., Wiche, G.J., and Lin, W., April 15, 2015, Changes in seasonality and timing of peak streamflow in the north-central United States, 1910–2012: Program and Abstracts, Western South Dakota Hydrology Meeting, April 15–16, 2015, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, S. Dak., p. 16.
Ryberg, K.R., Gilliom, R.J., 2015, Trends in pesticide concentrations and use for major rivers of the United States: Science of the Total Environment, v. 538, p. 431–444, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.095.
Ryberg, K.R., Lin, W., Vecchia, A.V., 2014, Impact of climate variability on runoff in the north-central United States: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, v. 19, no. 1, p. 148–158, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000775.
Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., Gilliom, R.J., Martin, J.D., 2014, Pesticide trends in major rivers of the United States, 1992–2010: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5135 63 p., DOI: 10.3133/sir20145135.
Stone, W.W., Gilliom, R.J., and Ryberg, K.R., 2014, Pesticides in U.S. streams and rivers—occurrence and trends during 1992–2011: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 48, no. 19, p. 11025–11030, DOI: 10.1021/es5025367.
Ryberg, K.R., and Vecchia, A.V., 2013, seawaveQ—an R package providing a model and utilities for analyzing trends in chemical concentrations in streams with a seasonal wave (seawave) and adjustment for streamflow (Q) and other ancillary variables: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1255, 13 p., DOI: 10.3133/ofr20131255.
Peterson, T.C., Heim, R., Hirsch, R.M., Kaiser, D., Brooks, H., Diffenbaugh, N.S., Dole, R., Giovannettone, J., Guiguis, K., Karl, T.R., Katz, R.W., Kunkel, K., Lettenmaier, D., McCabe, G.J., Paciorek, C.J., Ryberg, K.R., Schubert, S., Silva, V.B.S., Stewart, B., Vecchia, A.V., Villarini, G., Vose, R.S., Walsh, J., Wolock, D., Wolter, K., Woodhouse, C.A., Wehner, M., and Wuebbles, D., 2013, Monitoring and understanding changes in heatwaves, coldwaves, floods and droughts in the United States—State of knowledge: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, v. 94, no. 6, 821–834, DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00066.1.
Ryberg, K.R., and Vecchia, A.V., 2012, waterData—An R package for retrieval, analysis, and anomaly calculation of daily hydrologic time series data, version 1.0: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1168, 8 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1168/.
Hirsch, R.M., and Ryberg, K.R., 2012, Has the magnitude of floods across the USA changed with global CO2 levels? Hydrological Sciences Journal, v. 57, no. 1, p. 1–9, DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2011.621895.
Ryberg, K.R., Hirsch, R.M., and Wiche, G.J., June 29, 2011, Trends in flood magnitude in the United States, with emphasis on the Red River of the North Basin: Proceedings of the 64th Canadian Water Resources Association National Conference, June 27–30, 2011, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, p. 92.
Wiche, G.J., Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., June 29, 2011, Implications of increased risk of extreme flooding in the northern Great Plains since 1993, with emphasis on the Red River of the North: Proceedings of the 64th Canadian Water Resources Association National Conference, June 27–30, 2011, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, p. 91.
Ryberg, K.R., Vecchia, A.V., Martin, J.D., and Gilliom, R.J., 2010, Trends in pesticide concentrations in urban streams in the United States, 1992–2008: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5139, 42 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5139/.
Ryberg, K.R., Emerson, D.G., and Macek-Rowland, K.M., 2009, Solid precipitation measurement intercomparison in Bismarck, North Dakota, from 1988 through 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5180, 24 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5180/.
Ryberg, K.R., and Hiemenz, G., 2009, Summary and analysis of water-quality data for the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, east-central North Dakota, 1987–2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5017, 92 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5017/.
Ryberg, K.R., 2008, PFReports: A program for systematic checking of annual peaks in NWISWeb, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1284, 18 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1284/.
Ryberg, K.R., Macek-Rowland, K.M., Wiche, G.J., and Klapprodt, L.A., 2007, 10th Anniversary of the 1997 Red River flood: U.S. Geological Survey General Information Publication 49, http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2007/49/.
Ryberg, K.R., Macek-Rowland, K.M., Banse, T.A., and Wiche, G.J., 2007, A history of flooding in the Red River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey General Information Publication 55, http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2007/55/.
Ryberg, K.R., 2007, Summary and trend analysis of water-quality data for the Oakes Test Area, southeastern North Dakota, 1984–2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5056, 118 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5056/.
Ryberg, K.R., 2007, Continuous water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate constituent concentrations and loads in the Sheyenne River, North Dakota, 1980–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5153, 22 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5153/.
Ryberg, K.R., and Vecchia, A.V., 2006, Water-quality trend analysis and sampling design for the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota, January 1965 through September 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5238, 64 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5238/.
Ryberg, K.R., 2006, Continuous water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate constituent concentrations and loads in the Red River of the North, Fargo, North Dakota, 2003–05: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5241, 35 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5241/.
Ryberg, K.R., 2006, Cluster analysis of water-quality data for Lake Sakakawea, Audubon Lake, and McClusky Canal, central North Dakota, 1990–2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5202, 38 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5202/.
Ryberg, K.R., Damschen, W.C., and Vecchia, A.V., 2005, Graphical user interface for accessing water-quality data for the Devils Lake Basin, North Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005–1419, 15 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1419/.
Macek-Rowland, K.M., Arntson, A.D., Ryberg, K.R., Dahl, A. L., Lieb, A., 2004, Water-use data for the Red River of the North Basin, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota, 1979–2001: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004–1308, 260 p., http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ofr2004-1308/.
Science and Products
Flood-Frequency Analysis in the Midwest: Addressing Potential Nonstationary Annual Peak-Flow Records
Period of Project: 2021 -
Study Area: Midwest
Cooperating Agency: Transportation Pooled Fund
Ancillary Data Related to Nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay—Data Supporting Structural Equation Modeling of Nutrient Loads
This data release provides ancillary data that describe potential nutrient sources and processes for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) annual loads for 84 water-quality sites within the Chesapeake Bay.
Daily streamflow datasets used to analyze trends in streamflow at sites also analyzed for trends in water quality and ecological condition in the Nation's rivers and streams (input)
In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water-Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water-quality conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and comparable monitor
Daily streamflow datasets used to analyze trends in streamflow at sites also analyzed for trends in water quality and ecological condition in the Nation's rivers and streams (output)
In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water-Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water-quality conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and comparable monitor
Pesticide concentration and streamflow datasets used to evaluate pesticide trends in the Nation’s rivers and streams, 1992-2012 (input)
In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water-Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water-quality conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and comparable monitoring has...
Pesticide concentration and streamflow datasets used to evaluate pesticide trends in the Nation’s rivers and streams, 1992-2012 (output)
In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water-Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water-quality conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and comparable monitoring has...
Conservation Reserve Program Estimates Red River of the North Basin
These data report the percent of crop acreage, within each basin (basins 1-8, see accompanying shapefiles), enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Fertilizer Total Phosphorus Estimates Red Red River of the North Basin
Phosphorus estimates, from fertilizer and manure, for the period 1970-2012 for eight subbasins (see accompanying shapefiles) of the Red River of the North Basin in kilograms per square kilometer.
Land Use Estimates Red River of the North Basin
Land-use estimates for the period 1970-2012 for eight subbasins of the Red River of the North Basin.
Monthly Mean Precipitation Red River of the North Basin
Monthly mean precipitation for the Red River of the North Basin upstream of Emerson, Manitoba, and subbasins
Total Phosphorus Flux/Load Estimates Red River of the North Basin
The dataset contains estimates of annual flow and annual flux in kilograms for six sites in the Red River of the North Basin (identified as basin 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8). The shape files that are part of this data release document the basins and the streamgage locations are also provided in an associated shape file.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Total Phosphorus Flux Load Estimates Red River of the North Basin
The dataset contains estimates for total phosphorus flux from wastewater treatment plants that discharge to surface water within the Red River of the North Basin in the United States and subbasins. Shapefiles defining the subbasins are available as part of the same data release in which these data are published. Estimates of wastewater treatment plant total phosphorus flux (or load) were ca...
Wheat Corn Soy Estimates Red River of the North Basin
These data describe the percent of cropland harvested as wheat, corn, and soybean within each basin (basins 1-8, see accompanying shapefiles). Data are available for other crops; however, these three were chosen because wheat is a traditional crop that has been grown for a long time in the Basin and corn and soybeans have increased in recent times because of wetter conditions, the
The role of the U.S. Geological Survey in monitoring North Dakota’s environmental conditions
No abstract available.
Ryberg, Karen R.
Statistical methods in water resources
This text began as a collection of class notes for a course on applied statistical methods for hydrologists taught at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Training Center. Course material was formalized and organized into a textbook, first published in 1992 by Elsevier as part of their Studies in Environmental Science series. In 2002, the...
Helsel, Dennis R.; Hirsch, Robert M.; Ryberg, Karen R.; Archfield, Stacey A.; Gilroy, Edward J.
Flood-frequency estimation for very low annual exceedance probabilities using historical, paleoflood, and regional information with consideration of nonstationarity
Streamflow estimates for floods with an annual exceedance probability of 0.001 or lower are needed to accurately portray risks to critical infrastructure, such as nuclear powerplants and large dams. However, extrapolating flood-frequency curves developed from at-site systematic streamflow records to very low annual exceedance probabilities (less...
Ryberg, Karen R.; Kolars, Kelsey A.; Kiang, Julie E.; Carr, Meredith L.
seawaveQ—An R package providing a model and utilities for analyzing trends in chemical concentrations in streams with a seasonal wave (seawave) and adjustment for streamflow (Q) and other ancillary variables, version 2.0.0
The seawaveQ R package provides functionality and help to fit a parametric regression model, SEAWAVE-Q, to pesticide concentration data from stream-water samples to assess trends. The model incorporates the strong seasonality and high degree of censoring common in pesticide data, and users can incorporate numerous ancillary variables such as...
Ryberg, Karen R.; York, Benjamin C. Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers
Water security is a top concern for social well-being and dramatic changes in the availability of freshwater have occurred as a result of human uses and landscape management. Elevated nutrient loading and perturbations to major ion composition have resulted from human activities and have degraded freshwater resources. This study addresses the...
Stets, Edward G.; Sprague, Lori A.; Oelsner, Gretchen P.; Johnson, Henry M.; Murphy, Jennifer C.; Ryberg, Karen R.; Vecchia, Aldo V.; Zuellig, Robert E.; Falcone, James A.; Riskin, Melissa L. Causal effect of impervious cover on annual flood magnitude for the United States
Despite consensus that impervious surfaces increase flooding, the magnitude of the increase remains uncertain. This uncertainty largely stems from the challenge of isolating the effect of changes in impervious cover separate from other factors that also affect flooding. To control for these factors, prior study designs rely on either temporal or...
Blum, Annalise G.; Ferraro, Paul J.; Archfield, Stacey A.; Ryberg, Karen R. Causal factors for pesticide trends in streams of the United States: Atrazine and deethylatrazine
Pesticides are important for agriculture in the United States, and atrazine is one of the most widely used and widely detected pesticides in surface water. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which atrazine and its degradation product, deethylatrazine, increase and decrease in surface waters can help inform future decisions for water-...
Ryberg, Karen R.; Stone, Wesley W.; Baker, Nancy T. Change points in annual peak streamflows: Method comparisons and historical change points in the United States
Change-point, or step-trend, detection is an active area of research in statistics and an area of great interest in hydrology because change points may be evidence of natural or anthropogenic changes in climatic, hydrologic, or landscape processes. A common change-point technique is the Pettitt test; however, many change-point methods are now...
Ryberg, Karen R.; Hodgkins, Glenn A.; Dudley, Robert Modeling drivers of phosphorus loads in Chesapeake Bay tributaries and inferences about long-term change
Causal attribution of changes in water quality often consists of correlation, qualitative reasoning, listing references to the work of others, or speculation. To better support statements of attribution for water-quality trends, structural equation modeling was used to model the causal factors of total phosphorus loads in the Chesapeake Bay...
Ryberg, Karen R.; Blomquist, Joel D.; Sprague, Lori A.; Sekellick, Andrew J.; Keisman, Jennifer L.
The U.S. Geological Survey Peak-Flow File Data Verification Project, 2008–16
Annual peak streamflow (peak flow) at a streamgage is defined as the maximum instantaneous flow in a water year. A water year begins on October 1 and continues through September 30 of the following year; for example, water year 2015 extends from October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. The accuracy, characterization, and completeness of the...
Ryberg, Karen R.; Goree, Burl B.; Williams-Sether, Tara; Mason,, Robert R. Structural equation model of total phosphorus loads in the Red River of the North Basin, USA and Canada
Attribution of the causes of trends in nutrient loading is often limited to correlation, qualitative reasoning, or references to the work of others. This paper represents efforts to improve causal attribution of water-quality changes. The Red River of the North basin provides a regional test case because of international interest in the reduction...
Ryberg, Karen R.
Water-quality trends in the nation’s rivers and streams, 1972–2012—Data preparation, statistical methods, and trend results
Since passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, Federal, State, and local governments have invested billions of dollars to reduce pollution entering rivers and streams. To understand the return on these investments and to effectively manage and protect the Nation’s water resources in the future, we need to know how and why water quality has been...
Oelsner, Gretchen P.; Sprague, Lori A.; Murphy, Jennifer C.; Zuellig, Robert E.; Johnson, Henry M.; Ryberg, Karen R.; Falcone, James A.; Stets, Edward G.; Vecchia, Aldo V.; Riskin, Melissa L.; De Cicco, Laura A.; Mills, Taylor J.; Farmer, William H.
Interview at 2018 South Dakota Hydrology Conference
USGS scientist Karen Ryberg was interviewed during the conference about drought
conditions in the Dakotas.
The James River
James River by Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. The picture was taken from the scenic view site to the North and above headquarters.
Mud Lake Channel Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge
Mud Lake Channel from Arrowwood Lake to Jim Lake, looking toward Arrowwood Lake. Photograph taken from 11th Street SE between Edmunds, North Dakota, and State Highway 9. The downstream Jamestown Reservoir was filled in 1965 and backed water onto the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, preventing ideal management in most years. Artificial water features subsequently
...
Jim Lake Drawdown Channel Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge
Jim Lake drawdown channel looking north. Photograph taken from 17th Street SE between Pingree, North Dakota, and State Highway 20. The downstream Jamestown Reservoir was filled in 1965 and backed water onto the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, preventing ideal management in most years. Artificial water features subsequently constructed on the refuge allow managers to
...
Jim Lake Drawdown Channel Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge
Jim Lake drawdown channel, looking south. Photograph from Humpback Road. The downstream Jamestown Reservoir was filled in 1965 and backed water onto the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, preventing ideal management in most years. Artificial water features subsequently constructed on the refuge allow managers to manipulate water levels to better manage habitat for
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Atrazine concentrations have decreased in streams and rivers across the United States
From 2002 to 2012, concentrations of atrazine decreased in more than one-half of 60 U.S. streams and rivers studied and increased in only about one-third of these streams, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Program. The streams and rivers are in a range of land-use settings.
First-of-its-kind Interactive Map Brings Together 40 Years of Water-Quality Data
USGS provides a long-term look at changes in the quality of our nation’s rivers and streams
Exhibit Fusing Art and Science Coming to Bismarck
Earth as Art, a U.S. Geological Survey traveling exhibit that merges art with dramatic Landsat imagery of the earth’s surface, is coming to Bismarck for the month of April. This display is free and open to the public.
The Scientific Story of the Souris: Could the 2011 Flood Happen Again?
Modeling the Mouse: Future Flood Risk for the Souris River
The Souris, or Mouse, River Basin is currently in a wet climate period and will be at high flood risk for some time, according to a scientific model published today by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Trends in River Pesticide Levels Echo Pesticide Use
Trends in pesticide concentrations in 38 major rivers in the U.S. during 1992-2010 reflect large-scale trends in pesticide use and regulatory changes, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Local Scientist Receives Prestigious Mentoring Award
Aldo V. (Skip) Vecchia, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist, will be awarded the 2015 Jeanne E. Griffith Mentoring Award for his outstanding efforts mentoring junior staff.
20-Year Study Shows Levels of Pesticides Still a Concern for Aquatic Life in U.S. Rivers and Streams
Levels of pesticides continue to be a concern for aquatic life in many of the Nation’s rivers and streams in agricultural and urban areas, according to a new USGS study spanning two decades (1992-2011). Pesticide levels seldom exceeded human health benchmarks.
Have Floods Changed with Increasing CO2 Levels?
Only one of four large regions of the United States showed a significant relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and the size of floods over the last 100 years. This was in the southwestern region, where floods have become smaller as CO2 has increased.
New Website Chronicles Lewis and Clark's Expedition through North Dakota
The website offers a picture of the Missouri River and its tributaries from 1804 to 1806 via excerpts from the journals of Lewis and Clark. The current river system also is highlighted through a compilation of aerial photographs, USGS data, and USGS publications.