Katherine Chase has 30 years of experience in water resources, including hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain delineation, statistical analyses, and hydraulic structure design and evaluation. Her research has included precipitation-runoff modeling and surface-water hydraulics.
Katherine Chase, USGS Hydrologist, has more than 30 years of experience in water resources, including hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain delineation, statistical analyses, and hydraulic structure design and evaluation. Her research with the USGS has included precipitation-runoff modeling, 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional surface-water hydraulics, streamflow statistics, floodplain delineation, channel morphology, and bridge scour. As a consultant she worked on multi-disciplinary teams as a hydrologist/civil engineer, performing wetlands and floodplain delineation, flood mitigation, bridge scour evaluation, and hydraulic structure design. As a graduate research assistant for the National Park Service, she worked on hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and surveying in support of water rights negotiations. Her Peace Corps work in Nepal included surveying, design and construction of irrigation systems, drinking water supply systems, and flood mitigation. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Montana and Colorado.
Professional Experience
2002-Present: Hydrologist/Surface Water Specialist, USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center.
1999-2002: Project Engineer/Office Manager, WWC Engineering, Helena, MT.
1991-1999: Project Engineer, Taggart Engineering and Associates, Denver, CO.
1989-1990: Graduate Research Assistant, National Park Service Water Rights Branch, Fort Collins, CO.
1984-1988: Peace Corps Volunteer, Nepal.
Education and Certifications
B.S. Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
M.S. Civil Engineering, Colorado State University
Professional Engineer in Montana and Colorado.
Science and Products
Synthesis of climate and ecological science to support grassland management priorities in the North Central Region
Evaluating the use of video cameras to estimate bridge scour potential at four bridges in southwestern Montana
Regional regression equations based on channel-width characteristics to estimate peak-flow frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana using peak-flow frequency data through water year 2011
Community for data integration 2018 funded project report
Increased drought severity tracks warming in the United States’ largest river basin
1200 years of Upper Missouri River streamflow reconstructed from tree rings
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
Estimating current and future streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites, central and eastern Montana, with application to evaluating effects of climate change on fish populations
Sharing our data—An overview of current (2016) USGS policies and practices for publishing data on ScienceBase and an example interactive mapping application
Potential effects of climate change on streamflow for seven watersheds in eastern and central Montana
Effects of water-resource development on Yellowstone River streamflow, 1928-2002
A precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow conditions in the Smith River watershed, Montana, water years 1996-2008
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Developing CE-QUAL-W2 Models of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir, Montana and Idaho
Flood-Frequency Analysis in the Midwest: Addressing Potential Nonstationary Annual Peak-Flow Records
EcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams
Peak-Flow Frequency Analysis for Selected Montana Streamgages
Regional Regression Equations Based on Channel-Width Characteristics to Estimate Peak-Flow Frequencies at Ungaged Sites in Montana Using Data through Water Year 2011
Ice Jam Hazard
Augusta 2018 Flood Measurements and Flood Frequency Updates along the Rocky Mountain Front
ICE! Ice Jam Hazard Mobile-Friendly Website
StreamStats in Montana and Wyoming
Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams
Development of Recommended Practices and Workflow for Publishing Digital Data through ScienceBase for Dynamic Visualization
Cataloging and Digitizing USGS Indirect Measurements for Montana through Water Year 2020
Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages on tributaries of the Bighorn, Tongue, and Lower Yellowstone Rivers, based on data through water year 2021
Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages on the Bighorn, Tongue, and Lower Yellowstone Rivers and tributaries and Home Creek, Montana, based on data through water year 2021
Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in and near the Milk River Basin, Montana, based on data through water year 2018, Part 1
Attributions for nonstationary peak streamflow records across the conterminous United States, 1941-2015 and 1966-2015
Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in Carbon County, Montana, based on data through water year 2018
Peak-flow frequency analyses for 14 selected streamgages in the Beaverhead River and Clark Fork Basins Montana, based on data through water year 2016
Peak-flow frequency analyses for 99 selected streamgages in or near Montana, based on data through water year 2015 (ver. 1.1, August 2020)
Peak-Flow Frequency Analyses for Selected Streamgages in Missoula and Granite Counties, Montana, Based on Data through Water Year 2018
Channel width measurements for selected streamgage sites in Montana
A network of 31 Upper Missouri River Basin naturalized water-year (Oct-Sep) streamflow reconstructions spanning years 800 - 1998 CE
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 21
Synthesis of climate and ecological science to support grassland management priorities in the North Central Region
Grasslands in the Great Plains are of ecological, economic, and cultural importance in the United States. In response to a need to understand how climate change and variability will impact grassland ecosystems and their management in the 21st century, the U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center led a synthesis of peer-reviewed climate and ecology literature relevantAuthorsChristine D. Miller Hesed, Heather M. Yocum, Imtiaz Rangwala, Amy Symstad, Jeff M. Martin, Kevin Ellison, David J. A. Wood, Marissa Ahlering, Katherine J. Chase, Shelley Crausbay, Ana D. Davidson, Julie L. Elliott, Jim Giocomo, David Hoover, Toni Klemm, David A. Lightfoot, Owen P. McKenna, Brian W. Miller, Danika Mosher, R. Chelsea Nagy, Jesse B. Nippert, Jeremy Pittman, Lauren M. Porensky, Jilmarie Stephens, Alexander V. ZaleEvaluating the use of video cameras to estimate bridge scour potential at four bridges in southwestern Montana
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation, installed cameras and large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) recording equipment at four sites where the U.S. Geological Survey and Montana Department of Transportation are monitoring bridge scour using other methods. Determination of stream velocities is an important component of hydraulic engineerinAuthorsDaniel W. Armstrong, Stephen R. Holnbeck, Katherine J. ChaseRegional regression equations based on channel-width characteristics to estimate peak-flow frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana using peak-flow frequency data through water year 2011
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation, developed regression equations based on channel width to estimate peak-flow frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana. The equations are based on peak-flow data at streamgages through September 2011 (end of water year 2011), and channel widths measured in the field and from aerial photographs.Active-channel widAuthorsKatherine J. Chase, Roy Sando, Daniel W. Armstrong, Peter McCarthyCommunity for data integration 2018 funded project report
The U.S. Geological Survey Community for Data Integration annually funds small projects focusing on data integration for interdisciplinary research, innovative data management, and demonstration of new technologies. This report provides a summary of the 10 projects funded in fiscal year 2018, outlining their goals, activities, and accomplishments.AuthorsLeslie Hsu, Caitlin M. Andrews, John B. Bradford, Daniel D. Buscombe, Katherine J. Chase, Wesley M. Daniel, Jeanne M. Jones, Pam Fuller, Benjamin B. Mirus, Matthew E. Neilson, Hans W. Vraga, Jessica J. Walker, Dennis H. Walworth, Jonathan Warrick, Jake Weltzin, Daniel J. Wieferich, Nathan J. WoodIncreased drought severity tracks warming in the United States’ largest river basin
Across the Upper Missouri River Basin, the recent drought of 2000 to 2010, known as the “turn-of-the-century drought,” was likely more severe than any in the instrumental record including the Dust Bowl drought. However, until now, adequate proxy records needed to better understand this event with regard to long-term variability have been lacking. Here we examine 1,200 y of streamflow from a networAuthorsJustin Martin, Gregory T. Pederson, Connie A. Woodhouse, Edward R. Cook, Gregory J. McCabe, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Erika K. Wise, Patrick Erger, Larry S. Dolan, Marketa McGuire, Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Katherine J. Chase, Jeremy S. Littell, Stephen Gray, Scott St. George, Jonathan M. Friedman, David J. Sauchyn, Jeannine-Marie St. Jacques, John C. King1200 years of Upper Missouri River streamflow reconstructed from tree rings
Paleohydrologic records can provide unique, long-term perspectives on streamflow variability and hydroclimate for use in water resource planning. Such long-term records can also play a key role in placing both present day events and projected future conditions into a broader context than that offered by instrumental observations. However, relative to other major river basins across the western UAuthorsJustin Martin, Gregory T. Pederson, Connie A. Woodhouse, Edward R Cook, Gregory J. McCabe, Erika K. Wise, Patrick Erger, Larry Dolan, Marketa McGuire, Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Katherine J. Chase, Jeremy S. Littell, Stephen Gray, Scott St. George, Jonathan M. Friedman, David J. Sauchyn, Jannine St. Jacques, John W. KingCommunity for Data Integration 2016 annual report
The Community for Data Integration (CDI) represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the U.S. Geological Survey and the CDI community. This annual report describes the various presentations, activities, and outcomes of the CDI monthly forums, working groups, virtual training series, and other CDI-sponsoAuthorsMadison L. Langseth, Leslie Hsu, Jon Amberg, Norman Bliss, Andrew R. Bock, Rachel T. Bolus, R. Sky Bristol, Katherine J. Chase, Theresa M. Crimmins, Paul S. Earle, Richard Erickson, A. Lance Everette, Jeff T. Falgout, John Faundeen, Michael N. Fienen, Rusty Griffin, Michelle R. Guy, Kevin D. Henry, Nancy J. Hoebelheinrich, Randall J. Hunt, Vivian B. Hutchison, Drew A. Ignizio, Dana M. Infante, Catherine Jarnevich, Jeanne M. Jones, Tim Kern, Scott Leibowitz, Francis L. Lightsom, R. Lee Marsh, S. Grace McCalla, Marcia McNiff, Jeffrey T. Morisette, John C. Nelson, Tamar Norkin, Todd M. Preston, Alyssa Rosemartin, Roy Sando, Jason T. Sherba, Richard P. Signell, Benjamin M. Sleeter, Eric T. Sundquist, Colin B. Talbert, Roland J. Viger, Jake F. Weltzin, Sharon Waltman, Marc Weber, Daniel J. Wieferich, Brad Williams, Lisamarie Windham-MyersEstimating current and future streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites, central and eastern Montana, with application to evaluating effects of climate change on fish populations
A common statistical procedure for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged locations is to develop a relational model between streamflow and drainage basin characteristics at gaged locations using least squares regression analysis; however, least squares regression methods are parametric and make constraining assumptions about the data distribution. The random forest regression method providesAuthorsRoy Sando, Katherine J. ChaseSharing our data—An overview of current (2016) USGS policies and practices for publishing data on ScienceBase and an example interactive mapping application
This report provides an overview of current (2016) U.S. Geological Survey policies and practices related to publishing data on ScienceBase, and an example interactive mapping application to display those data. ScienceBase is an integrated data sharing platform managed by the U.S. Geological Survey. This report describes resources that U.S. Geological Survey Scientists can use for writing data manaAuthorsKatherine J. Chase, Andrew R. Bock, Roy SandoPotential effects of climate change on streamflow for seven watersheds in eastern and central Montana
Study regionEastern and central Montana.Study focusFish in Northern Great Plains streams tolerate extreme conditions including heat, cold, floods, and drought; however changes in streamflow associated with long-term climate change may render some prairie streams uninhabitable for current fish species. To better understand future hydrology of these prairie streams, the Precipitation-Runoff ModelingAuthorsKatherine J. Chase, Adel E. Haj, R. Steven Regan, Roland J. VigerEffects of water-resource development on Yellowstone River streamflow, 1928-2002
Major floods in 1996 and 1997 intensified public concern about the effects of human activities on the Yellowstone River in Montana. In 1999, the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council, whose members are primarily representatives from the conservation districts bordering the main stem of the Yellowstone River, was formed to promote wise use and conservation of the Yellowstone River’s naturAuthorsCheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Katherine J. ChaseA precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow conditions in the Smith River watershed, Montana, water years 1996-2008
This report documents the construction of a precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow in the Smith River watershed, Montana. This Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System model, constructed in cooperation with the Meagher County Conservation District, can be used to examine the general hydrologic framework of the Smith River watershed, including quantification of precipitation, evapAuthorsKatherine J. Chase, Rodney R. Caldwell, Andrea K. StanleyNon-USGS Publications**
Chase, K.J., and Liou, John, 2007, Two-Dimensional Flow Modeling for a Flood Insurance Study in Montana, in 2007 Charting the Course, New Perspectives in Floodplain Management, Norfolk, Virginia, 2007, Proceedings: Madison, Wisconsin, American Society of Flood Plain Managers, http://www.floods.org/index.asp?menuid=%20675
Mastin, M.C., Chase, K.C., and Dudley, R.W., 2011, Changes in Spring Snowpack for Selected Basins in the United States for Different Climate-Change Scenarios, in Earth Interactions, vol. 15, p. 1-18, also available at http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/2010EI368.1NOROCK factsheet: Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams, https://wy-mt.water.usgs.gov/projects/MT_fisheries/pubs/PP_FisheriesInfo_12V3.pdf
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- Science
Developing CE-QUAL-W2 Models of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir, Montana and Idaho
The construction and operation of Libby Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project located in northwestern Montana, has altered the natural hydrograph, thermal regime, sediment transport, and nutrient loadings on the Kootenai River. Dam operation impacts riverine ecosystem function and many fish species, including the federally endangered Kootenai River White Sturgeon and federally...Flood-Frequency Analysis in the Midwest: Addressing Potential Nonstationary Annual Peak-Flow Records
Period of Project: 2021 -Study Area: MidwestCooperating Agency: Transportation Pooled FundEcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams
The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to understand the dynamics of streamflows in small, mountain streams during the course of the year, and to describe the amount of variability associated with those measurements. These findings will assist fisheries biologists who are researching temperature and streamflow effects on cutthroat trout and will help...Peak-Flow Frequency Analysis for Selected Montana Streamgages
Peak-flow frequency information is needed for flood-plain mapping, design of highway infrastructure, and many other purposes across Montana. The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center has an ongoing project working to update peak-flow frequency estimates at USGS streamgages across the state.Regional Regression Equations Based on Channel-Width Characteristics to Estimate Peak-Flow Frequencies at Ungaged Sites in Montana Using Data through Water Year 2011
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) uses peak-flow frequency data (i.e. 100-year flood) to design highway infrastructure, secure floodplain permits, and perform stream restoration activities. The USGS, in cooperation with MDT, proposes to develop regression equations which use channel-width as a predictor to provide peak-flow frequency estimates to MDT.Ice Jam Hazard
Ice jams along rivers cause flooding, scouring, injuries and loss of life, and structural and environmental damage; they are a major hazard across the northern United States. Communities need data about ice jam locations and frequencies, as well as information about developing ice jams that might threaten lives and property.Augusta 2018 Flood Measurements and Flood Frequency Updates along the Rocky Mountain Front
The USGS WY-MT Water Science Center provided discharge measurements and high water mark (HWM) flagging for the June 2018 flooding along Elk Creek in Augusta, Montana.ICE! Ice Jam Hazard Mobile-Friendly Website
Ice jams are a major hazard. The project team worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers, National Weather Service, Silver Jackets, and USGS stakeholders to develop a mobile-friendly prototype of an Ice Jam Hazard website and reporting system. The prototype shows how ice jam conditions can be recorded nationwide. The public can view and download ice jam information. Historic ice jam locations andStreamStats in Montana and Wyoming
StreamStats is a Web-based geographic information system application that provides users with access to basin and streamflow characteristics for gaged and ungaged streams.Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams
Organisms that live in the semi-arid prairies in the Northern Great Plains are able to live through conditions of extreme heat, cold, floods, and drought. The fish that inhabit the warm, turbid waters of northern Great Plains streams are indicators of change in these delicate ecosystems, where water quantity and water quality are often precariously close to ecological tolerance limits. In fact...Development of Recommended Practices and Workflow for Publishing Digital Data through ScienceBase for Dynamic Visualization
The purpose of this project was to document processes for USGS scientists to organize and share data using ScienceBase, and to provide an example interactive mapping application to display those data. Data and maps from Chase and others (2016a, b) were used for the example interactive maps. Principal Investigator : Katherine J Chase, Andy Bock, Thomas R Sando Accomplishments The accomplishment - Data
Cataloging and Digitizing USGS Indirect Measurements for Montana through Water Year 2020
In 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, cataloged and scanned notes and calculations for indirect measurements taken during flood events in Montana. This product provides a publicly available catalog of the field notes, photos, survey information, and calculations for indirect measurements at selected sites.Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages on tributaries of the Bighorn, Tongue, and Lower Yellowstone Rivers, based on data through water year 2021
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY–MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 66.7-, 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected USPeak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages on the Bighorn, Tongue, and Lower Yellowstone Rivers and tributaries and Home Creek, Montana, based on data through water year 2021
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY–MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 66.7-, 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected stPeak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in and near the Milk River Basin, Montana, based on data through water year 2018, Part 1
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY?MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgagAttributions for nonstationary peak streamflow records across the conterminous United States, 1941-2015 and 1966-2015
The U.S. Geological Survey Dakota Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, analyzed annual peak-flow data to determine if trends are present and provide attribution of trends where possible. Work for the national trend attributions for nonstationary annual peak-flow records was broken into seven regions that are loosely based off of two-digit hydrologic unit waPeak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in Carbon County, Montana, based on data through water year 2018
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) documented (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgages operated by the WPeak-flow frequency analyses for 14 selected streamgages in the Beaverhead River and Clark Fork Basins Montana, based on data through water year 2016
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) recently completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selectedPeak-flow frequency analyses for 99 selected streamgages in or near Montana, based on data through water year 2015 (ver. 1.1, August 2020)
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WYMT WSC) recently completed a report documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgages operated by thePeak-Flow Frequency Analyses for Selected Streamgages in Missoula and Granite Counties, Montana, Based on Data through Water Year 2018
The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY?MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgagChannel width measurements for selected streamgage sites in Montana
The WY-MT WSC conducted a study to develop regression equations for estimating peak-flow frequencies in Montana, using channel-width characteristics. Channel widths were measured in the field and from aerial photographs. This data release includes three child items: a table of field measurements, a table of measurements from aerial photographs, and a summary table of the data (field measurements aA network of 31 Upper Missouri River Basin naturalized water-year (Oct-Sep) streamflow reconstructions spanning years 800 - 1998 CE
Paleohydrologic records provide a valuable perspective on the variability of streamflow and hydroclimate that is critical for water resource planning and placing present day and future conditions into a long-term context. Until now, key insights gained from streamflow reconstructions in the other river basins across the Western U.S. been lacking in the Upper Missouri River Basin due to a lack of e - Maps
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