Dr. Katherine Skalak studies landscape dynamics and fluvial geomorphology, focused on understanding and predicting changes in the patterns and functions of landforms in response to human impacts and restoration efforts. In particular, dynamics of fine sediment and particle associated nutrients and contaminants on varying temporal and spatial scales, and management effects on fluvial systems.
Dr. Skalak received her undergraduate degree in environmental science from St. Joseph’s University. She received her master's degree in Geology from University of Delaware in 2004. A National Science Foundation GK-12 fellow, she completed her Ph.D in Geological Sciences from the University of Delaware in 2009. She started as a post-doctoral researcher at U.S. Geological Survey in 2009 and became a Research Hydrologist in 2011.
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, August, 2009
Dissertation Title: "Fine-grained channel margin deposits in a typical gravel bed river: Spatial and temporal controls on the distribution, quantity, and residence time and implications for Centennial-scale Sediment and Mercury Cycling." Adviser: Dr. James E. Pizzuto
University of Delaware, Newark, DE. M.S. in Geology, August, 2004
Thesis Title: “The effects of dams on downstream channel characteristics in Pennsylvania and Maryland: assessing the potential consequences of dam removal.” Adviser: Dr. James E. Pizzuto.
St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA. B. S. in Environmental Science, May, 2001
RESEARCH AND WORK EXPERIENCE
USGS National Research Program. Research Hydrologist, 2011 to present
USGS National Research Program. Post-doctoral research fellow in the Hydroecology of Flowing Waters Project, National Research Program, 2009 to 2011
University of Delaware, Department of Geological Sciences
- Visiting scholar, The Johns Hopkins University, 2006 to 2009
- Research Assistant, January 2005 to June 2006
- Research Assistant, September 2002 to September 2003
- Environmental Management Group, Media, PA. Environmental Consultant, January to August 2002
Biological Treatment Systems, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Lab Coordinator, September 2001 to January 2002
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. Research Internship, May to September 2000
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Delaware, Department of Geological Sciences
- Fellow, National Science Foundation’s GK-12 program, June 2006 to 2008
- Teaching Assistant, 2003 to 2004
Science and Products
Integrated Water Science (IWS) Basins
Integrated Water Prediction (IWP)
High-Flow Field Experiments to Inform Everglades Restoration: Experimental Data 2010 to 2018
Sediment sources and connectivity linked to hydrologic pathways and geomorphic processes: A conceptual model to specify sediment sources and pathways through space and time
Spatially averaged stratigraphic data to inform watershed sediment routing: An example from the Mid-Atlantic United States
Water priorities for the Nation—U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program
The Chesapeake Bay program modeling system: Overview and recommendations for future development
Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Integrated hydro-terrestrial modeling: Development of a national capability
Sediment dynamics and implications for management: State of the science from long‐term research in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA
Refining the Baseline Sediment Budget for the Klamath River, California
Four dams in the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project (KHP) in Oregon and California (Figure 1) are currently scheduled to be removed over a period of a few weeks or months, beginning in January 2021. The Klamath dam removal will be the largest in the world by almost all measures, and is an unprecedented opportunity to advance science of river responses to such events. The KHP contains approximatel
Predicting attenuation of salinized surface- and groundwater-resources from legacy energy development in the Prairie Pothole Region
Streamflow, sediment transport, and geomorphic change during the 2011 flood on the Missouri River near Bismarck-Mandan, ND
Direct channel precipitation and storm type influence short-term fallout radionuclide assessment of sediment source
Contemporary fluvial geomorphology and suspended sediment budget of the partly confined, mixed bedrock-alluvial South River, Virginia, USA
Science and Products
- Science
Integrated Water Science (IWS) Basins
The U.S. Geological Survey is integrating its water science programs to better address the Nation’s greatest water resource challenges. At the heart of this effort are plans to intensively study at least 10 Integrated Water Science (IWS) basins — medium-sized watersheds (10,000-20,000 square miles) and underlying aquifers — over the next decade. The IWS basins will represent a wide range of...Integrated Water Prediction (IWP)
The USGS Integrated Water Prediction science program focuses on the development of advanced models for forecasting multiple water quality and quantity attributes including water budgets and components of the water cycle; water use; temperature; dissolved and suspended water constituents, and ecological conditions. It is also developing the cyberinfrastructure and workflows required to implement... - Data
High-Flow Field Experiments to Inform Everglades Restoration: Experimental Data 2010 to 2018
Data Release from the High-Flow Field Experiments to Inform Everglades Restoration: Experimental Data 2010 to 2018. Data were obtained from field sites located in the Everglades between two canals (L-67A and L-67C) from 2010 to 2018. During this time, five major controlled flow releases occurred by opening the culvert S152 on canal L-67A. Data consist of water velocity (continuous and discrete), w - Publications
Filter Total Items: 20
Sediment sources and connectivity linked to hydrologic pathways and geomorphic processes: A conceptual model to specify sediment sources and pathways through space and time
Sediment connectivity is a framework for transfer and storage of sediment among different geomorphic compartments across upland and channel network of the catchment sediment cascade. Sediment connectivity and dysconnectivity (i.e., source delivery and storage processes) are linked to the water cycle and hydrologic systems with the associated multiscale interactions with climate, soil, topography,AuthorsSe Jong Cho, Diana Karwan, Katherine Skalak, James Pizzuto, Max HuffmanSpatially averaged stratigraphic data to inform watershed sediment routing: An example from the Mid-Atlantic United States
New and previously published stratigraphic data define Holocene to present sediment storage time scales for Mid-Atlantic river corridors. Empirical distributions of deposit ages and thicknesses were randomly sampled to create synthetic age-depth records. Deposits predating European settlement accumulated at a (median) rate of 0.06 cm yr−1, range from ∼18,000 to 225 yr old, and represent 39% (mediaAuthorsJames Pizzuto, Katherine Skalak, Adam Benthem, Shannon A. Mahan, Mahmoud Sherif, Adam PearsonWater priorities for the Nation—U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program
The U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program focuses on the development of advanced models for forecasting water use and other components of the water cycle along with water quality attributes such as temperature, water constituents, and ecological conditions. The program also is developing the cyberinfrastructure required to implement national and local-scale models to bAuthorsMark P. Miller, Katherine Skalak, David P. LesmesThe Chesapeake Bay program modeling system: Overview and recommendations for future development
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest, most productive, and most biologically diverse estuary in the continental United States providing crucial habitat and natural resources for culturally and economically important species. Pressures from human population growth and associated development and agricultural intensification have led to excessive nutrient and sediment inputs entering the Bay, negativelyAuthorsRaleigh Hood, Gary W. Shenk, Rachel L Dixon, Sean M. C. Smith, William P. Ball, Jesse Bash, R. Batiuk, Kathy Boomer, Damian C Brady, Carl Cerco, Peter Claggett, Kim de Mutsert, Zachary M. Easton, Andrew J Elmore, Marjorie A. M. Friedrichs, Lora A. Harris, Thomas F. Ihde, Iara Lacher, Li Li, Lewis C. Linker, Andrew Miller, Julia Moriarty, Gregory B. Noe, George Onyullo, Kenneth A Rose, Katherine Skalak, Richard Tian, Tamie L Veith, Lisa A. Wainger, Donald E. Weller, Yinglong J. ZhangGeochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be key markers of OG wastewater releases when combineAuthorsIsabelle M. Cozzarelli, Douglas B. Kent, Martin A. Briggs, Mark A Engle, Adam Benthem, Katherine Skalak, Adam Mumford, Jeanne B. Jaeschke, Aida Farag, John W. Lane, Denise M. AkobIntegrated hydro-terrestrial modeling: Development of a national capability
Water is one of our most important natural resources and is essential to our national economy and security. Multiple federal government agencies have mission elements that address national needs related to water. Each water-related agency champions a unique science and/or operational mission focused on advancing a portion of the nation’s ability to meet our water-related challenges, often in closeAuthorsDavid P. Lesmes, Jessica Moerman, Tom Torgeson, Bob Vallario, Timothy D. Scheibe, Efi Foufoula-Georgiou, Harry L. Jenter, Ronald L. Bingner, Laura Condon, Brian Cosgrove, Carlos Del Castillo, Charles W Downer, John Eylander, Michael N. Fienen, Nels Frazier, David Gochis, Dave Goodrich, Judson Harvey, Joseph D. Hughes, David Hyndman, John M. Johnston, Forrest Melton, Glenn E. Moglen, David Moulton, Laura K. Lautz, Rajbir Parmar, Brenda Rashleigh, Patrick Reed, Katherine Skalak, Charuleka Varadharajan, Roland J. Viger, Nathalie Voisin, Mark WahlSediment dynamics and implications for management: State of the science from long‐term research in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA
This review aims to synthesize the current knowledge of sediment dynamics using insights from long‐term research conducted in the watershed draining to the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S., to inform management actions to restore the estuary and its watershed. The sediment dynamics of the Chesapeake are typical of many impaired watersheds and estuaries around the world, and this synAuthorsGregory B. Noe, Matt J. Cashman, Katherine Skalak, Allen Gellis, Kristina G. Hopkins, Doug L. Moyer, James S. Webber, Adam Benthem, Kelly O. Maloney, John Brakebill, Andrew Sekellick, Michael J. Langland, Qian Zhang, Gary W. Shenk, Jennifer L. D. Keisman, Cliff R. HuppRefining the Baseline Sediment Budget for the Klamath River, California
Four dams in the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project (KHP) in Oregon and California (Figure 1) are currently scheduled to be removed over a period of a few weeks or months, beginning in January 2021. The Klamath dam removal will be the largest in the world by almost all measures, and is an unprecedented opportunity to advance science of river responses to such events. The KHP contains approximatel
AuthorsChauncey W. Anderson, Scott A. Wright, Liam N. Schenk, Katherine Skalak, Jennifer A. Curtis, Amy E. East, Adam BenthemPredicting attenuation of salinized surface- and groundwater-resources from legacy energy development in the Prairie Pothole Region
Oil and gas (energy) development in the Williston Basin, which partly underlies the Prairie Pothole Region in central North America, has helped meet U.S. energy demand for decades. Historical handling and disposal practices of saline wastewater co-produced during energy development resulted in salinization of surface and groundwater at numerous legacy energy sites. Thirty years of monitoring (1988AuthorsTodd M. Preston, Chauncey W. Anderson, Joanna N. Thamke, Blake R. Hossack, Katherine Skalak, Isabelle M. CozzarelliStreamflow, sediment transport, and geomorphic change during the 2011 flood on the Missouri River near Bismarck-Mandan, ND
Geomorphic change from extreme events in large managed rivers has implications for river management. A steady-state, quasi-three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was applied to a 29-km reach of the Missouri River using 2011 flood data. Model results for an extreme flow (500-year recurrence interval [RI]) and an elevated managed flow (75-year RI) were used to assess sediment mobility through examinatAuthorsRochelle A. Nustad, Adam Benthem, Katherine Skalak, Richard R. McDonald, Edward R. Schenk, Joel M. GallowayDirect channel precipitation and storm type influence short-term fallout radionuclide assessment of sediment source
Fallout radionuclides (FRNs) and their ratios, such as Beryllium‐7 (7Be) and excess Lead‐210 (210Pbxs), have been used to determine suspended sediment source and age in catchments. These models are based on numerous assumptions, for example, that channel deposition of FRNs from precipitation is negligible in comparison to their delivery to the channel from land surface erosion during individual stAuthorsDiana Karwan, James Pizzuto, Rolf Aalto, Julia Marquard, Adrian Harpold, Katherine Skalak, Adam J. Benthem, Delphia Levia, Courtney Siegert, Anthony K. AufdenkampeContemporary fluvial geomorphology and suspended sediment budget of the partly confined, mixed bedrock-alluvial South River, Virginia, USA
We developed a conceptual model and suspended sediment budget for a 38 km reach of the fifth-order South River, Virginia, for the past 75 yr. Bedrock, terraces, and alluvial fans confine 64% of the channel’s lateral boundaries, while bedrock exposures impose vertical confinement along 37% of the channel. Bedrock exposures in the bed separate pools and riffles developed in gravelly bed material, crAuthorsJames E. Pizzuto, Michael A. O'Neal, Pramenath Narinesingh, Katherine Skalak, Dajana Jurk, Suzann Collins, Jacquelyn Calder - News