Powell 150 participant Paul Larmer, publisher of High County News, viewing the Green River, UT from the peak at School Section camp during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Kathy Conn
Hydrologist and Water Quality Specialist for the Washington Water Science Center
My research focuses on the occurrence, fate, and transport of contaminants in the aquatic environment. Recent activities and interests include:
- Developing novel field methods to quantify fluvial sediment-bound chemical concentrations and fluxes from rivers to Puget Sound
- Entry and movement of urban contaminants in nearshore coastal environments
- Monitoring of legacy contaminants (e.g., PCBs and metals), emerging contaminants (e.g., microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals), and microbial contaminants (e.g., bacteria, viruses, and fecal indicators) in aquatic resources with implications for ecological and human health
- Providing technical guidance for water-quality projects, including study design, data quality, and dissemination
Science and Products
Characterizing water and sediment quality to support watershed management and fish hatchery operations near Clarks Creek, WA
The USGS is working with local water managers to characterize water and sediment quality in a fish hatchery. For the past few years, large numbers of salmon eggs raised in the hatchery have perished unexpectedly. Resource managers need information about the water, sediment and organic material found in the hatchery and surrounding watershed. The USGS is using novel techniques to learn what is in...
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
A Pacific Northwest icon, Puget Sound is the second-largest estuary in the United States. Its unique geology, climate, and nutrient-rich waters produce and sustain biologically productive coastal habitats. These same natural characteristics also contribute to a high quality of life that has led to growth in human population and urbanization. This growth has played a role in degrading the Sound...
Contaminants in Puget Sound Forage Fishes and Impacts to the Marine Food Web
Toxic chemical pollutants have been released into Puget Sound for decades by human activities. There’s a wide range of contaminants, from persistent compounds like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and flame retardants to contaminants of emerging concern. Aquatic species can be exposed to and accumulate contaminants, causing disease or disruption of biological processes like growth or reproduction...
USGS Tacoma Seminar Series
Please note, the seminars are suspended until further notice. Our lunchtime "brownbag" seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm unless otherwise noted. The science lectures are held at the USGS Washington Water Science Center at 934 Broadway, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA. The presentations are informal and are open to the public. Please, bring your lunch.
River Loads into Puget Sound
The Issue: Puget Sound, WA, is the second largest estuary in the United States and its unique geology, climate, and nutrient-rich waters sustain biologically-productive terrestrial, coastal, and marine habitats. Development and associated human activities have significantly degraded the Sound, causing declines in fish and wildlife populations, water-quality issues, and losses of critical habitats...
Sources of Mercury in Sinclair Inlet Project
The sediments in Sinclair Inlet within Puget Sound, Washington have elevated concentrations of a number of organic compounds and elements including mercury. Following remediation actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), it was determined that there is insufficient information to determine whether remedial action taken at OU B Marine with...
Paul Larmer viewing the Green River, UT
Powell 150 participant Paul Larmer, publisher of High County News, viewing the Green River, UT from the peak at School Section camp during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 boats in Desolation Canyon on the Green River, UT
Boats in Desolation Canyon along the Green River, UT during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Boats in Desolation Canyon along the Green River, UT during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 boatman Ben Capelin viewing Green River valley
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 Flat Canyon Petroglyphs in Desolation Canyon, Green River,
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Using a Continuous Flow Centrifuge to Collect Suspended Sediment
Kathy Conn, a U.S. Geological Survey Water Quality Specialist, demonstrates a new USGS field method using a continuous flow centrifuge to collect suspended sediment from large volumes of water in the Duwamish River near Seattle Washington.
Kathy Conn, a U.S. Geological Survey Water Quality Specialist, demonstrates a new USGS field method using a continuous flow centrifuge to collect suspended sediment from large volumes of water in the Duwamish River near Seattle Washington.
Science and Products
Characterizing water and sediment quality to support watershed management and fish hatchery operations near Clarks Creek, WA
The USGS is working with local water managers to characterize water and sediment quality in a fish hatchery. For the past few years, large numbers of salmon eggs raised in the hatchery have perished unexpectedly. Resource managers need information about the water, sediment and organic material found in the hatchery and surrounding watershed. The USGS is using novel techniques to learn what is in...
Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound
A Pacific Northwest icon, Puget Sound is the second-largest estuary in the United States. Its unique geology, climate, and nutrient-rich waters produce and sustain biologically productive coastal habitats. These same natural characteristics also contribute to a high quality of life that has led to growth in human population and urbanization. This growth has played a role in degrading the Sound...
Contaminants in Puget Sound Forage Fishes and Impacts to the Marine Food Web
Toxic chemical pollutants have been released into Puget Sound for decades by human activities. There’s a wide range of contaminants, from persistent compounds like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and flame retardants to contaminants of emerging concern. Aquatic species can be exposed to and accumulate contaminants, causing disease or disruption of biological processes like growth or reproduction...
USGS Tacoma Seminar Series
Please note, the seminars are suspended until further notice. Our lunchtime "brownbag" seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm unless otherwise noted. The science lectures are held at the USGS Washington Water Science Center at 934 Broadway, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA. The presentations are informal and are open to the public. Please, bring your lunch.
River Loads into Puget Sound
The Issue: Puget Sound, WA, is the second largest estuary in the United States and its unique geology, climate, and nutrient-rich waters sustain biologically-productive terrestrial, coastal, and marine habitats. Development and associated human activities have significantly degraded the Sound, causing declines in fish and wildlife populations, water-quality issues, and losses of critical habitats...
Sources of Mercury in Sinclair Inlet Project
The sediments in Sinclair Inlet within Puget Sound, Washington have elevated concentrations of a number of organic compounds and elements including mercury. Following remediation actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), it was determined that there is insufficient information to determine whether remedial action taken at OU B Marine with...
Paul Larmer viewing the Green River, UT
Powell 150 participant Paul Larmer, publisher of High County News, viewing the Green River, UT from the peak at School Section camp during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 participant Paul Larmer, publisher of High County News, viewing the Green River, UT from the peak at School Section camp during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 boats in Desolation Canyon on the Green River, UT
Boats in Desolation Canyon along the Green River, UT during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Boats in Desolation Canyon along the Green River, UT during the SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 boatman Ben Capelin viewing Green River valley
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Boatman Ben Capelin viewing the Green River from Three Canyon during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Powell 150 Flat Canyon Petroglyphs in Desolation Canyon, Green River,
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Flat Canyon petroglyph panel in Desolation Canyon, Green River, UT during the Powell 150 SCREE-USGS expedition, June 2019
Using a Continuous Flow Centrifuge to Collect Suspended Sediment
Kathy Conn, a U.S. Geological Survey Water Quality Specialist, demonstrates a new USGS field method using a continuous flow centrifuge to collect suspended sediment from large volumes of water in the Duwamish River near Seattle Washington.
Kathy Conn, a U.S. Geological Survey Water Quality Specialist, demonstrates a new USGS field method using a continuous flow centrifuge to collect suspended sediment from large volumes of water in the Duwamish River near Seattle Washington.