Katie M Junghans

Katie is a Hydrologic Technician with more than a decade of experience monitoring surface water, water quality, and groundwater. Katie was selected as the 2025 USGS Data Person of the Year, a national recognition of leadership, enthusiasm, and innovation. She has been recognized for her ability to clearly convey complex information, an unwavering commitment to quality, and as an advocate for collaboration and learning within the USGS community. Today, she continues that mission by educating the next generation of hydrologic technicians and developing innovative tools that strengthen USGS operations nationwide.

Her undergraduate and graduate research specialized in arid springs in Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. In 2016, Katie became Lead Hydrologic Technician for two National Parks in Alaska. In 2018, she began her career with the USGS in Grand Junction, CO. In 2020, Katie became the Hydroacoustics Specialist for the Western Colorado USGS office. In 2023, she became an instructor for national classes, teaching foundational streamgaging principles and ADCP techniques. In 2025, Katie became a mentor to junior technicians as a part of the official USGS Mentoring Program. In 2025, Katie earned an Incident Qualification Card (Red Card), enabling her to provide hydrologic monitoring in areas affected by recent wildfires. She is also recognized as a subject matter expert in estimating ice-affected streamflow data and has delivered both national and international training on the topic. In 2026, she became the subject matter lead for developing a USGS tool that uses HIVIS imagery to generate ice-cover datasets - an experimental tool that aims to enhance the accuracy of streamgaging during winter.