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Kelly L Warner

Kelly is the Deputy Director of Science for the USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center and manages a science and research program of $14.6M and over 65 staff. 

Kelly has been on the leading edge of new technology and interpretive science. She began her career as a graduate student collecting surface water data and working on an urban lake project.  As digital spatial applications evolved, she developed an international study of groundwater quality in the Great Lakes basin that was supported by International Joint Commission. Kelly helped to write the groundwater and urban water component of the first biennial report on Great Lakes groundwater quality as part of international Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Kelly and colleagues presented this research to the International Association of Hydrogeologists in Rome, Italy, on the impact of urban development on water quality for US and Canada.

Kelly spent part of her career as Regional Aquifer Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program where she led a regional team of hydrologists from Maine to Washington on investigations of water quality in the glacial aquifer system. New analytical and interpretive methods were used for understanding changes in water quality across northern United States including methods of arsenic speciation and redox mapping. As a supervisor of water quality studies in Illinois, Kelly helped grow a large program using new methods for continuous monitoring of nitrate and phosphate. The network in Illinois was one of the largest in the country which led to her participation in a Congressional briefing in Washington, DC on the science and interpretive value of the new continuous nutrient sensors.  Since 2017, she has been the Deputy Director of Science and leading innovative science and research on water resources in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

 

Education and Certifications

  • B.S., Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois

  • M.S. Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, Illinois

  • University of Illinois, additional study, Urbana, Illinois 

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Illinois Nutrient Monitoring Council

  • Prairie Research Institute Technical Advisory Board

  • USGS Diversity and Inclusion Regional and National (interim) Councils from 2015-2021

  • Upper Mississippi River Basin Association Water Quality Task Force

  • Illinois Coordinating Committee on Groundwater

Honors and Awards

  • USGS Superior Service Award

  • USGS Shoemaker Award (2010 and 2019)

  • National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil Award for Excellence (2019).

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Commander Coin for Excellence, Rock Island District (2019)

Abstracts and Presentations

  • Warner, K., Howard, K., Gerber, R. Soo Chan, G., and Ford, D., 2016. Effects of urban development on groundwater. Chapt. 6 in Grannemann, G. and Van Stempvoort, D. (Eds.), Groundwater science relevant to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: A status report. Final version, May, 2016. Published (online) by Environment and Climate Change Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Howard, K., Ricardo, H., Shivakoti, B.R., Warner, K., Gogu, R., Nkhuwa, D., 2015, Resilient cities and groundwater.  Foster, S. and Tyson, G., eds., International Association of Hydrogeologists, publisher.

  • Warner, K.L., and Howard, K.W.F, 2015, United States and Canada Assess the Impact of Urban Development on Groundwater Quality—Example from the Great Lakes Basin:  42nd Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists, Rome, Italy, September, 2015, 

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 22

Arsenic in Illinois ground water — Community and private supplies

Assessing the distribution of arsenic in ground water from community-water supplies, private supplies, or monitoring wells is part of the process of determining the risk of arsenic contamination of drinking water in Illinois. Lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors make certain members of the population more susceptible to adverse health effects from repeated exposure to drinking water with
Authors
Kelly L. Warner, Angel Martin, Terri Arnold
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

The Mahomet aquifer: A transboundary resource in east-central Illinois

Emerging intrastate transboundary issues focus on use of the Mahomet aquifer, which underlies about fifteen counties and many other political entities in east-central Illinois. This sand and gravel aquifer in the lower part of the buried Mahomet Bedrock Valley ranges between four and fourteen miles wide and from about 50 to 200 feet thick. Much of the region's rural population, several large commu
Authors
D.R. Larson, E. Mehnert, B.L. Herzog

Arsenic in glacial drift aquifers and the implication for drinking water - Lower Illinois River Basin

The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) covers 47,000 km2 of central and western Illinois. In the LIRB, 90% of the ground water supplies are from the deep and shallow glacial drift aquifers. The deep glacial drift aquifer (DGDA) is below 152 m altitude, a sand and gravel deposit that fills the Mahomet Buried Bedrock Valley, and overlain by more than 30.5 m of clayey till. The LIRB is part of the USG
Authors
K.L. Warner

The crazy hollow formation (Eocene) of central Utah

The Late Eocene Crazy Hollow Formation is a fluviatile and lacustrine unit that was deposited locally in the southwest arm of Lake Uinta during and after the last stages of the lake the deposited the Green River Formation. Most exposures of the Crazy Hollow are located in Sanpete and Sevier Counties. The unit is characterized by a large variety of rock types, rapid facies changes within fairly sho
Authors
M. P. Weiss, K.N. Warner

Potential drinking water concerns in ground and surface water in the Illinois River Basin; U.S. Geological Survey perspective from the National Water Quality Assessment

No abstract available.
Authors
Kelly L. Warner, Paul J. Terrio, Robin B. King, George E. Groschen, Terri Arnold, William S. Morrow, Michael J. Friedel, Mitchell A. Harris

Analysis of nutrients, selected inorganic constituents, and trace elements in water from Illinois community-supply wells, 1984–91

The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) study unit is part of the National Water-Quality Assessment program that includes studies of most major aquifer systems in the United States. Retrospective water-quality data from community-supply wells in the LIRB and in the rest of Illinois are grouped by aquifer and depth interval. Concentrations of selected chemical constituents in water samples from comm
Authors
Kelly L. Warner
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

Water quality in the lower Illinois River Basin, Illinois, 1995-98

Major influences and findings for water quality and biology in central Illinois, including the Illinois River from Ottawa, Illinois to Valley City, Illinois, are described and illustrated. Samples were collected to determine nitrate, phosphorus, pesticides, volatile organic carbon compounds, and radon-222 in streams and ground water. Agricultural and other land-use practices are discussed in relat
Authors
George E. Groschen, Mitchell A. Harris, Robin B. King, Paul J. Terrio, Kelly L. Warner
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Water-quality assessment of the lower Illinois River Basin: Environmental setting

The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) encompasses 18,000 square miles of central and western Illinois. Historical and recent information from Federal, State, and local agencies describing the physiography, population, land use, soils, climate, geology, streamflow, habitat, ground water, water use, and aquatic biology is summarized to describe the environmental setting of the LIRB. The LIRB is in t
Authors
Kelly L. Warner

National Water-Quality Assessment Program; the lower Illinois River Basin

No abstract available.
Authors
Kelly L. Warner, Arthur R. Schmidt

Hydrogeologic information in the Great Lakes basin, United States, and application of a geographic information system to public supply wells and hazardous-waste sites

A computerized data base has been established to facilitate analysis and interpretation of potential for ground-water contamination in the Great Lakes basin. The computerized data base is being used in conjunction with a geogrpahic information system (GIS). Locations of public-supply wells were obtained from Federal and State agencies and stored in the system. Well locations are displayed using th
Authors
Kelly L. Warner, John D. Earle, Marvin G. Sherrill

Non-USGS Publications**

Mehnert, E., Wehrmann, H.A., Warner, K.L., Hackley, K.C., Holm, T.R., Larson, T.H.,
Roadcap, G.S., Panno, S.V., Wilson, S.D., and Pugin, A., 2004, The Mahomet
Aquifer--recent advances in our knowledge: Illinois State Geological Survey Open
File Series 2004-16, 19 p.
Herzog, B., Stiff, B., Chenowith, C.A., Warner, K.L., Sieverling, J.B., and Avery, C.F.,
1994, Buried bedrock surface of Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey Map Series,
Map 5, 1:500,000 scale map
Warner, K.L., 1992, The role of the U.S. Geological Survey in the Great Lakes basin:
U.S. Water News, v.9, no.6, p.21-22.

**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.

No results found.

Science and Products

  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 22

    Arsenic in Illinois ground water — Community and private supplies

    Assessing the distribution of arsenic in ground water from community-water supplies, private supplies, or monitoring wells is part of the process of determining the risk of arsenic contamination of drinking water in Illinois. Lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors make certain members of the population more susceptible to adverse health effects from repeated exposure to drinking water with
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner, Angel Martin, Terri Arnold
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

    The Mahomet aquifer: A transboundary resource in east-central Illinois

    Emerging intrastate transboundary issues focus on use of the Mahomet aquifer, which underlies about fifteen counties and many other political entities in east-central Illinois. This sand and gravel aquifer in the lower part of the buried Mahomet Bedrock Valley ranges between four and fourteen miles wide and from about 50 to 200 feet thick. Much of the region's rural population, several large commu
    Authors
    D.R. Larson, E. Mehnert, B.L. Herzog

    Arsenic in glacial drift aquifers and the implication for drinking water - Lower Illinois River Basin

    The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) covers 47,000 km2 of central and western Illinois. In the LIRB, 90% of the ground water supplies are from the deep and shallow glacial drift aquifers. The deep glacial drift aquifer (DGDA) is below 152 m altitude, a sand and gravel deposit that fills the Mahomet Buried Bedrock Valley, and overlain by more than 30.5 m of clayey till. The LIRB is part of the USG
    Authors
    K.L. Warner

    The crazy hollow formation (Eocene) of central Utah

    The Late Eocene Crazy Hollow Formation is a fluviatile and lacustrine unit that was deposited locally in the southwest arm of Lake Uinta during and after the last stages of the lake the deposited the Green River Formation. Most exposures of the Crazy Hollow are located in Sanpete and Sevier Counties. The unit is characterized by a large variety of rock types, rapid facies changes within fairly sho
    Authors
    M. P. Weiss, K.N. Warner

    Potential drinking water concerns in ground and surface water in the Illinois River Basin; U.S. Geological Survey perspective from the National Water Quality Assessment

    No abstract available.
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner, Paul J. Terrio, Robin B. King, George E. Groschen, Terri Arnold, William S. Morrow, Michael J. Friedel, Mitchell A. Harris

    Analysis of nutrients, selected inorganic constituents, and trace elements in water from Illinois community-supply wells, 1984–91

    The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) study unit is part of the National Water-Quality Assessment program that includes studies of most major aquifer systems in the United States. Retrospective water-quality data from community-supply wells in the LIRB and in the rest of Illinois are grouped by aquifer and depth interval. Concentrations of selected chemical constituents in water samples from comm
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center

    Water quality in the lower Illinois River Basin, Illinois, 1995-98

    Major influences and findings for water quality and biology in central Illinois, including the Illinois River from Ottawa, Illinois to Valley City, Illinois, are described and illustrated. Samples were collected to determine nitrate, phosphorus, pesticides, volatile organic carbon compounds, and radon-222 in streams and ground water. Agricultural and other land-use practices are discussed in relat
    Authors
    George E. Groschen, Mitchell A. Harris, Robin B. King, Paul J. Terrio, Kelly L. Warner
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area

    Water-quality assessment of the lower Illinois River Basin: Environmental setting

    The lower Illinois River Basin (LIRB) encompasses 18,000 square miles of central and western Illinois. Historical and recent information from Federal, State, and local agencies describing the physiography, population, land use, soils, climate, geology, streamflow, habitat, ground water, water use, and aquatic biology is summarized to describe the environmental setting of the LIRB. The LIRB is in t
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner

    National Water-Quality Assessment Program; the lower Illinois River Basin

    No abstract available.
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner, Arthur R. Schmidt

    Hydrogeologic information in the Great Lakes basin, United States, and application of a geographic information system to public supply wells and hazardous-waste sites

    A computerized data base has been established to facilitate analysis and interpretation of potential for ground-water contamination in the Great Lakes basin. The computerized data base is being used in conjunction with a geogrpahic information system (GIS). Locations of public-supply wells were obtained from Federal and State agencies and stored in the system. Well locations are displayed using th
    Authors
    Kelly L. Warner, John D. Earle, Marvin G. Sherrill

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Mehnert, E., Wehrmann, H.A., Warner, K.L., Hackley, K.C., Holm, T.R., Larson, T.H.,
    Roadcap, G.S., Panno, S.V., Wilson, S.D., and Pugin, A., 2004, The Mahomet
    Aquifer--recent advances in our knowledge: Illinois State Geological Survey Open
    File Series 2004-16, 19 p.
    Herzog, B., Stiff, B., Chenowith, C.A., Warner, K.L., Sieverling, J.B., and Avery, C.F.,
    1994, Buried bedrock surface of Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey Map Series,
    Map 5, 1:500,000 scale map
    Warner, K.L., 1992, The role of the U.S. Geological Survey in the Great Lakes basin:
    U.S. Water News, v.9, no.6, p.21-22.

    **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
  • Multimedia
    No results found.

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government