Ken Eng is a research hydrologist in the USGS Water Resources Mission Area focusing on changes to streamflow, low flows/droughts, and environmental flows using machine learning approaches. He is based in Reston, VA.
Ken's recent work has focused on understanding and prediction of streamflow changes to unmonitored locations due to land and water management practices, such as dams, land cover, irrigation, and interbasin transfers, using machine learning approaches.
Other areas of research include work on developing regional frameworks relating environmental flow changes to aquatic biota impairment. In addition, Ken has examined the integration of subsurface/baseflow models with machine learning methods to improve predictions of low flow/drought flow characteristics.
Professional Experience
2001 to Present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 2001
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 1998
B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 1996
Science and Products
River Corridor hot spots for biogeochemical processing: a continental scale synthesis
Rivers are the veins of the landscape, providing environmental benefits that are disproportionately high relative to their aerial extent; shedding flood waters, hosting aquatic ecosystems, transporting solutes and energy-rich materials, and storing and transforming pollutants into less harmful forms. From uplands to the coasts, rivers facilitate key biogeochemical reactions that cumulatively influ
Hydrologic metric changes across the conterminous United States
This metadata record describes the observed and estimated hydrologic metrics for the 1980 to 2019 period for U.S. Geological Survey streamgage locations across the Conterminous United States. The datasets are arranged in four files: (1) CONUS_Observed_Estimated_HMs_Annual_Monthly.csv, (2) CONUS_Bootstrap_Validations_for_Models.csv, (3) CONUS_Streamflow_Gages_for_Models.csv, and (4) Data_Dictionary
Calculated baseflow recession characteristics for streamflow gauging locations for the western and eastern United States, 1900 to 2018
This metadata record describes observed and predicted baseflow recession characteristics for 300 streamflow gauges in the western United States and 282 streamflow gauges in the eastern United States. Specifically, this record describes (1) the streamflow gauge locations (west or east) in the United States (Location), (2) the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gauge identification numbers (USGS_Site
Trends in selected streamflow metrics at reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, 1980-2014
This dataset includes four tables related to annual trends in streamflow metrics at 599 reference streamgages in the conterminous United States for the period 1955-2014. Reference streamgages are defined here as gages with drainage basins that are minimally impacted by anthropogenic effects such as reservoirs or urbanization. The four tables are: 1) computed annual values for 16 streamflow metrics
Hydrologic metric changes across the conterminous United States
This metadata record describes the following eight attributes: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gage identification number, (2) aggregated level 2 ecoregion, (3) hydrologic metric abbreviation, (4) direct-human modification classification of watershed, (5) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1950 to 2014, (6) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1980 to 2014, (7) observed hydrologic
Filter Total Items: 24
Evaluation of machine learning approaches for predicting streamflow metrics across the conterminous United States
Few regional or national scale studies have evaluated machine learning approaches for predicting streamflow metrics at ungaged locations. Most such studies are limited by the number of dimensions of the streamflow regime investigated. This study, in contrast, provides a comprehensive evaluation of the streamflow regime based on three widely available machine learning approaches (support vector reg
Authors
Ken Eng, David M. Wolock
Severity and extent of alterations to natural streamflow regimes based on hydrologic metrics in the conterminous United States, 1980–2014
Alteration of the natural streamflow regime by land and water management, such as land-cover change and dams, is associated with aquatic ecosystem degradation. The severity and geographic extent of streamflow alteration at regional and national scales, however, remain largely unquantified. The primary goal of this study is to characterize the severity and extent of alterations to natural streamflo
Authors
Ken Eng, Daren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, David M. Wolock, Rosaly L. Eng
Flow modification in the Nation’s streams and rivers
This report summarizes a national assessment of flowing waters conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project and addresses several pressing questions about the modification of natural flows in streams and rivers. The assessment is based on the integration, modeling, and synthesis of monitoring data collected by the USGS and the U.S. Environmenta
Authors
Daren Carlisle, David M. Wolock, Christopher P. Konrad, Gregory J. McCabe, Ken Eng, Theodore E. Grantham, Barbara Mahler
Regional-scale associations between indicators of biological integrity and indicators of streamflow modification
Although streamflow is widely recognized as a controlling factor in stream health, empirical relations between indicators of anthropogenic modification of streamflow and ecological indicators have been elusive. The objective of this report is to build upon specific findings reported in recent publications by providing a library of empirical models that describe the relations between streamflow mod
Authors
Daren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, Ken Eng, David M. Wolock
Regionalization of surface-water statistics using multiple linear regression
This report serves as a reference document in support of the regionalization of surface-water statistics using multiple linear regression. Streamflow statistics are quantitative characterizations of hydrology and are often derived from observed streamflow records. In the absence of observed streamflow records, as at unmonitored or ungaged locations, other techniques are required. Multiple linear r
Authors
William H. Farmer, Julie E. Kiang, Toby D. Feaster, Ken Eng
How hydrologic connectivity regulates water quality in river corridors
Downstream flow in rivers is repeatedly delayed by hydrologic exchange with off‐channel storage zones where biogeochemical processing occurs. We present a dimensionless metric that quantifies river connectivity as the balance between downstream flow and the exchange of water with the bed, banks, and floodplains. The degree of connectivity directly influences downstream water quality — too little c
Authors
Judson Harvey, Jesus Gomez-Velez, Noah Schmadel, Durelle Scott, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Richard Alexander, Ken Eng, Heather E. Golden, Albert Kettner, Christopher Konrad, Richard Moore, Jim Pizzuto, Gregory E. Schwarz, Chris Soulsby, Jay Choi
Thresholds of lake and reservoir connectivity in river networks control nitrogen removal
Lakes, reservoirs, and other ponded waters are ubiquitous features of the aquatic landscape, yet their cumulative role in nitrogen removal in large river basins is often unclear. Here we use predictive modeling, together with comprehensive river water quality, land use, and hydrography datasets, to examine and explain the influences of more than 18,000 ponded waters on nitrogen removal through riv
Authors
Noah M. Schmadel, Judson Harvey, Richard Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Richard Moore, Ken Eng, Jesus D. Gomez-Velez, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Durelle Scott
Predictability and selection of hydrologic metrics in riverine ecohydrology
The natural flow regime is critical to the health of riverine ecosystems. Many hydrologic metrics (HMs) have been developed to describe natural flow regimes, quantify flow alteration, and provide the hydrologic foundation for the development of environmental flow standards. Many applications require the use of models to predict expected natural values of HMs from basin characteristics at sites wit
Authors
Ken Eng, Theodore E. Grantham, Daren Carlisle, David M. Wolock
Biological relevance of streamflow metrics: Regional and national perspectives
Protecting the health of streams and rivers requires identifying ecologically significant attributes of the natural flow regime. Streamflow regimes are routinely quantified using a plethora of hydrologic metrics (HMs), most of which have unknown relevance to biological communities. At regional and national scales, we evaluated which of 509 commonly used HMs were associated with biological indicato
Authors
Daren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, Ken Eng, David M. Wolock
Streamflow alteration and habitat ramifications for a threatened fish species in the Central United States
In the Central United States, the Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) is listed as a threatened fish species by the State of Kansas. Survival of the darter is threatened by loss of habitat caused by changing streamflow conditions, in particular flow depletion. Future management of darter populations and habitats requires an understanding of streamflow conditions and how those conditions may have
Authors
Kyle E. Juracek, Ken Eng, Daren Carlisle, David M. Wolock
Streamflow alteration at selected sites in Kansas
An understanding of streamflow alteration in response to various disturbances is necessary for the effective management of stream habitat for a variety of species in Kansas. Streamflow alteration can have negative ecological effects. Using a modeling approach, streamflow alteration was assessed for 129 selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in the State for which requisite streamflow and basi
Authors
Kyle E. Juracek, Ken Eng
Sensitivity of intermittent streams to climate variations in the USA
There is a great deal of interest in the literature on streamflow changes caused by climate change because of the potential negative effects on aquatic biota and water supplies. Most previous studies have primarily focused on perennial streams, and there have been only a few studies examining the effect of climate variability on intermittent streams. Our objectives in this study were to (1) identi
Authors
Ken Eng, David M. Wolock, Mike Dettinger
Science and Products
- Science
River Corridor hot spots for biogeochemical processing: a continental scale synthesis
Rivers are the veins of the landscape, providing environmental benefits that are disproportionately high relative to their aerial extent; shedding flood waters, hosting aquatic ecosystems, transporting solutes and energy-rich materials, and storing and transforming pollutants into less harmful forms. From uplands to the coasts, rivers facilitate key biogeochemical reactions that cumulatively influ - Data
Hydrologic metric changes across the conterminous United States
This metadata record describes the observed and estimated hydrologic metrics for the 1980 to 2019 period for U.S. Geological Survey streamgage locations across the Conterminous United States. The datasets are arranged in four files: (1) CONUS_Observed_Estimated_HMs_Annual_Monthly.csv, (2) CONUS_Bootstrap_Validations_for_Models.csv, (3) CONUS_Streamflow_Gages_for_Models.csv, and (4) Data_DictionaryCalculated baseflow recession characteristics for streamflow gauging locations for the western and eastern United States, 1900 to 2018
This metadata record describes observed and predicted baseflow recession characteristics for 300 streamflow gauges in the western United States and 282 streamflow gauges in the eastern United States. Specifically, this record describes (1) the streamflow gauge locations (west or east) in the United States (Location), (2) the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gauge identification numbers (USGS_SiteTrends in selected streamflow metrics at reference streamgages in the conterminous United States, 1980-2014
This dataset includes four tables related to annual trends in streamflow metrics at 599 reference streamgages in the conterminous United States for the period 1955-2014. Reference streamgages are defined here as gages with drainage basins that are minimally impacted by anthropogenic effects such as reservoirs or urbanization. The four tables are: 1) computed annual values for 16 streamflow metricsHydrologic metric changes across the conterminous United States
This metadata record describes the following eight attributes: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gage identification number, (2) aggregated level 2 ecoregion, (3) hydrologic metric abbreviation, (4) direct-human modification classification of watershed, (5) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1950 to 2014, (6) estimated hydrologic metric values for 1980 to 2014, (7) observed hydrologic - Publications
Filter Total Items: 24
Evaluation of machine learning approaches for predicting streamflow metrics across the conterminous United States
Few regional or national scale studies have evaluated machine learning approaches for predicting streamflow metrics at ungaged locations. Most such studies are limited by the number of dimensions of the streamflow regime investigated. This study, in contrast, provides a comprehensive evaluation of the streamflow regime based on three widely available machine learning approaches (support vector regAuthorsKen Eng, David M. WolockSeverity and extent of alterations to natural streamflow regimes based on hydrologic metrics in the conterminous United States, 1980–2014
Alteration of the natural streamflow regime by land and water management, such as land-cover change and dams, is associated with aquatic ecosystem degradation. The severity and geographic extent of streamflow alteration at regional and national scales, however, remain largely unquantified. The primary goal of this study is to characterize the severity and extent of alterations to natural streamfloAuthorsKen Eng, Daren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, David M. Wolock, Rosaly L. EngFlow modification in the Nation’s streams and rivers
This report summarizes a national assessment of flowing waters conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project and addresses several pressing questions about the modification of natural flows in streams and rivers. The assessment is based on the integration, modeling, and synthesis of monitoring data collected by the USGS and the U.S. EnvironmentaAuthorsDaren Carlisle, David M. Wolock, Christopher P. Konrad, Gregory J. McCabe, Ken Eng, Theodore E. Grantham, Barbara MahlerRegional-scale associations between indicators of biological integrity and indicators of streamflow modification
Although streamflow is widely recognized as a controlling factor in stream health, empirical relations between indicators of anthropogenic modification of streamflow and ecological indicators have been elusive. The objective of this report is to build upon specific findings reported in recent publications by providing a library of empirical models that describe the relations between streamflow modAuthorsDaren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, Ken Eng, David M. WolockRegionalization of surface-water statistics using multiple linear regression
This report serves as a reference document in support of the regionalization of surface-water statistics using multiple linear regression. Streamflow statistics are quantitative characterizations of hydrology and are often derived from observed streamflow records. In the absence of observed streamflow records, as at unmonitored or ungaged locations, other techniques are required. Multiple linear rAuthorsWilliam H. Farmer, Julie E. Kiang, Toby D. Feaster, Ken EngHow hydrologic connectivity regulates water quality in river corridors
Downstream flow in rivers is repeatedly delayed by hydrologic exchange with off‐channel storage zones where biogeochemical processing occurs. We present a dimensionless metric that quantifies river connectivity as the balance between downstream flow and the exchange of water with the bed, banks, and floodplains. The degree of connectivity directly influences downstream water quality — too little cAuthorsJudson Harvey, Jesus Gomez-Velez, Noah Schmadel, Durelle Scott, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Richard Alexander, Ken Eng, Heather E. Golden, Albert Kettner, Christopher Konrad, Richard Moore, Jim Pizzuto, Gregory E. Schwarz, Chris Soulsby, Jay ChoiThresholds of lake and reservoir connectivity in river networks control nitrogen removal
Lakes, reservoirs, and other ponded waters are ubiquitous features of the aquatic landscape, yet their cumulative role in nitrogen removal in large river basins is often unclear. Here we use predictive modeling, together with comprehensive river water quality, land use, and hydrography datasets, to examine and explain the influences of more than 18,000 ponded waters on nitrogen removal through rivAuthorsNoah M. Schmadel, Judson Harvey, Richard Alexander, Gregory E. Schwarz, Richard Moore, Ken Eng, Jesus D. Gomez-Velez, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Durelle ScottPredictability and selection of hydrologic metrics in riverine ecohydrology
The natural flow regime is critical to the health of riverine ecosystems. Many hydrologic metrics (HMs) have been developed to describe natural flow regimes, quantify flow alteration, and provide the hydrologic foundation for the development of environmental flow standards. Many applications require the use of models to predict expected natural values of HMs from basin characteristics at sites witAuthorsKen Eng, Theodore E. Grantham, Daren Carlisle, David M. WolockBiological relevance of streamflow metrics: Regional and national perspectives
Protecting the health of streams and rivers requires identifying ecologically significant attributes of the natural flow regime. Streamflow regimes are routinely quantified using a plethora of hydrologic metrics (HMs), most of which have unknown relevance to biological communities. At regional and national scales, we evaluated which of 509 commonly used HMs were associated with biological indicatoAuthorsDaren Carlisle, Theodore E. Grantham, Ken Eng, David M. WolockStreamflow alteration and habitat ramifications for a threatened fish species in the Central United States
In the Central United States, the Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) is listed as a threatened fish species by the State of Kansas. Survival of the darter is threatened by loss of habitat caused by changing streamflow conditions, in particular flow depletion. Future management of darter populations and habitats requires an understanding of streamflow conditions and how those conditions may haveAuthorsKyle E. Juracek, Ken Eng, Daren Carlisle, David M. WolockStreamflow alteration at selected sites in Kansas
An understanding of streamflow alteration in response to various disturbances is necessary for the effective management of stream habitat for a variety of species in Kansas. Streamflow alteration can have negative ecological effects. Using a modeling approach, streamflow alteration was assessed for 129 selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in the State for which requisite streamflow and basiAuthorsKyle E. Juracek, Ken EngSensitivity of intermittent streams to climate variations in the USA
There is a great deal of interest in the literature on streamflow changes caused by climate change because of the potential negative effects on aquatic biota and water supplies. Most previous studies have primarily focused on perennial streams, and there have been only a few studies examining the effect of climate variability on intermittent streams. Our objectives in this study were to (1) identiAuthorsKen Eng, David M. Wolock, Mike Dettinger - News