Serves as the USGS Chesapeake Bay Associate Coordinator. Responsible for developing key USGS science-planning documents and helping to coordinate USGS science efforts that are used by managers to inform restoration and conservation activities throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
USGS Chesapeake Bay Associate Coordinator – 2015-present
Responsibilities Include:
- Work with USGS Chesapeake Science Team, Science Centers, and CB Program Coordinator to set science priorities and plan Chesapeake Bay science activities based on agency and partner guidance
- Work with USGS Scientists to coordinate projects and synthesis activities to address the USGS Chesapeake Bay science goals and advance our understanding of management and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
- Interacts with USGS Program Coordinators, Regions, and Science Centers to identify and coordinate resources for USGS Chesapeake Bay projects
- Support USGS Chesapeake Bay Coordinator interaction with Partners, DOI, and Congress
USGS Hydrologist and Water-Quality Specialist – 2001-2015
Responsibilities Included:
- Oversight of Water Science Center (WSC) water-quality program
- Provide technical expertise to center managers, scientists, and technicians
- Extensive program development activities
- Lead Scientist on complex, multi-disciplinary water-resources studies
USGS Hydrologist – 2000-2001
- Lead Scientist on several complex, multi-disciplinary water-resources studies.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
M.S. Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia
B.S. Environmental Science, Virginia Tech
Science and Products
USGS Chesapeake Science Strategy 2021-2025
Nutrient trends and drivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
U.S. Geological Survey Science—Improving the value of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Increasing precision of turbidity-based suspended sediment concentration and load estimates
Enhancing fecal coliform total maximum daily load models through bacterial source tracking
Comparison of seven protocols to identify fecal contamination sources using Escherichia coli
Non-USGS Publications**
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
and temporal variation of stream chemistry associated with contrasting geology and land-use patterns in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed—Summary of results from Smith Creek, Virginia; Upper Chester River, Maryland;
Conewago Creek, Pennsylvania; and Difficult Run, Virginia, 2010–2013: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations
Report 2016–5093, 211 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165093.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-4085-5
regression model for reporting nutrient and sediment concentrations, fluxes, and trends in concentration
and flux for the Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Water-Quality Monitoring Network, results through water year 2012:
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5133, 76 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155133.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-4005-3
during construction of the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project in Roanoke, Virginia, 2005–2012:
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5111, 53 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155111.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-3967-5
**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.
A Science-Based Approach for Targeting Resources to Achieve Multiple Chesapeake Outcomes
USGS Updates Chesapeake Science Strategy
USGS Contributes to Revised Plans for Chesapeake Water-Quality and Toxic Contaminant Goal
Fact Sheet Summarizes Nutrient Trends and Drivers in the Chesapeake Watershed
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2007
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2012
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2011
USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2013
USGS provides plenary and other talks at the Chesapeake Research Symposium
Science and Products
- Publications
USGS Chesapeake Science Strategy 2021-2025
The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem is a national treasure that provides almost $100 billion annually of goods and services. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), is one of the largest federal-state restoration partnerships in the United States and is underpinned by rigorous science. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a pivotal role as a science provider for assessing ecosystem condition and response in tAuthorsKenneth E. Hyer, Scott W. PhillipsNutrient trends and drivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The Chesapeake Bay Program maintains an extensive nontidal monitoring network, measuring nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) at more than 100 locations on rivers and streams in the watershed. Data from these locations are used by United States Geological Survey to assess the ecosystem’s response to nutrient-reduction efforts. This fact sheet summarizes recent trends in nitrogen and phosphorus in nAuthorsKenneth E. Hyer, Scott W. Phillips, Scott W. Ator, Doug L. Moyer, James S. Webber, Rachel Felver, Jennifer L. Keisman, Lee A. McDonnell, Rebecca Murphy, Emily M. Trentacoste, Qian Zhang, William C. Dennison, Sky Swanson, Brianne Walsh, Jane Hawkey, Dylan TaillieU.S. Geological Survey Science—Improving the value of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
IntroductionCongress directed the Federal Government to work with States to restore the Nation’s largest estuary.Chesapeake Bay restoration provides important economic and ecological benefits:18 million people live and work in the Bay watershed and enjoy its benefits.3,600 types of fish, wildlife, and plants underpin the economic value of the Bay ecosystem.Poor water quality and habitat loss threaAuthorsScott W. Phillips, Kenneth E. Hyer, Elizabeth GoldbaumIncreasing precision of turbidity-based suspended sediment concentration and load estimates
Turbidity is an effective tool for estimating and monitoring suspended sediments in aquatic systems. Turbidity can be measured in situ remotely and at fine temporal scales as a surrogate for suspended sediment concentration (SSC), providing opportunity for a more complete record of SSC than is possible with physical sampling approaches. However, there is variability in turbidity-based SSC estimateAuthorsJohn D. Jastram, Carl E. Zipper, Lucian W. Zelanzny, Kenneth E. HyerEnhancing fecal coliform total maximum daily load models through bacterial source tracking
Surface water impairment by fecal coliform bacteria is a water quality issue of national scope and importance. In Virginia, more than 400 stream and river segments are on the Commonwealth's 2002 303(d) list because of fecal coliform impairment. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) will be developed for most of these listed streams and rivers. Information regarding the major fecal coliform sources thaAuthorsK.E. Hyer, D. L. MoyerComparison of seven protocols to identify fecal contamination sources using Escherichia coli
Microbial source tracking (MST) uses various approaches to classify fecal-indicator microorganisms to source hosts. Reproducibility, accuracy, and robustness of seven phenotypic and genotypic MST protocols were evaluated by use of Escherichia coli from an eight-host library of known-source isolates and a separate, blinded challenge library. In reproducibility tests, measuring each protocol's abiliAuthorsD. M. Stoeckel, M.V. Mathes, K.E. Hyer, C. Hagedorn, H. Kator, J. Lukasik, T. L. O'Brien, T.W. Fenger, M. Samadpour, K.M. Strickler, B.A. WigginsNon-USGS Publications**
Phillips, S.W., Hyer, Kenneth, and Goldbaum, Elizabeth, 2017, U.S. Geological Survey Science—Improving the value of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2017–3031, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20173031.
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)U.S. Geological Survey, 2016, Contaminants in urban waters—Science capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3024, 2 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20163024.
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)Contaminants in urban waters—Science capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016-3024Hyer, K.E., Denver, J.M., Langland, M.J., Webber, J.S., Böhlke, J.K., Hively, W.D., and Clune, J.W., 2016, Spatial
and temporal variation of stream chemistry associated with contrasting geology and land-use patterns in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed—Summary of results from Smith Creek, Virginia; Upper Chester River, Maryland;
Conewago Creek, Pennsylvania; and Difficult Run, Virginia, 2010–2013: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations
Report 2016–5093, 211 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165093.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-4085-5Chanat, J.G., Moyer, D.L., Blomquist, J.D., Hyer, K.E., and Langland, M.J., 2016, Application of a weighted
regression model for reporting nutrient and sediment concentrations, fluxes, and trends in concentration
and flux for the Chesapeake Bay Nontidal Water-Quality Monitoring Network, results through water year 2012:
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5133, 76 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155133.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-4005-3
Jastram, J.D., Krstolic, J.L., Moyer, D.L., and Hyer, K.E., 2015, Fluvial geomorphology and suspended-sediment transport
during construction of the Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project in Roanoke, Virginia, 2005–2012:
U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5111, 53 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155111.
ISSN 2328-031X (print)
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
ISBN 978-1-4113-3967-5Langland, M.J., Blomquist, J.D., Moyer, D.L., Hyer, K.E., and Chanat, J.G., 2013, Total nutrient and sediment loads, trends, yields, and nontidal water-quality indicators for selected nontidal stations, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1052, 51 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1052/.
Moyer, D.L., Hirsch, R.M., and Hyer, K.E., 2012, Comparison of two regression-based approaches for determining nutrient and sediment fluxes and trends in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5244, 118 p. (Available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5244/.)
Langland, Michael, Blomquist, Joel, Moyer, Douglas, and Hyer, Kenneth, 2012, Nutrient and suspended-sediment trends, loads, and yields and development of an indicator of streamwater quality at nontidal sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, 1985–2010: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5093, 26 p.
**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.
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A Science-Based Approach for Targeting Resources to Achieve Multiple Chesapeake Outcomes
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) needs to accelerate progress on multiple outcomes to meet deadlines in the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. The CBP partnership spends about $1.2B annually on activities toward achieving the Watershed Agreement, with a focus on water-quality improvement. Recent funding increases, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide additional opportunities to...USGS Updates Chesapeake Science Strategy
Issue: For decades the USGS has provided critical science used to understand and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. As the ecosystem is faced with new and evolving pressures from climate change, human development and changes in land use, the USGS has updated its science priorities to help address these growing threats. Tourism, fishing, boating, agricultural production, shipping...USGS Contributes to Revised Plans for Chesapeake Water-Quality and Toxic Contaminant Goal
Issue: The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), through the Strategic Review System (SRS), reviews progress toward the 10 goals and associated outcomes of the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement. Each outcome is managed by a specific CBP Goal Implementation Team and their associated workgroups. During review of each outcome every two years, a workgroup is responsible to prepare materials for (1) summarizing...Fact Sheet Summarizes Nutrient Trends and Drivers in the Chesapeake Watershed
Issue: Trends in nitrogen and phosphorus, and the complex factors affecting their change, provide important insights into the effectiveness of efforts to reduce nutrients from reaching the tidal waters of the Bay. The nutrient reductions are needed to improve water-quality conditions in the tidal waters for fisheries and submerged aquatic vegetation.USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2007
The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, the Nation's largest estuary, is continually challenged by the population increase in its 64,000 square mile watershed. Since the mid-1980s, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), a multi-agency partnership has worked to improve water quality, increase habitat, and restore living resources in the Bay. However, the lack of significant improvement in the Bay...USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2012
In its expanded role under the President’s Chesapeake Bay Executive Order (EO), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals. The USGS Chesapeake Bay studies depend on collaboration among Priority...USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2011
In its expanded role under the President's Chesapeake Bay Executive Order, the U.S. Geological Survey has been given the lead responsibility, in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to strengthen science that supports all of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) goals.USGS Chesapeake Bay Accomplishments for 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been given the leadership responsibility, under the President’s Chesapeake Bay Executive Order (EO), to enhance science efforts to conserve and restore the Nation’s largest estuary. The USGS Chesapeake science activities: (1) address many aspects of the new USGS Mission Area Science Strategies; and (2) help the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), which includes...USGS provides plenary and other talks at the Chesapeake Research Symposium
The Chesapeake Community Research Symposium is held every two years with a goal to “By bringing together managers, scientists, and stakeholders for a series of plenary talks, panel discussions, and special sessions, the 2020 Chesapeake Community Research Symposium will highlight recent progress, challenges and prospects for research, monitoring and modeling efforts that are used to guide... - News
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- Multimedia