Kenna Gierke
Kenna Gierke
Professional Experience
2018-present, Biologist, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, US Geological Survey
Education and Certifications
2018 B.S., Biology - Aquatic Science Concentration, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Science and Products
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District nutrient connections project—In-stream nutrient cycling, 2022 data
Understanding sediment nutrient dynamics in the Milwaukee River Basin is important for assessing water quality and stream habitat. The Milwaukee River is a major tributary to Lake Michigan that provides clean drinking water for over one million people. Urban and agricultural runoff are linked to elevated loads of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment in the river. Excessive nutrients can...
Sediment and nutrient retention in floodplain forest soils related to flood frequency and presence/absence of invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) in the upper Mississippi River Navigation Pool 8 in 2019
The dataset represents the results of floodplain soil samples collected in Navigation Pool 8 of the upper Mississippi River. The objective of the research was to assess the changes in soil chemistry and nutrient transformation at floodplain forest sites in the presence or absence of invasive reed canarygrass (RCG- Phalaris arundinacea) and determine if the RCG effect was modified by the...
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Nutrient cycling in riverbed sediment in the Maumee River Basin, 2019 and 2021 Data (ver. 2.0, March 2024)
The Maumee River transports huge loads of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to Lake Erie. The increased concentrations of N and P are causing eutrophication of the lake, creating hypoxic zones, and contributing to phytoplankton blooms. It is hypothesized that the P loads are a major contributor to harmful algal blooms that occur in the western basin of Lake Erie, particularly in summer...
Sediment nutrient dynamics in selected Milwaukee metropolitan area streams, Wisconsin, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District in Wisconsin have an ongoing partnership to monitor water quality in streams in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and to assess the effects of stream restoration on habitat and water quality. Because sediment nutrient dynamics can improve or further impair water quality, we measured sediment nitrogen and phosphorus...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Lynn Bartsch, Kenna Jean Breckner, Patrik M. Perner, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Hayley T. Olds
Role of tributary cyanobacterial and nutrient transport and sediment processes on cyanobacterial bloom initiation in Lake Superior nearshore
Watershed fluxes of suspended sediment (SS), nutrients, in particular phosphorus (P), and cyanobacteria may play a role in driving cyanobacterial blooms along the southwestern shore of oligotrophic Lake Superior. To understand how tributary loads contribute to nearshore blooms, we sampled two southwestern shore tributaries, Bois Brule and Siskiwit Rivers. We collected water-quality...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Carrie E. Givens, Anna Baker, Richard L. Kiesling, Eric D. Dantoin, Patrik M. Perner, Shelby P. Sterner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Paul C. Reneau
Controls on in-stream nitrogen loss in western Lake Erie tributaries
Management efforts to reduce cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) in the Great Lakes have focused on decreasing tributary inputs of phosphorus (P). Recent research has indicated that reduction of both P and nitrogen (N) can lessen cHABs severity. Microbially mediated N cycling in streambed sediment may reduce N riverine loads, yet little is known about in-stream N processing rates...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Lynn Bartsch, Patrik M. Perner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Tanja N. Williamson, James Warren Hood, Nathan M Manning, Laura T. Johnson
Watershed- and reach-scale drivers of phosphorus retention and release by streambed sediment in a western Lake Erie watershed during summer
Reducing phosphorus (P) concentrations in aquatic ecosystems, is necessary to improve water quality and reduce the occurrence of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms. Managing P reduction requires information on the role rivers play in P transport from land to downstream water bodies, but we have a poor understanding of when and where river systems are P sources or sinks. During the...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Patrik M. Perner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Tanja N. Williamson, Lynn Bartsch, James Warren Hood, Nathan M Manning, Laura T. Johnson
Science and Products
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District nutrient connections project—In-stream nutrient cycling, 2022 data
Understanding sediment nutrient dynamics in the Milwaukee River Basin is important for assessing water quality and stream habitat. The Milwaukee River is a major tributary to Lake Michigan that provides clean drinking water for over one million people. Urban and agricultural runoff are linked to elevated loads of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment in the river. Excessive nutrients can...
Sediment and nutrient retention in floodplain forest soils related to flood frequency and presence/absence of invasive reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) in the upper Mississippi River Navigation Pool 8 in 2019
The dataset represents the results of floodplain soil samples collected in Navigation Pool 8 of the upper Mississippi River. The objective of the research was to assess the changes in soil chemistry and nutrient transformation at floodplain forest sites in the presence or absence of invasive reed canarygrass (RCG- Phalaris arundinacea) and determine if the RCG effect was modified by the...
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Nutrient cycling in riverbed sediment in the Maumee River Basin, 2019 and 2021 Data (ver. 2.0, March 2024)
The Maumee River transports huge loads of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to Lake Erie. The increased concentrations of N and P are causing eutrophication of the lake, creating hypoxic zones, and contributing to phytoplankton blooms. It is hypothesized that the P loads are a major contributor to harmful algal blooms that occur in the western basin of Lake Erie, particularly in summer...
Sediment nutrient dynamics in selected Milwaukee metropolitan area streams, Wisconsin, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District in Wisconsin have an ongoing partnership to monitor water quality in streams in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and to assess the effects of stream restoration on habitat and water quality. Because sediment nutrient dynamics can improve or further impair water quality, we measured sediment nitrogen and phosphorus...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Lynn Bartsch, Kenna Jean Breckner, Patrik M. Perner, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Hayley T. Olds
Role of tributary cyanobacterial and nutrient transport and sediment processes on cyanobacterial bloom initiation in Lake Superior nearshore
Watershed fluxes of suspended sediment (SS), nutrients, in particular phosphorus (P), and cyanobacteria may play a role in driving cyanobacterial blooms along the southwestern shore of oligotrophic Lake Superior. To understand how tributary loads contribute to nearshore blooms, we sampled two southwestern shore tributaries, Bois Brule and Siskiwit Rivers. We collected water-quality...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Carrie E. Givens, Anna Baker, Richard L. Kiesling, Eric D. Dantoin, Patrik M. Perner, Shelby P. Sterner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Paul C. Reneau
Controls on in-stream nitrogen loss in western Lake Erie tributaries
Management efforts to reduce cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) in the Great Lakes have focused on decreasing tributary inputs of phosphorus (P). Recent research has indicated that reduction of both P and nitrogen (N) can lessen cHABs severity. Microbially mediated N cycling in streambed sediment may reduce N riverine loads, yet little is known about in-stream N processing rates...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Lynn Bartsch, Patrik M. Perner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Tanja N. Williamson, James Warren Hood, Nathan M Manning, Laura T. Johnson
Watershed- and reach-scale drivers of phosphorus retention and release by streambed sediment in a western Lake Erie watershed during summer
Reducing phosphorus (P) concentrations in aquatic ecosystems, is necessary to improve water quality and reduce the occurrence of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms. Managing P reduction requires information on the role rivers play in P transport from land to downstream water bodies, but we have a poor understanding of when and where river systems are P sources or sinks. During the...
Authors
Rebecca Kreiling, Patrik M. Perner, Kenna Jean Breckner, Tanja N. Williamson, Lynn Bartsch, James Warren Hood, Nathan M Manning, Laura T. Johnson