Kevin B Mulligan
Dr. Kevin Mulligan is Research Hydraulic Engineer with the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory in Turners Falls, MA.
Dr. Kevin Mulligan is a Research Hydraulic Engineer at the U.S. Geological Survey's Eastern Ecological Science Center (S.O. Conte Research Laboratory). His research focuses on improving fish passage structures, which are essential for sustaining healthy fish populations while balancing the needs of the fishing and hydropower industries. By integrating hydraulic modeling with experiments on live, actively migrating fish, he works to optimize the design and performance of these structures.
Fish passage is critical for migratory species, many of which depend on movement between freshwater and ocean environments to complete their life cycles. Infrastructure like dams and weirs can obstruct these migrations, reducing fish populations and impacting ecosystems, commercial fisheries, and recreation. Kevin’s work helps develop effective fish passage solutions that restore natural migrations while supporting sustainable hydropower, water management, and fisheries.
His research focuses on key species that are ecologically and culturally significant to America’s waterways, including American shad, river herring, sea lamprey, American eel, and white suckers. By improving fish passage efficiency, he contributes to both ecological conservation and the long-term sustainability of fisheries and water resource infrastructure.
Kevin earned his Ph.D. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2015.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey (2016-Present)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2015)
Education and Certifications
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, 2015, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society - Bioengineering Section
American Society of Civil Engineers - Environmental Water Resources Institute
Science and Products
Downstream fish passage guide walls: A hydraulic scale model analysis Downstream fish passage guide walls: A hydraulic scale model analysis
Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey
Sensitivity of the downward to sweeping velocity ratio to the bypass flow percentage along a guide wall for downstream fish passage Sensitivity of the downward to sweeping velocity ratio to the bypass flow percentage along a guide wall for downstream fish passage
A computational fluid dynamics modeling study of guide walls for downstream fish passage A computational fluid dynamics modeling study of guide walls for downstream fish passage
Derivation and application of the energy dissipation factor in the design of fishways Derivation and application of the energy dissipation factor in the design of fishways
Non-USGS Publications**
**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 and Products
Downstream fish passage guide walls: A hydraulic scale model analysis Downstream fish passage guide walls: A hydraulic scale model analysis
Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey Hydraulic and biological analysis of the passability of select fish species at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging weir at Blackwells Mills, New Jersey
Sensitivity of the downward to sweeping velocity ratio to the bypass flow percentage along a guide wall for downstream fish passage Sensitivity of the downward to sweeping velocity ratio to the bypass flow percentage along a guide wall for downstream fish passage
A computational fluid dynamics modeling study of guide walls for downstream fish passage A computational fluid dynamics modeling study of guide walls for downstream fish passage
Derivation and application of the energy dissipation factor in the design of fishways Derivation and application of the energy dissipation factor in the design of fishways
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
*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