Kimberlie Perkins

Education:

San Jose State University: M.S. in Geology, December 2005.         

University of California, Berkeley: B.S. in Soil Science, December 1996

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Research Experience:

1997- Present    Research Hydrologist, Water Mission Area, Earth Surface Processes Division, Water Cycle Branch, United States Geological Survey, Supervisor: Dr. John Nimmo

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Research Interests:

• Land use changes and their hydrologic influence on ecosystems.
• Understanding water flow and contaminant transport in the unsaturated zone using a combination of laboratory measurements,  field experiments, and modeling.
• Aquifer recharge estimation techniques.
• Laboratory measurement and modeling of unsaturated hydraulic properties of porous materials.
• Development of physically-based models for estimating hydraulic properties without the need for direct measurement.
• Field techniques for measuring and quantifying hydrologic processes.
• Mechanisms and quantification of preferential flow in the unsaturated zone.

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Awards: 

USGS Star Award for outstanding performance received in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009. 2010, 2011, 2018

 San Jose State University Graduate Studies Scholarship 2003.

Publications:

Nimmo, J.R., and Perkins, K.S., 2018, Episodic master recession evaluation of groundwater and streamflow hydrographs for water-resource estimation, Vadose Zone Journal, 17:180050, doi:10.2136/vzj2018.03.0050. 

Perkins, K.S., Miller, D.M., Sandquist, D.R., Macias, M., and Roach, 2018, Ecohydrologic Changes caused by hydrologic disconnection of ephemeral stream channels in Mojave National Preserve, California, Vadose Zone J., 17:180022, doi:10.2136/vzj2018.01.0022.

Perkins, K.S., Stock, J.D., and Nimmo, J.R., 2018, Vegetation influences on infiltration in Hawaiian soils, Ecohydrology, 11:e1973, doi:10.1002.eco1973.

Trost, J.J., Perkins, K.S., Henson, W., Mirus, B.B., Nimmo, J.R. and Muñoz-Carpena, R., 2018, UZIG research: Measurement and characterization of unsaturated zone processes under wide-ranging climates and changing conditions, Vadose Zone J., 17:180198, doi:10.2136/vzj2018.11.0198. 

Nimmo, J.R., Creasey, K.M., Perkins, K.S., and Mirus, B.B., 2017, Preferential flow, diffuse flow, and perching in an interbedded fractured-rock unsaturated zone, Hydrogeology Journal, 2:25, doi:10.1007/s10040-016-1496-6. 

Perkins, K.S., Mirus, B.B., and Johnson, B.D., 2014, Measurement of unsaturated hydraulic properties and evaluation of property-transfer models for deep sedimentary interbeds, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5206, 16 p

Perkins, K.S., Nimmo, J.R., Medeiros, A.C., Szutu, D.J., and von Allmen, E., 2014, Assessing effects of native forest restoration on soils moisture dynamics and potential aquifer recharge, Auwahi, Maui, Ecohydrology, DOI:10.1002/eco1469.

Perkins, K.S., Mirus, B.B., and Johnson, B.D., 2014, Measurement of unsaturated hydraulic properties and evaluation of property-transfer models for deep sedimentary interbeds, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5206, 16 p.

Perkins, K. S., Nimmo, J.R., and Medeiros, A.C., 2012, Effects of native forest restoration on soil hydraulic properties, Auwahi, Maui, Hawaiian Islands: Geophysical Research Letters, 39:L05405 doi:10.1029/2012GL051120.

Mirus, BB, K Perkins, 2012. Practical estimates of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity of bedrock outcrops using a modified bottomless bucket method, Water Resources Research, DOI:10.1029/2012WR012053.

Mirus, BB, K Perkins, 2012. Practical estimates of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity of bedrock outcrops using a modified bottomless bucket method, Water Resources Research, DOI:10.1029/2012WR012053

Perkins, K. S., Nimmo, J.R., Rose, C.E., Coupe, R.H., 2011, Field Tracer Investigation of Unsaturated Zone Flow Paths and Mechanisms in Agricultural Soils of Northwestern Mississippi, USA: Journal of Hydrology, v. 369, p. 1-11.

Perkins, K.S., 2011, Measurement and Modeling of Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity, in Hydraulic Conductivity - Issues, Determination and Applications, Lakshmanan Elango (Ed.), InTech Publishing, ISBN: 978-953-307-288-3.

Mirus, B.B., Perkins, K.S., Nimmo, J.R., and Singha, K., 2009, Hydrologic Characterization of Desert Soils with Varying Degrees of Pedogenesis -- II. Inverse Modeling for Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties: Vadose Zone Journal, v. 8, no. 2, p. 496–509.

Nimmo, J.R., Perkins, K.S., Schmidt, K.M., Miller, D.M., Stock, J.D., and Singha, K., 2009, Hydrologic Characterization of Desert Soils with Varying Degrees of Pedogenesis -- I. Field Experiments Evaluating Plant-Relevant Soil-Water Behavior: Vadose Zone Journal, v. 8, no. 2, p. 480–495.

Perkins, K.S., and Nimmo, J.R., 2009, High quality hydraulic property data for hydrologic applications: Water Resour. Res., 45, W07417, doi:10.1029/2008WR007497.

Nimmo, J.R., Schmidt, K.M., Perkins, K.S., and Stock, J.D., 2009, Rapid Measurement of Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity for Areal Characterization: Vadose Zone Journal, v. 8, no. 1, p. 142-149.

Nimmo, J.R., and Perkins, K.S., 2008, Effect of soil disturbance on recharging fluxes--Case study on the Snake River Plain, Idaho National Laboratory, USA: Hydrogeology Journal, v. 16, no. 5, p. 829-844.

Perkins, K.S., 2008, Laboratory-Measured and Property-Transfer Modeled Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity of Snake River Plain Aquifer Sediments at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho: USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5169, 13 p.

Nolan, B.T., Healy, R.W., Taber, P.E., Perkins, K.S., Hitt, K.J., and Wolock, D.M., 2007, Factors influencing ground-water recharge in the eastern United States: Journal of Hydrology, v. 332, no. 1-2, p. 187-205.

Perkins, K.S. and Winfield, K.A., 2007, Property transfer modeling to estimate unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of deep sediments at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5093, 22 p.

Nimmo, J.R., and Perkins, K.S., 2006, Effect of soil disturbance on aquifer recharge--case study on the Snake River Plain, Idaho National Laboratory, USA, Full Papers, 34th Congress, Beijing, October 9-13, 2006, International Association of Hydrogeologists, CD.

Perkins, K.S., 2005, Recharge rates based on unsaturated zone measurements, New Jersey: San Jose State University, M.S. thesis, 87 p.

Heilweil, V.M., Solomon, D.K., Perkins, K.S., and Ellet, K.M., 2004, Gas-Partitioning Tracer Test to Quantify Trapped Gas During Recharge: Ground Water, v. 42, no. 4, p. 589-600.

Nimmo, J.R., Rousseau, J.P., Perkins, K.S., Stollenwerk, K.G., Glynn, P.D., Bartholomay, R.C., and Knobel, L.L., 2004, Hydraulic and geochemical framework of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory vadose zone: Vadose Zone Journal, vol. 3, p. 6-31.

Baehr, A.L., Kaufman, L.J., Perkins, K.S., and Nolan, B.T., 2003, Estimating spatial variability of recharge in Southern New Jersey from unsaturated-zone measurements: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4288, 31 p.

Perkins, K.S., 2003, Measurement of sedimentary interbed hydraulic properties and their hydrologic influence near the Idaho Nuclear Engineering and Technology Center at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 03-4048, 19 p.

Nimmo, J. R., and Perkins, K.S., 2002, Aggregate stability and size distribution, in Dane, J.H. and Topp, G.C., eds., Methods of soil analysis, Part 4--Physical methods: Soil Science Society of America Book Series No. 5: Madison, Wisconsin, Soil Science Society of America, p. 317-328

Nimmo, J.R., Perkins, K.S., and Lewis, A.M., 2002, Steady-state centrifuge [simultaneous determination of water transmission and retention properties], in Dane, J.H., and Topp, G.C., eds., Methods of soil analysis, Part 4--Physical methods: Soil Science Society of America Book Series No. 5, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, p. 903-916.

Nimmo, J.R., Perkins, K.S., Rose, P.A., Rousseau, J.P., Orr, B.R., Twining, B.V., and Anderson S.R., 2002, Kilometer-scale rapid transport of naphthalene sulfonate tracer in the unsaturated zone at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: Vadose Zone Journal, v. 1, p. 89-101.

Perkins, K.S., Nimmo, J.R., Rose, P.A., Rousseau, J.P., Orr, B.R., Twining, B.V., and Anderson, S.R., 2002, Flow system analysis using a surface-applied tracer at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, U.S. Geological Survey Artificial Recharge Workshop Proceedings, Sacramento, CA, April 2-4, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-89, p. 79-80.

Nimmo, J.R., Perkins, K.S., Rose, P.A., Rousseau, J.P., Orr, B.R., Twining, B.V., and Anderson, S.R., 2001, Kilometer-scale rapid flow in a fractured-basalt unsaturated zone at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, in Kueper, B.H., Novakowski, K.S., and Reynolds, D.A., eds., Fractured Rock 2001 Conference Proceedings, March 26-28, 2001, Toronto, Canada, CD-ROM, 4 p.

Perkins, K.S, 2000, Hydrologic and meteorological data for an unsaturated-zone study area near the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, 1997 to 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-248, 10 p.

Perkins, K.S., and Nimmo, J.R., 2000, Measurement of hydraulic properties of the B-C interbed and their influence on contaminant transport in the unsaturated zone at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, 00-4073.

Perkins, K.S., Nimmo, J.R., and Pittman, J.R., 1998, Hydrologic and meteorological data for an unsaturated-zone study area near the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, 1990-1996: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-9, 19 p.and disk.