Kimberly R. Beisner
Kimberly Beisner is a research hydrologist for the New Mexico Water Science center. She received a Masters of Science Degree in Geology from the University of Utah and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Geology from the University of Kansas.
Kimberly's USGS experience started in the Utah Water Science Center as a graduate student working on mercury and selenium associated with the Great Salt Lake and abandoned uranium mines in southern Utah. Following graduation, she joined the Arizona Water Science center where she has worked on geochemical studies related to the lands withdrawn from uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, water resources at Saguaro National Park, and stable isotope and noble gas evaluation groundwater of the Verde watershed to understand recharge elevation. She served as the New Mexico Water Quality specialist and is now a research hydrologist focused on multiple geochemical and anthropogenic tracers including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and continues to work with the Arizona Water Science Center in the Grand Canyon.
Professional Experience
2023 to present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2017 to 2023: Water Chemistry Specialist, U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2008 to 2017: Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona Water Science Center, Tucson, Arizona
2007 to 2008: Student Trainee, U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Science Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Education and Certifications
M.S. Geology (2008), University of Utah (Thesis "Selenium and trace element mobility affected by periodic interruption of stratification in the Great Salt Lake, Utah")
B.S. Environmental Geology (2006), University of Kansas (Thesis "Short-term water-level fluctuations and long-term water-level decline at the Konza Prairie: Drought or Vegetation?")
Abstracts and Presentations
Beisner, K.R., Travis, R.E., Alvarez, D.A., Jasmann, J.R., Fleck. J.A., DeParsia, M., Barber, L.B., and Hladik, M.L. (2023) Utilizing Integrated Samplers and Multiple Chemical Tracers to Assess Anthropogenic Influence on per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Rio Grande Through the Albuquerque Area, New Mexico, USA, 13th National Monitoring Conference April 24-28, 2023.
Beisner, K.R., and Tillman, F.D (2022) Uranium associated with water resources near breccia pipe uranium deposits of the Grand Canyon region, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 54, No. 5, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2022AM-383930.
Beisner, K.R., Paretti, N.V., Jasmann, J.R., Barber, L.B. (2022) Anthropogenic Compounds Associated with Groundwater Near an Abandoned Copper and Uranium Mine, Grand Canyon, AZ, USA, Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference July 11-15, 2022. https://doi.org/10.46427/gold2022.10234
Beisner, K.R., Travis, R.E. (2021) Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater across New Mexico, Groundwater Protection Council Annual Forum Virtual September 27-29, 2021.
Beisner, K.R., Travis, R.E. (2021) Statewide assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances in Surface and Groundwater of New Mexico 12th National Monitoring Conference Virtual April 19-23, 2021.
Solder, J.E., Beisner, K.R., Anderson, J, and Bills, D.J. (2020) Grand Canyon groundwater recharge sources and flow paths: A multi-tracer assessment of a conceptual flow model, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 52, No. 6, 2020 doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-359739
Solder, J.E., and Beisner, K.R. (2020) Critical evaluation of isotope end-members for groundwater source partitioning, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 52, No. 6, 2020 doi: 10.1130/abs/2020AM-359742
Beisner, K.R., and Tillman, F.D. (2020) Spatial and Temporal Changes in Geochemistry at Spring Sites Near Breccia Pipe Uranium Deposits of Grand Canyon Region, AZ, Goldschmidt Abstracts, 157 https://doi.org/10.46427/gold2020.157
Beisner, K.R., and Tillman, F.D. (2019) Assessing geochemistry of groundwater discharging to the Horn Creek drainage near the Orphan Mine in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Phoenix, AZ, Vol. 51, No. 5, ISSN 0016-7592 doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-333965 .
Beisner, K.R., Solder, J., Tillman, F.D., Anderson, J.R., and Antweiler, R.C., (2019) Geochemical characterization of groundwater south of Grand Canyon, Arizona abstract from 15th Biennial Conference of Science and Management on the Colorado Plateau and Southwest Region, Flagstaff, AZ.
Tillman, F.D., Beisner, K.R., Knight JE, Unema JA and Anderson, J.R., (2019) Investigating the potential for effects from breccia-pipe uranium mining on regional water resources in the Grand Canyon region, abstract from 15th Biennial Conference of Science and Management on the Colorado Plateau and Southwest Region, Flagstaff, AZ.
Beisner, K.R., and Tillman, F.D. (2019) Assessing spatial differences in uranium concentrations in groundwater along the Horn Creek drainage in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 11th National Monitoring Conference Denver, CO March 25-29, 2019.
Beisner, K.R., Tillman, F.D., (2018) Assessing temporal changes in geochemistry at spring sites located in an area of breccia pipe uranium deposits: Geological Society of America Joint Rocky Mountain and Cordilleran Section Meeting Abstracts with Programs Flagstaff, Arizona vol. 50, no. 5 ISSN 0016-7592 doi: 10.1130/abs/2018RM-314266
Beisner, K.R., Tillman, F.D., Anderson, J.R., Antweiler, R.C., Bills, D.J., (2017) Geochemistry of groundwater discharging from springs north of the Grand Canyon, AZ 2009-2016, abstract from 14th Biennial Conference of Science and Management on the Colorado Plateau and Southwest Region, Flagstaff, AZ.
Solder, J.E., Bills, D.J., Anderson, J., Heilweil, V.M., Beisner, K., (2017) Groundwater dissolved gas and age tracers collected from springs and wells on South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, abstract from 14th Biennial Conference of Science and Management on the Colorado Plateau and Southwest Region, Flagstaff, AZ.
Cain, D., Croteau, M.N., Fuller, C., Barasch D., Beisner, K., Schenk, E., (2017) Uranium exposure in spring outflows within Grand Canyon National Park, abstract from 14th Biennial Conference of Science and Management on the Colorado Plateau and Southwest Region, Flagstaff, AZ.
Beisner, K.R., Paretti, N., Tillman, F.D., Naftz, D.L., Bills, D., Walton-Day, K., Gallegos, T.J., (2016) Assessing Pigeon uranium mine waste geochemistry for comparison with nearby perched groundwater springs: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol. 48, no. 7 paper no. 269-7.
Science and Products
Geochemical assessment of groundwater in the Big Chino subbasin, Arizona, 2011–18
Rethinking groundwater flow on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, USA: Characterizing recharge sources and flow paths with environmental tracers
Critical evaluation of stable isotope mixing end-members for estimating groundwater recharge sources: Case study from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
Geochemical characterization of groundwater evolution south of Grand Canyon, Arizona (USA)
Characterization and load estimation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from selected Rio Grande tributary stormwater channels in the Albuquerque urbanized area, New Mexico, 2017–18
Brackish groundwater and its potential as a resource in the southwestern United States
Geochemical characterization and modeling of regional groundwater contributing to the Verde River, Arizona between Mormon Pocket and the USGS Clarkdale gage
Assessment of geochemical and hydrologic conditions near Old Yuma Mine in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, 2014–17
Geochemical characterization of groundwater discharging from springs north of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, 2009–2016
Geochemistry and hydrology of perched groundwater springs: assessing elevated uranium concentrations at Pigeon Spring relative to nearby Pigeon Mine, Arizona (USA)
Analysis of stable isotope ratios (δ18O and δ2H) in precipitation of the Verde River watershed, Arizona 2003 through 2014
Initial characterization of the groundwater system near the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, Imperial Valley, California
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
Geochemical assessment of groundwater in the Big Chino subbasin, Arizona, 2011–18
Rethinking groundwater flow on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, USA: Characterizing recharge sources and flow paths with environmental tracers
Critical evaluation of stable isotope mixing end-members for estimating groundwater recharge sources: Case study from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
Geochemical characterization of groundwater evolution south of Grand Canyon, Arizona (USA)
Characterization and load estimation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from selected Rio Grande tributary stormwater channels in the Albuquerque urbanized area, New Mexico, 2017–18
Brackish groundwater and its potential as a resource in the southwestern United States
Geochemical characterization and modeling of regional groundwater contributing to the Verde River, Arizona between Mormon Pocket and the USGS Clarkdale gage
Assessment of geochemical and hydrologic conditions near Old Yuma Mine in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, 2014–17
Geochemical characterization of groundwater discharging from springs north of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, 2009–2016
Geochemistry and hydrology of perched groundwater springs: assessing elevated uranium concentrations at Pigeon Spring relative to nearby Pigeon Mine, Arizona (USA)
Analysis of stable isotope ratios (δ18O and δ2H) in precipitation of the Verde River watershed, Arizona 2003 through 2014
Initial characterization of the groundwater system near the Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, Imperial Valley, California
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.