Kyle Blasch, Ph.D.
As the Associate Regional Director for the USGS Northwest-Pacific Islands Region, Kyle helps lead seven USGS Science Centers in the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Islands.
Kyle Blasch is the Associate Regional Director for the USGS Northwest-Pacific Islands region which encompasses Department of the Interior Regions 9 and 12. Kyle supports the Regional and Deputy Regional Director with planning, directing, and evaluating science and operational activities within 7 Ecosystems and Water Science Centers located in Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Kyle is currently the USGS Wildfire Response Coordinator facilitating the optimal use of USGS resources to support wildfire incident response.
Prior to joining the Region, Kyle served as the Director of the Idaho Water Science Center Director, COVID19 Response Coordinator, Acting Deputy Regional Director, and Acting Deputy Director of the WMA Office of Planning and Programming.
Kyle started his career with the USGS in 1999 as a Research Hydrologist and has continued dabbling with stream permanence, ecodrought, remote sensing, vadose zone processes, and ground water processes.
Professional Experience
1994 - Present - United States Air Force Reserves, Bioenvironmental Engineer
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
M.S., Meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S., Earth Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
American Water Resources Association (AWRA)
Science and Products
Predicting alpine headwater stream intermittency: a case study in the northern Rocky Mountains
Regional groundwater-flow model of the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and alluvial basin aquifer systems of northern and central Arizona
Methodology to assess water presence on speleothems during periods of low precipitation, with implications for recharge sources - Kartchner Caverns, Arizona
Environmental controls on drainage behavior of an ephemeral stream
Distinguishing sources of ground water recharge by using δ2H and δ18O
Estimated infiltration, percolation, and recharge rates at the Rillito Creek focused recharge investigation site, Pima County, Arizona
Thermal Methods for Investigating Ground-Water Recharge
Geophysical Methods for Investigating Ground-Water Recharge
Hydrogeology of the upper and middle Verde River watersheds, central Arizona
Relative contributions of transient and steady state infiltration during ephemeral streamflow
Electrical resistance sensors record spring flow timing, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Determining temperature and thermal properties for heat-based studies of surface-water ground-water interactions: Appendix A of Heat as a tool for studying the movement of ground water near streams (Cir1260)
Science and Products
- Science
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 24
Predicting alpine headwater stream intermittency: a case study in the northern Rocky Mountains
This investigation used climatic, geological, and environmental data coupled with observational stream intermittency data to predict alpine headwater stream intermittency. Prediction was made using a random forest classification model. Results showed that the most important variables in the prediction model were snowpack persistence, represented by average snow extent from March through July, meanAuthorsRoy Sando, Kyle W. BlaschRegional groundwater-flow model of the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and alluvial basin aquifer systems of northern and central Arizona
A numerical flow model (MODFLOW) of the groundwater flow system in the primary aquifers in northern Arizona was developed to simulate interactions between the aquifers, perennial streams, and springs for predevelopment and transient conditions during 1910 through 2005. Simulated aquifers include the Redwall-Muav, Coconino, and basin-fill aquifers. Perennial stream reaches and springs that derive bAuthorsD. R. Pool, Kyle W. Blasch, James B. Callegary, Stanley A. Leake, Leslie F. GraserMethodology to assess water presence on speleothems during periods of low precipitation, with implications for recharge sources - Kartchner Caverns, Arizona
Beginning in January 2005, recharge processes and the presence of water on speleothems were monitored in Kartchner Caverns during a 44-month period when annual rainfall rates were 6 to 18 percent below the long-term mean. Electrical-resistance sensors designed to detect the presence of water were used to identify ephemeral streamflow in the channels overlying the cave as well as the movement of waAuthorsKyle W. BlaschEnvironmental controls on drainage behavior of an ephemeral stream
Streambed drainage was measured at the cessation of 26 ephemeral streamflow events in Rillito Creek, Tucson, Arizona from August 2000 to June 2002 using buried time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes. An unusual drainage response was identified, which was characterized by sharp drainage from saturation to near field capacity at each depth with an increased delay between depths. We simulated the draAuthorsK.W. Blasch, T.P.A. Ferré, J.A. VrugtDistinguishing sources of ground water recharge by using δ2H and δ18O
Stable isotope values of hydrogen and oxygen from precipitation and ground water samples were compared by using a volumetrically based mixing equation and stable isotope gradient to estimate the season and location of recharge in four basins. Stable isotopes were sampled at 11 precipitation sites of differing elevation during a 2-year period to quantify seasonal stable isotope contributions as a fAuthorsKyle W. Blasch, Jeannie R. BrysonEstimated infiltration, percolation, and recharge rates at the Rillito Creek focused recharge investigation site, Pima County, Arizona
A large fraction of ground water stored in the alluvial aquifers in the Southwest is recharged by water that percolates through ephemeral stream-channel deposits. The amount of water currently recharging many of these aquifers is insufficient to meet current and future demands. Improving the understanding of streambed infiltration and the subsequent redistribution of water within the unsaturated zAuthorsJohn P. Hoffmann, Kyle W. Blasch, Don R. Pool, Matthew A. Bailey, James B. CallegaryThermal Methods for Investigating Ground-Water Recharge
Recharge of aquifers within arid and semiarid environments is defined as the downward flux of water across the regional water table. The introduction of recharging water at the land surface can occur at discreet locations, such as in stream channels, or be distributed over the landscape, such as across broad interarroyo areas within an alluvial ground-water basin. The occurrence of recharge at disAuthorsKyle W. Blasch, Jim Constantz, David A. StonestromGeophysical Methods for Investigating Ground-Water Recharge
While numerical modeling has revolutionized our understanding of basin-scale hydrologic processes, such models rely almost exclusively on traditional measurements?rainfall, streamflow, and water-table elevations?for calibration and testing. Model calibration provides initial estimates of ground-water recharge. Calibrated models are important yet crude tools for addressing questions about the spatiAuthorsTy P.A. Ferre, Andrew M. Binley, Kyle W. Blasch, James B. Callegary, Steven M. Crawford, James B. Fink, Alan L. Flint, Lorraine E. Flint, John P. Hoffmann, John A. Izbicki, Marc T. Levitt, Donald R. Pool, Bridget R. ScanlonHydrogeology of the upper and middle Verde River watersheds, central Arizona
The upper and middle Verde River watersheds in central Arizona are primarily in Yavapai County, which in 1999 was determined to be the fastest growing rural county in the United States; by 2050 the population is projected to more than double its current size (132,000 in 2000). This study combines climatic, surface-water, ground-water, water-chemistry, and geologic data to describe the hydrogeologiAuthorsKyle W. Blasch, John P. Hoffmann, Leslie F. Graser, Jeannie R. Bryson, Alan L. FlintRelative contributions of transient and steady state infiltration during ephemeral streamflow
Simulations of infiltration during three ephemeral streamflow events in a coarse‐grained alluvial channel overlying a less permeable basin‐fill layer were conducted to determine the relative contribution of transient infiltration at the onset of streamflow to cumulative infiltration for the event. Water content, temperature, and piezometric measurements from 2.5‐m vertical profiles within the alluAuthorsKyle W. Blasch, Ty P.A. Ferré, John P. Hoffmann, John B. FlemingElectrical resistance sensors record spring flow timing, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Springs along the south rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, are important ecological and cultural resources in Grand Canyon National Park and are discharge points for regional and local aquifers of the Coconino Plateau. This study evaluated the applicability of electrical resistance (ER) sensors for measuring diffuse, low-stage (AuthorsE.A. Adams, S. A. Monroe, Abraham E. Springer, K.W. Blasch, D. J. BillsDetermining temperature and thermal properties for heat-based studies of surface-water ground-water interactions: Appendix A of Heat as a tool for studying the movement of ground water near streams (Cir1260)
Advances in electronics leading to improved sensor technologies, large-scale circuit integration, and attendant miniaturization have created new opportunities to use heat as a tracer of subsurface flow. Because nature provides abundant thermal forcing at the land surface, heat is particularly useful in studying stream-groundwater interactions. This appendix describes methods for obtaining the therAuthorsDavid A. Stonestrom, Kyle W. Blasch - News
*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