Laura Ruhl-Whittle
Laura Ruhl-Whittle is a hydrologist with the Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center. Her research focuses on water quality, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and geology and health.
Laura is a hydrologist with the USGS and is also affiliated with the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville through the cooperative agreement program. Laura joined the USGS as the Hydrogeology Studies Section Chief in 2022. In that position, Laura supervised staff and was involved with many groundwater related studies within Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Her current research focuses on groundwater quality, groundwater-surface water interactions, isotopic applications to hydrologic issues, and environmental geochemistry.
Prior to joining the USGS she was a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for 10 years. Her research and teaching focused on hydrogeology, environmental geochemistry, and medical geology with a special emphasis on water related issues. Some of her research projects included water chemistry associated with energy resources (coal combustion) and mining activities, groundwater quality and quantity issues, development and application of environmental isotopic tracers, kidney stone formation, as well as urban geochemistry and contaminant accumulation.
Professional Experience
US Geological Survey- Hydrologist in the Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center; Fayetteville, AR (Dec 2024- present)
US Geological Survey- Hydrogeologic Studies Section Chief of the Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center; Little Rock, AR (Aug 2022- Dec 2024)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Associate Professor; Earth Sciences Dept. (2018- Aug 2022)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Assistant Professor; Earth Sciences Dept. (2012-2018)
Education and Certifications
P.G. State of Arkansas Professional Geology License, 2016- Present
Ph.D. Earth and Ocean Sciences, Duke University, 2012
M.S., Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 2008
B.S., Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 2006
Science and Products
Hydraulic Geometry of Stream Channels in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas Hydraulic Geometry of Stream Channels in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas
In 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop regional hydraulic geometry curves for the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. To accomplish this, fourteen stream reaches associated with stream flow-gaging stations operated by the U.S. Geological Survey were evaluated. These study reaches had contributing drainage basin areas ranging from 0.19...
Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas
Many stream-channel infrastructure, habitat enhancement, and restoration projects are undertaken on streams throughout Arkansas by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as by private organizations and businesses with limited data on local geomorphology and streamflow conditions. Equations that relate drainage area above stable stream reaches to the basin characteristics, bankfull...
Authors
Daniel Kroes, Laura Suzanne Ruhl-Whittle, Allegra Pieri, Aaron Pugh
Non-USGS Publications**
Deonarine, A., Schwartz, G. and Ruhl, L. S., 2023, Environmental Impacts of Coal Combustion Residuals: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2023, 57, 5, 1855–1869.
Krauchanka, J. and Ruhl, L. S. 2021. Coal Combustion Residuals and Health (Book Chapter). Practical Aspects of Medical Geology (Book). Springer. Eds: Siegel, M., Selinus, O., Finkelman, R.
Nakarmi, A., Bourdo, S.E., Ruhl, L., Kanel, S., Nadagouda, M., Kumar, A.P., Pavel, I., Viswanathan, T. 2020. Benign zinc oxide betaine-modified biochar nanocomposites for phosphate removal from aqueous solutions. J Environ Manage. 2020 Oct 15; 272:111048. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111048.
Wang, Z., Coyte, R.M., Dwyer, G.S., Ruhl, L.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J.C., Vengosh, A. 2020. Distinction of strontium isotope ratios between water-soluble and bulk coal fly ash from the United States. International Journal of Coal Geology. 222, 103464.
Potra, A., Dodd, J., Ruhl, L.S. 2017. Distribution of trace elements and Pb isotopes in stream sediment of the Tri-State mining district (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri), USA. Applied Geochemistry. Vol. 82, pgs. 25-37.
Garner, Kenneth W., McMillan, Margaret E., DeAngelis, Michael T., Ruhl, Laura S., and Wright, Andrew B. 2017. Novel Collaboration between Engineering and Geosciences to Design a Green Power Station for Field Camp: A Case Study. Proceedings of the 2017 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Stillwater, OK.
Vengosh, A., Coyte, R., Karr, J., Harkness, J., Kondash, A., Ruhl, L., Merola, R., Dywer, G. 2016. The Origin of Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water Wells from the Piedmont Aquifers of North Carolina. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Article ASAP. 3 (12), pp 409–414. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00342.
Schwartz, G.E., Redfern, L.K., Ikuma, K., Grunsch, C.K., Ruhl, L.S., Vengosh, A., and Hsu-Kim, H. 2016. Impacts of coal ash on methylmercury production and the methylating microbial community in anaerobic sediment slurries. Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts. Advance Article. 18(11). DOI: 10.1039/C6EM00458J.
Harkness, J.S., Ruhl, L., Millot, R., Kloppman, W., Hower, J.C. Hsu-Kim, H., Vengosh, A. 2015. Lithium Isotope Fingerprints in Coal and Coal Combustion Residuals from the United States. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science vol. 13, Pgs.134-137.
Ruhl, L., Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J.C., Vengosh, A. 2014. Boron and Strontium Isotopic Characterization of Coal Combustion Residuals: Validation of Novel environmental tracers. Environmental Science & Technology, 48 (24), Pgs. 14790–14798. DOI: 10.1021/es503746v.
Liu, Y.T., Chen, T.Y., Mackebee, W.G., Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Hsu-Kim, H. 2013. Selenium Speciation in Coal Ash Spilled at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Site; Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47 Iss. 24 Pgs. 14001-14009. DOI: 10.1021/es4041557.
Vengosh, A. Linberg, T.T., Merola, B., Ruhl, L., Warner, N.R., White, Al., Dwyer, G.S., and Di Giulio, R.T. 2013. The isotopic imprints of mountaintop mining contaminants. Environmental Science & Technology, DOI: 10.1021/es4012959.
Bartov, G, Deonarine, A, Johnson, TM, Ruhl, L, Vengosh, A, Hsu-Kim, H; 2013. Environmental Impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Coal Ash Spill. 1. Source Apportionment Using Mercury Stable Isotopes. Environmental Science & Technology; Vol. 47, Iss. 4, Pgs. 2092- 2099, DOI: 10.1021/es303111p.
Deonarine, A., Bartov, G., Johnson, T., Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., and Hsu-Kim, H. 2012. The Environmental Impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill. 2. Methylmercury in historically contaminated sediments. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 47, Pgs. 2100-2108. DOI: 10.1021/es303639d.
Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Dwyer, G. S., Hsu-Kim, H., Schwartz, G. E., Romanski, A., Smith, S.D. 2012. The Impact of Coal Combustion Residual Effluent on Water Resources: A North Carolina Case Study. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 46, Pgs. 12226-12233, DOI: DOI:10.1021/es303263x.
Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Deonarine, A. 2010. Environmental impact of the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee: An 18-month survey. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 44, Pgs. 9272-9278.
Ruhl, L, Vengosh, A, Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Deonarine, A, Bergin, M, and Kravchenko, J. 2009. Survey of the Potential Environmental and Health Impacts in the Immediate Aftermath of the Coal Ash Spill in Kingston, Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 43, Pgs. 6326–6333.
Neuhoff P.S., Ruhl L.S. 2006. Mechanisms and geochemical significance of Si-Al substitution in zeolite solid solutions. Chemical Geology 225 (3-4): 373-387.
**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
Hydraulic Geometry of Stream Channels in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas Hydraulic Geometry of Stream Channels in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas
In 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop regional hydraulic geometry curves for the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. To accomplish this, fourteen stream reaches associated with stream flow-gaging stations operated by the U.S. Geological Survey were evaluated. These study reaches had contributing drainage basin areas ranging from 0.19...
Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas
Many stream-channel infrastructure, habitat enhancement, and restoration projects are undertaken on streams throughout Arkansas by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as by private organizations and businesses with limited data on local geomorphology and streamflow conditions. Equations that relate drainage area above stable stream reaches to the basin characteristics, bankfull...
Authors
Daniel Kroes, Laura Suzanne Ruhl-Whittle, Allegra Pieri, Aaron Pugh
Non-USGS Publications**
Deonarine, A., Schwartz, G. and Ruhl, L. S., 2023, Environmental Impacts of Coal Combustion Residuals: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2023, 57, 5, 1855–1869.
Krauchanka, J. and Ruhl, L. S. 2021. Coal Combustion Residuals and Health (Book Chapter). Practical Aspects of Medical Geology (Book). Springer. Eds: Siegel, M., Selinus, O., Finkelman, R.
Nakarmi, A., Bourdo, S.E., Ruhl, L., Kanel, S., Nadagouda, M., Kumar, A.P., Pavel, I., Viswanathan, T. 2020. Benign zinc oxide betaine-modified biochar nanocomposites for phosphate removal from aqueous solutions. J Environ Manage. 2020 Oct 15; 272:111048. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111048.
Wang, Z., Coyte, R.M., Dwyer, G.S., Ruhl, L.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J.C., Vengosh, A. 2020. Distinction of strontium isotope ratios between water-soluble and bulk coal fly ash from the United States. International Journal of Coal Geology. 222, 103464.
Potra, A., Dodd, J., Ruhl, L.S. 2017. Distribution of trace elements and Pb isotopes in stream sediment of the Tri-State mining district (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri), USA. Applied Geochemistry. Vol. 82, pgs. 25-37.
Garner, Kenneth W., McMillan, Margaret E., DeAngelis, Michael T., Ruhl, Laura S., and Wright, Andrew B. 2017. Novel Collaboration between Engineering and Geosciences to Design a Green Power Station for Field Camp: A Case Study. Proceedings of the 2017 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Stillwater, OK.
Vengosh, A., Coyte, R., Karr, J., Harkness, J., Kondash, A., Ruhl, L., Merola, R., Dywer, G. 2016. The Origin of Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water Wells from the Piedmont Aquifers of North Carolina. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Article ASAP. 3 (12), pp 409–414. DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00342.
Schwartz, G.E., Redfern, L.K., Ikuma, K., Grunsch, C.K., Ruhl, L.S., Vengosh, A., and Hsu-Kim, H. 2016. Impacts of coal ash on methylmercury production and the methylating microbial community in anaerobic sediment slurries. Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts. Advance Article. 18(11). DOI: 10.1039/C6EM00458J.
Harkness, J.S., Ruhl, L., Millot, R., Kloppman, W., Hower, J.C. Hsu-Kim, H., Vengosh, A. 2015. Lithium Isotope Fingerprints in Coal and Coal Combustion Residuals from the United States. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science vol. 13, Pgs.134-137.
Ruhl, L., Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J.C., Vengosh, A. 2014. Boron and Strontium Isotopic Characterization of Coal Combustion Residuals: Validation of Novel environmental tracers. Environmental Science & Technology, 48 (24), Pgs. 14790–14798. DOI: 10.1021/es503746v.
Liu, Y.T., Chen, T.Y., Mackebee, W.G., Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Hsu-Kim, H. 2013. Selenium Speciation in Coal Ash Spilled at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Site; Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 47 Iss. 24 Pgs. 14001-14009. DOI: 10.1021/es4041557.
Vengosh, A. Linberg, T.T., Merola, B., Ruhl, L., Warner, N.R., White, Al., Dwyer, G.S., and Di Giulio, R.T. 2013. The isotopic imprints of mountaintop mining contaminants. Environmental Science & Technology, DOI: 10.1021/es4012959.
Bartov, G, Deonarine, A, Johnson, TM, Ruhl, L, Vengosh, A, Hsu-Kim, H; 2013. Environmental Impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Coal Ash Spill. 1. Source Apportionment Using Mercury Stable Isotopes. Environmental Science & Technology; Vol. 47, Iss. 4, Pgs. 2092- 2099, DOI: 10.1021/es303111p.
Deonarine, A., Bartov, G., Johnson, T., Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., and Hsu-Kim, H. 2012. The Environmental Impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill. 2. Methylmercury in historically contaminated sediments. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 47, Pgs. 2100-2108. DOI: 10.1021/es303639d.
Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Dwyer, G. S., Hsu-Kim, H., Schwartz, G. E., Romanski, A., Smith, S.D. 2012. The Impact of Coal Combustion Residual Effluent on Water Resources: A North Carolina Case Study. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 46, Pgs. 12226-12233, DOI: DOI:10.1021/es303263x.
Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Deonarine, A. 2010. Environmental impact of the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee: An 18-month survey. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 44, Pgs. 9272-9278.
Ruhl, L, Vengosh, A, Dwyer, G.S., Hsu-Kim, H., Deonarine, A, Bergin, M, and Kravchenko, J. 2009. Survey of the Potential Environmental and Health Impacts in the Immediate Aftermath of the Coal Ash Spill in Kingston, Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 43, Pgs. 6326–6333.
Neuhoff P.S., Ruhl L.S. 2006. Mechanisms and geochemical significance of Si-Al substitution in zeolite solid solutions. Chemical Geology 225 (3-4): 373-387.
**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.