Lauren M Zinsser
Lauren Zinsser is a supervisory hydrologist and water-quality specialist with the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise, Idaho.
Lauren’s research involves field-based studies of surface-water and groundwater resources. Her work includes projects on long-term surface-water quality monitoring and trend analysis, characterization of groundwater resources, and biological uptake of contaminants. The common theme in her research is answering cooperator-driven questions that have direct relevancy to water resource management in Idaho.
Professional Experience
Supervisory Hydrologist and Water Quality Specialist, USGS Idaho Water Science Center, January 2022 - Present
Hydrologist, USGS Idaho Water Science Center, May 2016 - January 2022
Environmental Scientist, HDR Inc., January 2012 - April 2016
Education and Certifications
Professional Geologist, PGL-1499
M.S. Environmental Science, 2011, University of Idaho
B.S. Geology, 2006, Bates College
Science and Products
Monitoring Mining Effects in the Kootenai River Watershed
From Water to Wildlife: Linking Water Timing and Availability to Meadows and Wildlife in a Changing Climate
Characterizing the Water Resources of the Big Lost River Valley
Selenium in the Blackfoot River Watershed
Coeur d'Alene Basin Water-Quality Monitoring
Coeur d'Alene Lake Water Quality
Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours and well numbers used to map groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022 in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Ida
Hydrogeologic Framework of the Big Lost River Basin, South-Central Idaho: Hydrogeologic Framework Model and Well Data
WRTDS annual concentrations, loads and statistical trend likelihoods for sites in the Spokane River watershed, water years 1990-2018
Groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022, in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Idaho
Trace metal and phosphorus loading from groundwater seepage into South Fork Coeur d’Alene River after remediation at the Bunker Hill Superfund Site, northern Idaho, 2022
Frequently asked questions about water quality in the Coeur d’Alene Basin area
Groundwater budgets for the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho, 2000–19
Characterization of water resources in the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho
Surface-water and groundwater interactions in the Big Lost River, south-central Idaho
Hydrogeologic framework of the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho, chap. A of Zinsser, L.M., ed., Characterization of water resources in the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho
Trends in concentration, loads, and sources of trace metals and nutrients in the Spokane River Watershed, northern Idaho, water years 1990–2018
Trace metal and nutrient loads from groundwater seepage into the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River near Smelterville, northern Idaho, 2017
Spatial and temporal trends in selenium in the upper Blackfoot River watershed, southeastern Idaho, 2001–16
Coeur d’Alene Basin Environmental Monitoring Program, surface water, northern Idaho—Annual data summary, water year 2017
Science and Products
- Science
Monitoring Mining Effects in the Kootenai River Watershed
The Kootenai River (Kootenay in Canada) rises from the Canadian Rockies and flows south in an arc through Montana and Idaho before swinging back into British Columbia and the Columbia River. The uplifted sedimentary rocks forming the southern Canadian Rockies have rich coal deposits that have been mined for many decades. The coal beds and associated rock layers are enriched with other minerals as...From Water to Wildlife: Linking Water Timing and Availability to Meadows and Wildlife in a Changing Climate
Mountain meadows in the western United States provide key habitats for many plant and wildlife species, many of which rely exclusively on these areas. Mountain meadows are also treasured by the public and provide beautiful areas to view wildflowers and wildlife on public lands such as national parks. However, mountain ecosystems are expected to be disproportionately affected by climate change. TheCharacterizing the Water Resources of the Big Lost River Valley
In cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, we are working to improve the scientific understanding of the Big Lost River basin's water resources. This improved understanding will support effective resource management.Selenium in the Blackfoot River Watershed
The upper Blackfoot River receives runoff from 12 large phosphate mines. Shale waste rock that is a byproduct of mining is highly enriched in naturally occurring selenium. At optimal concentrations, selenium can be a positive nutrient and antioxidant in mammals and fish. At elevated concentrations, however, it can damage fish and animal immune systems. As early as 1996, livestock deaths attributed...Coeur d'Alene Basin Water-Quality Monitoring
We partner with the EPA to conduct long-term water-quality and streamflow monitoring in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin, which has been widely impacted by historic mining activities.Coeur d'Alene Lake Water Quality
The mining district in the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River valley was among the Nation’s largest producers of silver, lead, zinc, and other metals from the 1880s to the 1980s. These activities have produced large quantities of waste material that contain environmentally hazardous contaminants such as cadmium, lead, and zinc. Much of this material has been discharged directly to or washed into the... - Data
Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours and well numbers used to map groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022 in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Ida
Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours for spring 2022 (April 4 to 8, 2022) and autumn 2022 (October 30 to November 4, 2022) were created for the alluvial aquifer in Big Lost River Valley. The well numbers and station names used to create the potentiometric-surface contours and groundwater-level change maps are provided in this data release. The location, depth to water, and potentiometric-suHydrogeologic Framework of the Big Lost River Basin, South-Central Idaho: Hydrogeologic Framework Model and Well Data
Groundwater in the Big Lost River Basin is vital to irrigated agriculture in the basin and water users are concerned about declining groundwater levels. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, developed a hydrogeologic framework to provide a conceptual understanding of groundwater resources in the Big Lost River Basin. A three-dimensional hydrogeoloWRTDS annual concentrations, loads and statistical trend likelihoods for sites in the Spokane River watershed, water years 1990-2018
A long history of mining and widespread metals contamination in the Spokane River watershed have led to the area's designation as a Superfund site and extensive, ongoing remedial actions. Long-term (water years 1990 to 2018) water-quality data from twelve sites were used to develop Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge and Season (WRTDS) and WRTDS with Kalman filtering (WRTDS_K) models for total - Maps
Groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022, in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Idaho
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Idaho Department of Water Resources measured groundwater levels during spring 2022 and autumn 2022 to create detailed potentiometric-surface maps for the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley in south-central Idaho. Wells were assigned to shallow, intermediate, and deep water-bearing units based on well depth, groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude, - Multimedia
- Publications
Trace metal and phosphorus loading from groundwater seepage into South Fork Coeur d’Alene River after remediation at the Bunker Hill Superfund Site, northern Idaho, 2022
Widely dispersed waste products from historical mining in northern Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene mining district have long been a concern in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin in northern Idaho. The Central Impoundment Area (CIA), an unlined mining waste repository that is part of the Bunker Hill Superfund Site designated in 1983, is adjacent to the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River between Kellogg and SmeltervilAuthorsErin M. Murray, Lauren M. ZinsserFrequently asked questions about water quality in the Coeur d’Alene Basin area
No abstract available.AuthorsLauren M. ZinsserGroundwater budgets for the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho, 2000–19
The Big Lost River Basin, located in parts of Butte and Custer Counties in south-central Idaho, supports the communities surrounding the cities of Arco, Leslie, Mackay, and Moore and provides for agricultural resources that depend on a sustainable supply of surface water from the Big Lost River and its tributaries and groundwater from an unconfined aquifer. The aquifer, situated in a structurallyAuthorsAlexis ClarkCharacterization of water resources in the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho
Water resources in the Big Lost River Basin, Idaho are vital to irrigated agriculture, domestic, municipal and other uses but declining groundwater levels, diminished streamflows, and concern about drought motivated an evaluation of water resources in the basin. This multichapter volume documents the findings of a hydrogeologic investigation of the Big Lost River Basin that was jointly conducted bSurface-water and groundwater interactions in the Big Lost River, south-central Idaho
The Big Lost River of south-central Idaho interacts with the underlying aquifer by gaining and losing streamflow throughout various areas in the Big Lost River Valley. Surface-water and groundwater resources are used throughout the valley to sustain domestic, agricultural, and livestock needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources, evaluated streamAuthorsTaylor J. Dudunake, Lauren M. ZinsserHydrogeologic framework of the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho, chap. A of Zinsser, L.M., ed., Characterization of water resources in the Big Lost River Basin, south-central Idaho
Surface-water and groundwater resources in the Big Lost River Basin of south-central Idaho are extensively interconnected; this interchange affects and is affected by water-resource management for irrigated agriculture and other uses in the basin. Concerns from water users regarding declining groundwater levels, declining streamflows, and drought helped motivate an updated evaluation of water resoAuthorsLauren M. ZinsserTrends in concentration, loads, and sources of trace metals and nutrients in the Spokane River Watershed, northern Idaho, water years 1990–2018
A long history of mining and widespread metals contamination in the Coeur d’Alene River watershed and downstream into the Spokane River has led to the area’s designation as a Superfund site and to extensive, ongoing (as of 2020) remedial actions. Long-term water-quality and streamflow data, collected by the U.S. Geological Survey for up to 29 years at 20 sampling sites in the Coeur d’Alene, SpokanAuthorsLauren M. ZinsserTrace metal and nutrient loads from groundwater seepage into the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River near Smelterville, northern Idaho, 2017
The Coeur d’Alene mining district in northern Idaho historically was a globally important source of lead, zinc, and silver, but over 100 years of mining has left a legacy of metals contamination in the Coeur d’Alene River valley. Previous studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and others have indicated that groundwater discharging into the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River between Kellogg and SAuthorsLauren M. ZinsserSpatial and temporal trends in selenium in the upper Blackfoot River watershed, southeastern Idaho, 2001–16
Phosphate mining in southeastern Idaho has been an important economic driver for the region and State for over 100 years, but weathering of mining waste rock has also released selenium into the Blackfoot River. This report analyzes and presents data from three separate but complementary studies monitoring selenium in streams in the region. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with theAuthorsLauren M. Zinsser, Christopher A. Mebane, Greg C. Mladenka, Lynn R. Van Every, Marshall L. WilliamsCoeur d’Alene Basin Environmental Monitoring Program, surface water, northern Idaho—Annual data summary, water year 2017
Streams within the Coeur d’Alene River drainage basin in northern Idaho have been extensively affected by historical mining activities and are subject to ongoing remedial actions as part of the Bunker Hill Mining & Metallurgical Complex Superfund Site. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates 12 real-time streamgages and collects surface-water-quality samples two to four times annually at 20 sitAuthorsLauren M. Zinsser