Lindsey A Schafer
Lindsey Schafer is a Hydrologist with the USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center in the Urbana, Illinois office.
Lindsey joined the USGS in 2021 as a Hydrologist at the Central Midwest Water Science Center, Statistical Hydrology and Water Availability Section. She is involved in various water quality studies that include water quality sampling, laboratory and field instrumentation, and data analysis. Prior to joining the USGS, Lindsey worked at the Illinois State Geological Survey.
Professional Experience
2021 - Present, Hydrologist, USGS, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Urbana, Illinois
2018 - 2021, Wetlands Geology Specialist, Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois
Education and Certifications
M.S., Geological Sciences, Ohio University, 2018
B.S. Chemistry, Ohio University, 2016
Science and Products
Average Annual Loads and Yields of Nitrate and Phosphorus from Illinois Watersheds (HUC8s) for Three Periods between 1997 and 2022
This data release supports "Diverging trends in nitrate and phosphorus loads and yields across Illinois watersheds, 1997–2022" (Kamrath and others, 2024) and the State of Illinois's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency [IEPA] and others, 2015). This data release contains estimates of incremental nitrate (NO3) and total phosphorus (TP) loads and...
Simulated Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations from Major Rivers in Illinois Based on Continuous Monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2023
During water years 2016–2023 (a water year is the period from October 1 to September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from...
Modeled Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations from Major Rivers in Illinois Based on Continuous Monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2022
During water years 2016–2022 (a water year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from the State of Illinois to the Mississippi River...
Geographic Data for the Estimation of Peak Flow Statistics for Illinois
The U.S. Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center completed a report (Over and others, 2023) documenting methods, results, and applications of an updated flood-frequency study for the State of Illinois. The study developed regional regression equations that relate the peak-flow quantiles and the basin characteristics of selected streamgages in Illinois, Indiana, and...
Elevation, Flow Accumulation, Flow Direction, and Stream Definition Data in Support of the Illinois StreamStats Upgrade to the Basin Delineation Database
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation, prepared hydro-conditioned geographic information systems (GIS) layers for use in the Illinois StreamStats application. These data were used to delineate drainage basins and compute basin characteristics for updated peak flow and flow duration...
Datasets of Suspended Sediment Concentration and Percent Fines (1973–2021), Sampling Information (1973–2021), and Daily Streamflow (1928–2021) for Sites in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to Support Analyses of Sediment Tran
Datasets of suspended sediment concentration and percent fines, sampling information, and daily streamflow data were compiled and harmonized for 16 sites to better understand sediment transport and delivery in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. The compiled data were harmonized by removing unnecessary columns, screening data for laboratory or sampling issues, creating...
Estimated nutrient and sediment concentrations from major rivers in Illinois based on continuous monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2021
During water years 2016-2021 (a water year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from...
Diverging trends in nitrate and phosphorus loads and yields across Illinois watersheds, 1997–2022
Illinois is a major contributor of nutrients to the northern Gulf of Mexico. As such, the State of Illinois initiated efforts to curb nutrient runoff over the last several decades. To evaluate progress towards these reductions, water-quality data were used to estimate incremental loads and yields of nitrate plus nitrite (NO3) and total phosphorus (TP) from 1997–2022 for 49 Illinois...
Authors
Brock Jacob Watson Kamrath, Jennifer C. Murphy, Lindsey Ayn Schafer, Hannah L. Podzorski, Gregory F. McIsaac
Differing field methods and site conditions lead to varying bias in suspended sediment concentrations in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers
At sites that have been sampled for decades, changes in field and laboratory methods happen over time as instrumentation and protocols improve. Here, we compare the influence of depth- and point-integrated sampling on total, fine (
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Lindsey Ayn Schafer, Scott Mize
Science and Products
Average Annual Loads and Yields of Nitrate and Phosphorus from Illinois Watersheds (HUC8s) for Three Periods between 1997 and 2022
This data release supports "Diverging trends in nitrate and phosphorus loads and yields across Illinois watersheds, 1997–2022" (Kamrath and others, 2024) and the State of Illinois's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency [IEPA] and others, 2015). This data release contains estimates of incremental nitrate (NO3) and total phosphorus (TP) loads and...
Simulated Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations from Major Rivers in Illinois Based on Continuous Monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2023
During water years 2016–2023 (a water year is the period from October 1 to September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from...
Modeled Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations from Major Rivers in Illinois Based on Continuous Monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2022
During water years 2016–2022 (a water year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from the State of Illinois to the Mississippi River...
Geographic Data for the Estimation of Peak Flow Statistics for Illinois
The U.S. Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center completed a report (Over and others, 2023) documenting methods, results, and applications of an updated flood-frequency study for the State of Illinois. The study developed regional regression equations that relate the peak-flow quantiles and the basin characteristics of selected streamgages in Illinois, Indiana, and...
Elevation, Flow Accumulation, Flow Direction, and Stream Definition Data in Support of the Illinois StreamStats Upgrade to the Basin Delineation Database
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation, prepared hydro-conditioned geographic information systems (GIS) layers for use in the Illinois StreamStats application. These data were used to delineate drainage basins and compute basin characteristics for updated peak flow and flow duration...
Datasets of Suspended Sediment Concentration and Percent Fines (1973–2021), Sampling Information (1973–2021), and Daily Streamflow (1928–2021) for Sites in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to Support Analyses of Sediment Tran
Datasets of suspended sediment concentration and percent fines, sampling information, and daily streamflow data were compiled and harmonized for 16 sites to better understand sediment transport and delivery in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. The compiled data were harmonized by removing unnecessary columns, screening data for laboratory or sampling issues, creating...
Estimated nutrient and sediment concentrations from major rivers in Illinois based on continuous monitoring from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2021
During water years 2016-2021 (a water year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), operated continuous monitoring stations on eight of the major rivers in Illinois to better quantify nutrient and sediment loadings from...
Diverging trends in nitrate and phosphorus loads and yields across Illinois watersheds, 1997–2022
Illinois is a major contributor of nutrients to the northern Gulf of Mexico. As such, the State of Illinois initiated efforts to curb nutrient runoff over the last several decades. To evaluate progress towards these reductions, water-quality data were used to estimate incremental loads and yields of nitrate plus nitrite (NO3) and total phosphorus (TP) from 1997–2022 for 49 Illinois...
Authors
Brock Jacob Watson Kamrath, Jennifer C. Murphy, Lindsey Ayn Schafer, Hannah L. Podzorski, Gregory F. McIsaac
Differing field methods and site conditions lead to varying bias in suspended sediment concentrations in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers
At sites that have been sampled for decades, changes in field and laboratory methods happen over time as instrumentation and protocols improve. Here, we compare the influence of depth- and point-integrated sampling on total, fine (
Authors
Jennifer C. Murphy, Lindsey Ayn Schafer, Scott Mize