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Marissa L Rossi Cassell

Marissa Cassell has been a Hydrologist with the Pennsylvania Water Science Center since 2022.

Current studies are focused on water quality in southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

Professional Experience

  • Graduate Assistant, Department of Geography and the Environment at Villanova University, 2020 - 2022

  • Seasonal Resource Assistant, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 2020

  • Freshwater Ecology Field Technician, Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston – Clear Lake, 2019

  • Environmental Steward with 30 Mile River Watershed Association, Maine Conservation Corps (AmeriCorps), 2018

     

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Environmental Science, Villanova University, 2022

  • B.S. Biology, Lafayette College, 2017

     

Abstracts and Presentations

  • Rossi, M., Kremer, P., Cravotta, C., Scheirer, K., & Goldsmith, S. (2021, December). Impacts of Impervious Surface Cover and Roadway Deicing Agent Application Rates on Chloride Concentrations in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Abstracts.

  • Rossi, M., Kremer, P., Cravotta, C., Scheirer, K., & Goldsmith, S. (2021, October). Impacts of Impervious Surface Cover and Roadway Deicing Agent Application Rates on Chloride Concentrations in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 53, no. 6, https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2021AM-368423.

     

Science and Products

link
Sediment-laden water from a tributary flowing into a clearer river

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
link

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
Learn More

Surrogate regression models for computation of time series chloride concentrations, Chester County, Pennsylvania (2023)

In cooperation with state and county agencies, including the Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected discrete stream samples for analysis of chloride concentrations at three real-time streamflow and water-quality monitoring (specific conductance) stations located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Data were collected from 2010-2023 at these s
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Benthic-macroinvertebrate and habitat data in Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties, Pennsylvania, 1998-2021

The Stream Conditions of Chester County Biological Monitoring Network was established by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Chester County Water Resources Authority in 1969. Benthic-macroinvertebrate, habitat, and stream chemistry data were collected annually from 1998-2021 at 18 fixed location sites. Additionally, nine flexible location sites were selected and sampled annually from 1998-2021. Som
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
No results found.

Exploring spatial and temporal symptoms of the freshwater salinization syndrome in a rural to urban watershed

The freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS), a concomitant watershed-scale increase in salinity, alkalinity, and major-cation and trace-metal concentrations, over recent decades, has been described for major rivers draining extensive urban areas, yet few studies have evaluated temporal and spatial FSS variations, or causal factors, at the subwatershed scale in mixed-use landscapes. This study exami
Authors
Nicole K. Marks, Charles A. Cravotta, Marissa Lee Rossi, Camila Silva, Peleg Kremer, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999-2019

In urbanized areas, the “freshwater salinization syndrome” (FSS), which pertains to long-term increases in concentrations of major ions and metals in fresh surface waters, has been attributed to road salt application. In addition to FSS, the water composition changes as an influx of sodium (Na+) in recharge may displace calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and trace metals by reverse
Authors
Marissa Lee Rossi, Peleg Kremer, Charles A. Cravotta, Krista E. Seng, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Long-term impacts of impervious surface cover change and roadway deicing agent application on chloride concentrations in exurban and suburban watersheds

Roadway deicing agents, including rock salt and brine containing NaCl, have had a profound impact on the water quality and aquatic health of rivers and streams in urbanized areas with temperate climates. Yet, few studies evaluate impacts to watersheds characterized by relatively low impervious surface cover (ISC; < 15 %). Here, we use long-term (1997-2019), monthly streamwater quality data combine
Authors
Marissa L. Rossi, Peleg Kremer, Charles A. Cravotta, Krista E. Scheirer, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Marks, N. K., Cravotta, C. A., Rossi, M. L., Silva, C., Kremer, P., & Goldsmith, S. T., 2024, Exploring spatial and temporal symptoms of the freshwater salinization syndrome in a rural to urban watershed: Science of The Total Environment, v. 947, 17 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174266
Cruz, Y.D., Rossi, M.L., and Goldsmith, S.T., 2022, Impacts of road deicing application on sodium and chloride concentrations in Philadelphia region drinking water: GeoHealth, v. 6, no. 2, 19 p., https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GH000538.

**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.

Stream conditions monitoring network in Chester County, PA

This geonarrative describes the stream biological monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.

By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Assessing stream sediment conditions in Chester County, PA

This geonarrative describes the sediment and turbidity monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.

By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
USGS Releases Geonarratives Documenting Monitoring Activities in Chester County, Pennsylvania

USGS Releases Geonarratives Documenting Monitoring Activities in Chester County, Pennsylvania

The USGS has had a cooperative program with Chester County since 1969 to measure and describe water resources in the county. Cooperation has been...

Read Article
USGS and Partners Examine Causes of Increasing Salinity in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams

USGS and Partners Examine Causes of Increasing Salinity in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams

Villanova University's Department of Geography and the Environment, in partnership with USGS and Aqua Pennsylvania*, examined the effects of land...

Read Article

Science and Products

link
Sediment-laden water from a tributary flowing into a clearer river

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
link

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
Learn More

Surrogate regression models for computation of time series chloride concentrations, Chester County, Pennsylvania (2023)

In cooperation with state and county agencies, including the Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected discrete stream samples for analysis of chloride concentrations at three real-time streamflow and water-quality monitoring (specific conductance) stations located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Data were collected from 2010-2023 at these s
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Benthic-macroinvertebrate and habitat data in Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties, Pennsylvania, 1998-2021

The Stream Conditions of Chester County Biological Monitoring Network was established by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Chester County Water Resources Authority in 1969. Benthic-macroinvertebrate, habitat, and stream chemistry data were collected annually from 1998-2021 at 18 fixed location sites. Additionally, nine flexible location sites were selected and sampled annually from 1998-2021. Som
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
No results found.

Exploring spatial and temporal symptoms of the freshwater salinization syndrome in a rural to urban watershed

The freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS), a concomitant watershed-scale increase in salinity, alkalinity, and major-cation and trace-metal concentrations, over recent decades, has been described for major rivers draining extensive urban areas, yet few studies have evaluated temporal and spatial FSS variations, or causal factors, at the subwatershed scale in mixed-use landscapes. This study exami
Authors
Nicole K. Marks, Charles A. Cravotta, Marissa Lee Rossi, Camila Silva, Peleg Kremer, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Land development and road salt usage drive long-term changes in major-ion chemistry of streamwater in six exurban and suburban watersheds, southeastern Pennsylvania, 1999-2019

In urbanized areas, the “freshwater salinization syndrome” (FSS), which pertains to long-term increases in concentrations of major ions and metals in fresh surface waters, has been attributed to road salt application. In addition to FSS, the water composition changes as an influx of sodium (Na+) in recharge may displace calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and trace metals by reverse
Authors
Marissa Lee Rossi, Peleg Kremer, Charles A. Cravotta, Krista E. Seng, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Long-term impacts of impervious surface cover change and roadway deicing agent application on chloride concentrations in exurban and suburban watersheds

Roadway deicing agents, including rock salt and brine containing NaCl, have had a profound impact on the water quality and aquatic health of rivers and streams in urbanized areas with temperate climates. Yet, few studies evaluate impacts to watersheds characterized by relatively low impervious surface cover (ISC; < 15 %). Here, we use long-term (1997-2019), monthly streamwater quality data combine
Authors
Marissa L. Rossi, Peleg Kremer, Charles A. Cravotta, Krista E. Scheirer, Steven T. Goldsmith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Marks, N. K., Cravotta, C. A., Rossi, M. L., Silva, C., Kremer, P., & Goldsmith, S. T., 2024, Exploring spatial and temporal symptoms of the freshwater salinization syndrome in a rural to urban watershed: Science of The Total Environment, v. 947, 17 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174266
Cruz, Y.D., Rossi, M.L., and Goldsmith, S.T., 2022, Impacts of road deicing application on sodium and chloride concentrations in Philadelphia region drinking water: GeoHealth, v. 6, no. 2, 19 p., https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GH000538.

**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.

Stream conditions monitoring network in Chester County, PA

This geonarrative describes the stream biological monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.

By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Assessing stream sediment conditions in Chester County, PA

This geonarrative describes the sediment and turbidity monitoring conducted as part of the Chester County - U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Water Resources Program.

By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
USGS Releases Geonarratives Documenting Monitoring Activities in Chester County, Pennsylvania

USGS Releases Geonarratives Documenting Monitoring Activities in Chester County, Pennsylvania

The USGS has had a cooperative program with Chester County since 1969 to measure and describe water resources in the county. Cooperation has been...

Read Article
USGS and Partners Examine Causes of Increasing Salinity in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams

USGS and Partners Examine Causes of Increasing Salinity in Southeastern Pennsylvania Streams

Villanova University's Department of Geography and the Environment, in partnership with USGS and Aqua Pennsylvania*, examined the effects of land...

Read Article
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