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Mark A Roland

Mark Roland provides water science related to streamflow and flooding in Pennsylvania. He is Acting Supervisor for Water Resources Investigations and Research for the Center.

Professional Experience

I began my career with the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center (PaWSC) in 2001. As a hydrologic technician, I was fortunate to have worked on a variety of projects such as acid-mine drainage, streambank fencing, dam removal, and the Pennsylvania Water Quality Network collecting water-samples, benthic macroinvertebrates and making discharge measurements. In 2004, I accepted a position as a hydrologist within the PaWSC and my work began to focus more toward surface-water and flood studies. Some projects I've been involved with were the development of flood-inundation maps for Pennsylvania communities along the Susquehanna River and the periodic update of flood-flow statistics at Pennsylvania streamgages. I enjoy field surveying and provide assistance to other projects requiring Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and total station data collection. I am a licensed professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and currently a member of the Pennsylvania Silver Jackets and the Delaware River Basin Commission Flood Advisory Committee.
 

Education and Certifications

  • M.Eng. in Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2003

  • B.S. in Environmental Engineering Technology, Pennsylvania State University, 1997

  • B.A. in Business Administration/Marketing, Bloomsburg University, 1991

     

Science and Products

Development of regression equations for the estimation of flood flows at ungaged streams in Pennsylvania

Regression equations, which may be used to estimate flood flows at select annual exceedance probabilities, were developed for ungaged streams in Pennsylvania. The equations were developed using annual peak flow data through water year 2015 and basin characteristics for 285 streamflow gaging stations across Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The streamgages included active and discontinued contin
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Regression Equations for Estimating Flood Flows at Selected Recurrence Intervals for Ungaged Streams in Pennsylvania

Regression equations were developed for estimating flood flows at selected recurrence intervals for ungaged streams in Pennsylvania with drainage areas less than 2,000 square miles. These equations were developed utilizing peak-flow data from 322 streamflow-gaging stations within Pennsylvania and surrounding states. All stations used in the development of the equations had 10 or more years of reco
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

The Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) network of the U.S. Geological Survey—Past and future implementation of storm-response monitoring, data collection, and data delivery

After Hurricane Sandy made landfall along the northeastern Atlantic coast of the United States on October 29, 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) carried out scientific investigations to assist with protecting coastal communities and resources from future flooding. The work included development and implementation of the Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) network consisting of more tha
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Water Resources Mission Area, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

Flooding in the Northeastern United States, 2011

Flooding in the Northeastern United States during 2011 was widespread and record setting. This report summarizes peak streamflows that were recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during separate flooding events in February, March, April, May, July, August, and September. The flooding of late April, which combined snowmelt and heavy rain and the floods associated with the tropical storms of
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Water Resources Mission Area

Flood-inundation maps for the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Boroughs of Lewisburg and Milton, Pennsylvania

Digital flood-inundation maps for an approximate 8-mile reach of the West Branch Susquehanna River from approximately 2 miles downstream from the Borough of Lewisburg, extending upstream to approximately 1 mile upstream from the Borough of Milton, Pennsylvania, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC). The inundation maps,
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2013

A series of 28 digital flood-inundation maps was developed for an approximate 25-mile reach of the Susquehanna River in the vicinity of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The study was selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) national Silver Jackets program, which supports interagency teams at the state level to coordinate and collaborate on flood-risk management. This study to produce flood-in
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Velocity, water-quality, and bathymetric surveys of the Grays Landing and Maxwell Navigation Pools, and Selected Tributaries to the Monongahela River, Pennsylvania, 2010–11

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted velocity, water-quality, and bathymetric surveys from spring 2010 to summer 2011 in the Grays Landing and Maxwell navigation pools of the Monongahela River, Pennsylvania, and selected tributaries in response to elevated levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) recorded in early September 2009. Velocity data were collected using an Acoustic Doppler Current
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Development of flood-inundation maps for the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Streamflow data, water-surface-elevation profiles derived from a Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System hydraulic model, and geographical information system digital elevation models were used to develop a set of 18 flood-inundation maps for an approximately 5-mile reach of the West Branch Susquehanna River near the Borough of Jersey Shore, Pa. The inundation maps were created by the U
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Selected streamflow statistics for streamgage locations in and near Pennsylvania

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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Analysis of flood-magnitude and flood-frequency data for streamflow-gaging stations in the Delaware and North Branch Susquehanna River Basins in Pennsylvania

The Delaware and North Branch Susquehanna River Basins in Pennsylvania experienced severe flooding as a result of intense rainfall during June 2006. The height of the flood waters on the rivers and tributaries approached or exceeded the peak of record at many locations. Updated flood-magnitude and flood-frequency data for streamflow-gaging stations on tributaries in the Delaware and North Branch S
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Screenshot of StreamStats showing Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania StreamStats

StreamStats is a national web-based application that provides selected water-resource information for Pennsylvania. Users can easily obtain descriptive information, basin characteristics, and streamflow statistics for USGS streamgages and ungaged stream locations throughout the Commonwealth.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pennsylvania StreamStats

StreamStats is a national web-based application that provides selected water-resource information for Pennsylvania. Users can easily obtain descriptive information, basin characteristics, and streamflow statistics for USGS streamgages and ungaged stream locations throughout the Commonwealth.
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Farms, forests and rolling hills in Lycoming County, PA

Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center participates in the Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) to provide free technical assistance to Pennsylvania-based watershed and conservation organizations.C-SAW does not conduct watershed monitoring or assessments. Instead, C-SAW helps watershed organizations do a better job with their own monitoring and assessments.Assistance is...
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center participates in the Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) to provide free technical assistance to Pennsylvania-based watershed and conservation organizations.C-SAW does not conduct watershed monitoring or assessments. Instead, C-SAW helps watershed organizations do a better job with their own monitoring and assessments.Assistance is...
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USGS-derived 1-percent Annual Exceedance Probability Flood-Flow Estimates at Flood Insurance Study Locations Across Pennsylvania

One-percent annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood-flow estimates were computed at flood insurance study (FIS) locations across Pennsylvania using methods identified in Scientific Investigation Report (SIR) 2019-5094. Following guidance outlined in SIR 2016-5149, valid statistical reaches (VSRs) were identified for streamgages, which were used to assist with the determination of the applicable
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Data in support of Development of Regression Equations for the Estimation of Flood Flows at Ungaged Streams in Pennsylvania

Regression equations, which may be used to estimate flood flows at select annual exceedance probabilities, were developed for ungaged streams in Pennsylvania. The equations were developed using annual peak flow data through water year 2015 and basin characteristics for 285 streamflow gaging stations across Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The streamgages included active and discontinued contin
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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USGS Upgrades StreamStats for Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Water Science Center (PaWSC) has upgraded StreamStats with the latest National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) flowlines and Watershed...

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Science and Products