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Matthew Conlon

Matthew Conlon is a hydrologist and GIS specialist for the Pennsylvania Water Science Center, with an interest in data visualization.

I began my career with the Pennsylvania Water Science Center in 2015. Much of my work has focused on groundwater quality in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, an area that has seen extensive Marcellus shale gas development from the mid-2000s onwards. I currently manage a groundwater quality sampling network that examines ambient groundwater conditions at monitoring wells across the State and a domestic well sampling program that targets susceptible aquifers for pesticides detections.

I am also interested in presenting USGS data using dynamic and interactive websites; I have worked on developing several R Shiny web applications that display discrete groundwater data and am continuing to explore ways to creatively visualize water information.

Previous work has included managing National Water Quality Assessment groundwater projects in the Ohio and Allegheny River alluvial aquifers, Marcellus Shale region of northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Ridge and Valley physiographic region, as well as working on a number of groundwater and surface water data collection efforts.

 

Professional Experience

  • Hydrologist, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, since 2015

     

Education and Certifications

  • BS in Earth, Environmental, and Ocean Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Boston, 2013

  • MS from the School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts at Boston, 2015

     

Science and Products

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Image of well that is part of water quality monitoring network, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network

USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, samples 28 wells biannually to monitor ambient groundwater quality conditions throughout Pennsylvania.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pennsylvania Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network

USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, samples 28 wells biannually to monitor ambient groundwater quality conditions throughout Pennsylvania.
Learn More
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Farms, forests and rolling hills in Lycoming County, PA

Regional Synthesis of Groundwater Quality in Domestic Supply Wells in Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania

USGS synthesized groundwater quality measurements in wells to characterize regional chemical characteristics of aquifers used for domestic supply in northeast and north central Pennsylvania.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Regional Synthesis of Groundwater Quality in Domestic Supply Wells in Northeast and North Central Pennsylvania

USGS synthesized groundwater quality measurements in wells to characterize regional chemical characteristics of aquifers used for domestic supply in northeast and north central Pennsylvania.
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A machine sprays pesticides on row crops

Pesticides in Pennsylvania Groundwaters

USGS annually samples domestic groundwater wells to characterize pesticides, nutrients, and radon in agricultural areas, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Beginning in 2021, samples for major ions, trace elements, bacteria, and isotopes will also be collected. A subset of wells will be sampled for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), emerging industrial...
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pesticides in Pennsylvania Groundwaters

USGS annually samples domestic groundwater wells to characterize pesticides, nutrients, and radon in agricultural areas, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Beginning in 2021, samples for major ions, trace elements, bacteria, and isotopes will also be collected. A subset of wells will be sampled for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), emerging industrial...
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map of pennsylvania with counties and circular symbols colored red, orange, yellow, or green

Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, including precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and Palmer Drought Index, an indicator of soil dryness.
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, including precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and Palmer Drought Index, an indicator of soil dryness.
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Data in support of peak streamflows and flooding in select areas of Pennsylvania from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, September 1-2, 2021

Heavy rainfall occurred across Pennsylvania on September 1 and 2, 2021, as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Much of eastern and southcentral Pennsylvania received five to ten inches of rain and most of the rainfall occurred in a little more than six hours. Widespread substantial flooding occurred in the area, particularly impacted was the city of Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Flood
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Collection of Analytical Data for the Pennsylvania Groundwater Monitoring Network

This dataset contains all publicly-available analytical data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at each location within the Pennsylvania Groundwater Monitoring Network (GWMN) from 2015 to present. Additional analytical data will be appended following the conclusion of each sampling season, and all data is made publicly available in the online National Water Inventory System (NWIS). Thi
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Data for Characterization of Ambient Groundwater Quality within a State-wide, Fixed Station Monitoring Network in Pennsylvania, 2015-2019

This dataset contains quality-assurance and quality-control data (QA/QC) not publicly available in the online National Water Information System (NWIS) for the Pennsylvania Groundwater Monitoring Network collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Pennsylvania, 2015-2019. The quality-control data (such as blanks and replicates) were collected at a subset of sites to ensure that the data meets
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Data compilation for regional synthesis of chemical characteristics of groundwater used for domestic supply in north-east and north-central Pennsylvania

Groundwater quality data for 472 domestic well-water samples were retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database and combined with descriptive information on the sampled well locations. The NWIS data for a sample, collected on the selected date, were averaged into a single record (one per well), and rounded according to USGS protocols. For evaluation and reporting, the w
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Hydrologic data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Summit Area, Blair and Cambria Counties, Pennsylvania, April 2014-December 2016

This data release reports water-quantity and water-quality data collected during 2014-2016 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) at the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (ALPO) in Blair and Cambria Counties, Pennsylvania (figure 1). These data establish a base-line for current hydrologic conditions and may be helpful to evaluat
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Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
A 3D aerial view of Norristown, Pennsylvania shows where the Schuylkill River passes through the city.
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Image of well that is part of water quality monitoring network, Chester County, Pennsylvania
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Hydrologist collecting a water sample from a domestic well
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Characterization of peak streamflows and flooding in select areas of Pennsylvania from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, September 1–2, 2021

Pennsylvania experienced heavy rainfall on September 1 and 2, 2021, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept over parts of the State. Much of eastern and south-central Pennsylvania received 5 to 10 inches of rain, and most of the rainfall fell within little more than 6 hours. Southeastern Pennsylvania experienced widespread, substantial flooding, and the city of Philadelphia and surrounding areas we
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Marla H. Stuckey, Matthew D. Conlon, Mitchell R. Weaver
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Compilation and evaluation of data used to identify groundwater sources under the direct influence of surface water in Pennsylvania

A study was conducted to compile and evaluate data used to identify groundwater sources that are under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI) in Pennsylvania. In the early 1990s, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) implemented the Surface Water Identification Protocol (SWIP) for the identification of GUDI sources. Since the establishment of the SWIP, PADEP has cla
Authors
Eliza L. Gross, Matthew D. Conlon, Dennis W. Risser, Chad E. Reisch
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Characterization of ambient groundwater quality within a statewide, fixed-station monitoring network in Pennsylvania, 2015–19

Pennsylvania leads the Nation in the number of individuals that use groundwater for private domestic water supply; more than 3 million rural and suburban Pennsylvania residents rely on private domestic supplies for drinking water. These supplies are not regulated nor routinely monitored; thus relevant groundwater-quality information is not widely available. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in co
Authors
Matthew D. Conlon, Joseph W. Duris
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Factors Affecting Groundwater Quality Used for Domestic Supply in Marcellus Shale Region of North-Central and North-East Pennsylvania, USA

Factors affecting groundwater quality used for domestic supply within the Marcellus Shale footprint in north-central and north-east Pennsylvania are identified using a combination of spatial, statistical, and geochemical modeling. Untreated groundwater, sampled during 2011–2017 from 472 domestic wells within the study area, exhibited wide ranges in pH (4.5–9.3), total dissolved solids (TDS, 22–196
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Charles A. Cravotta, Lisa A. Senior, Matthew D. Conlon
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Hydrocarbons in upland groundwater, Marcellus Shale Region, Northeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New York, USA

Water samples from 50 domestic wells located <1 km (proximal) and >1 km (distal) from shale-gas wells in upland areas of the Marcellus Shale region were analyzed for chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers. Uplands were targeted because natural mixing with brine and hydrocarbons from deep formations is less common in those areas compared to valleys. CH4-isotope, predrill CH4-concentration,
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Peter B. McMahon, Bruce D. Lindsey, Matthew D. Conlon, Andrew G. Hunt, Kenneth Belitz, Bryant Jurgens, Brian A. Varela
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Water Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, National Water Quality Program, California Water Science Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, New England Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Surface-water quality in the Lycoming Creek watershed, north-central Pennsylvania, August 1–3, 2011

This report presents the methodology and results for a study of surface-water quality of the Lycoming Creek watershed in north-central Pennsylvania during August 1–3, 2011. The study was done in cooperation with the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Samples of stream water were collected from 31 sites in an area of exploration and p
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Dennis W. Risser, Matthew D. Conlon
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Water Resources Mission Area, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Pennsylvania Groundwater Watch

Pennsylvania Groundwater Watch provides access to groundwater level data from 108 sites in the USGS Active Groundwater Level Network for Adams, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and Pike Counties. 

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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Pennsylvania Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network Data Exploration Tool

USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, samples 28 wells biannually to monitor ambient groundwater quality conditions in a variety of settings throughout Pennsylvania. The most recent results for selected constituents can be accessed through the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network Data Exploration Tool.

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Pennsylvania Water Science Center

Mapping Radon in Pennsylvania's Groundwater

Radon, a colorless and odorless gas, is commonly found in groundwater in Pennsylvania. This web tool allows interactive display of Pennsylvania Water Science Center measurements of radon in groundwater samples from wells. All data presented here is publicly available and a data download tool is provided that will output all currently-displayed data. 

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Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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USGS Releases Products Documenting Effects of Hurricane Ida

The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center released three new products documenting the catastrophic flooding which resulted from Hurricane Ida on...

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USGS at the Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium

Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, along with numerous other sponsors, hosted the annual Pennsylvania...

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USGS and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture study groundwater quality in agricultural areas

USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture have agreed on a new five-year program to continue 30 years of...

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Science and Products