Berthelote, A., Farinacci, A., Storb, M., and Woessner, W.W., Determining the Impact of Milltown Reservoir Drawdowns on the Adjacent Unconfined Aquifer: Remediation Stage 1 Observed and Stage 2 Forecasted: DEQ Contract No. 406006, Federal Catalog No. 66.80
Meryl Storb
Biography
While completing my B.S. at the University of Montana I worked as a research assistant for a groundwater modeling project related to the Milltown Dam Removal. I also worked as Environmental Health Technician for the Missoula City County Department of Water Quality working on monitoring and communicating impacts of the Milltown dam removal to residents.
After completing my B.S. I worked as a hydrogeologist for a series of environmental consulting firms in Missoula. In 2014 I moved to Bozeman to pursue a Ph.D. related to hydrology at Montana State University. My dissertation research is focused on understanding impacts from climate change and development on alpine stream ecosystems.
B.S. in Environmental Geology from the University of Montana, 2008
In progress: Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science – working in the Watershed Hydrology Lab at Montana State University
Science and Products
Date published: July 30, 2019
Status: Active Flaxville Aquifer
The Flaxville aquifer is present in the northern and central parts of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and consists of sand and gravel that forms extensive plateaus and topographic benches used for dryland farming. Because many residents rely on groundwater as their primary water supply on the Reservation, the Flaxville and underlying aquifers are important sources of groundwater. The goal...
Contacts: Meryl Storb , Joanna Thamke
Year Published: 2021
Microplastics in the Delaware River, northeastern United States
Microplastics are a contaminant of increasing concern in aquatic environments. Our understanding of microplastics in freshwater environments has increased dramatically over the past decade, but we still lack information on microplastic occurrence and biological uptake in National Park Service (NPS) waters. During 2015–19, the U.S. Geological...
Baldwin, Austin K.; Spanjer, Andrew R.; Hayhurst, Brett; Hamilton, DonaldAttribution: Idaho Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Water Resources
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Baldwin, A.K., Spanjer, A.R., Hayhurst, B., and Hamilton, D., 2021, Microplastics in the Delaware River, northeastern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2020-3071, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20203071.
Year Published: 2021
Water-quality trends of urban streams in Independence, Missouri, 2005–18
The U.S. Geological Survey and the city of Independence, Missouri, Water Pollution Control Department has studied the water quality and ecological condition of urban streams within Independence since 2005. Selected physical properties, nutrients, chloride, fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and total coliform), total dissolved solids, and...
Barr, Miya N.; Kalkhoff, Stephen J.View Citation
Barr, M.N., and Kalkhoff, S.J., 2021, Water-quality trends of urban streams in Independence, Missouri, 2005–18: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5130, 57 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205130.
Year Published: 2021
USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with university, Federal, Tribal, and independent partners, conducts fundamental research on the distribution, vulnerability, and importance of permafrost in arctic and boreal ecosystems. Scientists, land managers, and policy makers use USGS data to help make decisions for development, wildlife...
Waldrop, Mark P.; Anderson, Lesleigh; Dornblaser, Mark; Erikson, Li H.; Gibbs, Ann E.; Herman-Mercer, Nicole M.; James, Stephanie R.; Jones, Miriam C.; Koch, Joshua C.; Leewis, Mary-Cathrine; Manies, Kristen L.; Minsley, Burke J.; Pastick, Neal J.; Patil, Vijay; Urban, Frank; Walvoord, Michelle A.; Wickland, Kimberly P.; Zimmerman, ChristianAttribution: Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Water Resources, Volcano Hazards Program Office, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin
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Waldrop, M.P., Anderson, L., Dornblaser, M., Erikson, L.H., Gibbs, A.E., Herman-Mercer, N.M., James, S.R., Jones, M.C., Koch, J.C., Leewis, M.-C., Manies, K.L., Minsley, B.J., Pastick, N.J., Patil, V., Urban, F., Walvoord, M.A., Wickland, K.P., and Zimmerman, C., 2021, USGS permafrost research determines the risks of permafrost thaw to biologic and hydrologic resources: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2020-3058, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20203058.
Year Published: 2021
U.S. Geological Survey 21st-Century science strategy 2020–2030
Today’s Earth system challenges are far more complex and urgent than those that existed in 1879 when the USGS was established. Society’s greatest challenges are directly or indirectly linked to major areas of USGS science. Increased pressures on natural resources continue with consequences for national security, food and water availability,...
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U.S. Geological Survey, 2021, U.S. Geological Survey 21st-Century Science Strategy 2020–2030: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1476, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1476.
Year Published: 2021
An integrated geochemical approach for defining sources of groundwater salinity in the southern Rio Grande Valley of the Mesilla Basin, New Mexico and west Texas, USA
A significantly elevated groundwater salinity zone was identified in the southern part of the Mesilla Valley. This investigation characterized the occurrence, spatial extent, and source of the plume of elevated groundwater salinity using a wide range of geochemical and geophysical data and methods.
Kubicki, Christopher; Carroll, Kenneth C.; Witcher, James C.; Robertson, Andrew J.
Year Published: 2021
Nearshore water quality and coral health indicators along the west coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi, 2010–2014
Coral reefs worldwide are experiencing rapid degradation in response to climate and land-use change, namely effects of warming sea-surface temperatures, contaminant runoff, and overfishing. Extensive coral bleaching caused by the steady rise of sea-surface temperatures is projected to increase, but our understanding and ability to predict where...
Grossman, Eric E.; Marrack, Lisa; vanArendonk, Nathan R.Attribution: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Grossman, E.E., Marrack, L., and vanArendonk, N.R., 2021, Nearshore water quality and coral health indicators along the west coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi, 2010–2014: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1128, 45 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201128.
Year Published: 2021
Habitat features predict carrying capacity of a recovering marine carnivore
The recovery of large carnivore species from over‐exploitation can have socioecological effects; thus, reliable estimates of potential abundance and distribution represent a valuable tool for developing management objectives and recovery criteria. For sea otters (Enhydra lutris), as with many apex predators, equilibrium abundance is not constant...
Tinker, M. Tim; Yee, Julie L.; Laidre, Kristin L.; Hatfield, Brian; Harris, Michael D.; Tomoleoni, Joseph; Bell, Tom W.; Saarman, Emily; Carswell, Lilian P; Miles, A. KeithAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2021
Seed production patterns of surviving Sierra Nevada conifers show minimal change following drought
Reproduction is a key component of ecological resilience in forest ecosystems, so understanding how seed production is influenced by extreme drought is key to understanding forest recovery trajectories. If trees respond to mortality-inducing drought by preferentially allocating resources for reproduction, the recovery of the stand to pre-drought...
Wright, Micah Charles; van Mantgem, Phillip J.; Stephenson, Nathan L.; Das, Adrian; Keeley, JonAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2021
Development and application of surrogate models, calculated loads, and aquatic export of carbon based on specific conductance, Big Cypress National Preserve, south Florida, 2015–17
Understanding the carbon transport within aquatic environments is crucial to quantifying global and local carbon budgets, yet limited empirical data currently (2021) exist. This report documents methodology and provides data for quantifying the aquatic export of carbon from a cypress swamp within Big Cypress National Preserve and is part of a...
Booth, AmandaAttribution: Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
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Booth, A.C., 2021, Development and application of surrogate models, calculated loads, and aquatic export of carbon based on specific conductance, Big Cypress National Preserve, South Florida, 2015–17: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1136, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201136.
Year Published: 2021
Re-examination of population structure in Arctic ringed seals using DArTseq genotyping
Although Arctic ringed seals Phoca hispida hispida are currently abundant and broadly distributed, their numbers are projected to decline substantially by the year 2100 due to climate warming. While understanding population structure could provide insight into the impact of environmental changes on this subspecies, detecting...
Lang, Aimee R.; Boveng, Peter L.; Quakenbush, L.; Robertson, K.; Lauf, M.; Rode, Karyn D.; Ziel, H.; Taylor, B .L.
Year Published: 2021
An assessment of the economic potential of lignite and leonardite resources in the Williston Basin, North Dakota
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requested assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct an assessment study to identify areas that may have economic potential for the future extraction of lignite and leonardite resources in the Williston Basin in North Dakota. The study will be used by the BLM to assist with the preparation of a...
Shaffer, Brian N.Attribution: Central Energy Resources Science Center, Energy Resources Program, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin
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Shaffer, B.N., 2021, An assessment of the economic potential of lignite and leonardite resources in the Williston Basin, North Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1135, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201135.
Year Published: 2021
Linking modern pollen accumulation rates to biomass: Quantitative vegetation reconstruction in the western Klamath Mountains, NW California, USA
Quantitative reconstructions of vegetation abundance from sediment-derived pollen systems provide unique insights into past ecological conditions. Recently, the use of pollen accumulation rates (PAR, grains cm−2 year−1) has shown promise as a bioproxy for plant abundance. However, successfully reconstructing region-specific vegetation dynamics...
Knight, Clarke A.; Baskaran, Mark; Bunting, M. Jane; Champagne, Marie Rhondelle; Potts, Matthew D.; Wahl, David; Wanket, James; Battles, John J.