Michael N Fienen
Mike Fienen is a Research Hydrologist with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
RESEARCH SUMMARY
My research mission is to provide decision-making support for environmental managers that considers uncertainty in all aspects of decisions and strives to extract the most information from the data. This mission is expressed through the main research threads of model calibration and inference of environmental systems. Specific applications include groundwater quantity and quality; statistical inference and prediction of recreational water quality on beaches; mercury in water and fish; and the groundwater and habitat impacts of sea-level rise. In support of these threads, aspects of computational efficiency, statistical analysis, and data management also play important roles.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
M.Sc. Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
B.A. Geology, Macalester College Spring Semester in the Rockies, National Outdoor Leadership School
Science and Products
Groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Partridge River Basin and evaluation of hypothetical future mine pits, Minnesota
Risk-based wellhead protection decision support: A repeatable workflow approach
Appendix C: Central sands lakes study technical report: Modeling documentation
SFRmaker and Linesink-Maker: Rapid construction of streamflow routing networks from hydrography data
Towards improved environmental modeling outcomes: Enabling low-cost access to high-dimensional, geostatistical-based decision-support analyses
Assessment of groundwater trends near Crex Meadows, Wisconsin
Multi‐constrained catchment scale optimization of groundwater abstraction using linear programming
Extending the capture map concept to estimate discrete and risk-based streamflow depletion potential
Three-dimensional distribution of residence time metrics in the glaciated United States using metamodels trained on general numerical models
Approaches to highly parameterized inversion: PEST++ Version 5, a software suite for parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, management optimization and sensitivity analysis
Simulation of groundwater flow in the regional aquifer system on Long Island, New York, for pumping and recharge conditions in 2005–15
Integrated hydro-terrestrial modeling: Development of a national capability
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 87
Groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Partridge River Basin and evaluation of hypothetical future mine pits, Minnesota
The Partridge River Basin (PRB) covers 156 square miles in northeastern Minnesota with headwaters in the Mesabi Iron Range. The basin is characterized by extensive wetlands, lakes, and streams in poorly drained and often thin glacial material overlying Proterozoic bedrock. To better understand the interaction between these extensive surface water features and the groundwater system, a three-dimensAuthorsMegan J. Haserodt, Randall J. Hunt, Michael N. Fienen, Daniel T. FeinsteinRisk-based wellhead protection decision support: A repeatable workflow approach
Environmental water management often benefits from a risk-based approach where information on the area of interest is characterized, assembled, and incorporated into a decision model considering uncertainty. This includes prior information from literature, field measurements, professional interpretation, and data assimilation resulting in a decision tool with a posterior uncertainty assessment accAuthorsMichael N. Fienen, Nicholas Corson-Dosch, Jeremy T. White, Andrew T. Leaf, Randall J. HuntAppendix C: Central sands lakes study technical report: Modeling documentation
This report provides the necessary documentation of the numerical models developed for the Central Sands Lake study in central Wisconsin and will be included as a technical appendix in the report to the Wisconsin State Legislature by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in response to 2017 Wisconsin Act 10. This legislation directed WDNR to determine whether existing and potentialAuthorsMichael N. Fienen, Megan J. Haserodt, Andrew T. Leaf, Stephen, M. WestenbroekSFRmaker and Linesink-Maker: Rapid construction of streamflow routing networks from hydrography data
Groundwater models have evolved to encompass more aspects of the water cycle, but the incorporation of realistic boundary conditions representing surface water remains time-consuming and error-prone. We present two Python packages that robustly automate this process using readily available hydrography data as the primary input. SFRmaker creates input for the MODFLOW SFR package, while Linesink-makAuthorsAndrew T. Leaf, Michael N. Fienen, Howard W. ReevesTowards improved environmental modeling outcomes: Enabling low-cost access to high-dimensional, geostatistical-based decision-support analyses
Computer models of environmental systems routinely inform decision making for water resource management. In this context, quantifying uncertainty in the important simulated outputs, and reducing uncertainty through assimilating historic system-state observations, is as important as the numerical model. However, implementing high-dimensional and stochastic workflows are challenging, often requiringAuthorsJeremy White, Brioch Hemmings, Michael N. Fienen, Matthew KnowlingAssessment of groundwater trends near Crex Meadows, Wisconsin
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area (Crex) is a 30,000-acre property in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Crex is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) with the goal of providing public recreation opportunities while also protecting the quality of native ecological communities and species on the property. The WDNR’s management strategy includes controlling water levels at flowages in CreAuthorsMegan J. Haserodt, Michael N. FienenMulti‐constrained catchment scale optimization of groundwater abstraction using linear programming
Due to increasing water demands globally, freshwater ecosystems are under constant pressure. Groundwater resources, as the main source of accessible freshwater, are crucially important for irrigation worldwide. Over‐abstraction of groundwater leads to declines in groundwater levels; consequently, the groundwater inflow to streams decreases. The reduction in base flow and alteration of the stream fAuthorsMehrdis Danapour, Michael N. Fienen, Anker Lajer Højberg, Karsten Høgh Jensen, Simon StisenExtending the capture map concept to estimate discrete and risk-based streamflow depletion potential
A popular and contemporary use of numerical groundwater models is to estimate the discrete relation between groundwater extraction and surface-water/groundwater exchange. Previously, the concept of a “capture map” has been put forward as a means to effectively summarize this relation for decision-making consumption. While capture maps have enjoyed success in the environmental simulation industry,AuthorsJeremy T. White, Linzy K. Foster, Michael N. FienenThree-dimensional distribution of residence time metrics in the glaciated United States using metamodels trained on general numerical models
Residence time distribution (RTD) is a critically important characteristic of groundwater flow systems; however, it cannot be measured directly. RTD can be inferred from tracer data with analytical models (few parameters) or with numerical models (many parameters). The second approach permits more variation in system properties but is used less frequently than the first because large‐scale numericAuthorsJ. Jeffrey Starn, Leon J. Kauffman, Carl S. Carlson, James E. Reddy, Michael N. FienenApproaches to highly parameterized inversion: PEST++ Version 5, a software suite for parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, management optimization and sensitivity analysis
PEST++ Version 5 extends and enhances the functionality of the PEST++ Version 3 software suite, providing environmental modeling practitioners access to updated Version 3 tools as well as new tools to support decision making with environmental models. Version 5 of PEST++ includes tools for global sensitivity analysis (PESTPP-SEN); least-squares parameter estimation with integrated first-order, secAuthorsJeremy T. White, Randall J. Hunt, Michael N. Fienen, John E. DohertySimulation of groundwater flow in the regional aquifer system on Long Island, New York, for pumping and recharge conditions in 2005–15
A three-dimensional groundwater-flow model was developed for the aquifer system of Long Island, New York, to evaluate (1) responses of the hydrologic system to changes in natural and anthropogenic hydraulic stresses, (2) the subsurface distribution of groundwater age, and (3) the regional-scale distribution of groundwater travel times and the source of water to fresh surface waters and coastal recAuthorsDonald A. Walter, John P. Masterson, Jason S. Finkelstein, Jack Monti, Jr., Paul E. Misut, Michael N. FienenIntegrated hydro-terrestrial modeling: Development of a national capability
Water is one of our most important natural resources and is essential to our national economy and security. Multiple federal government agencies have mission elements that address national needs related to water. Each water-related agency champions a unique science and/or operational mission focused on advancing a portion of the nation’s ability to meet our water-related challenges, often in closeAuthorsDavid P. Lesmes, Jessica Moerman, Tom Torgeson, Bob Vallario, Timothy D. Scheibe, Efi Foufoula-Georgiou, Harry L. Jenter, Ronald L. Bingner, Laura Condon, Brian Cosgrove, Carlos Del Castillo, Charles W Downer, John Eylander, Michael N. Fienen, Nels Frazier, David Gochis, Dave Goodrich, Judson Harvey, Joseph D. Hughes, David Hyndman, John M. Johnston, Forrest Melton, Glenn E. Moglen, David Moulton, Laura K. Lautz, Rajbir Parmar, Brenda Rashleigh, Patrick Reed, Katherine Skalak, Charuleka Varadharajan, Roland J. Viger, Nathalie Voisin, Mark Wahl - Science
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