Intro
I began working for the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997. One of my primary research interests is long-term monitoring and trend analyses. This research involves collecting and analyzing long-term monitoring data to determine the effects of climate and land use change on water quality, water quantity and soil chemistry in minimally disturbed watersheds across the United States. I also conduct watershed research in the Catskill Mountains of New York which is the primary source of drinking water for New York City. My work in the Catskills during the last 2 decades has included the effects of agricultural best management practices on stream water quality, nutrient cycling, and sediment transport. Recently I have become involved in evaluating the effectiveness of green infrastructure in Buffalo, NY as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Education
- Ph.D., 1999, State University of New York, College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, Major: Forest Hydrology, Areas of Study: Biogeochemistry, Hydrology
- B.S., 1992, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY Major: Geology
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Upper Esopus Creek Tributary Bedload Pilot Study
Problem Sediment transport is a serious concern in the upper Esopus Creek watershed. The creek is a well-documented source of sediment and turbidity to the Ashokan Reservoir, which is part of the New York City water supply system. During the last 2 decades there has been a series of stream stabilization and sediment reduction projects completed in the upper Esopus Creek watershed intended to reduc
Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Niagara River Greenway Project (Buffalo, NY)
The U.S. Geological Survey is assessing the effectiveness of green infrastructure at attenuating and reducing stormflow along a 2.26 mile corridor of Niagara Street in Buffalo, NY. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Buffalo Sewer Authority and University at Buffalo.
Stony Clove Basin Sediment and Turbidity Monitoring
Problem Suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) and turbidity are primary water-quality concerns in New York City’s (NYC) water-supply system (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). In the NYC water-supply system turbidity is largely caused by clay and silt rather than organic material (Effler et al. 1998, Peng et al. 2002, 2004). Sediment can originate from the watershed land surface and the...
Esopus Creek Sediment and Turbidity Study
Background The Ashokan Reservoir is located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and is part of New York City’s (NYC) water supply system. The NYC water-supply system is operated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) under a filtration avoidance determination (FAD) issued by the New York State Department of Health. The Ashokan Reservoir watershed is 255 mi2 and is one o...
Hydrologic Climate Change Indicators
Background Streams and rivers are an important environmental resource and provide water for many human needs. Streamflow is a measure of the volume of water carried by rivers and streams. Changes in streamflow can directly influence the supply of water available for human consumption, irrigation, generating electricity, and other needs. In addition, many plants and animals depend on streamflow
The National Network of Reference Watersheds
The National Network of Reference Watersheds is a collaborative and multipurpose network of minimally disturbed watersheds and monitoring sites. The purpose of this website is to allow users to search the NNRW database of reference watersheds, to identify watersheds of interest, and download watershed information and water quality data. The current scope of the network is limited to freshwater
Quantitative Assessment of Water Quality in Upper Esopus Creek: Fish, Macroinvertebrates, Periphyton, Turbidity, and Nutrients
Background The Esopus Creek is located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and is part of the New York City (NYC) drinking water supply system. The basin was dammed in 1915 to form the Ashokan Reservoir splitting the creek into Upper (upstream of the reservoir) and Lower segments. The drainage area of Upper Esopus Creek, between the source (Winisook Lake) and the Ashokan Reservoir is appr
Mercury Deposition in the Biscuit Brook Watershed
This project provides weekly wet-only mercury deposition samples at the Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) station in the Biscuit Brook watershed at the Frost Valley YMCA. The station has been in operation since 2004 and is currently funded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This is the only MDN station located in the Catskill Mountains and one of only 3 stati
Changes in Soil and Stream Water Chemistry in Response to Reduction in Acid Deposition in the Catskills
Summary The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Long Term Monitoring (LTM) network has supported the collection of stream chemistry data in the Catskills since the 1990s. Trends in stream chemistry have periodically been evaluated in these streams but the most recent assessments only extend through the early 2000s. An updated assessment of stream chemistry trends will help evaluate the eff
Effects of Stream Restoration and Bank Stabilization on Suspended Sediment in Tributaries to the Upper Esopus Creek
Introduction The upper Esopus Creek watershed is located in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York State and covers 497 km2 from Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills at 1,274 m, to the Ashokan Reservoir at 193 m elevation (fig. 1). Suspended sediment and turbidity are primary water quality concerns in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed, part of the New York City Catskill-Delaware
Mercury concentration in water, sediment, and fish in the Neversink watershed, New York
The distribution of mercury (Hg) and sites of greatest Hg methylation are poorly understood in Catskill Mountain watersheds. Although concentrations of Hg in the water column are low, high concentrations of Hg in smallmouth bass and walleye have led to consumption advisories in most large New York City reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains. Mercury in natural waters can exist in many forms, inc
The Hydrologic Benchmark Network
Summary The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) consists of 37 watersheds that provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas that are minimally affected by human activities. In 2011 measurements of aquatic biology and soil chemistry were added to the network. All of these data are used to study long-term trends in surface water flow, water chemistry, aquatic biology, and
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 13
Upper Esopus Creek Tributary Bedload Pilot Study
Problem Sediment transport is a serious concern in the upper Esopus Creek watershed. The creek is a well-documented source of sediment and turbidity to the Ashokan Reservoir, which is part of the New York City water supply system. During the last 2 decades there has been a series of stream stabilization and sediment reduction projects completed in the upper Esopus Creek watershed intended to reducAssessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Niagara River Greenway Project (Buffalo, NY)
The U.S. Geological Survey is assessing the effectiveness of green infrastructure at attenuating and reducing stormflow along a 2.26 mile corridor of Niagara Street in Buffalo, NY. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Buffalo Sewer Authority and University at Buffalo.Stony Clove Basin Sediment and Turbidity Monitoring
Problem Suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) and turbidity are primary water-quality concerns in New York City’s (NYC) water-supply system (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). In the NYC water-supply system turbidity is largely caused by clay and silt rather than organic material (Effler et al. 1998, Peng et al. 2002, 2004). Sediment can originate from the watershed land surface and the...Esopus Creek Sediment and Turbidity Study
Background The Ashokan Reservoir is located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and is part of New York City’s (NYC) water supply system. The NYC water-supply system is operated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) under a filtration avoidance determination (FAD) issued by the New York State Department of Health. The Ashokan Reservoir watershed is 255 mi2 and is one o...Hydrologic Climate Change Indicators
Background Streams and rivers are an important environmental resource and provide water for many human needs. Streamflow is a measure of the volume of water carried by rivers and streams. Changes in streamflow can directly influence the supply of water available for human consumption, irrigation, generating electricity, and other needs. In addition, many plants and animals depend on streamflowThe National Network of Reference Watersheds
The National Network of Reference Watersheds is a collaborative and multipurpose network of minimally disturbed watersheds and monitoring sites. The purpose of this website is to allow users to search the NNRW database of reference watersheds, to identify watersheds of interest, and download watershed information and water quality data. The current scope of the network is limited to freshwaterQuantitative Assessment of Water Quality in Upper Esopus Creek: Fish, Macroinvertebrates, Periphyton, Turbidity, and Nutrients
Background The Esopus Creek is located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State and is part of the New York City (NYC) drinking water supply system. The basin was dammed in 1915 to form the Ashokan Reservoir splitting the creek into Upper (upstream of the reservoir) and Lower segments. The drainage area of Upper Esopus Creek, between the source (Winisook Lake) and the Ashokan Reservoir is apprMercury Deposition in the Biscuit Brook Watershed
This project provides weekly wet-only mercury deposition samples at the Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) station in the Biscuit Brook watershed at the Frost Valley YMCA. The station has been in operation since 2004 and is currently funded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This is the only MDN station located in the Catskill Mountains and one of only 3 statiChanges in Soil and Stream Water Chemistry in Response to Reduction in Acid Deposition in the Catskills
Summary The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Long Term Monitoring (LTM) network has supported the collection of stream chemistry data in the Catskills since the 1990s. Trends in stream chemistry have periodically been evaluated in these streams but the most recent assessments only extend through the early 2000s. An updated assessment of stream chemistry trends will help evaluate the effEffects of Stream Restoration and Bank Stabilization on Suspended Sediment in Tributaries to the Upper Esopus Creek
Introduction The upper Esopus Creek watershed is located in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York State and covers 497 km2 from Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills at 1,274 m, to the Ashokan Reservoir at 193 m elevation (fig. 1). Suspended sediment and turbidity are primary water quality concerns in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed, part of the New York City Catskill-DelawareMercury concentration in water, sediment, and fish in the Neversink watershed, New York
The distribution of mercury (Hg) and sites of greatest Hg methylation are poorly understood in Catskill Mountain watersheds. Although concentrations of Hg in the water column are low, high concentrations of Hg in smallmouth bass and walleye have led to consumption advisories in most large New York City reservoirs in the Catskill Mountains. Mercury in natural waters can exist in many forms, incThe Hydrologic Benchmark Network
Summary The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) consists of 37 watersheds that provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas that are minimally affected by human activities. In 2011 measurements of aquatic biology and soil chemistry were added to the network. All of these data are used to study long-term trends in surface water flow, water chemistry, aquatic biology, and - Data
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