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Michelle A Nott

Michelle Nott (formerly Lutz) is a Physical Scientist with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.

She started at the Center in 2001, and has worked on various projects since then. For several years she worked intensively with the NAWQA Mercury Topical Team, investigating biogeochemical cycling of mercury through geographically diverse ecosystems. Her emphasis was on streambed sediment and consideration of the distribution and prevalence of various bed sediment characteristics on interpretation of analytical results. Following the completion of this project, she turned her attention to more local studies. Her recent work has focused on investigations in urban streams with chronically depressed dissolved oxygen levels, as well as investigations of biofilm communities growing in streams receiving airport deicer runoff. In addition to these more focused studies, she also provides field, GIS, and database support to other local and regional projects.

 

 

Education and Certifications

  • B.S. in Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000

Science and Products

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View of downtown Milwaukee, WI, taken from the Discovery World museum.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Watercourse Corridor Study

Since 2000, the USGS and MMSD have been partners in the Milwaukee Area Watercourse Corridor Study. The USGS has applied a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor and assess stream water quality within studies of aquatic communities, geomorphology and habitat, water and sediment, and streamflow. Results are provided to MMSD and watershed management agencies for planning and decision-making.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Watercourse Corridor Study

Since 2000, the USGS and MMSD have been partners in the Milwaukee Area Watercourse Corridor Study. The USGS has applied a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor and assess stream water quality within studies of aquatic communities, geomorphology and habitat, water and sediment, and streamflow. Results are provided to MMSD and watershed management agencies for planning and decision-making.
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Streamgage house in front of river with green foliage

MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study: Continuous Real-Time Streamflow

The MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study supports seven USGS streamflow gages on Milwaukee-area streams that measure real-time discharge and gage height; five of these sites also collect time-lapse videos.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study: Continuous Real-Time Streamflow

The MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study supports seven USGS streamflow gages on Milwaukee-area streams that measure real-time discharge and gage height; five of these sites also collect time-lapse videos.
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Photo of a snow plow with a load of road salt

Evaluating chloride trends due to road-salt use and its impacts on water quality and aquatic organisms

Chloride, a key component of road salt, is soluble, highly mobile in water, and, at high concentrations, can be toxic to aquatic vegetation and wildlife. USGS scientists have been analyzing temporal, seasonal, and environmental trends in chloride concentrations across the U.S. to determine the effects that road salt may be having on water quality and aquatic organisms.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Evaluating chloride trends due to road-salt use and its impacts on water quality and aquatic organisms

Chloride, a key component of road salt, is soluble, highly mobile in water, and, at high concentrations, can be toxic to aquatic vegetation and wildlife. USGS scientists have been analyzing temporal, seasonal, and environmental trends in chloride concentrations across the U.S. to determine the effects that road salt may be having on water quality and aquatic organisms.
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Illustration showing potential sources of pathogen contamination for Lake Michigan beaches

Environmental factors and risk estimation for waterborne pathogens at three Great Lakes beaches

The goals of this study were to quantify pathogen concentrations in water at three Lake Michigan beaches, identify environmental factors that influence pathogen occurrence and variability, and to estimate health risks for recreational swimmers.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment
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Environmental factors and risk estimation for waterborne pathogens at three Great Lakes beaches

The goals of this study were to quantify pathogen concentrations in water at three Lake Michigan beaches, identify environmental factors that influence pathogen occurrence and variability, and to estimate health risks for recreational swimmers.
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Great Lakes tributary pharmaceutical water samples from water year 2018

This data release provides water chemistry results and quality assurance data for samples collected from Great Lakes tributaries in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and New York. In total, 158 chemicals were analyzed which are primarily pharmaceuticals. Between one and four water samples were collected at 37 sampling locations between November 2017 and July 2018 resulti
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Aquatic community and environmental data for 14 rivers and streams in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Planning Area, 2004-13

In 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish to assess the condition of the aquatic communities and water quality in 14 wadable streams near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012 to assess temporal variation. Selected environmental (physical and chemical) data in t
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Data and regression models describing biofilms and water quality in streams surrounding Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2009-2014)

Heterotrophic biofilm growths were monitored in sites upstream and downstream of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; samples were collected primarily during and surrounding the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 deicing seasons, with additional sample collection occurring in 2014. Biofilms were assessed using both field surveys and modern genetic approaches, and responses to e
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Estimating the presence of paved surface parking lots in the conterminous U.S. from land use coefficients for 1974, 1982, 1992, 2002, and 2012

Parking lots may be a significant source of pollution. Oil, sediments, and heavy metals may accumulate on their surface, then be flushed into rivers, streams, and lakes via rainfall. At present no dataset provides a mapping or estimation of parking lot area or locations nationwide. This product consists of a time series of five national 60-meter raster datasets which estimate the proportion of eac
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Water Resources Mission Area, National Water Quality Program
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Sediment core from Kinnickinnic River link
Stream habitat measurement along a transect link
Crest stage streamgage next to shallow creek with green foliage surrounding link
Surface water sampling for microplastics in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee, WI. link
Algal sampling and removal of subsample link
Pounding rebar stake into river bottom link
Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Tryptophan sensors link
Two scientists collect a sediment core from the Root River at Grange Avenue in Greenfield, Wisconsin link
Rainbow trout in net link
A storm drain that periodically discharges urban runoff link
Pounding rebar stake into river bottom
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Scientist measuring stream velocity in middle of river
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View of submerged passive sampler in creek from above water
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Underwater passive sampler attached to rebar stake in cloudy green water
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Scientist installing underwater passive sampler attaching to stake by zip ties
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Streamgage house in front of river with green foliage
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View of downtown Milwaukee, WI, taken from the Discovery World museum.
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A restored section of the Kinnickinnic River near 6th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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The Menomonee River near 70th Street in Wauwatosa, WI.
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Styrene-butadiene rubber collected from bed sediment
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Various types and sizes of plastics collected from the Kinnickinnic River, WI
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Filter Total Items: 28

Pesticide prioritization by potential biological effects in tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes

Watersheds of the Great Lakes Basin (USA/Canada) are highly modified and impacted by human activities including pesticide use. Despite labeling restrictions intended to minimize risks to nontarget organisms, concerns remain that environmental exposures to pesticides may be occurring at levels negatively impacting nontarget organisms. We used a combination of organismal-level toxicity estimates (in
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Water Resources Mission Area, Kansas Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Prioritizing pesticides of potential concern and identifying potential mixture effects in Great Lakes tributaries using passive samplers

To help meet the objectives of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with regard to increasing knowledge about toxic substances, 223 pesticides and pesticide transformation products were monitored in 15 Great Lakes tributaries using polar organic chemical integrative samplers. A screening-level assessment of their potential for biological effects was conducted by computing toxicity quotients (TQs
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Prioritizing pharmaceutical contaminants in Great Lakes tributaries using risk-based screening techniques

In a study of 44 diverse sampling sites across 16 Great Lakes tributaries, 110 pharmaceuticals were detected of 257 monitored. The present study evaluated the ecological relevance of detected chemicals and identified heavily impacted areas to help inform resource managers and guide future investigations. Ten pharmaceuticals (caffeine, nicotine, albuterol, sulfamethoxazole, venlafaxine, acetaminoph
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Risk-based prioritization of organic chemicals and locations of ecological concern in sediment from Great Lakes tributaries

With improved analytical techniques, environmental monitoring studies are increasingly able to report the occurrence of tens or hundreds of chemicals per site, making it difficult to identify the most relevant chemicals from a biological standpoint. For this study, organic chemical occurrence was examined, individually and as mixtures, in the context of potential biological effects. Sediment was c
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Physical and chemical stressors on algal, invertebrate, and fish communities in 14 Milwaukee area streams, 2004–2013

In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began sampling 14 wadable streams in urban or urbanizing watersheds near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The overall goal of the study is to assess the health of the aquatic communities in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District planning area to inform current and future watershed management. In addition to collection of biological data on aquatic communities,
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Primary sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to streambed sediment in Great Lakes tributaries using multiple lines of evidence

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most widespread and potentially toxic contaminants in Great Lakes (USA/Canada) tributaries. The sources of PAHs are numerous and diverse, and identifying the primary source(s) can be difficult. The present study used multiple lines of evidence to determine the likely sources of PAHs to surficial streambed sediments at 71 locations across 26 Gre
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Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Ecological status of aquatic communities in selected streams in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District planning area of Wisconsin, 2004–13

A total of 14 wadable streams in urban or urbanizing watersheds near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were sampled in 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013 to assess the ecological status of aquatic communities (biota), including benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish. To assess temporal variation, additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012. Relative abundances of each ty
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Response to comment on “Primary sources and toxicity of PAHs in Milwaukee-area streambed sediments”—The authors' reply

No abstract available.
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Water Resources Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Idaho Water Science Center

Hydrologic, land cover, and seasonal patterns of waterborne pathogens in Great Lakes tributaries

Great Lakes tributaries are known to deliver waterborne pathogens from a host of sources. To examine the hydrologic, land cover, and seasonal patterns of waterborne pathogens (i.e. protozoa (2), pathogenic bacteria (4) human viruses, (8) and bovine viruses (8)) eight rivers were monitored in the Great Lakes Basin over 29 months from February 2011 to June 2013. Sampling locations represented a wide
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Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Primary sources and toxicity of PAHs in Milwaukee-area streambed sediment

High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in streams can be a significant stressor to aquatic organisms. To understand the likely sources and toxicity of PAHs in Milwaukee-area streams, streambed sediment samples from 40 sites and parking lot dust samples from 6 sites were analyzed for 38 parent PAHs and 25 alkylated PAHs. Diagnostic ratios, profile correlations, principal com
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Water Resources Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Mercury and methylmercury in aquatic sediment across western North America

Large-scale assessments are valuable in identifying primary factors controlling total mercury (THg) and monomethyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations, and distribution in aquatic ecosystems. Bed sediment THg and MeHg concentrations were compiled for > 16,000 samples collected from aquatic habitats throughout the West between 1965 and 2013. The influence of aquatic feature type (canals, estuaries, lakes
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Mercury Research Laboratory

Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury concentrations in freshwater fish across the Western United States and Canada

Methylmercury contamination of fish is a global threat to environmental health. Mercury (Hg) monitoring programs are valuable for generating data that can be compiled for spatially broad syntheses to identify emergent ecosystem properties that influence fish Hg bioaccumulation. Fish total Hg (THg) concentrations were evaluated across the Western United States (US) and Canada, a region defined by e
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, California Water Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

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