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Pamela Lombard

Pamela Lombard is a Supervisory Hydrologist in the New England Water Science Center.

She currently works on surface water hydrology issues such as streamflow statistics, hydraulic modeling, flood documentation and mapping, water availability/wateruse, and drought, and leads the hydraulic modeling team at the center. 

 

Professional Experience

  • 2021 - present. U.S. Geological Survey - Supervisory Hydrologist

  • 1999 - 2021. U.S. Geological Survey - Hydrologist

Education and Certifications

  • M.S., Hydrology, Oregon State University (1997)

  • B.S., Dartmouth College (1990)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 27

Documentation and mapping of flooding from the January and March 2018 nor’easters in coastal New England

In January and March 2018, coastal Massachusetts experienced flooding from two separate nor’easters. To put the January and March floods into historical context, the USGS computed statistical stillwater elevations. Stillwater elevations recorded in January 2018 in Boston (9.66 feet relative to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988) have an annual exceedance probability of between 2 and 1 perce

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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Model estimated baseflow for streams with endangered Atlantic Salmon in Maine, USA

We present a regression model for estimating mean August baseflow per square kilometer of drainage area to help resource managers assess relative amounts of baseflow in Maine streams with Atlantic Salmon habitat. The model was derived from mean August baseflows computed at 31 USGS streamflow gages in Maine. We use an ordinary least squares regression model to estimate mean August baseflow per unit
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

2020 drought in New England

Below average and infrequent rainfall from May through September 2020 led to an extreme hydrologic drought across much of New England, with some areas experiencing a flash drought, reflecting its quick onset. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded record-low streamflow and groundwater levels throughout the region. In September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2020) declared Aroostook Count
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Estimating flood magnitude and frequency on gaged and ungaged streams in Maine

Accurate estimates of flood frequency and magnitude on rivers and streams in Maine are a key component of effective flood risk management, flood mitigation, and flood recovery programs for the State. Flood-frequency estimates are published here for 148 streamgages in and adjacent to Maine. Equations are provided for users to compute flood-frequency estimates at any location on a stream that does n
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

River channel response to dam removals on the lower Penobscot River, Maine, United States

Most geomorphology studies of dam removals have focused on sites with appreciable quantities of stored sediments. There is great interest in channel responses to sediment releases because of potential effects on aquatic and riparian habitats and human uses of these areas. Yet, behind many dams in the Northeast U.S. and other regions of the world only minor accumulations of sediment are present bec
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

A multi-model approach toward understanding iron fouling at rock-fill drainage sites along roadways in New Hampshire, USA

Factors affecting iron fouling in wet areas adjacent to roadways were investigated by collecting field rock cut and aqueous physicochemical data; developing exploratory predictive models; and developing geochemical models. Basic data included the identification of iron fouling from aerial imagery and field visits at 374 New Hampshire rock cut locations, and their associated rock-fill sites. Based
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for the lower Pawcatuck River in Westerly, Rhode Island, and Stonington and North Stonington, Connecticut

A series of 11 digital flood-inundation maps was developed for a 5.5-mile reach of the lower Pawcatuck River in Westerly, Rhode Island, and Stonington and North Stonington, Connecticut, by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Town of Westerly, Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development. The coverage of the maps extends from downstream from t
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for the Pawtuxet River in West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston, Rhode Island

A series of 15 digital flood-inundation maps was developed for a 10.2-mile reach of the Pawtuxet River in the municipalities of West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston, Rhode Island, by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The coverage of the maps extends downstream from Natick Pond dam near State Rout
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Estimating lag to peak between rainfall and peak streamflow with a mixed-effects model

We test the use of a mixed-effects model for estimating lag to peak for small basins in Maine (drainage areas from 0.8 to 78 km2). Lag to peak is defined as the time between the center of volume of the excess rainfall during a storm event and the resulting peak streamflow. A mixed-effects model allows for multiple observations at sites without violating model assumptions inherent in traditional or
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Estimation of unregulated monthly, annual, and peak streamflows in Forest City Stream and lake levels in East Grand Lake, United States-Canada border between Maine and New Brunswick

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the International Joint Commission, compiled historical data on regulated streamflows and lake levels and estimated unregulated streamflows and lake levels on Forest City Stream at Forest City, Maine, and East Grand Lake on the United States-Canada border between Maine and New Brunswick to study the effects on streamflows and lake levels if two or al
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses of Great Meadow wetland, Acadia National Park, Maine

The U.S. Geological Survey completed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses of Cromwell Brook and the Sieur de Monts tributary in Acadia National Park, Maine, to better understand causes of flooding in complex hydrologic and hydraulic environments, like those in the Great Meadow wetland and Sieur de Monts Spring area. Regional regression equations were used to compute peak flows with from 2 to 100-year
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for the Hoosic River, North Adams and Williamstown, Massachusetts, from the confluence with the North Branch Hoosic River to the Vermont State line

A series of nine digital flood-inundation maps were developed for an 8-mile reach of the Hoosic River in North Adams and Williamstown, Massachusetts, by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The coverage of the maps extends from the confluence with the North Branch Hoosic River to the Vermont State line. Peak flows with 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-,
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Water Resources, New England Water Science Center
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USGS gage 422302071083801 Fresh Pond at Cambridge, Massachusetts

Evaluation of Lakes and Impoundments Drought Index for the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan

Lake and impoundment levels are used for calculating a drought severity index.
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New England Water Science Center
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Evaluation of Lakes and Impoundments Drought Index for the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan

Lake and impoundment levels are used for calculating a drought severity index.
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Installing real-time equipment onto a groundwater well

Developing Synthetic Historical Record at Groundwater Wells Using Record Extension Techniques

The Groundwater Index in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan provides a general overview of groundwater levels relative to long-term groundwater levels in Massachusetts. The methods used to compute the Groundwater Index were revised for the 2019 version of the Drought Management Plan. The 2019 plan aligns the drought categories and specifies the drought status from select percentile ranges...
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New England Water Science Center
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Developing Synthetic Historical Record at Groundwater Wells Using Record Extension Techniques

The Groundwater Index in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan provides a general overview of groundwater levels relative to long-term groundwater levels in Massachusetts. The methods used to compute the Groundwater Index were revised for the 2019 version of the Drought Management Plan. The 2019 plan aligns the drought categories and specifies the drought status from select percentile ranges...
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Lidar-derived hydrography image

New England Lidar-Derived Hydrography Project

High-quality light detection and ranging (lidar) data from USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has unlocked the potential to derive new and innovative hydrography datasets such as the USGS next generation 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) that can be used for many hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling applications. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mapping partners require elevation and...
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New England Water Science Center
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New England Lidar-Derived Hydrography Project

High-quality light detection and ranging (lidar) data from USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has unlocked the potential to derive new and innovative hydrography datasets such as the USGS next generation 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) that can be used for many hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling applications. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mapping partners require elevation and...
Learn More
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Hydrologic Technicians set up a total station near a covered bridge on the Housatonic River in Connecticut

Characterizing Future Flood Flows for Flood Insurance Studies

Current methods of flood-frequency analyses for flood insurance studies assume that the statistical distribution of data from past observations will continue unchanged in the future. This is known as the assumption of stationarity. This assumption allows scientists to estimate flood magnitude and frequency based on past records and the expectation that those estimates will represent current and...
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New England Water Science Center
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Characterizing Future Flood Flows for Flood Insurance Studies

Current methods of flood-frequency analyses for flood insurance studies assume that the statistical distribution of data from past observations will continue unchanged in the future. This is known as the assumption of stationarity. This assumption allows scientists to estimate flood magnitude and frequency based on past records and the expectation that those estimates will represent current and...
Learn More
link
An oxbow in a river with green vegetation and foliage and blue skies.

The Impact of Climate Change on Culturally Significant Wetland Plants and Their Habitat in the Meduxnekeag River Watershed in Maine

Wetland plants are important to Wabanaki people in Maine and are central to Houlton Band of Maliseet Indian (HBMI) identity. HBMI peoples have harvested culturally important plants within the Meduxnekeag watershed for generations. Basket making and medicinal plant harvesting are forms of cultural preservation that are also important to Tribal economies. Projections for climate change in the no
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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The Impact of Climate Change on Culturally Significant Wetland Plants and Their Habitat in the Meduxnekeag River Watershed in Maine

Wetland plants are important to Wabanaki people in Maine and are central to Houlton Band of Maliseet Indian (HBMI) identity. HBMI peoples have harvested culturally important plants within the Meduxnekeag watershed for generations. Basket making and medicinal plant harvesting are forms of cultural preservation that are also important to Tribal economies. Projections for climate change in the no
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Scouting out high water marks after blizzard

Flood Documentation and Inundation Mapping of the January and March 2018 Nor’easters in Coastal Massachusetts

2018 Nor’easters in Coastal Massachusetts
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New England Water Science Center
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Flood Documentation and Inundation Mapping of the January and March 2018 Nor’easters in Coastal Massachusetts

2018 Nor’easters in Coastal Massachusetts
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Hydrologic Technicians set up a total station near a covered bridge on the Housatonic River in Connecticut

Applied Hydrology Program

The mission of the Applied Hydrology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center (WSC) is to support water resource managers, stakeholders, and policy makers with the hydrologic data, interpretation, and tools they need to manage and make critical decisions about water resources throughout New England. This program is divided into two broad sections: the Hydrology...
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New England Water Science Center
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Applied Hydrology Program

The mission of the Applied Hydrology Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center (WSC) is to support water resource managers, stakeholders, and policy makers with the hydrologic data, interpretation, and tools they need to manage and make critical decisions about water resources throughout New England. This program is divided into two broad sections: the Hydrology...
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Groundwater sampling array Cape Cod Massachusetts

Preliminary Research into the Causes of Iron Fouling in Water at Roadway Construction Sites

The USGS and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation are conducting preliminary research into the causes of iron fouling in water at roadway construction sites where blasted bedrock is used as on-site fill material.
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New England Water Science Center
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Preliminary Research into the Causes of Iron Fouling in Water at Roadway Construction Sites

The USGS and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation are conducting preliminary research into the causes of iron fouling in water at roadway construction sites where blasted bedrock is used as on-site fill material.
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Screenshot of the Flood Insurance Map

Development of Flood Insurance Maps in New England

FEMA has requested USGS expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and mapping to generate flood insurance maps for New England.
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New England Water Science Center
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Development of Flood Insurance Maps in New England

FEMA has requested USGS expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and mapping to generate flood insurance maps for New England.
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Surveying for the FEMA project

Development of Regional Regression Equations to Estimate the Magnitude of Peak Flows for Selected Annual-Exceedance Probabilities in Maine

The flood-frequency characteristics for streamgages and regression equations for estimating flood magnitudes have been published.
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New England Water Science Center
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Development of Regional Regression Equations to Estimate the Magnitude of Peak Flows for Selected Annual-Exceedance Probabilities in Maine

The flood-frequency characteristics for streamgages and regression equations for estimating flood magnitudes have been published.
Learn More

Data for Models Estimating Baseflow for Streams Containing Endangered Atlantic Salmon in Maine, USA

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a regression model for estimating August mean baseflow per square mile of drainage area to help resource managers assess relative amounts of baseflow in streams with Maine Atlantic Salmon habitat. The model was derived from August mean baseflows computed at 31 USGS streamgages in and near the Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon Habitat Recovery Units. An ordin
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New England Water Science Center

Spatial Coverage for Estimated Baseflow for Streams Containing Endangered Atlantic Salmon in Maine, USA (version 1.1, June 2022)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a regression model for estimating mean August baseflow per square mile of drainage area in cooperation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help resource managers assess relative amounts of baseflow in streams with Maine Atlantic Salmon habitat (Lombard and others, 2021). The model was applied to each reach of a stream network d
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New England Water Science Center

Spatial Coverage for Estimated Baseflow for Streams Containing Endangered Atlantic Salmon in Maine, USA

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a regression model for estimating mean August baseflow per square mile of drainage area in cooperation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help resource managers assess relative amounts of baseflow in streams with Maine Atlantic Salmon habitat (Lombard and others, 2021). The model was applied to each reach of a stream network d

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New England Water Science Center

Data and shapefiles used to document the floods associated with the January and March 2018 Nor'easters for Coastal Areas of New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New England Water Science Center worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to document the floods of January 4, 2018 and March 2-4, 2018, in coastal Massachusetts. USGS conducted a frequency analysis of stillwater elevations at three National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coastal gages following the coastal floods of 2018. The data for these an
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New England Water Science Center

Results of peak-flow frequency analysis and regionalization for selected streamgages in or near Maine, based on data through water year 2019

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently completed a report documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines (https://doi.org/10.3133/tm4B5). The methods provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgages operated by the USGS and E
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New England Water Science Center

Penobscot River Cross Section Data pre- and post-Dam Removal

The Great Works (20 feet high) and Veazie (30 feet high) dams on the lower section of the Penobscot River in Maine were removed during the summers of 2012 and 2013, respectively. Channel cross sections upstream and downstream of these dams from just below the Milford Dam to the head‐of‐tide at Eddington Bend just below the former Veazie Dam were surveyed before and after the dams were removed in o
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New England Water Science Center

Flood-Inundation Grids and Shapefiles for the Lower Pawcatuck River in Westerly, Rhode Island, and Stonington and North Stonington, Connecticut

A series of 11 digital flood-inundation maps were developed for a 5.5 mile reach of the Pawcatuck River in Westerly, Rhode Island and Stonington and North Stonington, Connecticut by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Town of Westerly, Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development. The coverage of the maps extends from downstream from the Ashaway Rive
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New England Water Science Center

Flood Inundation Grids and Shapefiles for the Pawtuxet River in West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston, Rhode Island

A series of 15 digital flood-inundation shapefiles and grids were developed for a 10.2 mile reach of the Pawtuxet River in West Warwick, Warwick, and Cranston, Rhode Island by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The coverage of the maps extends from downstream of Natick Pond Dam near State Route 33/Providence Str
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New England Water Science Center

Bathymetric data for St. Croix River at outlet to East Grand Lake and Forest City Dam Survey, United States-Canadian border between Maine and New Brunswick

These are survey data for the Forest City Dam at the Outlet to East Grand Lake on the St. Croix River between Maine and Canada. And they are bathymetric data surrounding the outlet dam collected with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)
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New England Water Science Center

Precipitation and streamflow data for computing lag to peak at selected stations in Maine

These are rainfall and stream stage data collected at gaging sites in Maine. Data were collected from March to October from 2008 to 2015 and include stage data at crest stage gages, ratings to convert stage data to streamflow data, previously unpublished rainfall data, rainfall binned into specified time intervals, and storm files combining rainfall and streamflow data. Data were collected, compi
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New England Water Science Center
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Products about January and March 2018 Nor’easters

Products created to document ‘January and March 2018 Nor’easters’ in Coastal Massachusetts illustrate how historic flood events provide context that...

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