Paul Kinzel
Paul Kinzel is a Hydrologist with the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Education
M.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, May 1998
B.S. in Environmental Science, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, May 1995
Science and Products
Clear Creek Reservoir Bathymetry
To better characterize the water supply capacity of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pueblo Board of Water Works and Colorado Mountain College, carried out a bathymetry survey of Clear Creek Reservoir. The equipment and methods used in this study allowed water-resource managers to maintain typical reservoir operations, eliminating...
Filter Total Items: 47
Digital orthophotographs and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, collected July 1-3, 2025 Digital orthophotographs and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, collected July 1-3, 2025
This data release includes digital orthophotos acquired from a fixed-wing aircraft and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, Alaska, obtained July 1 - 3, 2025. This parent data release includes links to child pages for the data sets produced during the study (see child item links below): 1. Digital orthophotos of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers in...
ScienceBase river bathymetry surveys in GeoPackage format ScienceBase river bathymetry surveys in GeoPackage format
At present, 2026, USGS river bathymetry surveys in ScienceBase lack a consistent, standardized organizational structure which impedes discovery and use of these datasets. Standardization of USGS bathymetry surveys allows these data to be more easily identified, queried, and incorporated into any number of science applications across a range of spatial scales. This data release includes...
Field measurements of water depth and remotely sensed data from the Mulchatna River, Alaska, collected July 12-August 14, 2024 Field measurements of water depth and remotely sensed data from the Mulchatna River, Alaska, collected July 12-August 14, 2024
This data release provides field measurements of water depth and aerial and satellite images from the Mulchatna River in Alaska. These data were used to assess the feasibility of mapping the bathymetry of this remote, proglacial river, located in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, using several depth retrieval algorithms. This approach could facilitate geomorphic and habitat...
In situ measurements of water depth collected with acoustic Doppler current profilers and remotely sensed depths acquired with a software-defined radar deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system, Sacramento River, California, September 18-19, 2024 In situ measurements of water depth collected with acoustic Doppler current profilers and remotely sensed depths acquired with a software-defined radar deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system, Sacramento River, California, September 18-19, 2024
A reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, was selected as a field site to test the performance of a software-defined radar (SDRadar) developed by the University of Southern California. The SDRadar can be deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and is designed to measure river depth. This data release contains measurements of river depth collected with two different...
Orthomosaic maps of the Clackamas River, Oregon, produced from images acquired April 16-18, 2024 Orthomosaic maps of the Clackamas River, Oregon, produced from images acquired April 16-18, 2024
A Cessna 182 fixed-wing aircraft equipped with a multispectral camera was used to collect aerial imagery of selected river reaches within the Willamette River Integrated Water Science basin in Oregon. On April 16-18, 2024, image acquisition was focused on four reaches of the Clackamas River. Photogrammetry techniques were applied to the images consisting of visible or red, green, and...
Remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code used to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, CA, September 16-19, 2024 Remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code used to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, CA, September 16-19, 2024
This data release provides remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code associated with an effort to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River in California's Central Valley. Data collection occurred from September 16-19, 2024, and involved cooperators from the Intelligent Robotics Group from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration...
Bathymetry of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, 2016 Bathymetry of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, 2016
To better characterize the water supply capacity of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pueblo Board of Water Works and Colorado Mountain College, carried out a bathymetry survey of Clear Creek Reservoir. A bathymetry map of the reservoir is presented here with the elevation-surface area and the elevation-volume relations...
Bathymetry of the Hong and Luoc River Junction, Red River Delta, Vietnam, 2010 Bathymetry of the Hong and Luoc River Junction, Red River Delta, Vietnam, 2010
The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Water Resources University in Hanoi, Vietnam, conducted a bathymetric survey of the junction of the Hong and Luoc Rivers. The survey was done to characterize the channel morphology of this delta distributary network and provide input for hydrodynamic and sediment transport models. The survey was carried out in December 2010 using a...
Filter Total Items: 66
Development and field testing of a UAS-based-software-defined radar for measuring freshwater bathymetry Development and field testing of a UAS-based-software-defined radar for measuring freshwater bathymetry
We provide an overview of an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based software-defined radar (SDRadar) system for high-resolution geophysical observations. The radar transceiver is implemented on a Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) platform, along with an ultra-wideband Vivaldi antenna that has a starting operating frequency of 150 MHz, enabling the system to be used across different...
Authors
Sepehr Eskandari, Asem Melebari, Paul J. Kinzel, Robert Russell Lotspeich, Jack R. Eggleston, Mahta Moghaddam
The 2025 “Hacking Limnology” Workshop Series and DSOS Virtual Summit: A half decade of data-intensive aquatic science The 2025 “Hacking Limnology” Workshop Series and DSOS Virtual Summit: A half decade of data-intensive aquatic science
No abstract available.
Authors
Michael Frederick Meyer, Jorrit Mesman, Carolina C. Barbosa, Jonathan J Borelli, Johannes Feldbauer, Merritt Elizabeth Harlan, Robert T. Hensley, Burak Kuyumcu, Robert Ladwig, Isabella Oleksy, Rachel M. Pilla, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Matthew Biddle, Paul J. Kinzel, Carl J. Legleiter, Tadhg Moore, Tylar Murray, Lipa Nkwalale, Brandon Overstreet, Mehraz Rumman, Whitney M. Woelmer
Toward an efficient framework for remote sensing of river bathymetry: Comparing sensors and algorithms on an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska Toward an efficient framework for remote sensing of river bathymetry: Comparing sensors and algorithms on an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska
Remote sensing can provide reliable information on river depths and this approach might be particularly valuable in areas that are difficult to survey via conventional field methods. In this study, we assessed the potential to map the bathymetry of an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska from both aerial orthophotos and a multispectral satellite image. In addition, we evaluated a...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Christina M. Leonard, Paul A. Burger, Addison G. Pletcher, Paul J. Kinzel
Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees
Remote sensing has emerged as an effective tool for characterizing river systems, and machine learning (ML) techniques could make this approach even more powerful. To explore this possibility, we developed an ML-based workflow for hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees (HIRBERT). This approach involves using paired observations of depth and...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Brandon Overstreet, Lee R. Harrison
A generalized framework for inferring river bathymetry from image-derived velocity fields A generalized framework for inferring river bathymetry from image-derived velocity fields
Although established techniques for remote sensing of river bathymetry perform poorly in turbid water, image velocimetry can be effective under these conditions. This study describes a framework for mapping both of these attributes: Depths Inferred from Velocities Estimated by Remote Sensing, or DIVERS. The workflow involves linking image-derived velocities to depth via a flow resistance...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel
Mapping river flow from thermal images in approximately real time: Proof of concept on the Sacramento River, California, USA Mapping river flow from thermal images in approximately real time: Proof of concept on the Sacramento River, California, USA
Image velocimetry has become an effective method of mapping flow conditions in rivers, but this analysis is typically performed in a post-processing mode after data collection is complete. In this study, we evaluated the potential to infer flow velocities in approximately real time as thermal images are being acquired from an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). The sensitivity of thermal...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Michael Dille, Massimo Vespignani, Uland Wong, Isaac E Anderson, Elizabeth Hyde, Christopher L. Gazoorian, Jennifer Marie Cramer
Science and Products
Clear Creek Reservoir Bathymetry
To better characterize the water supply capacity of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pueblo Board of Water Works and Colorado Mountain College, carried out a bathymetry survey of Clear Creek Reservoir. The equipment and methods used in this study allowed water-resource managers to maintain typical reservoir operations, eliminating...
Filter Total Items: 47
Digital orthophotographs and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, collected July 1-3, 2025 Digital orthophotographs and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, collected July 1-3, 2025
This data release includes digital orthophotos acquired from a fixed-wing aircraft and field measurements of flow velocity and depth from the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, Alaska, obtained July 1 - 3, 2025. This parent data release includes links to child pages for the data sets produced during the study (see child item links below): 1. Digital orthophotos of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers in...
ScienceBase river bathymetry surveys in GeoPackage format ScienceBase river bathymetry surveys in GeoPackage format
At present, 2026, USGS river bathymetry surveys in ScienceBase lack a consistent, standardized organizational structure which impedes discovery and use of these datasets. Standardization of USGS bathymetry surveys allows these data to be more easily identified, queried, and incorporated into any number of science applications across a range of spatial scales. This data release includes...
Field measurements of water depth and remotely sensed data from the Mulchatna River, Alaska, collected July 12-August 14, 2024 Field measurements of water depth and remotely sensed data from the Mulchatna River, Alaska, collected July 12-August 14, 2024
This data release provides field measurements of water depth and aerial and satellite images from the Mulchatna River in Alaska. These data were used to assess the feasibility of mapping the bathymetry of this remote, proglacial river, located in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, using several depth retrieval algorithms. This approach could facilitate geomorphic and habitat...
In situ measurements of water depth collected with acoustic Doppler current profilers and remotely sensed depths acquired with a software-defined radar deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system, Sacramento River, California, September 18-19, 2024 In situ measurements of water depth collected with acoustic Doppler current profilers and remotely sensed depths acquired with a software-defined radar deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system, Sacramento River, California, September 18-19, 2024
A reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, California, was selected as a field site to test the performance of a software-defined radar (SDRadar) developed by the University of Southern California. The SDRadar can be deployed from an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and is designed to measure river depth. This data release contains measurements of river depth collected with two different...
Orthomosaic maps of the Clackamas River, Oregon, produced from images acquired April 16-18, 2024 Orthomosaic maps of the Clackamas River, Oregon, produced from images acquired April 16-18, 2024
A Cessna 182 fixed-wing aircraft equipped with a multispectral camera was used to collect aerial imagery of selected river reaches within the Willamette River Integrated Water Science basin in Oregon. On April 16-18, 2024, image acquisition was focused on four reaches of the Clackamas River. Photogrammetry techniques were applied to the images consisting of visible or red, green, and...
Remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code used to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, CA, September 16-19, 2024 Remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code used to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River near Glenn, CA, September 16-19, 2024
This data release provides remotely sensed data, field measurements, and MATLAB code associated with an effort to produce image-derived velocity maps for a reach of the Sacramento River in California's Central Valley. Data collection occurred from September 16-19, 2024, and involved cooperators from the Intelligent Robotics Group from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration...
Bathymetry of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, 2016 Bathymetry of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, 2016
To better characterize the water supply capacity of Clear Creek Reservoir, Chaffee County, Colorado, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pueblo Board of Water Works and Colorado Mountain College, carried out a bathymetry survey of Clear Creek Reservoir. A bathymetry map of the reservoir is presented here with the elevation-surface area and the elevation-volume relations...
Bathymetry of the Hong and Luoc River Junction, Red River Delta, Vietnam, 2010 Bathymetry of the Hong and Luoc River Junction, Red River Delta, Vietnam, 2010
The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Water Resources University in Hanoi, Vietnam, conducted a bathymetric survey of the junction of the Hong and Luoc Rivers. The survey was done to characterize the channel morphology of this delta distributary network and provide input for hydrodynamic and sediment transport models. The survey was carried out in December 2010 using a...
Filter Total Items: 66
Development and field testing of a UAS-based-software-defined radar for measuring freshwater bathymetry Development and field testing of a UAS-based-software-defined radar for measuring freshwater bathymetry
We provide an overview of an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based software-defined radar (SDRadar) system for high-resolution geophysical observations. The radar transceiver is implemented on a Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) platform, along with an ultra-wideband Vivaldi antenna that has a starting operating frequency of 150 MHz, enabling the system to be used across different...
Authors
Sepehr Eskandari, Asem Melebari, Paul J. Kinzel, Robert Russell Lotspeich, Jack R. Eggleston, Mahta Moghaddam
The 2025 “Hacking Limnology” Workshop Series and DSOS Virtual Summit: A half decade of data-intensive aquatic science The 2025 “Hacking Limnology” Workshop Series and DSOS Virtual Summit: A half decade of data-intensive aquatic science
No abstract available.
Authors
Michael Frederick Meyer, Jorrit Mesman, Carolina C. Barbosa, Jonathan J Borelli, Johannes Feldbauer, Merritt Elizabeth Harlan, Robert T. Hensley, Burak Kuyumcu, Robert Ladwig, Isabella Oleksy, Rachel M. Pilla, Jacob Aaron Zwart, Matthew Biddle, Paul J. Kinzel, Carl J. Legleiter, Tadhg Moore, Tylar Murray, Lipa Nkwalale, Brandon Overstreet, Mehraz Rumman, Whitney M. Woelmer
Toward an efficient framework for remote sensing of river bathymetry: Comparing sensors and algorithms on an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska Toward an efficient framework for remote sensing of river bathymetry: Comparing sensors and algorithms on an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska
Remote sensing can provide reliable information on river depths and this approach might be particularly valuable in areas that are difficult to survey via conventional field methods. In this study, we assessed the potential to map the bathymetry of an inaccessible proglacial river in Alaska from both aerial orthophotos and a multispectral satellite image. In addition, we evaluated a...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Christina M. Leonard, Paul A. Burger, Addison G. Pletcher, Paul J. Kinzel
Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees
Remote sensing has emerged as an effective tool for characterizing river systems, and machine learning (ML) techniques could make this approach even more powerful. To explore this possibility, we developed an ML-based workflow for hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees (HIRBERT). This approach involves using paired observations of depth and...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Brandon Overstreet, Lee R. Harrison
A generalized framework for inferring river bathymetry from image-derived velocity fields A generalized framework for inferring river bathymetry from image-derived velocity fields
Although established techniques for remote sensing of river bathymetry perform poorly in turbid water, image velocimetry can be effective under these conditions. This study describes a framework for mapping both of these attributes: Depths Inferred from Velocities Estimated by Remote Sensing, or DIVERS. The workflow involves linking image-derived velocities to depth via a flow resistance...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel
Mapping river flow from thermal images in approximately real time: Proof of concept on the Sacramento River, California, USA Mapping river flow from thermal images in approximately real time: Proof of concept on the Sacramento River, California, USA
Image velocimetry has become an effective method of mapping flow conditions in rivers, but this analysis is typically performed in a post-processing mode after data collection is complete. In this study, we evaluated the potential to infer flow velocities in approximately real time as thermal images are being acquired from an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). The sensitivity of thermal...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Michael Dille, Massimo Vespignani, Uland Wong, Isaac E Anderson, Elizabeth Hyde, Christopher L. Gazoorian, Jennifer Marie Cramer