Paul Work, Ph.D., P.E., D.CE

Paul Work serves as the Program Chief for Estuarine Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport at the USGS California Water Science Center in Sacramento, California. In this role he oversees and conducts research on flows of water, sediment, and other water quality constituents in San Francisco and adjoining bays and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system. This work is funded by a variety of sponsors, involves a significant amount of real-time field measurements, and is motivated by a desire to maintain and improve the environmental health of the bay-estuary system and its inhabitants, while simultaneously meeting human needs for water.

Dr. Work joined USGS in 2013 after 20 years as a faculty member in civil and environmental engineering programs at Georgia Tech and Clemson University. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of California - Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering from the University of Florida. He is a Professional Engineer and has served as a consultant on domestic and international port and harbor problems and development projects. He serves on the board for the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port, and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE).

Publications

Schoellhamer, D.H., Manning, A.J., and Work, P.A., 2017. Erosion characteristics and horizontal variability for small erosion depths in the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta, California, USA: Ocean Dynamics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-017-1047-2.

Work, P.A., Downing-Kunz, M.A., and Livsey, D., 2017. Record-high specific conductance and water temperature in San Francisco Bay during water year 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1022, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171022.

Öztürk, M.E., and Work, P.A., 2017. Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter Backscatter for Quantification of Suspended Sediment Concentration in South San Francisco Bay, USA. International conference on coastal engineering, ASCE, Istanbul, Turkey.

Karasu, S., Work, P.A., Uzlu, E., Kankal, M., and Yuksek, O., 2016. Beach nourishment alternative assessment to constrain cross-shore and longshore sediment transport. Applied Ocean Research, 59, 459-471, IP-072859, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2016.07.001

Öztürk, M.E., and Work, P.A., 2016. Comparison of acoustic backscatter to turbidity for suspended sediment estimation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. International Symposium on River Sedimentation, September 19 – 22, Stuttgart, Germany.

Schoellhamer, D.H., Manning, A.J., and Work, P.A., 2016. Tools for monitoring bed erodibility and suspended properties of cohesive sediment: Proceedings of the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference, Tampa, Florida, May 2-6, 2016.

Work, P.A., Haas, K.A., Warren, D.A., and Elci, Ş., 2015. Assessment and transport of sediment-bound estuarine contaminants. Water Qual Expo Health, DOI 10.1007/s12403-013-0101-7.

Hammerstein, H., Work, P.A., and Frischer, M., 2015. Bacteriophage tracer for fecal contamination sources in coastal waters. Water Quality, Exposure and Health, Springer. DOI 10.1007/s12403-013-0104-4.

Downing-Kunz, M.A., Work, P.A., and Shellenbarger, G.G., 2015. Record-high specific conductance and temperature in San Francisco Bay during water year 2014: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1213. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2015/1213/ofr20151213.pdf [Link]

Srisuwan, C., Work, P.A., Karasu, S., and Ismail, 2014. Beach profile model with size-selective sediment transport. Part 1: Laboratory experiments and hydrodynamic modeling. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., ASCE.

Srisuwan, C., and Work, P.A., 2014. Beach profile model with size-selective sediment transport. Part 2: Numerical modeling. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., ASCE.

Srisuwan, C., and Work, P.A., 2013. Directional wave spectra from acoustic Doppler current profiler data in sheared and stratified flows. Ocean Engineering, 72, 149-159, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2013.06.003. [Link]

Work, P.A., Haas, K.A., Defne, Z., and Gay, T., 2013. Tidal stream energy site assessment via three-dimensional model and measurements. Applied Energy, 102, 510-519, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.08.040.

Hammerstein, H., Work, P.A., and Frischer, M., 2013. Coliphage versus fluorescent dye as tracers of fecal contamination sources in coastal waters. 6th Intl. Perspective on Water Resources and the Environment, ASCE, Izmir, Turkey.

Work, P.A., Haas, K., Otay, E., Warren, D., and Elci, S., 2013. Risk analysis for transport of contaminated estuarine sediments. 6th Intl. Perspective on Water Resources and the Environment, ASCE, Izmir, Turkey.

Edge, B.L., and Ewing, L., Eds., 2013. Hurricane Ike Field Investigation: A Report of Field Observations on October 3-6, 2008. Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute, ASCE, Reston, VA.

Work, P.A., Brandes, J., Bruder, B.L., Haas, K.A., and Srisuwan, C., 2013. The Engineering-Science Interface in the Coastal Ocean: Tidal Power Resource Estimation. Paper accepted for 2013 ASEE Conference and Exposition, Atlanta, GA. Not presented due to lack of travel funds.

Work, P.A., 2011. Directional bimodality in nearshore, surface water wave energy spectra, Georgia, USA. Intl. J. of Ocean and Climate Systems, 2(3), 153-168.

Ozeren, Y., Wren, D.G., Altinakar, M., and Work, P.A., 2011. Experimental investigation of cylindrical floating breakwater performance with various mooring configurations. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., 1(58), DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000090.

Yoo, J., Fritz, H.M., Haas, K., Work, P.A., and Barnes, C.F., 2011. Depth inversion in the surf zone with inclusion of wave nonlinearity using video-derived celerity. ASCE J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000068.

Srisuwan, C., Work, P.A., Karasu, S., Kömürcü, M.I., and Özölçer, İ.H., 2011. Physical modeling of cross-shore profile evolution and grain sorting. 7th (Turkish) National Coastal Engineering Conference, Trabzon, Turkey (in Turkish).

Work, P.A., and Srisuwan, C., 2011. Nearshore applications of wave buoys. Ocean Waves Workshop, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA.

Edge, B.L., Ewing, L., Dean, R.G., Kaihatu, J.M., Overton, M., Rogers, S., and Work, P.A., 2010. Immediate impacts of Hurricane Ike on the Texas coast. Proc. Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE, Shanghai, China.

Work, P.A., Karasu, S., Cambazoglu, M.K., and Srisuwan, C., 2010. Sediment size influence on beach nourishment evolution. Invited presentation, Advances in Civil Engineering Conference, Trabzon, Turkey.

Work, P.A., Sapp, A., Scott, D., and Dodd, M.G., 2010. Influence of small vessel operation and propulsion system on loggerhead sea turtle injuries. J. Exp Mar Biol Ecol., 393, 168-175. doi: 10.1016/j.jembe.2010.07.019.

Work, P.A., and Srisuwan, C., 2010. Identification of swell in nearshore surface wave energy spectra. Intl. J. of Ocean and Climate Systems, 1(2), 51-66.

Haus, B.K., Shay, L.K., Work, P.A., Voulgaris, G., Ramos, R.J., and Martinez-Pedraja, J., 2010. Wind speed dependence of single-site wave height retrievals from High Frequency radars. J. of Atmos and Oceanic Tech, 27(8), 1381-1394. doi: 10.1175/2010JTECHO730.1.

Ewing, L., Stauble, D.K., Work, P.A., Edge, B.L., Rogers, S.M., Loeffler, M.U., Kaihatu, J.M., Overton, M., Waters, J.P., Suzuki, K., Dean, R.G., Garrett, M.H., Wiggins, E., and Gregory, G.H., 2009. Field investigation of Hurricane Ike impacts to the upper Texas coast. Shore and Beach, 77(2), 9-23.

Edge, B.L., Rogers, S., Dean, R.G., Kaihatu, J.M., Ewing, L., Loeffler, M., Overton, M., Suzuki, K., Work, P.A., Gregory, G., Stauble, D., Waters, J., Wiggins, E., and Garrett, M., 2009. Hurricane Ike Field Survey: A Report of Field Observations from October 3-6, 2008. ASCE report sponsored by Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute, and Geotechnical Institute. 147 pp.

Elçi, Ş., Aydin, R., and Work, P.A., 2009. Estimation of suspended sediment concentration in rivers using acoustic methods. Environ Monit and Assess, 159:255-265. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0627-5.

Yoo, J., H.M. Fritz, K.A. Haas, P.A. Work, C.F. Barnes, Y. Cho, 2008. Observation of wave celerity evolution in the nearshore using digital video imagery, EOS Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS13D-1224.

Voulgaris, G., Haus, B.K., and Work, P.A., 2008. Waves initiative within SEACOOS. Marine Technology Society Journal, special issue on Global Lessons Learned from Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, 42(3), 68-80.

Work, P.A., 2008. Nearshore directional wave measurements by surface-following buoy and acoustic Doppler current profiler. Ocean Eng., 35, Elsevier, 727-737, doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2003.10.071.

Warner, J.C., Sullivan, C.M., Voulgaris, G., and Work, P.A., 2008. Effect of Storms on Sediment Transport in Long Bay, South Carolina. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria.

Karasu, S., Work, P.A., Cambazoğlu, M.K., and Yuksek, O., 2008. Coupled longshore and cross-shore models for beach nourishment evolution at laboratory scale. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., ASCE, 134(1), 30-39.

Work, P.A., Moore, T., and Haas, K., 2007. Waves and currents in the Georgia Bight: Scientific Diving in Georgia and South Carolina. Proc. 2006 Symposium of the American Academy of Underwater Scientists, Friday Harbor, WA.

Elçi, Ş., Work, P.A., and Hayter, E.J., 2007. Influence of stratification and shoreline erosion on reservoir sedimentation patterns. J. of Hydraulic Eng., ASCE, 133(3), 255-266.

Haus, B.K., Wang, M., Shay, L.K., Wyatt, L., Work, P.A., Voulgaris, G., and Gurgel, K.-W., 2007. HF radar observation of wave directional spectra in a strong current regime. Oceans ’07, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Yoo, J., Fritz, H., Haas, K., Work, P., and Barnes, C., 2006. Wave celerity estimation and depth inversion using linear feature extraction from nearshore video images. Proc. Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE.

Gutierrez, B.T., Voulgaris, G., and Work, P.A., 2006. Cross-shore variation of wind-driven flows on the inner shelf in Long Bay, South Carolina, United States. J. of Geophys. Research, 111, C03015, doi:10.1029/2005JC003121.

Sullivan, C.M., Warner, J.C., Martini, M.A., Voulgaris, V., Work, P.A., Haas, K.A., and Hanes, D., 2006. South Carolina Coastal Erosion Study: Data Report for Observations, October 2003-April 2004. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1429.

Work, P.A., 2006. Triaxys wave buoy and RD Instruments ADCP. Hydro International, 10(4).

Sullivan, C.M., Warner, J.C., Martini, M.A., Lightsom, F.S., Voulgaris, G., and Work, P.A., 2005. Wave data processing toolbox manual. U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 2005-1211, 86pp.

Yoo, J., Fritz, H., Haas, K., Work, P., and Barnes, C., 2005. Wave property estimation using linear feature extraction from nearshore wave images. Proc. Waves 2005, ASCE.

Fritz, H., Yoo, J., Haas, K., Work, P., and Barnes, C., 2005. Particle image velocimetry applied to nearshore video wave images. Proc. Waves 2005, ASCE.

Johnson, C., and Work, P.A., 2005. Nearshore dredged spoil mounds for beach erosion prevention and mitigation. Proc. Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2005, ASCE, 433-442.

Work, P.A., Fehrenbacher, F., and Voulgaris, G., 2004. Nearshore impacts of dredging for beach nourishment. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., 130(6), ASCE, 303-311.

Demir, H., Otay, E., Work, P., and Borekçi, O., 2004. Shoreline change due to nearshore dredging. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., ASCE, 130(4), 170-178.

Elçi, Ş., and Work, P.A., 2004. Field observations for definition of hydrodynamic circulation in Hartwell Lake, SC/GA. Proc. 6th Intl. Congress on Advances in Civil Eng., Istanbul, Turkey.

Work, P.A., Demir, H., Kaihatu, J.M., and Voulgaris, G., 2004. Mesoscale wave energy dissipation over heterogeneous sediments. Proc. Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE.

Demir, H., Otay, E.N., Work, P.A., and Börekçi, O.S., 2003. Effects of dredge holes on the shoreline change in the Black Sea. Proc. Coastal Sediments ’03, ASCE, St. Petersburg, FL.

Work, P.A., Fehrenbacher, F., Voulgaris, G., and Chen, W., 2003. Nearshore Dredging Impacts, Folly Island, South Carolina, USA. Proc. Coastal Sediments ’03, ASCE, St. Petersburg, FL.

Elci, Ş., and Work, P.A., 2003. Numerical modeling of hydrodynamic circulation and cohesive sediment transport in Hartwell Lake, South Carolina/Georgia, USA. Contaminated Sediments: Characterization, Evaluation, Mitigation, Restoration, and Management Strategy Performance. ASTM, STP 1442, J. Locat et al., eds., 296-309.

Elci, Ş., and Work, P.A., 2003. Prediction of shoreline erosion at Hartwell Lake, SC/GA. 2003 Georgia Water Resources Conference, Athens, GA.

Work, P.A., Otay, E.N., Börekçi, O.S., Demir, H., 2002. Marine Sand Exploitation on the Turkish Black Sea Coast. Mediterranean and Black Sea Beaches 2002: Beaches of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Dynamics, Regeneration, Ecology & Management, Sarigerme/Dalaman, Turkey.

Work, P.A., Voulgaris, G., and Fehrenbacher, F., 2002. Nearshore impacts of dredging for beach nourishment. Proc. Littoral 2002, Porto, Portugal.

Otay, E.N., Börekçi, O.S., Demir, H., and Work, P.A., 2002. Marine Sand Exploitation in the Black Sea Coast of Turkey. Proc. Littoral 2002, Porto, Portugal.

Work, P.A., Moore, P., and Reible, D.D., 2002. Bioturbation, advection and diffusion of a conserved contaminant in a laboratory flume. AGU J. of Water Resources Res., 38(6), 24-1-24-9.

Work, P.A., Guan, J., Hayter, E.J., and Elçi, Ş., 2001. Mesoscale model for morphologic change at tidal inlets. J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng., 127(5), ASCE, 282-289.

Copty, N., Otay, E.N., and Work, P.A., 2000. Residual contamination at seabed due to vertical transport of oil. Oil Spills in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions, Second International Conference, Istanbul, Turkey.

Work, P.A. Rogers, S.M., Jr., and Osborne, R., 1999. Retrofit superelevation of coastal residential structures. J. Water Resources Planning and Management, 125(2), ASCE, New York, NY, 88-93.

Kana, T.W., Hayter, E.J., and Work, P.A., 1999. Scales of sediment transport and morphologic changes at tidal inlets. J. Coastal Res., 15(2), 303-313.

Atanov, G.A., Evseeva, E.G., and Work, P.A., 1998. The variational problem of water level stabilization in open channels. J. Hydraulic Eng., 124(1), ASCE, New York, NY, 50-54.

Work, P.A., Hansen, M., and Rogers, W.E., 1998. Bathymetric surveying with GPS technology and heave, pitch, and roll compensation, J. Surveying Eng., 124(2), ASCE, 73-90.

Work, P.A., and Rogers, W.E., 1998. Laboratory study of beach nourishment behavior. J. Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Eng., 124(5), ASCE, New York, NY, 229-237.

Work, P.A., and Riffat, S.E., 1997. Hydrodynamics and wave transformation at selected South Carolina tidal inlets. Proc. Coastal Dynamics '97, ASCE.

Work, P.A., and Kaihatu, J.M., 1997. Wave transformation at Pensacola Pass, FL: Field and numerical model results. J. Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Eng., 123(6), ASCE, New York, NY, 314-321.

Work, P.A., and Rogers, W.E., 1997. Wave transformation for beach nourishment projects. Coastal Eng., 32(1), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1-18.

Rogers, W.E., and Work, P.A., 1996. Mathematical and physical modeling of beach nourishment projects. Proc. 25th Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE, 2941-2954.

Work, P.A., and Otay, E.N., 1996. Influence of nearshore sand berm on beach nourishment. Proc. 25th Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE, 3722-3735.

Work, P.A., and Dean, R.G, 1995. Assessment and prediction of beach nourishment evolution. J. Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Eng., 121(3), American Soc. of Civil Eng. (ASCE), New York, NY, 182-189.

Work, P.A., Rogers, W.E., and Hayter, E.J., 1995. South Carolina Coastal Erosion Study: inlet morphodynamics and sediment transport. Proc. Coastal Dynamics, ‘95, ASCE, 1047-1058.

Work, P.A., 1993. Monitoring the evolution of a beach nourishment project. Proc. Coastal Zone ‘93, Beach Nourishment Engineering and Management Considerations Volume, ASCE, New York, NY, 57-70.

Dean, R.G., and Work, P.A., 1993. Interaction of navigational entrances with adjacent shorelines. J. Coastal Res., SI 18, 91-110.

Work, P.A., 1992. Sediment transport processes at a nourished beach. Ph.D. dissertation, Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Work, P.A., and Dean, R.G., 1991. Effect of varying sediment sizes on equilibrium beach profiles. Proc. Coastal Sediments ‘91, ASCE, New York, NY.

Work, P.A., and Dean, R.G., 1990. Even/odd analysis of shoreline changes adjacent to Florida's tidal inlets. Proc. 22nd Intl. Conf. on Coastal Eng., ASCE.