Phillip Goodling
Phillip Goodling is a hydrologist in the Water Budget Branch (Earth System Processes Division) of the US Geological Survey Water Resources Mission Area. He joined the US Geological Survey in 2018 and joined the Water Resources Mission Area in 2023.
Phillip's research interests include:
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence applications in the geosciences
- Characterizing and forecasting drought
- Karst groundwater systems
- Building tools and pipelines for reproducible data analysis
- Low-cost and non-contact sensor systems
Education and Certifications
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
M.S. in Geology (December 2018).
Thesis: Seismic Observations of Fluvial Energy DissipationThe College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
B.S. in Geology (May 2014).
Thesis: Tidal River-Aquifer Salinity Communication and its Implications for Drinking Water Quality in Jamestown, Virginia
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
Trends in Modelled Public Supply, Irrigation, and Thermoelectric Water Use Across the Conterminous United States from 2000-2020 (ver. 2.0, June 2026) Trends in Modelled Public Supply, Irrigation, and Thermoelectric Water Use Across the Conterminous United States from 2000-2020 (ver. 2.0, June 2026)
This data release contains Mann-Kendall trend results (p-values and Theil-Sen slope values) of water use data in either 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC08) or Van Metre hydrologic regions across the conterminous United States (CONUS) for the period 2000-2020. Trends are computed for 7 timesteps: annual, winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), spring (Mar, Apr, May), summer (Jun, Jul, Aug), fall (Sep...
Delaware River Basin depth to bedrock observations, model predictions, and explanatory variables Delaware River Basin depth to bedrock observations, model predictions, and explanatory variables
This data release contains model inputs, R code, and model outputs for predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin at a 1km gridded resolution with a random forest model. Model inputs are provided in a comma-separated value (csv) file. The training data used in this study of 72,773 point observations of depth to bedrock (DTB) within the Delaware River Basin (DRB) that was...
Long-term water-quality trends for rivers and streams within the contiguous United States using Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) (ver. 1.1, March 2025) Long-term water-quality trends for rivers and streams within the contiguous United States using Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) (ver. 1.1, March 2025)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area (WMA) is working to address a need to understand where the Nation is experiencing water shortages or surpluses relative to the demand for water need by delivering routine assessments of water supply and demand. It is also improving understanding of the natural and human factors affecting the balance between supply and demand. A key...
Groundwater level trends for 110 U.S. Geological Survey observation wells in the Delaware River Basin Groundwater level trends for 110 U.S. Geological Survey observation wells in the Delaware River Basin
This data release contains groundwater level trend results from 110 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) observation wells in and near the Delaware River Basin. Mean annual groundwater level elevations from water years 2000-2020 were computed from mean daily recorded groundwater levels and discretely measured groundwater levels. Both time series were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test for...
Data-Driven Drought Prediction Project Model Outputs for Select Spatial Units within the Conterminous United States Data-Driven Drought Prediction Project Model Outputs for Select Spatial Units within the Conterminous United States
This metadata record describes model outputs and supporting model code for the Data-Driven Drought Prediction project of the Water Resources Mission Area Drought Program. The data listed here include outputs of multiple machine learning model types for predicting hydrological drought at select locations within the conterminous United States. The child items referenced below correspond to...
Supporting Datasets for Hydrogeological Characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland Supporting Datasets for Hydrogeological Characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
This dataset includes raw hydrologic data (streamflow data, groundwater level data, precipitation data) and geochemical data (geochemical results, fluorometric monitoring results) collected from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2020 This dataset also includes interpreted results described in a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report (Goodling and others, 2023). This...
Filter Total Items: 17
Updates to the Flow Photo Explorer tool Updates to the Flow Photo Explorer tool
No abstract available.
Authors
Jennifer H. Fair, Benjamin Letcher, Phillip J. Goodling
Thirty years of regional groundwater-quality trend studies in the United States: Major findings and lessons learned Thirty years of regional groundwater-quality trend studies in the United States: Major findings and lessons learned
Changes in groundwater quality have been evaluated for more than 2,200 wells in 25 Principal Aquifers in the United States based on repeated decadal sampling (once every 10 years) from 1988 to 2021. The purpose of this study is to identify contaminants with changing concentrations, the locations and magnitude of those changes, the factors driving those changes, the obstacles to...
Authors
Bruce D. Lindsey, Brandon J. Fleming, Phillip J. Goodling, Amanda Nicole May
Integrated water resources trend assessments: State of the science, challenges, and opportunities for advancement Integrated water resources trend assessments: State of the science, challenges, and opportunities for advancement
Water is vital to human life and healthy ecosystems. Here we outline the current state of national-scale water resources trend assessments, identify key gaps, and suggest advancements to better address critical issues related to changes in water resources that may threaten human development or the environment. Questions like, “Do we have less suitable drinking water now than we had 20...
Authors
Sarah M. Stackpoole, Gretchen P. Oelsner, Edward G. Stets, Jory Seth Hecht, Zachary C. Johnson, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Michelle A. Walvoord, Jeffrey G. Chanat, Krista A. Dunne, Phillip J. Goodling, Bruce D. Lindsey, Michael R. Meador, Sarah A. Spaulding
Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
Groundwater in the karst groundwater system at Area B of Fort Detrick in Frederick County, Maryland, is contaminated with chlorinated solvents from the past disposal of laboratory wastes. In cooperation with U.S. Army Environmental Command and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, the U.S. Geological Survey performed a 3-year study to refine the conceptual model of groundwater flow in and...
Authors
Phillip J. Goodling, Brandon J. Fleming, John Solder, Alexander M. Soroka, Jeff P. Raffensperger
Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models
Process-based, large-scale (e.g., conterminous United States [CONUS]) hydrologic models have struggled to achieve reliable streamflow drought performance in arid regions and for low-flow periods. Deep learning has recently seen broad implementation in streamflow prediction and forecasting research projects throughout the world with performance often equaling or exceeding that of process...
Authors
Scott Douglas Hamshaw, Phillip J. Goodling, Konrad Hafen, John C. Hammond, Ryan R. McShane, Roy Sando, Apoorva Ramesh Shastry, Caelan E. Simeone, David Watkins, Elaheh White, Michael Wieczorek
Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams
In mountain headwater streams, the quality and resilience of summer cold-water habitat is generally regulated by stream discharge, longitudinal stream channel connectivity and groundwater exchange. These critical hydrologic processes are thought to be influenced by the stream corridor bedrock contact depth (sediment thickness), a parameter often inferred from sparse hillslope borehole...
Authors
Martin A. Briggs, Phillip J. Goodling, Zachary C. Johnson, Karli M. Rogers, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Jennifer H. Fair, Craig D. Snyder
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
Trends in Modelled Public Supply, Irrigation, and Thermoelectric Water Use Across the Conterminous United States from 2000-2020 (ver. 2.0, June 2026) Trends in Modelled Public Supply, Irrigation, and Thermoelectric Water Use Across the Conterminous United States from 2000-2020 (ver. 2.0, June 2026)
This data release contains Mann-Kendall trend results (p-values and Theil-Sen slope values) of water use data in either 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC08) or Van Metre hydrologic regions across the conterminous United States (CONUS) for the period 2000-2020. Trends are computed for 7 timesteps: annual, winter (Dec, Jan, Feb), spring (Mar, Apr, May), summer (Jun, Jul, Aug), fall (Sep...
Delaware River Basin depth to bedrock observations, model predictions, and explanatory variables Delaware River Basin depth to bedrock observations, model predictions, and explanatory variables
This data release contains model inputs, R code, and model outputs for predicting depth to bedrock in the Delaware River Basin at a 1km gridded resolution with a random forest model. Model inputs are provided in a comma-separated value (csv) file. The training data used in this study of 72,773 point observations of depth to bedrock (DTB) within the Delaware River Basin (DRB) that was...
Long-term water-quality trends for rivers and streams within the contiguous United States using Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) (ver. 1.1, March 2025) Long-term water-quality trends for rivers and streams within the contiguous United States using Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) (ver. 1.1, March 2025)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area (WMA) is working to address a need to understand where the Nation is experiencing water shortages or surpluses relative to the demand for water need by delivering routine assessments of water supply and demand. It is also improving understanding of the natural and human factors affecting the balance between supply and demand. A key...
Groundwater level trends for 110 U.S. Geological Survey observation wells in the Delaware River Basin Groundwater level trends for 110 U.S. Geological Survey observation wells in the Delaware River Basin
This data release contains groundwater level trend results from 110 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) observation wells in and near the Delaware River Basin. Mean annual groundwater level elevations from water years 2000-2020 were computed from mean daily recorded groundwater levels and discretely measured groundwater levels. Both time series were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test for...
Data-Driven Drought Prediction Project Model Outputs for Select Spatial Units within the Conterminous United States Data-Driven Drought Prediction Project Model Outputs for Select Spatial Units within the Conterminous United States
This metadata record describes model outputs and supporting model code for the Data-Driven Drought Prediction project of the Water Resources Mission Area Drought Program. The data listed here include outputs of multiple machine learning model types for predicting hydrological drought at select locations within the conterminous United States. The child items referenced below correspond to...
Supporting Datasets for Hydrogeological Characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland Supporting Datasets for Hydrogeological Characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
This dataset includes raw hydrologic data (streamflow data, groundwater level data, precipitation data) and geochemical data (geochemical results, fluorometric monitoring results) collected from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2020 This dataset also includes interpreted results described in a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report (Goodling and others, 2023). This...
Filter Total Items: 17
Updates to the Flow Photo Explorer tool Updates to the Flow Photo Explorer tool
No abstract available.
Authors
Jennifer H. Fair, Benjamin Letcher, Phillip J. Goodling
Thirty years of regional groundwater-quality trend studies in the United States: Major findings and lessons learned Thirty years of regional groundwater-quality trend studies in the United States: Major findings and lessons learned
Changes in groundwater quality have been evaluated for more than 2,200 wells in 25 Principal Aquifers in the United States based on repeated decadal sampling (once every 10 years) from 1988 to 2021. The purpose of this study is to identify contaminants with changing concentrations, the locations and magnitude of those changes, the factors driving those changes, the obstacles to...
Authors
Bruce D. Lindsey, Brandon J. Fleming, Phillip J. Goodling, Amanda Nicole May
Integrated water resources trend assessments: State of the science, challenges, and opportunities for advancement Integrated water resources trend assessments: State of the science, challenges, and opportunities for advancement
Water is vital to human life and healthy ecosystems. Here we outline the current state of national-scale water resources trend assessments, identify key gaps, and suggest advancements to better address critical issues related to changes in water resources that may threaten human development or the environment. Questions like, “Do we have less suitable drinking water now than we had 20...
Authors
Sarah M. Stackpoole, Gretchen P. Oelsner, Edward G. Stets, Jory Seth Hecht, Zachary C. Johnson, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Michelle A. Walvoord, Jeffrey G. Chanat, Krista A. Dunne, Phillip J. Goodling, Bruce D. Lindsey, Michael R. Meador, Sarah A. Spaulding
Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
Groundwater in the karst groundwater system at Area B of Fort Detrick in Frederick County, Maryland, is contaminated with chlorinated solvents from the past disposal of laboratory wastes. In cooperation with U.S. Army Environmental Command and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, the U.S. Geological Survey performed a 3-year study to refine the conceptual model of groundwater flow in and...
Authors
Phillip J. Goodling, Brandon J. Fleming, John Solder, Alexander M. Soroka, Jeff P. Raffensperger
Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models Regional streamflow drought forecasting in the Colorado River Basin using Deep Neural Network models
Process-based, large-scale (e.g., conterminous United States [CONUS]) hydrologic models have struggled to achieve reliable streamflow drought performance in arid regions and for low-flow periods. Deep learning has recently seen broad implementation in streamflow prediction and forecasting research projects throughout the world with performance often equaling or exceeding that of process...
Authors
Scott Douglas Hamshaw, Phillip J. Goodling, Konrad Hafen, John C. Hammond, Ryan R. McShane, Roy Sando, Apoorva Ramesh Shastry, Caelan E. Simeone, David Watkins, Elaheh White, Michael Wieczorek
Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams
In mountain headwater streams, the quality and resilience of summer cold-water habitat is generally regulated by stream discharge, longitudinal stream channel connectivity and groundwater exchange. These critical hydrologic processes are thought to be influenced by the stream corridor bedrock contact depth (sediment thickness), a parameter often inferred from sparse hillslope borehole...
Authors
Martin A. Briggs, Phillip J. Goodling, Zachary C. Johnson, Karli M. Rogers, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Jennifer H. Fair, Craig D. Snyder