Randall J Hunt, Ph.D.
Randall Hunt is a Chief Science Officer with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
My work focuses on water flow, and its effect on natural systems. This research uses a variety of approaches such as numerical modeling, ion and isotope chemistry, tracers, parameter estimation, and stochastic methods. It emphasizes a range of groundwater – surface water systems including wetland, stream, and lake interactions. More recently this work has been extended to research investigating ecohydrology of aquatic systems, effects of climate and landuse drivers, and source and transport of enteric viruses to drinking water wells and temperature through watersheds. Much of my work has focused on improving model forecasts and uncertainty estimates for decision making.
Professional Experience
2018 to 2021 - Chief Science Officer, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
2015 to 2018 - Associate Director of Science, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
1996 to present - Research Hydrologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
2003 to present - Adjunct Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Geoscience
2000 to 2003 - Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Geoscience
1990 to 1996 - Hydrologist, US Geological Survey, Wisconsin District
1991 to 1993 - Research Fellow, US DOE, Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Program
1988 to 1990 - Hydrogeologist/Project Manager, Barr Engineering Company, Minneapolis, MN
1986 to 1987 - Leopold Research Fellow, Leopold Memorial Reserve, Baraboo, WI
Education and Certifications
Ph.D in Hydrogeology (major) and Wetland Sciences (minor) - University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1993
M.S. in Hydrogeology - University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1987
B.A. in Geology (major) and Business (major) - Gustavus Adolphus College, 1985
Affiliations and Memberships*
Professional Societies
Professional Hydrologist #60-111, State of Wisconsin
Geological Society of America
American Water Resources Association, Wisconsin Section
Society of Wetland Scientists
American Geophysical Union
National Groundwater Association
Academic and Professional Service
2014 to 2019 - Advisor to the Editor-In-Chief for the journal Groundwater
2009 to 2013 - Associate Editor for Hydrogeology Journal
2008 to 2009 - Guest Editor for "Hydrogeoecology and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems" theme issue of Hydrogeology Journal
2005 to present - Appointed by Governor to the State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing Geology, Hydrology, Soil Science Joint Board (Chair 2008 - 2014)
2005 to 2006 - Guest Editor for "Analytic Element Modeling" special issue of the journal Groundwater
2002 to 2004 - Associate Editor for the journal Wetlands
1998 to 2010 - Member, University of Wisconsin System Groundwater Research Advisory Council (Chair 2003-2010)
1995 to present - Member, State of Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Research Subcommittee
1997 to present - Associate Editor for the journal Groundwater
Editorial Boards
Groundwater
Environmental Modelling & Software
Honors and Awards
2013 – Distinguished Service Award, Wisconsin Section-AWRA
2012 – Superior Service Award, US Department of the Interior
Science and Products
Using prediction uncertainty analysis to design hydrologic monitoring networks: Example applications from the Great Lakes water availability pilot project
SWB: A modified Thornthwaite-Mather Soil-Water-Balance code for estimating groundwater recharge
Simulation of the shallow groundwater-flow system near the Hayward Airport, Sawyer County, Wisconsin
A hybrid finite-difference and analytic element groundwater model
Assessment of sewer source contamination of drinking water wells using tracers and human enteric viruses
Using a cloud to replenish parched groundwater modeling efforts
Approaches to highly parameterized inversion: A guide to using PEST for model-parameter and predictive-uncertainty analysis
Petrified Forest National Park Invasive Plant Species Survey and Mapping; 2002-2005
Two statistics for evaluating parameter identifiability and error reduction
Using a coupled groundwater/surface-water model to predict climate-change impacts to lakes in the Trout Lake Watershed, northern Wisconsin
Relating groundwater to seasonal wetlands in southeastern Wisconsin, USA
Using a coupled groundwater/surfacewater model to predict climate-change impacts to lakes in the Trout Lake watershed, Northern Wisconsin
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 135
Using prediction uncertainty analysis to design hydrologic monitoring networks: Example applications from the Great Lakes water availability pilot project
The importance of monitoring networks for resource-management decisions is becoming more recognized, in both theory and application. Quantitative computer models provide a science-based framework to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of existing and possible future monitoring networks. In the study described herein, two suites of tools were used to evaluate the worth of new data for specific preAuthorsMichael N. Fienen, John E. Doherty, Randall J. Hunt, Howard W. ReevesSWB: A modified Thornthwaite-Mather Soil-Water-Balance code for estimating groundwater recharge
A Soil-Water-Balance (SWB) computer code has been developed to calculate spatial and temporal variations in groundwater recharge. The SWB model calculates recharge by use of commonly available geographic information system (GIS) data layers in combination with tabular climatological data. The code is based on a modified Thornthwaite-Mather soil-water-balance approach, with components of the soil-wAuthorsS. M. Westenbroek, V. A. Kelson, W. R. Dripps, R. J. Hunt, K. R. BradburySimulation of the shallow groundwater-flow system near the Hayward Airport, Sawyer County, Wisconsin
There are concerns that removal and trimming of vegetation during expansion of the Hayward Airport in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, could appreciably change the character of a nearby cold-water stream and its adjacent environs. In cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a two-dimensional, steady-state groundwater-flow model of the shallow groundwater-flow system near the Hayward AAuthorsRandall J. Hunt, Paul F. Juckem, Charles P. DunningA hybrid finite-difference and analytic element groundwater model
Regional finite-difference models tend to have large cell sizes, often on the order of 1–2 km on a side. Although the regional flow patterns in deeper formations may be adequately represented by such a model, the intricate surface water and groundwater interactions in the shallower layers are not. Several stream reaches and nearby wells may occur in a single cell, precluding any meaningful modelinAuthorsHenk M. Haitjema, Daniel T. Feinstein, Randall J. Hunt, Maksym GusyevAssessment of sewer source contamination of drinking water wells using tracers and human enteric viruses
This study investigated the source, transport, and occurrence of human enteric viruses in municipal well water, focusing on sanitary sewer sources. A total of 33 wells from 14 communities were sampled once for wastewater tracers and viruses. Wastewater tracers were detected in four of these wells, and five wells were virus- positive by qRT-PCR. These results, along with exclusion of wells with surAuthorsR. J. Hunt, M. A. Borchardt, K.D. Richards, S. K. SpencerUsing a cloud to replenish parched groundwater modeling efforts
Groundwater models can be improved by introduction of additional parameter flexibility and simultaneous use of soft-knowledge. However, these sophisticated approaches have high computational requirements. Cloud computing provides unprecedented access to computing power via the Internet to facilitate the use of these techniques. A modeler can create, launch, and terminate “virtual” computers as neeAuthorsRandall J. Hunt, Joseph Luchette, Willem A. Schreuder, James O. Rumbaugh, John Doherty, Matthew J. Tonkin, Douglas B. RumbaughApproaches to highly parameterized inversion: A guide to using PEST for model-parameter and predictive-uncertainty analysis
Analysis of the uncertainty associated with parameters used by a numerical model, and with predictions that depend on those parameters, is fundamental to the use of modeling in support of decisionmaking. Unfortunately, predictive uncertainty analysis with regard to models can be very computationally demanding, due in part to complex constraints on parameters that arise from expert knowledge of sysAuthorsJohn E. Doherty, Randall J. Hunt, Matthew J. TonkinPetrified Forest National Park Invasive Plant Species Survey and Mapping; 2002-2005
We conducted a survey for invasive nonnative plant species at Petrified Forest National Park from 2002 through 2005. The survey employed a unique sampling design consisting of a grid of consecutive one-hectare cells as the sampling units. Our use of predetermined sampling units allowed all observations to be referenced to a fixed area with geographic coordinates that easily transferred to a geograAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Randall J. Hunt, Terry R. Arundel, P. GuertinTwo statistics for evaluating parameter identifiability and error reduction
Two statistics are presented that can be used to rank input parameters utilized by a model in terms of their relative identifiability based on a given or possible future calibration dataset. Identifiability is defined here as the capability of model calibration to constrain parameters used by a model. Both statistics require that the sensitivity of each model parameter be calculated for each modelAuthorsJohn Doherty, Randall J. HuntUsing a coupled groundwater/surface-water model to predict climate-change impacts to lakes in the Trout Lake Watershed, northern Wisconsin
A major focus of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Trout Lake Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) project is the development of a watershed model to allow predictions of hydrologic response to future conditions including land-use and climate change. The coupled groundwater/surface-water model GSFLOW was chosen for this purpose because it could easily incorporate an existing groundwater floAuthorsRandall J. Hunt, John F. Walker, Steven L. Markstrom, Lauren E. Hay, John DohertyRelating groundwater to seasonal wetlands in southeastern Wisconsin, USA
Historically, drier types of wetlands have been difficult to characterize and are not well researched. Nonetheless, they are considered to reflect the precipitation history with little, if any, regard for possible relation to groundwater. Two seasonal coastal wetland types (wet prairie, sedge meadow) were investigated during three growing seasons at three sites in the Lake Michigan Basin, WisconsiAuthorsJ.D. Skalbeck, D.M. Reed, R. J. Hunt, J.D. LambertUsing a coupled groundwater/surfacewater model to predict climate-change impacts to lakes in the Trout Lake watershed, Northern Wisconsin
A major focus of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Trout Lake Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) project is the development of a watershed model to allow predictions of hydrologic response to future conditions including land-use and climate change. The coupled groundwater/surface-water model GSFLOW was chosen for this purpose because it could easily incorporate an existing groundwater floAuthorsJohn F. Walker, Randall J. Hunt, Steven L. Markstrom, Lauren E. Hay, John DohertyNon-USGS Publications**
Abrams, D.B., Haitjema, H.M., Feinstein, D.T. and Hunt, R.J., 2015, Field test of a Hybrid Finite-Difference and Analytic Element regional model. Groundwater. doi: 10.1111/gwat.12319.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government