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.
Randall J Hunt, Ph.D.
Biography
EXPERIENCE
- 2015 to present - Associate Director of Science, US Geological Survey, Wisconsin Water Science Center.
- 1996 to present - Research Hydrologist, US Geological Survey, Wisconsin 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.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
My work focuses on groundwater 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 through watersheds.
EDUCATION
- 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
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 Ground Water
- 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, AWARDS, RECOGNITION, ELECTED MEMBERSHIPS
3/13 – Awarded Distinguished Service Award, Wisconsin Section-AWRA
9/12 – Awarded US Department of the Interior Superior Service Award
9/10 – USGS Unit Award for Excellence of Service – Great Lakes Basin Pilot Team
4/07 - Elected Fellow for the Geological Society of America
2/00 - US Geological Survey Special Act Award for Outstanding Service to District
6/92 - US Geological Survey Special Act Award for Service to Organization
4/94 - Elected into Sigma Xi
9/91 - Department of Energy Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Fellowship
9/90 - Wisconsin Department of Transportation Research Assistantship
9/86 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Dextor Fellowship
5/86 - Leopold Fellowship, Leopold Memorial Reserve
9/85 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Assistantship
6/85 - National Association of Geology Teachers Scholarship
5/85 - Magna Cum Laude, Gustavus Adolphus College
5/85 - Elected into Phi Beta Kappa
OTHER PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Geoscience (Oct. 2000 - Oct. 2003)
- Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin District, Madison WI (April 1990 - Aug. 1996)
- Research Fellow, US DOE, Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Program (Aug. 1991 - Dec. 1993) I worked in Wisconsin and at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. I initiated and conducted a study to apply stable isotope techniques to investigate the hydrology of the Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho.
- Project Manager / Hydrogeologist, Barr Engineering Company, Minneapolis, MN (May 1998 - May 1990) I served as a project manager for and was involved in remedial investigation/feasibility studies, water supply wells installation, large-scale hydrologic characterization of potential landfill sites, and groundwater flow modeling.
- Leopold Research Fellow, Leopold Memorial Reserve, Baraboo, WI (July 1986 - Aug. 1987) I proposed, developed, and conducted a study to characterize the groundwaters and surface waters of the upland and wetland areas of the Leopold Memorial Reserve.
Science and Products
Year Published: 2000
Groundwater “fast paths” in the Snake River Plain aquifer: Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers
Preferential flow paths are expected in many groundwater systems and must be located because they can greatly affect contaminant transport. The fundamental characteristics of radiogenic isotope ratios in chemically evolving waters make them highly effective as preferential flow path indicators. These ratios tend to be more easily interpreted than...
Johnson, Thomas M.; Roback, Robert C.; McLing, Travis L.; Bullen, Thomas D.; DePaolo, Donald J.; Doughty, Christine; Hunt, Randall J.; Smith, Robert W. ; Cecil, L. DeWayne; Murrell, Michael T.
Year Published: 2000
Simulation of the recharge area for Frederick Springs, Dane County, Wisconsin
The Pheasant Branch watershed in Dane County is expected to undergo development. There are concerns that this development will adversely affect water resources, including Frederick Springs, a large spring complex in the watershed. The spring's recharge area was delineated using a telescopic mesh refinement (TMR) model constructed from an existing...
Hunt, R.J.; Steuer, J.J.Attribution: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Simulation of the recharge area for Frederick Springs, Dane County, Wisconsin; 2000; WRI; 2000-4172; Hunt, R. J.; Steuer, J. J.
Year Published: 2000
Simulation of the shallow hydrologic system in the vicinity of Middle Genesee Lake, Wisconsin, using analytic elements and parameter estimation
Middle Genesee Lake is a ground-water flow-through lake located in a developing area in southeastern Wisconsin. Because the lake is in good connection with the shallow ground-water system, hydrologic stresses to the shallow ground-water system could adversely affect the lake system. In order to assess the effects of potential stresses on the lake...
Hunt, R.J.; Lin, Y.; Krohelski, J.T.; Juckem, P.F.Attribution: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Simulation of the shallow hydrologic system in the vicinity of Middle Genesee Lake, Wisconsin, using analytic elements and parameter estimation; 2000; WRI; 2000-4136; Hunt, R. J.; Lin, Y.; Krohelski, J. T.; Juckem, P. F.
Year Published: 1999
Characterizing hydrology and the importance of ground-water discharge in natural and constructed wetlands
Although considered the most important component for the establishment and persistence of wetlands, hydrology has been hard to characterize and linkages between hydrology and other environmental conditions are often poorly understood. In this work, methods for characterizing a wetland’s hydrology from hydrographs were developed, and the...
Hunt, Randall J.; Walker, John F.; Krabbenhoft, David P.View Citation
Hunt, R.J., Walker, J.F. & Krabbenhoft, D.P. Wetlands (1999) 19: 458. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161777
Year Published: 1999
Debating complexity in modeling
Complexity in modeling would seem to be an issue of universal importance throughout the geosciences, perhaps throughout all science, if the debate last year among groundwater modelers is any indication. During the discussion the following questions and observations made up the heart of the debate. As scientists trying to understand the natural...
Hunt, Randall J.; Zheng, Chunmiao
Year Published: 1998
Improving a complex finite-difference ground water flow model through the use of an analytic element screening model
This paper demonstrates that analytic element models have potential as powerful screening tools that can facilitate or improve calibration of more complicated finite-difference and finite-element models. We demonstrate how a two-dimensional analytic element model was used to identify errors in a complex three-dimensional finite-difference model...
Hunt, R.J.; Anderson, M.P.; Kelson, V.A.View Citation
Improving a complex finite-difference ground water flow model through the use of an analytic element screening model; 1998; Article; Journal; Ground Water; Hunt, R. J.; Anderson, M. P.; Kelson, V. A.
Year Published: 1998
Using stable isotopes of water and strontium to investigate the hydrology of a natural and a constructed wetland
Wetlands cannot exist without water, but wetland hydrology is difficult to characterize. As a result, compensatory wetland mitigation often only assumes the proper hydrology has been created. In this study, water sources and mass transfer processes in a natural and constructed wetland complex were investigated using isotopes of water and strontium...
Hunt, R.J.; Bullen, T.D.; Krabbenhoft, D.P.; Kendall, C.View Citation
Using stable isotopes of water and strontium to investigate the hydrology of a natural and a constructed wetland; 1998; Article; Journal; Ground Water; Hunt, R. J.; Bullen, T. D.; Krabbenhoft, D. P.; Kendall, C.
Year Published: 1997
Do created wetlands replace the wetlands that are destroyed?
Wetlands, once perceived as worthless land, are now recognized as a necessary component of a vital landscape. However, due to draining and filling we have lost many of our wetlands. The loss of wetlands can have undesirable effects on the landscape, such as erosion, flooding, habitat loss and deterioration of water quality. While natural wetland...
Hunt, Randall J.Attribution: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Do Created Wetlands Replace the Wetlands that are Destroyed?; 1997; FS; 246-96; Hunt, Randall J.
Year Published: 1997
Assessing hydrogeochemical heterogeneity in natural and constructed wetlands
While 'water quality function' is cited as an important wetland function to design for and preserve, we demonstrate that the scale at which hydrochemical samples are collected can significantly influence interpretations of biogeochemical processes in wetlands. Subsurface, chemical profiles for both nutrients and major ions were determined at a...
Hunt, R.J.; Krabbenhoft, D.P.; Anderson, M.P.View Citation
Assessing hydrogeochemical heterogeneity in natural and constructed wetlands; 1997; Article; Journal; Biogeochemistry; Hunt, R. J.; Krabbenhoft, D. P.; Anderson, M. P.
Year Published: 1996
The application of an analytic element model to investigate groundwater-lake interactions at Pretty Lake, Wisconsin
Pretty Lake is a 64 acre, sandy-bottomed groundwater flow-through lake that has a history of hydrologic disturbance. Residents and regulators require a better understanding of lake-groundwater interaction to develop measures to protect the lake's hydrologic system and water quality. A groundwater flow model was constructed as a tool to synthesize...
Hunt, Randall J.; Krohelski, James T.
Year Published: 1996
Groundwater inflow measurements in wetland systems
Our current understanding of wetlands is insufficient to assess the effects of past and future wetland loss. While knowledge of wetland hydrology is crucial, groundwater flows are often neglected or uncertain. In this paper, groundwater inflows were estimated in wetlands in southwestern Wisconsin using traditional Darcy's law calculations and...
Hunt, Randy J.; Krabbenhoft, David P.; Anderson, Mary P.View Citation
Groundwater inflow measurements in wetland systems; 1996; Article; Journal; Water Resources Research; Hunt, R. J.; Krabbenhoft, D. P.; Anderson, M. P.