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
Simulation of groundwater flow and interaction of groundwater and surface water on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wisconsin
Simulation of climate-change effects on streamflow, lake water budgets, and stream temperature using GSFLOW and SNTEMP, Trout Lake Watershed, Wisconsin
Source and transport of human enteric viruses in deep municipal water supply wells
Approaches in highly parameterized inversion: bgaPEST, a Bayesian geostatistical approach implementation with PEST: documentation and instructions
Potential effects of climate change on inland glacial lakes and implications for lake-dependent biota in Wisconsin: final report April 2013
Approaches in highly parameterized inversion: TSPROC, a general time-series processor to assist in model calibration and result summarization
Approaches in highly parameterized inversion-PESTCommander, a graphical user interface for file and run management across networks
Updating the debate on model complexity
Uncertainty
Approaches in highly parameterized inversion - PEST++, a Parameter ESTimation code optimized for large environmental models
Approaches in highly parameterized inversion - GENIE, a general model-independent TCP/IP run manager
Watershed scale response to climate change--Black Earth Creek Basin, 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
- Science
- Data
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 135
Simulation of groundwater flow and interaction of groundwater and surface water on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, Wisconsin
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Indian Health Service are interested in improving the understanding of groundwater flow and groundwater/surface-water interaction on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation (Reservation) in southwest Vilas County and southeast Iron County, Wisconsin, with particular interest in an understanding of the potential for contamination of groundwater supplyAuthorsPaul F. Juckem, Michael N. Fienen, Randall J. HuntSimulation of climate-change effects on streamflow, lake water budgets, and stream temperature using GSFLOW and SNTEMP, Trout Lake Watershed, Wisconsin
Although groundwater and surface water are considered a single resource, historically hydrologic simulations have not accounted for feedback loops between the groundwater system and other hydrologic processes. These feedbacks include timing and rates of evapotranspiration, surface runoff, soil-zone flow, and interactions with the groundwater system. Simulations that iteratively couple the surface-AuthorsRandall J. Hunt, John F. Walker, William R. Selbig, Stephen M. Westenbroek, R. Steve ReganSource and transport of human enteric viruses in deep municipal water supply wells
Until recently, few water utilities or researchers were aware of possible virus presence in deep aquifers and wells. During 2008 and 2009 we collected a time series of virus samples from six deep municipal water-supply wells. The wells range in depth from approximately 220 to 300 m and draw water from a sandstone aquifer. Three of these wells draw water from beneath a regional aquitard, and threeAuthorsKenneth R. Bradbury, Mark A. Borchardt, Madeline Gotkowitz, Susan K. Spencer, Jun Zhu, Randall J. HuntApproaches in highly parameterized inversion: bgaPEST, a Bayesian geostatistical approach implementation with PEST: documentation and instructions
The application bgaPEST is a highly parameterized inversion software package implementing the Bayesian Geostatistical Approach in a framework compatible with the parameter estimation suite PEST. Highly parameterized inversion refers to cases in which parameters are distributed in space or time and are correlated with one another. The Bayesian aspect of bgaPEST is related to Bayesian probability thAuthorsMichael N. Fienen, Marco D'Oria, John E. Doherty, Randall J. HuntPotential effects of climate change on inland glacial lakes and implications for lake-dependent biota in Wisconsin: final report April 2013
The economic vitality and quality of life of many northern Wisconsin communities is closely associated with the ecological condition of the abundant water resources in the region. Climate change models predict warmer temperatures, changes to precipitation patterns, and increased evapotranspiration in the Great Lakes region. Recently (1950-2006), many regions of Wisconsin have experienced warminAuthorsMichael W. Meyer, John F. Walker, Kevin P. Kenow, Paul W. Rasmussen, Paul J. Garrison, Paul C. Hanson, Randall J. HuntApproaches in highly parameterized inversion: TSPROC, a general time-series processor to assist in model calibration and result summarization
The TSPROC (Time Series PROCessor) computer software uses a simple scripting language to process and analyze time series. It was developed primarily to assist in the calibration of environmental models. The software is designed to perform calculations on time-series data commonly associated with surface-water models, including calculation of flow volumes, transformation by means of basic arithmetiAuthorsStephen M. Westenbroek, John Doherty, John F. Walker, Victor A. Kelson, Randall J. Hunt, Timothy B. CeraApproaches in highly parameterized inversion-PESTCommander, a graphical user interface for file and run management across networks
Models of environmental systems have become increasingly complex, incorporating increasingly large numbers of parameters in an effort to represent physical processes on a scale approaching that at which they occur in nature. Consequently, the inverse problem of parameter estimation (specifically, model calibration) and subsequent uncertainty analysis have become increasingly computation-intensiveAuthorsMarinko Karanovic, Christopher T. Muffels, Matthew J. Tonkin, Randall J. HuntUpdating the debate on model complexity
As scientists who are trying to understand a complex natural world that cannot be fully characterized in the field, how can we best inform the society in which we live? This founding context was addressed in a special session, “Complexity in Modeling: How Much is Too Much?” convened at the 2011 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. The session had a variety of thought-provoking presentatioAuthorsCraig T. Simmons, Randall J. HuntUncertainty
Management decisions will often be directly informed by model predictions. However, we now know there can be no expectation of a single ‘true’ model; thus, model results are uncertain. Understandable reporting of underlying uncertainty provides necessary context to decision-makers, as model results are used for management decisions. This, in turn, forms a mechanism by which groundwater models infoAuthorsRandall J. HuntApproaches in highly parameterized inversion - PEST++, a Parameter ESTimation code optimized for large environmental models
An object-oriented parameter estimation code was developed to incorporate benefits of object-oriented programming techniques for solving large parameter estimation modeling problems. The code is written in C++ and is a formulation and expansion of the algorithms included in PEST, a widely used parameter estimation code written in Fortran. The new code is called PEST++ and is designed to lower theAuthorsDavid E. Welter, John E. Doherty, Randall J. Hunt, Christopher T. Muffels, Matthew J. Tonkin, Willem A. SchreuderApproaches in highly parameterized inversion - GENIE, a general model-independent TCP/IP run manager
GENIE is a model-independent suite of programs that can be used to generally distribute, manage, and execute multiple model runs via the TCP/IP infrastructure. The suite consists of a file distribution interface, a run manage, a run executer, and a routine that can be compiled as part of a program and used to exchange model runs with the run manager. Because communication is via a standard protocoAuthorsChristopher T. Muffels, Willem A. Schreuder, John E. Doherty, Marinko Karanovic, Matthew J. Tonkin, Randall J. Hunt, David E. WelterWatershed scale response to climate change--Black Earth Creek Basin, Wisconsin
General Circulation Model simulations of future climate through 2099 project a wide range of possible scenarios. To determine the sensitivity and potential effect of long-term climate change on the freshwater resources of the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey Global Change study, "An integrated watershed scale response to global change in selected basins across the United States" was startAuthorsRandall J. Hunt, John F. Walker, Steven M. Westenbroek, Lauren E. Hay, Steven L. MarkstromNon-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.
- Software
*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