Richard L. Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Richard L. Smith is an Emeritus Microbial Ecologist with expertise in biogeochemistry with the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Dr. Richard L. Smith is a microbial ecologist with expertise in biogeochemistry. His research interests have focused upon quantifying in situ rates of microbial processes within aquatic environments and the factors controlling these processes, particularly within the context of the ecosystem. One major study topic has been carbon and nitrogen cycling in groundwater and at the groundwater-surface water interface. These studies have also included characterizing the physiological state of groundwater bacteria, the effect bacteria have upon aquifer geochemistry, developing techniques to assess microbial processes in situ, nitrogen cycling, and bioremediation. Other research areas include biogeochemical processes in freshwater lakes and rivers, agricultural drainages, and in an amictic Antarctic lake.
Education
- BS (Biology) Western Michigan University, 1974
- MS (Biology) Western Michigan University, 1976
- PhD (Microbial Ecology) Michigan State University, 1981
Work Experience
- Postdoc. NRC Postdoctoral Fellow, US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA 1981-1983
- Research Hydrologist. USGS, Arvada, CO, 1983-1988
- Research Hydrologist. USGS, Boulder, CO, 1988-2016
- Research Hydrologist. Earth System Processes Division, USGS, Boulder, CO, 2016-2019
- Emeritus Scientist. Earth System Processes Division, USGS, Boulder, CO, 2019-present
Professional affiliations or activities
- American Society for Microbiology
- American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
- American Geophysical Union
- International Society for Microbial Ecology
- Geological Society of America
- International Committee of the Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology, 1999-present
- Executive Committee AGU Biogeosciences Section, 1999-2004
- AGU Award Committee for Excellence in Science Journalism Features, 2000-2004
- AGU Award Committee for Excellence in Science Journalism News, 2000-2004
- USGS Water Resour. Div. Ecology Research Advisor, 1998-2000; Assistant Ecology Research Advisor, 1994-1997
- Co-chair, 1999 International Symposium on Subsurface Microbiology
Honors, awards
- 2020: Geologic Society of America Fellowship
- 2011-2018: USGS, Performance Awards
- 2005: USGS, Superior Service Award
- 2002: USGS, Meritorious Service Award
- 1999 & 2001: USGS, STAR Award
- 1998: AGU Editor’s Citation for Excellence in Refereering
- 1981: National Acad. Sci. Postdoctoral Fellowship
Patents
- U.S. Patent, Small-Scale Hydrogen Oxidizing Denitrifying Bioreactor for Treatment of Nitrate-Contaminated Drinking Water
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 98
Changes in ground-water quality near two granular-iron permeable reactive barriers in a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1997-2000 Changes in ground-water quality near two granular-iron permeable reactive barriers in a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1997-2000
Two experimental permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) of granular zero-valent iron were emplaced in the path of a tetrachloroethene plume (the Chemical Spill-10 plume) at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in June 1998. The goal of the field experiment was to achieve emplacement of a granular-iron PRB deeper than attempted before. The PRBs were expected to...
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie, Douglas B. Kent, Richard L. Smith, Denis R. LeBlanc, David W. Hubble
Assessing denitrification in groundwater using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N: In situ measurement of a sequential multistep reaction Assessing denitrification in groundwater using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N: In situ measurement of a sequential multistep reaction
Denitrification was measured within a nitrate‐contaminated aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N nitrate. The aquifer contained zones of relatively high concentrations of nitrite (up to 77 μM) and nitrous oxide (up to 143 μM) and has been the site of previous studies examining ground water denitrification using the acetylene block technique...
Authors
Richard L. Smith, J.K. Bohlke, Stephen P. Garabedian, Kinga M. Revesz, Tadashi Yoshinari
A walk through the hydroclimate network in Yosemite National Park: River chemistry A walk through the hydroclimate network in Yosemite National Park: River chemistry
Visitors to Yosemite National Park (YNP) are fully aware of the weather, snowmelt, waterfalls (Photo 1), and river discharge and river and lake water temperature. They are not, however, thinking about river chemistry because you can’t see, hear, or feel it. So a river chemistry article in Nature Notes needs a familiar background before we break out the instruments.
Authors
Dave Peterson, Richard Smith, Stephen Hager
Phosphorus in a ground-water contaminant plume discharging to Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1999 Phosphorus in a ground-water contaminant plume discharging to Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1999
The discharge of a plume of sewagecontaminated ground water emanating from the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Ashumet Pond on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has caused concern about excessive loading of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, to the pond. The U.S. Air Force is considering remedial actions to mitigate potentially adverse effects on the ecological characteristics of the pond...
Authors
Timothy D. McCobb, Denis R. LeBlanc, Donald A. Walter, Kathryn M. Hess, Douglas B. Kent, Richard L. Smith
Recent progress in the development of a SPARROW model of sediment for the conterminous U.S. Recent progress in the development of a SPARROW model of sediment for the conterminous U.S.
Suspended sediment has long been recognized as an important contaminant affecting water resources. Besides its direct role in determining water clarity, bridge scour and reservoir storage, sediment serves as a vehicle for the transport of many binding contaminants, including nutrients, trace metals, semi- volatile organic compounds, and numerous pesticides (U.S. Environmental Protection...
Authors
Gregory Schwarz, Richard Smith, Richard Alexander, John Gray
A spatially referenced regression model (SPARROW) for suspended sediment in streams of the Conterminous U.S. A spatially referenced regression model (SPARROW) for suspended sediment in streams of the Conterminous U.S.
Suspended sediment has long been recognized as an important contaminant affecting water resources. Besides its direct role in determining water clarity, bridge scour and reservoir storage, sediment serves as a vehicle for the transport of many binding contaminants, including nutrients, trace metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, a nd numerous pesticides (U.S. Environmental Protection...
Authors
Gregory E. Schwarz, Richard A. Smith, Richard B. Alexander, John R. Gray
Experimental Forecast of Maximum Daily Snowmelt Discharge Experimental Forecast of Maximum Daily Snowmelt Discharge
No abstract available.
Authors
Laurence G. Riddle, David H. Peterson, Daniel R. Cayan, Richard E. Smith, Mike Dettinger
Source-area characteristics of large public surface-water supplies in the conterminous United States : an information resource for source-water assessment Source-area characteristics of large public surface-water supplies in the conterminous United States : an information resource for source-water assessment
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard B. Alexander, Richard A. Smith, Michael J. Focazio, Marilee A. Horn
Sedimentation and bathymetry changes in Suisun Bay: 1867-1990 Sedimentation and bathymetry changes in Suisun Bay: 1867-1990
Understanding patterns of historical erosion and deposition in San Francisco Bay is crucial in managing such issues as locating deposits of sediment-associated contaminants, and the restoration of wetland areas. These problems were addressed by quantitatively examining historical hydrographic surveys. The data from five hydrographic surveys, made from 1867 to 1990, were analyzed using...
Authors
Karen Cappiella, Chris Malzone, Richard Smith, Bruce Jaffe
ERF1 -- Enhanced River Reach File 1.2 ERF1 -- Enhanced River Reach File 1.2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's River Reach File 1 (RF1) to ensure the hydrologic integrity of the digital reach traces and to quantify the mean water time of travel in river reaches and reservoirs [see USEPA (1996) for a description of the original RF1].
Authors
Richard B. Alexander, John W. Brakebill, Robert E. Brew, Richard A. Smith
An overview of San Francisco Bay PORTS An overview of San Francisco Bay PORTS
The Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) provides observations of tides, tidal currents, and meteorological conditions in real-time. The San Francisco Bay PORTS (SFPORTS) is a decision support system to facilitate safe and efficient maritime commerce. In addition to real-time observations, SFPORTS includes a nowcast numerical model forming a San Francisco Bay marine nowcast...
Authors
Ralph T. Cheng, David McKinnie, Chad English, Richard E. Smith
Using transport model interpretations of tracer tests to study microbial processes in groundwater Using transport model interpretations of tracer tests to study microbial processes in groundwater
It has long been known that microorganisms affect the geochemistry of groundwater. But despite this recognition, little detailed information is available regarding the rates and the factors controlling microbial processes in groundwater. Part of the reason stems from the relatively inaccessible nature of most groundwater and the difficulties encountered in obtaining representative...
Authors
Richard L. Smith, Stephen P. Garabedian
Non-USGS Publications**
Smith, R. L., Kent, D. B., Repert, D. A., and Böhlke, J.K., 2017, Anoxic nitrate reduction coupled with iron oxidation and attenuation of dissolved arsenic and phosphate in a sand and gravel aquifer, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 196:102-120, doi: http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.09.025.
**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
Filter Total Items: 98
Changes in ground-water quality near two granular-iron permeable reactive barriers in a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1997-2000 Changes in ground-water quality near two granular-iron permeable reactive barriers in a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1997-2000
Two experimental permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) of granular zero-valent iron were emplaced in the path of a tetrachloroethene plume (the Chemical Spill-10 plume) at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in June 1998. The goal of the field experiment was to achieve emplacement of a granular-iron PRB deeper than attempted before. The PRBs were expected to...
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie, Douglas B. Kent, Richard L. Smith, Denis R. LeBlanc, David W. Hubble
Assessing denitrification in groundwater using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N: In situ measurement of a sequential multistep reaction Assessing denitrification in groundwater using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N: In situ measurement of a sequential multistep reaction
Denitrification was measured within a nitrate‐contaminated aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, using natural gradient tracer tests with 15N nitrate. The aquifer contained zones of relatively high concentrations of nitrite (up to 77 μM) and nitrous oxide (up to 143 μM) and has been the site of previous studies examining ground water denitrification using the acetylene block technique...
Authors
Richard L. Smith, J.K. Bohlke, Stephen P. Garabedian, Kinga M. Revesz, Tadashi Yoshinari
A walk through the hydroclimate network in Yosemite National Park: River chemistry A walk through the hydroclimate network in Yosemite National Park: River chemistry
Visitors to Yosemite National Park (YNP) are fully aware of the weather, snowmelt, waterfalls (Photo 1), and river discharge and river and lake water temperature. They are not, however, thinking about river chemistry because you can’t see, hear, or feel it. So a river chemistry article in Nature Notes needs a familiar background before we break out the instruments.
Authors
Dave Peterson, Richard Smith, Stephen Hager
Phosphorus in a ground-water contaminant plume discharging to Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1999 Phosphorus in a ground-water contaminant plume discharging to Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1999
The discharge of a plume of sewagecontaminated ground water emanating from the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Ashumet Pond on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has caused concern about excessive loading of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, to the pond. The U.S. Air Force is considering remedial actions to mitigate potentially adverse effects on the ecological characteristics of the pond...
Authors
Timothy D. McCobb, Denis R. LeBlanc, Donald A. Walter, Kathryn M. Hess, Douglas B. Kent, Richard L. Smith
Recent progress in the development of a SPARROW model of sediment for the conterminous U.S. Recent progress in the development of a SPARROW model of sediment for the conterminous U.S.
Suspended sediment has long been recognized as an important contaminant affecting water resources. Besides its direct role in determining water clarity, bridge scour and reservoir storage, sediment serves as a vehicle for the transport of many binding contaminants, including nutrients, trace metals, semi- volatile organic compounds, and numerous pesticides (U.S. Environmental Protection...
Authors
Gregory Schwarz, Richard Smith, Richard Alexander, John Gray
A spatially referenced regression model (SPARROW) for suspended sediment in streams of the Conterminous U.S. A spatially referenced regression model (SPARROW) for suspended sediment in streams of the Conterminous U.S.
Suspended sediment has long been recognized as an important contaminant affecting water resources. Besides its direct role in determining water clarity, bridge scour and reservoir storage, sediment serves as a vehicle for the transport of many binding contaminants, including nutrients, trace metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, a nd numerous pesticides (U.S. Environmental Protection...
Authors
Gregory E. Schwarz, Richard A. Smith, Richard B. Alexander, John R. Gray
Experimental Forecast of Maximum Daily Snowmelt Discharge Experimental Forecast of Maximum Daily Snowmelt Discharge
No abstract available.
Authors
Laurence G. Riddle, David H. Peterson, Daniel R. Cayan, Richard E. Smith, Mike Dettinger
Source-area characteristics of large public surface-water supplies in the conterminous United States : an information resource for source-water assessment Source-area characteristics of large public surface-water supplies in the conterminous United States : an information resource for source-water assessment
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard B. Alexander, Richard A. Smith, Michael J. Focazio, Marilee A. Horn
Sedimentation and bathymetry changes in Suisun Bay: 1867-1990 Sedimentation and bathymetry changes in Suisun Bay: 1867-1990
Understanding patterns of historical erosion and deposition in San Francisco Bay is crucial in managing such issues as locating deposits of sediment-associated contaminants, and the restoration of wetland areas. These problems were addressed by quantitatively examining historical hydrographic surveys. The data from five hydrographic surveys, made from 1867 to 1990, were analyzed using...
Authors
Karen Cappiella, Chris Malzone, Richard Smith, Bruce Jaffe
ERF1 -- Enhanced River Reach File 1.2 ERF1 -- Enhanced River Reach File 1.2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's River Reach File 1 (RF1) to ensure the hydrologic integrity of the digital reach traces and to quantify the mean water time of travel in river reaches and reservoirs [see USEPA (1996) for a description of the original RF1].
Authors
Richard B. Alexander, John W. Brakebill, Robert E. Brew, Richard A. Smith
An overview of San Francisco Bay PORTS An overview of San Francisco Bay PORTS
The Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) provides observations of tides, tidal currents, and meteorological conditions in real-time. The San Francisco Bay PORTS (SFPORTS) is a decision support system to facilitate safe and efficient maritime commerce. In addition to real-time observations, SFPORTS includes a nowcast numerical model forming a San Francisco Bay marine nowcast...
Authors
Ralph T. Cheng, David McKinnie, Chad English, Richard E. Smith
Using transport model interpretations of tracer tests to study microbial processes in groundwater Using transport model interpretations of tracer tests to study microbial processes in groundwater
It has long been known that microorganisms affect the geochemistry of groundwater. But despite this recognition, little detailed information is available regarding the rates and the factors controlling microbial processes in groundwater. Part of the reason stems from the relatively inaccessible nature of most groundwater and the difficulties encountered in obtaining representative...
Authors
Richard L. Smith, Stephen P. Garabedian
Non-USGS Publications**
Smith, R. L., Kent, D. B., Repert, D. A., and Böhlke, J.K., 2017, Anoxic nitrate reduction coupled with iron oxidation and attenuation of dissolved arsenic and phosphate in a sand and gravel aquifer, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 196:102-120, doi: http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.09.025.
**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.