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
Phytoplankton dynamics in three Rocky Mountain lakes, Colorado, USA Phytoplankton dynamics in three Rocky Mountain lakes, Colorado, USA
In 1984 and 1985 seasonal changes in phytoplankton were studied in a system of three lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Three periods were evident: (1) A spring bloom, during snowmelt, of the planktonic diatom Asterionella formosa, (2) a mid-summer period of minimal algal abundance, and (3) a fall bloom of the blue-green alga Oscillatoria limnetica. Seasonal...
Authors
Diane McKnight, Richard Smith, J. Bradbury, Jill Baron, Sarah Spaulding
Phytoplankton populations in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Sensitivity to acidic conditions and nitrate enrichment Phytoplankton populations in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Sensitivity to acidic conditions and nitrate enrichment
No abstract available.
Authors
Diane McKnight, Christine Miller, Richard Smith, Jill Baron, Sarah Spaulding
Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 2. Pelagic sulfate reduction Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 2. Pelagic sulfate reduction
The epilimnion of hypersaline, alkaline, meromictic Big Soda Lake contains an average 58 mmol sulfate liter−1 and 0.4 µmol dissolved iron liter−1. The monimolimnion, which is permanently anoxic, has a sulfide concentration ranging seasonally from 4 to 7 mmol liter−1. Depth profiles of sulfate reduction in the monimolimnion, assayed with a 35S tracer technique and in situ incubations...
Authors
Richard Smith, Ronald Oremland
Analysis and interpretation of water-quality trends in major U.S. rivers, 1974-81 Analysis and interpretation of water-quality trends in major U.S. rivers, 1974-81
Water-quality records from two nationwide sampling networks are now of sufficient length to permit nationally consistent analysis of long-term water-quality trends at more than 300 locations on major U.S. rivers. Observed trends in 24 water-quality measures for the period 1974--81 provide evidence of both improvement and deterioration in stream quality during a time of major changes in...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander, M. Wolman
Seasonal changes in phytoplankton populations and related chemical and physical characteristics in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Seasonal changes in phytoplankton populations and related chemical and physical characteristics in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
Diane McKnight, Mark Brenner, Richard Smith, Jill Baron
Pesticides in the nation's rivers, 1975-1980, and implications for future monitoring Pesticides in the nation's rivers, 1975-1980, and implications for future monitoring
Water samples were taken four times per year and bed-sediment samples two times per year during 1975-80 at 160 to 180 stations on major rivers of the United States. Samples were analyzed for 18 insecticides and 4 herbicides, which together accounted for about one-third of the total amount of all pesticides applied to major crops during 1975-80. Fewer than 10 percent of almost 3,000 water...
Authors
Robert Gilliom, Richard Alexander, Richard Smith
Denitrification in San Francisco Bay intertidal sediments Denitrification in San Francisco Bay intertidal sediments
The acetylene block technique was employed to study denitrification in intertidal estuarine sediments. Addition of nitrate to sediment slurries stimulated denitrification. During the dry season, sediment-slurry denitrification rates displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and ambient NO3− + NO2− concentrations (≤26 μM) were below the apparent Km (50 μM) for nitrate. During the rainy season...
Authors
Ronald Oremland, Cindy Umberger, Charles Culbertson, Richard Smith
Physical and chemical properties of San Francisco Bay waters, 1978 Physical and chemical properties of San Francisco Bay waters, 1978
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard Smith, R.E. Herndon
Anaerobic oxalate degradation: Widespread natural occurrence in aquatic sediments Anaerobic oxalate degradation: Widespread natural occurrence in aquatic sediments
Significant concentrations of oxalate (dissolved plus particulate) were present in sediments taken from a diversity of aquatic environments, ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 mmol/liter of sediment. These included pelagic and littoral sediments from two freshwater lakes (Searsville Lake, Calif., and Lake Tahoe, Calif.), a hypersaline, meromictic, alkaline lake (Big Soda Lake, Nev.), and a South...
Authors
Richard Smith, Ronald Oremland
Evidence for acid-precipitation-induced trends in stream chemistry at hydrologic bench-mark stations Evidence for acid-precipitation-induced trends in stream chemistry at hydrologic bench-mark stations
Ten- to 15-year water-quality records from a network of headwater sampling stations show small declines in stream sulfate concentrations at stations in the northeastern quarter of the Nation and small increases in sulfate at most southeastern and western sites. The regional pattern of stream sulfate trends is similar to that reported for trends in S02 emissions to the atmosphere during...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander
A study of trends in dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria at NASQAN stations A study of trends in dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria at NASQAN stations
Most stations in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Stream Quality Accounting Network show no significant trend in either dissolved oxygen concentration or fecal coliform bacteria population for the period October 1974. through October 1981. Of the stations which do show trends, however, most show improved water quality: thirty-one of a total of 276 stations show rising dissolved...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander
A study of trends in total phosphorus measurements at NASQAN stations A study of trends in total phosphorus measurements at NASQAN stations
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard Smith, Robert Hirsch, James Slack
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
Phytoplankton dynamics in three Rocky Mountain lakes, Colorado, USA Phytoplankton dynamics in three Rocky Mountain lakes, Colorado, USA
In 1984 and 1985 seasonal changes in phytoplankton were studied in a system of three lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Three periods were evident: (1) A spring bloom, during snowmelt, of the planktonic diatom Asterionella formosa, (2) a mid-summer period of minimal algal abundance, and (3) a fall bloom of the blue-green alga Oscillatoria limnetica. Seasonal...
Authors
Diane McKnight, Richard Smith, J. Bradbury, Jill Baron, Sarah Spaulding
Phytoplankton populations in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Sensitivity to acidic conditions and nitrate enrichment Phytoplankton populations in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Sensitivity to acidic conditions and nitrate enrichment
No abstract available.
Authors
Diane McKnight, Christine Miller, Richard Smith, Jill Baron, Sarah Spaulding
Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 2. Pelagic sulfate reduction Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 2. Pelagic sulfate reduction
The epilimnion of hypersaline, alkaline, meromictic Big Soda Lake contains an average 58 mmol sulfate liter−1 and 0.4 µmol dissolved iron liter−1. The monimolimnion, which is permanently anoxic, has a sulfide concentration ranging seasonally from 4 to 7 mmol liter−1. Depth profiles of sulfate reduction in the monimolimnion, assayed with a 35S tracer technique and in situ incubations...
Authors
Richard Smith, Ronald Oremland
Analysis and interpretation of water-quality trends in major U.S. rivers, 1974-81 Analysis and interpretation of water-quality trends in major U.S. rivers, 1974-81
Water-quality records from two nationwide sampling networks are now of sufficient length to permit nationally consistent analysis of long-term water-quality trends at more than 300 locations on major U.S. rivers. Observed trends in 24 water-quality measures for the period 1974--81 provide evidence of both improvement and deterioration in stream quality during a time of major changes in...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander, M. Wolman
Seasonal changes in phytoplankton populations and related chemical and physical characteristics in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Seasonal changes in phytoplankton populations and related chemical and physical characteristics in lakes in Loch Vale, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
Diane McKnight, Mark Brenner, Richard Smith, Jill Baron
Pesticides in the nation's rivers, 1975-1980, and implications for future monitoring Pesticides in the nation's rivers, 1975-1980, and implications for future monitoring
Water samples were taken four times per year and bed-sediment samples two times per year during 1975-80 at 160 to 180 stations on major rivers of the United States. Samples were analyzed for 18 insecticides and 4 herbicides, which together accounted for about one-third of the total amount of all pesticides applied to major crops during 1975-80. Fewer than 10 percent of almost 3,000 water...
Authors
Robert Gilliom, Richard Alexander, Richard Smith
Denitrification in San Francisco Bay intertidal sediments Denitrification in San Francisco Bay intertidal sediments
The acetylene block technique was employed to study denitrification in intertidal estuarine sediments. Addition of nitrate to sediment slurries stimulated denitrification. During the dry season, sediment-slurry denitrification rates displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and ambient NO3− + NO2− concentrations (≤26 μM) were below the apparent Km (50 μM) for nitrate. During the rainy season...
Authors
Ronald Oremland, Cindy Umberger, Charles Culbertson, Richard Smith
Physical and chemical properties of San Francisco Bay waters, 1978 Physical and chemical properties of San Francisco Bay waters, 1978
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard Smith, R.E. Herndon
Anaerobic oxalate degradation: Widespread natural occurrence in aquatic sediments Anaerobic oxalate degradation: Widespread natural occurrence in aquatic sediments
Significant concentrations of oxalate (dissolved plus particulate) were present in sediments taken from a diversity of aquatic environments, ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 mmol/liter of sediment. These included pelagic and littoral sediments from two freshwater lakes (Searsville Lake, Calif., and Lake Tahoe, Calif.), a hypersaline, meromictic, alkaline lake (Big Soda Lake, Nev.), and a South...
Authors
Richard Smith, Ronald Oremland
Evidence for acid-precipitation-induced trends in stream chemistry at hydrologic bench-mark stations Evidence for acid-precipitation-induced trends in stream chemistry at hydrologic bench-mark stations
Ten- to 15-year water-quality records from a network of headwater sampling stations show small declines in stream sulfate concentrations at stations in the northeastern quarter of the Nation and small increases in sulfate at most southeastern and western sites. The regional pattern of stream sulfate trends is similar to that reported for trends in S02 emissions to the atmosphere during...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander
A study of trends in dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria at NASQAN stations A study of trends in dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria at NASQAN stations
Most stations in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Stream Quality Accounting Network show no significant trend in either dissolved oxygen concentration or fecal coliform bacteria population for the period October 1974. through October 1981. Of the stations which do show trends, however, most show improved water quality: thirty-one of a total of 276 stations show rising dissolved...
Authors
Richard Smith, Richard Alexander
A study of trends in total phosphorus measurements at NASQAN stations A study of trends in total phosphorus measurements at NASQAN stations
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard Smith, Robert Hirsch, James Slack
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.