Richard Webb
Rick Webb is a research hydrologist with the Earth System Processes Division in the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Resources Mission Area.
Biography
Rick grew up on the shores of the Atlantic and later the Great Lakes. Beaches, jellyfish, hurricanes, and alewive dieoffs all left indelible memories that helped shape Rick's career studying waters both salty and fresh. As an undergraduate physical scientist working for NOAA, Rick deployed current meters in Lake Erie. After graduating with a BS in marine geology in 1982, Rick landed on the island of Puerto Rico for a two week vacation. The two week vacation turned into an eighteen year tenure with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Geological Survey during which he studied anthropogenic impacts on coastal waters and upland watersheds. In 1999, Rick and his family moved to Denver, Colorado to better understand fundamental processes driving water and solutes through watersheds from the continental divide to tropical rain forests. Current projects include Reaction-Transport Modeling in Groundwater and Watershed Systems and the Shingobee Headwaters Aquatic Ecosystems Project (SHAEP).
Career Plans and Objectives
As a steward of the environment, I work with colleagues to understand the processes that 1) shape the surface of the earth and 2) change the composition of the water. This information can then be used to evaluate and manage our limited resources. Most challenging is the need to compile and synthesize a wide array of data from multiple sources. This may involve state-of-the-art signal processing or using a sextant to better locate a study site. My background and interests are centered on the premise of understanding the global picture while attempting to solve local problems in our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.
Professional Experience
1999-present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area
1990-1999: Hydrologist. U.S. Geological Survey, Caribbean Water Science Center
1988-1990: Marine Geologist. U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Atlantic Marine Geology
1982-1985: Marine Geologist. Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources
Education and Certifications
Master of Science in Physical Oceanography (received, May 1987) Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies University of Michigan (Regent's Fellowship awarded both years)
Bachelor of Science in Oceanography - Geological Option (received, May 1982) Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences College of Engineering University of Michigan
Science and Products
Using a coupled groundwater/surface-water model to predict climate-change impacts to lakes in the Trout Lake Watershed, northern Wisconsin
Pesticide fate and transport throughout unsaturated zones in five agricultural settings, USA
Simulated fate and transport of metolachlor in the unsaturated zone, Maryland, USA
Variations in pesticide leaching related to land use, pesticide properties, and unsaturated zone thickness
Water and solute mass balance of five small, relatively undisturbed watersheds in the U.S.
Land-use effects on erosion, sediment yields, and reservoir sedimentation: A case study in the Lago Loiza Basin, Puerto Rico
Water, sediment, and nutrient discharge characteristics of Puerto Rico rivers and their potential influence on coral reefs
Ground water occurrence and contributions to streamflow in an alpine catchment, Colorado Front Range
Application of XTOP_PRMS model in Green Lakes Valley, Colorado front range: Runoff simulation and flowpath identification
Assessment of the habitats, biota, sediments, and water quality near the discharge of primary-treated effluent from the Mayaguez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bahia de Anasco, Puerto Rico
Sedimentation survey of Lago Guajataca, Puerto Rico, January 1999
Sedimentation survey of Lago La Plata, Puerto Rico, October 1998
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 36
Using 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 DohertyPesticide fate and transport throughout unsaturated zones in five agricultural settings, USA
Pesticide transport through the unsaturated zone is a function of chemical and soil characteristics, application, and water recharge rate. The fate and transport of 82 pesticides and degradates were investigated at five different agricultural sites. Atrazine and metolachlor, as well as several of the degradates of atrazine, metolachlor, acetochlor, and alachlor, were frequently detected in soil waAuthorsT.C. Hancock, Mark W. Sandstrom, J. R. Vogel, R.M.T. Webb, E.R. Bayless, J.E. BarbashSimulated fate and transport of metolachlor in the unsaturated zone, Maryland, USA
An unsaturated-zone transport model was used to examine the transport and fate of metolachlor applied to an agricultural site in Maryland, USA. The study site was instrumented to collect data on soil-water content, soil-water potential, ground water levels, major ions, pesticides, and nutrients from the unsaturated zone during 2002-2004. The data set was enhanced with site-specific information desAuthorsE.R. Bayless, P. D. Capel, J.E. Barbash, R.M.T. Webb, T.L.C. Hancock, D.C. LampeVariations in pesticide leaching related to land use, pesticide properties, and unsaturated zone thickness
Pesticide leaching through variably thick soils beneath agricultural fields in Morgan Creek, Maryland was simulated for water years 1995 to 2004 using LEACHM (Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model). Fifteen individual models were constructed to simulate five depths and three crop rotations with associated pesticide applications. Unsaturated zone thickness averaged 4.7 m but reached a maximum ofAuthorsR.M.T. Webb, M.E. Wieczorek, B. T. Nolan, T.C. Hancock, Mark W. Sandstrom, J.E. Barbash, E.R. Bayless, R. W. Healy, J. LinardWater and solute mass balance of five small, relatively undisturbed watersheds in the U.S.
Geochemical mass balances were computed for water years 1992-1997 (October 1991 through September 1997) for the five watersheds of the U.S. Geological Survey Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) Program to determine the primary regional controls on yields of the major dissolved inorganic solutes. The sites, which vary markedly with respect to climate, geology, physiography, and ecologyAuthorsN.E. Peters, J. B. Shanley, Brent T. Aulenbach, R. M. Webb, K. Campbell, R. Hunt, M. C. Larsen, R.F. Stallard, J. Troester, J.F. WalkerLand-use effects on erosion, sediment yields, and reservoir sedimentation: A case study in the Lago Loiza Basin, Puerto Rico
Lago Loíza impounded in 1953 to supply San Juan, Puerto Rico, with drinking water; by 1994, it had lost 47% of its capacity. To characterize sedimentation in Lago Loíza, a study combining land-use history, hillslope erosion rates, and subbasin sediment yields was conducted. Sedimentation rates during the early part of the reservoir’s operation (1953– 1963) were slightly higher than the rates durinAuthorsAllen C. Gellis, Richard M. T. Webb, S. C. McIntyre, William J. WolfeWater, sediment, and nutrient discharge characteristics of Puerto Rico rivers and their potential influence on coral reefs
No abstract available.AuthorsAndrew G. Warne, Richard M. T. Webb, Matthew C. LarsenGround water occurrence and contributions to streamflow in an alpine catchment, Colorado Front Range
Ground water occurrence, movement, and its contribution to streamflow were investigated in Loch Vale, an alpine catchment in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Hydrogeomorphologic mapping, seismic refraction measurements, and porosity and permeability estimates indicate that talus slopes are the primary ground water reservoir, with a maximum storage capacity that is equal to, or greaAuthorsD. W. Clow, L. Schrott, R. Webb, K. Campbell, A.O. Torizzo, M. DornblaserApplication of XTOP_PRMS model in Green Lakes Valley, Colorado front range: Runoff simulation and flowpath identification
Stream runoff was simulated from 1996 to 2000 using XTOP_PRMS (coupling of TOPMODEL and Precipitation Runoff Modeling System) model under Modular Modeling System at Martinelli and Green Lake 4 catchments in Green Lakes Valley, Colorado Front Range. Two flowpaths determined by XTOP_PRMS model, surface flow (infiltration-excess overland flow) and subsurface flow, were compared against the flowpathsAuthorsF. Liu, M. Williams, R. Webb, T. AckermanAssessment of the habitats, biota, sediments, and water quality near the discharge of primary-treated effluent from the Mayaguez Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bahia de Anasco, Puerto Rico
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard M. T. Webb, P.D. Collar, W. C. Schwab, Carlos Goenaga, J.R. Gracia, Roberto CastroSedimentation survey of Lago Guajataca, Puerto Rico, January 1999
No abstract available.AuthorsLuis R. Soler-López, Richard M. T. Webb, Ramon A. Carrasquillo-NievesSedimentation survey of Lago La Plata, Puerto Rico, October 1998
No abstract available.AuthorsLuis R. Soler-López, Richard M. T. Webb, Ramon A. Carrasquillo-Nieves - Science
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