Rob Runkel
Rob is a Research Hydrologist with the USGS Colorado Water Science Center in Lakewood, CO.
Rob began his career with the USGS while he was a graduate student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado. Rob's expertise and experience includes the development and application of models to simulate constituent transport, the characterization of small watersheds affected by acid mine drainage, and the use of tracers to quantify constituent transport in surface waters.
Professional Experience
1992-Present Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
1989-1992 Research Engineer, University of Colorado, Center for Advanced Decision Support in Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES), Boulder, Colorado
1987-1989 Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Education and Certifications
Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, 1985, Computer Science and Environmental Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Master of Environmental Management, 1987, Water Resources, Duke University: Monte Carlo Analysis of the Surface Water Component for Land Disposal Restriction Determinations
Doctor of Philosophy, 1993, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado: Development and Application of an Equilibrium-based Simulation Model for Reactive Solute Transport in Small Streams
Affiliations and Memberships*
Associate Editor, Water Resources Research, 2006–2014
Member, American Geophysical Union
Member, Society for Freshwater Science
Member, European Geosciences Union
Science and Products
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Methods and basic data from mass-loading studies in American Fork, October 1999, and Mary Ellen Gulch, Utah, September 2000
Land-management agencies are faced with decisions about remediation in streams affected by mine drainage. In support of the U. S. Forest Service, for the Uinta National Forest, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted mass-loading studies in American Fork and Mary Ellen Gulch, Utah. Synoptic samples were collected along a 10,000-meter study reach in American Fork and 4,500-meter reach in Mary Ellen Gu
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Linda J. Gerner
Geochemical data for Upper Mineral Creek, Colorado, under existing ambient conditions and during an experimental pH modification, August 2005
Mineral Creek, an acid mine drainage stream in south-western Colorado, was the subject of a water-quality study that employed a paired synoptic approach. Under the paired synoptic approach, two synoptic sampling campaigns were conducted on the same study reach. The initial synoptic campaign, conducted August 22, 2005, documented stream-water quality under existing ambient conditions. A second syno
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball, Judy I. Steiger, Katherine Walton-Day
A comparison of pre- and post-remediation water quality, Mineral Creek, Colorado
Pre- and post-remediation data sets are used herein to assess the effectiveness of remedial measures implemented in the headwaters of the Mineral Creek watershed, where contamination from hard rock mining has led to elevated metal concentrations and acidic pH. Collection of pre- and post-remediation data sets generally followed the synoptic mass balance approach, in which numerous stream and inflo
Authors
R.L. Runkel, K.E. Bencala, B. A. Kimball, K. Walton-Day, P. L. Verplanck
Principal locations of major-ion, trace-element, nitrate, and Escherichia coli loading to Emigration Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah, October 2005
Housing development and recreational activity in Emigration Canyon have increased substantially since 1980, perhaps causing an observed decrease in water quality of this northern Utah stream located near Salt Lake City. To identify reaches of the stream that contribute to water-quality degradation, a tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling study was done to quantify mass loading of major ions, trac
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day
Ground- and surface-water chemistry of Handcart Gulch, Park County, Colorado, 2003-2006
As part of a multidisciplinary project to determine the processes that control ground-water chemistry and flow in mineralized alpine environments, ground- and surface-water samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado were collected for analysis of inorganic solutes and water and dissolved sulfate stable isotopes in selected samples. The primary aim of this study was to document variations in ground-wate
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck, Andrew H. Manning, Briant A. Kimball, R. Blaine McCleskey, Robert L. Runkel, Jonathan S. Caine, Monique Adams, Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, David L. Fey
Metals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review
Metals pollution in surface waters from point and non-point sources (NPS) is a widespread problem in the United States and worldwide (Lofts et al., 2007; USEPA, 2007). In the western United States, metals associated with acid mine drainage (AMD) from hardrock mines in mountainous areas impact aquatic ecosystems and human health (USEPA, 1997a; Caruso and Ward, 1998; Church et al., 2007). Metals fat
Authors
B.S. Caruso, T.J. Cox, Robert L. Runkel, M.L. Velleux, Kenneth E. Bencala, D. Kirk Nordstrom, P.Y. Julien, B. A. Butler, Charles N. Alpers, A. Marion, Kathleen S. Smith
Formation of mixed Al-Fe colloidal sorbent and dissolved-colloidal partitioning of Cu and Zn in the Cement Creek - Animas River Confluence, Silverton, Colorado
Transport and chemical transformations of dissolved and colloidal Al, Fe, Cu and Zn were studied by detailed sampling in the mixing zone downstream from the confluence of Cement Creek (pH 4.1) with the Animas River (pH 7.6). Complete mixing resulted in circumneutral pH in the downstream reach of the 1300 m study area. All four metals were transported through this mixing zone without significant lo
Authors
Laurence E. Schemel, Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Marisa H. Cox
Quantification of changes in metal loading from storm runoff, Merse River (Tuscany, Italy)
The Merse River in Tuscany is affected by mine drainage and the weathering of mine wastes along several kilometres of its catchment. The metal loading to the stream was quantified by defining detailed profiles of discharge and concentration, using tracer-dilution and synoptic-sampling techniques. During the course of a field experiment to evaluate metal loading to the Merse, such data were obtaine
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, F. Bianchi, Katherine Walton-Day, Robert L. Runkel, M. Nannucci, A. Salvadori
Principal locations of metal loading from flood-plain tailings, Lower Silver Creek, Utah, April 2004
Because of the historical deposition of mill tailings in flood plains, the process of determining total maximum daily loads for streams in an area like the Park City mining district of Utah is complicated. Understanding the locations of metal loading to Silver Creek and the relative importance of these locations is necessary to make science-based decisions. Application of tracer-injection and syno
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day
A simulation-based approach for estimating premining water quality: Red Mountain Creek, Colorado
Regulatory agencies are often charged with the task of setting site-specific numeric water quality standards for impaired streams. This task is particularly difficult for streams draining highly mineralized watersheds with past mining activity. Baseline water quality data obtained prior to mining are often non-existent and application of generic water quality standards developed for unmineralized
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A Kimball, Katherine Walton-Day, Philip L. Verplanck
Toward a transport-based analysis of nutrient spiraling and uptake in streams
Nutrient addition experiments are designed to study the cycling of nutrients in stream ecosystems where hydrologic and nonhydrologic processes determine nutrient fate. Because of the importance of hydrologic processes in stream ecosystems, a conceptual model known as nutrient spiraling is frequently employed. A central part of the nutrient spiraling approach is the determination of uptake length (
Authors
Robert L. Runkel
Quantification of mass loading to Strawberry Creek near the Gilt Edge mine, Lawrence County, South Dakota, June 2003
Although remedial actions have taken place at the Gilt Edge mine in the Black Hills of South Dakota, questions remain about a possible hydrologic connection along shear zones between some of the pit lakes at the mine site and Strawberry Creek. Spatially detailed chemical sampling of stream and inflow sites occurred during low-flow conditions in June 2003 as part of a mass-loading study by the U.S.
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day, Joyce E. Williamson
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 75
Methods and basic data from mass-loading studies in American Fork, October 1999, and Mary Ellen Gulch, Utah, September 2000
Land-management agencies are faced with decisions about remediation in streams affected by mine drainage. In support of the U. S. Forest Service, for the Uinta National Forest, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted mass-loading studies in American Fork and Mary Ellen Gulch, Utah. Synoptic samples were collected along a 10,000-meter study reach in American Fork and 4,500-meter reach in Mary Ellen GuAuthorsBriant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Linda J. GernerGeochemical data for Upper Mineral Creek, Colorado, under existing ambient conditions and during an experimental pH modification, August 2005
Mineral Creek, an acid mine drainage stream in south-western Colorado, was the subject of a water-quality study that employed a paired synoptic approach. Under the paired synoptic approach, two synoptic sampling campaigns were conducted on the same study reach. The initial synoptic campaign, conducted August 22, 2005, documented stream-water quality under existing ambient conditions. A second synoAuthorsRobert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball, Judy I. Steiger, Katherine Walton-DayA comparison of pre- and post-remediation water quality, Mineral Creek, Colorado
Pre- and post-remediation data sets are used herein to assess the effectiveness of remedial measures implemented in the headwaters of the Mineral Creek watershed, where contamination from hard rock mining has led to elevated metal concentrations and acidic pH. Collection of pre- and post-remediation data sets generally followed the synoptic mass balance approach, in which numerous stream and infloAuthorsR.L. Runkel, K.E. Bencala, B. A. Kimball, K. Walton-Day, P. L. VerplanckPrincipal locations of major-ion, trace-element, nitrate, and Escherichia coli loading to Emigration Creek, Salt Lake County, Utah, October 2005
Housing development and recreational activity in Emigration Canyon have increased substantially since 1980, perhaps causing an observed decrease in water quality of this northern Utah stream located near Salt Lake City. To identify reaches of the stream that contribute to water-quality degradation, a tracer-injection and synoptic-sampling study was done to quantify mass loading of major ions, tracAuthorsBriant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-DayGround- and surface-water chemistry of Handcart Gulch, Park County, Colorado, 2003-2006
As part of a multidisciplinary project to determine the processes that control ground-water chemistry and flow in mineralized alpine environments, ground- and surface-water samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado were collected for analysis of inorganic solutes and water and dissolved sulfate stable isotopes in selected samples. The primary aim of this study was to document variations in ground-wateAuthorsPhilip L. Verplanck, Andrew H. Manning, Briant A. Kimball, R. Blaine McCleskey, Robert L. Runkel, Jonathan S. Caine, Monique Adams, Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, David L. FeyMetals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review
Metals pollution in surface waters from point and non-point sources (NPS) is a widespread problem in the United States and worldwide (Lofts et al., 2007; USEPA, 2007). In the western United States, metals associated with acid mine drainage (AMD) from hardrock mines in mountainous areas impact aquatic ecosystems and human health (USEPA, 1997a; Caruso and Ward, 1998; Church et al., 2007). Metals fatAuthorsB.S. Caruso, T.J. Cox, Robert L. Runkel, M.L. Velleux, Kenneth E. Bencala, D. Kirk Nordstrom, P.Y. Julien, B. A. Butler, Charles N. Alpers, A. Marion, Kathleen S. SmithFormation of mixed Al-Fe colloidal sorbent and dissolved-colloidal partitioning of Cu and Zn in the Cement Creek - Animas River Confluence, Silverton, Colorado
Transport and chemical transformations of dissolved and colloidal Al, Fe, Cu and Zn were studied by detailed sampling in the mixing zone downstream from the confluence of Cement Creek (pH 4.1) with the Animas River (pH 7.6). Complete mixing resulted in circumneutral pH in the downstream reach of the 1300 m study area. All four metals were transported through this mixing zone without significant loAuthorsLaurence E. Schemel, Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Marisa H. CoxQuantification of changes in metal loading from storm runoff, Merse River (Tuscany, Italy)
The Merse River in Tuscany is affected by mine drainage and the weathering of mine wastes along several kilometres of its catchment. The metal loading to the stream was quantified by defining detailed profiles of discharge and concentration, using tracer-dilution and synoptic-sampling techniques. During the course of a field experiment to evaluate metal loading to the Merse, such data were obtaineAuthorsBriant A. Kimball, F. Bianchi, Katherine Walton-Day, Robert L. Runkel, M. Nannucci, A. SalvadoriPrincipal locations of metal loading from flood-plain tailings, Lower Silver Creek, Utah, April 2004
Because of the historical deposition of mill tailings in flood plains, the process of determining total maximum daily loads for streams in an area like the Park City mining district of Utah is complicated. Understanding the locations of metal loading to Silver Creek and the relative importance of these locations is necessary to make science-based decisions. Application of tracer-injection and synoAuthorsBriant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-DayA simulation-based approach for estimating premining water quality: Red Mountain Creek, Colorado
Regulatory agencies are often charged with the task of setting site-specific numeric water quality standards for impaired streams. This task is particularly difficult for streams draining highly mineralized watersheds with past mining activity. Baseline water quality data obtained prior to mining are often non-existent and application of generic water quality standards developed for unmineralizedAuthorsRobert L. Runkel, Briant A Kimball, Katherine Walton-Day, Philip L. VerplanckToward a transport-based analysis of nutrient spiraling and uptake in streams
Nutrient addition experiments are designed to study the cycling of nutrients in stream ecosystems where hydrologic and nonhydrologic processes determine nutrient fate. Because of the importance of hydrologic processes in stream ecosystems, a conceptual model known as nutrient spiraling is frequently employed. A central part of the nutrient spiraling approach is the determination of uptake length (AuthorsRobert L. RunkelQuantification of mass loading to Strawberry Creek near the Gilt Edge mine, Lawrence County, South Dakota, June 2003
Although remedial actions have taken place at the Gilt Edge mine in the Black Hills of South Dakota, questions remain about a possible hydrologic connection along shear zones between some of the pit lakes at the mine site and Strawberry Creek. Spatially detailed chemical sampling of stream and inflow sites occurred during low-flow conditions in June 2003 as part of a mass-loading study by the U.S.AuthorsBriant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day, Joyce E. Williamson - 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