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Robert H Flynn

Rob is a Hydrologic Studies Chief for the Colorado Water Science Center (COWSC), in Lakewood, CO.

Rob Flynn began working for the U.S. Geological Survey in 1995 and has worked on a variety of groundwater and surface water projects including: surface water hydrology and hydraulics, sediment transport, statistical modeling and groundwater modeling studies. Recent work includes:

  1. U.S. Study manager for an International Joint Commission funded study, in collaboration with the Canadian government, to identify measures to mitigate flooding and the impacts of flooding  in the Lake Champlain / Richelieu River basin 
  2. USGS Northeast US Flood Science Capability Team Leader with a team goal of advancing flood science and decision support programs in the northeast USGS Water Science Centers and
  3. Flood-inundation hydraulic modeling and mapping projects.
     

Professional Experience

  • Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS Colorado Water Science Center, Denver, CO, 2020 to Present

  • Hydrologist, USGS New England Water Science Center, 1997-2020

  • Hydraulic Engineer, USGS New England Water Science Center, 1995-1997
     

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. in Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 1996

  • Licenses:
    Professional Engineer (PE), State of New Hampshire, USA
    Professional Geologist (PG), State of New Hampshire, USA

  • Certifications: 
    OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Site Worker
     

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 19

Flood-inundation maps for Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York

In 2016, digital flood-inundation maps along the shoreline of Lake Champlain in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties in Vermont and northern Clinton County in New York were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the International Joint Commission (IJC). This report discusses the creation of updated static digital flood-inundation mapping, in 2018, to inc
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Laura Hayes
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for the Green River in Colrain, Leyden, and Greenfield, Massachusetts, from U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 01170100 Green River near Colrain to the confluence with the Deerfield River

The U.S. Geological Survey developed flood elevations in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a 14.3-mile reach of the Green River in Colrain, Leyden, and Greenfield, Massachusetts, to assist landowners and emergency management workers to prepare for and recover from floods. The river reach extends from the U.S. Geological Survey Green River near Colrain, MA (01170100) stre
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Gardner C. Bent, Pamela J. Lombard
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Flood-inundation maps for Lake Champlain in Vermont and in northern Clinton County, New York

Digital flood-inundation maps for an approximately100-mile length of Lake Champlain in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties in Vermont and northern Clinton County in New York were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the International Joint Commission (IJC). The flood-inundationmaps, which can be accessed through the International Joint Commission (IJC
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Laura Hayes
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Network global navigation satellite system surveys to harmonize American and Canadian datum for the Lake Champlain Basin

Historically high flood levels were observed during flooding in Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River from late April through May 2011. Flooding was caused by record spring precipitation and snowmelt from the third highest cumulative snowfall year on record, which included a warm, saturated late spring snowpack. Flood stage was exceeded for a total of 67 days from April 13 to June 19, 2011. Durin
Authors
Robert H. Flynn, Paul H. Rydlund, Daniel J. Martin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Analysis of floods, including the tropical storm Irene inundation, of the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Bridgewater, and Killington and of Reservoir Brook in Bridgewater and Plymouth, Vermont

Digital flood-inundation maps were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District for a 25-mile reach of the Ottauquechee River and a 2-mile reach of Reservoir Brook in Vermont. The reach of the Ottauquechee River that was studied extends from River Road Bridge in Killington, Vt., to the Taftsville Dam in the village of Taftsvil
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Simulated and observed 2010 floodwater elevations in selected river reaches in the Pawtuxet River Basin, Rhode Island

Heavy, persistent rains from late February through March 2010 caused severe flooding that set, or nearly set, peaks of record for streamflows and water levels at many long-term streamgages in Rhode Island. In response to this event, hydraulic models were updated for selected reaches covering about 56 river miles in the Pawtuxet River Basin to simulate water-surface elevations (WSEs) at specified f
Authors
Phillip J. Zarriello, Scott A. Olson, Robert H. Flynn, Kellan R. Strauch, Elizabeth A. Murphy
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Analysis of the transport of sediment by the Suncook River in Epsom, Pembroke, and Allenstown, New Hampshire, after the May 2006 flood

During May 13-16, 2006, rainfall in excess of 8.8 inches flooded central and southern New Hampshire. On May 15, 2006, a breach in a bank of the Suncook River in Epsom, New Hampshire, caused the river to follow a new path. In order to assess and predict the effect of the sediment in, and the subsequent flooding on, the river and flood plain, a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) characterizi
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Flood study of the Suncook River in Epsom, Pembroke, and Allenstown, New Hampshire, 2009

On May 15, 2006, a breach in the riverbank caused an avulsion in the Suncook River in Epsom, NH. The breach in the riverbank and subsequent avulsion changed the established flood zones along the Suncook River; therefore, a new flood study was needed to reflect this change and aid in flood recovery and restoration. For this flood study, the hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for the Suncook River we
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Flood of April 2007 in New Hampshire

During April 16-18, 2007, central and southeastern New Hampshire experienced severe flooding as a result of up to 7 inches of rainfall from a storm that stalled off the New England coast. As a result of the flooding, a Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on April 27, 2007. On that day, disaster declarations were announced for Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Cou
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Flood Study of Warren Brook in Alstead and Cold River in Alstead, Langdon, and Walpole, New Hampshire, 2005

This report presents water-surface elevations and profiles as determined using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) one-dimensional Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, also known as HEC-RAS. Steady flow water-surface profiles were developed for two stream reaches: the Cold River from its confluence with the Connecticut River in Walpole, through Alstead to the McDermott Bridge
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Scoping of flood hazard mapping needs for Carroll County, New Hampshire

This report was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Hampshire/Vermont Water Science Center for scoping of flood-hazard mapping needs for Carroll County, New Hampshire, under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Inter-Agency agreement Number HSFE01-05X-0018. FEMA is embarking on a map modernization program nationwide to: 1. Gather and develop updated data for all flood prone
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Scoping of flood hazard mapping needs for Belknap County, New Hampshire

This report was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) New Hampshire-Vermont Water Science Center for scoping of flood-hazard mapping needs for Belknap County, New Hampshire, under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Inter-Agency agreement Number HSFE01-05X-0018.
Authors
Robert H. Flynn
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

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.

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IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
By
New England Water Science Center
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IJC Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River Project

The record setting floods of 2011 in Lake Champlain Vermont/New York U.S. and the Richelieu River in the province of Quebec Canada prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to work together to identify how flood forecasting, preparedness and mitigation can be improved in the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River (LCRR) basin.
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Northeast Region Capability Teams

The USGS Northeast Region (NER) began a process of integrating its scientific expertise and technical staff around issues of societal concern. These Regional Capability Teams (CTs) are intended to encourage interdisciplinary scientist-to- scientist collaboration and communication across the NER’s 11 Science Centers and promote the use of best methods on specific science focus areas to produce the...
By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
link

Northeast Region Capability Teams

The USGS Northeast Region (NER) began a process of integrating its scientific expertise and technical staff around issues of societal concern. These Regional Capability Teams (CTs) are intended to encourage interdisciplinary scientist-to- scientist collaboration and communication across the NER’s 11 Science Centers and promote the use of best methods on specific science focus areas to produce the...
Learn More
link
Flooded Pier at Assawoman Bay, MD

Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team

The USGS Northeast Region has been an active and competent force in flood-science through (1) maintenance of our streamgaging network to provide timely and accurate data to the National Weather Service, other federal (USACE and FEMA) and state agencies (Emergency Management Agencies), and the public in times of flood emergencies; (2) documentation of major floods; (3) involvement in the USGS Flood...
By
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
link

Northeast Region Flood Science Capability Team

The USGS Northeast Region has been an active and competent force in flood-science through (1) maintenance of our streamgaging network to provide timely and accurate data to the National Weather Service, other federal (USACE and FEMA) and state agencies (Emergency Management Agencies), and the public in times of flood emergencies; (2) documentation of major floods; (3) involvement in the USGS Flood...
Learn More

Science and Products