Rodney R Knight
Rodney began his career with the USGS in 1992 as a student in the Nashville field office. Upon finishing his degree (Bachelor of Science, Civil / Environmental Engineering, Tennessee Technological University),
Rodney returned to the USGS and has worked on a variety projects and programs during his 28-year career. His early-career work included working with the Lower Tennessee River NAWQA team in a variety of roles as well as directing local projects with state partners on developing a program focused on ecological-flow analysis in the Tennessee River basin. These afforded him the opportunity to begin partnering with other states in the Lower Mississippi-Gulf footprint to bring USGS science interests to the table, particularly in the context of ecological flow. Through these efforts, the USGS has been funded through 2025 to evaluate freshwater inflows to the Gulf of Mexico across the 5 Gulf States and develop decision-support frameworks capable of incorporating ecological outcomes for 3 major river basins.
Along the way, Rodney collaborated with EPA Headquarters on the development of a Report to Congress, was an expert witness in a federal trial, and participated in a Powell Center workgroup focused on estimating water availability. Over the last several years, Rodney has enjoyed meeting with a variety of Federal, state, and local partners to develop partnerships and to help connect USGS science and data to real-world needs.
As Center Director for the Lower Mississippi-Gulf WSC, Rodney leads and manages a Center with almost 200 people on staff to provide high-quality water data, interpretations, and visualizations for federal, state, tribal, local and non-governmental agencies and further the mission of the USGS. Being a Director of a Center with a 5-state footprint (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) requires him to develop and maintain an understanding of the scientific interests and needs of partner agencies, quite often extending beyond that of a single partner agency. Many times, this affords the opportunity to bring together different agencies from neighboring states to focus on a topic of common interest.
Science and Products
Invertebrate response to changes in streamflow hydraulics in two urban areas in the United States
Predicting ecological flow regime at ungaged sites: A comparison of methods
Regression models of ecological streamflow characteristics in the Cumberland and Tennessee River Valleys
If the creeks don't rise: the May 2010 Flood in Nashville
Harmful algal blooms: A case study in two mesotrophic drinking water supply reservoirs in South Carolina
Relating streamflow characteristics to specialized insectivores in the Tennessee River Valley: a regional approach
Water Resources of the Duck River Watershed, Tennessee
Water quality in the lower Tennessee River Basin, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia, 1999-2001
Water quality of the Flint River basin, Alabama and Tennessee, 1999-2000
Occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements in fish tissue in the lower Tennessee River basin, 1980-98
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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Invertebrate response to changes in streamflow hydraulics in two urban areas in the United States
Stream hydrology is foundational to aquatic ecosystems and has been shown to be a structuring element for fish and invertebrates. The relations among urbanization, hydraulics, and invertebrate communities were investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Water-Quality Assessment Program by using measures of stream hydraulics in two areas of the United States. Specifically, the hypothesis tAuthorsRodney R. Knight, Thomas F. CuffneyPredicting ecological flow regime at ungaged sites: A comparison of methods
Nineteen ecologically relevant streamflow characteristics were estimated using published rainfall–runoff and regional regression models for six sites with observed daily streamflow records in Kentucky. The regional regression model produced median estimates closer to the observed median for all but two characteristics. The variability of predictions from both models was generally less than the obsAuthorsJennifer C. Murphy, Rodney R. Knight, William J. Wolfe, W. Scott GainRegression models of ecological streamflow characteristics in the Cumberland and Tennessee River Valleys
Predictive equations were developed using stepbackward regression for 19 ecologically relevant streamflow characteristics grouped in five major classes (magnitude, ratio, frequency, variability, and date) for use in the Tennessee and Cumberland River watersheds. Basin characteristics explain 50 percent or more of the variation for 10 of the 19 equations. Independent variables identified through stAuthorsRodney R. Knight, W. Scott Gain, William J. WolfeIf the creeks don't rise: the May 2010 Flood in Nashville
The aftermath, recovery, and lessons of the future following a major flood that inundated the greater Nashville area one year ago are the subjects of this article. The authors discuss what led up to the event, its impacts, and what, if anything, can be done to prevent or diminish the reoccurrence of such flooding in the future.AuthorsRodney R. Knight, William J. Wolfe, David E. LaddHarmful algal blooms: A case study in two mesotrophic drinking water supply reservoirs in South Carolina
Algal blooms can be harmful and a nuisance in a variety of aquatic ecosystems, including reservoirs and lakes. Cyanobacterial(blue-green algae) harmful algal blooms are notorious for producing both taste-and-odor compounds and potent toxins that may affect human health. Taste–and-odor episodes are aesthetic problems often caused by cyanobacterial-produced organic compounds (geosmin and methylisoboAuthorsCeleste A. Journey, Karen M. Beaulieu, Rodney R. Knight, Jennifer L. Graham, Jane M. Arrington, Rebecca West, John Westcott, Paul M. BradleyRelating streamflow characteristics to specialized insectivores in the Tennessee River Valley: a regional approach
Analysis of hydrologic time series and fish community data across the Tennessee River Valley identified three hydrologic metrics essential to habitat suitability and food availability for insectivorous fish communities in streams of the Tennessee River Valley: constancy (flow stability or temporal invariance), frequency of moderate flooding (frequency of habitat disturbance), and rate of streamfloAuthorsRodney R. Knight, M. Brian Gregory, Amy K. WalesWater Resources of the Duck River Watershed, Tennessee
The U.S. Geological Survey began a study in 2003 in cooperation with the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency to assess the hydrology of the Duck River watershed from Normandy Dam downstream to Columbia, Tennessee. Ground-water-level data, spring-flow, bacteria samples, and streamflow were collected during this study to characterize the hydrology of the study area. The emphasis of this study waAuthorsR. R. Knight, J.A. KingsburyWater quality in the lower Tennessee River Basin, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia, 1999-2001
This report contains the major findings of a 1999?2001 assessment of water quality in the Lower Tennessee River Basin. It is one of a series of reports by the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program that present major findings in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems across the Nation. In these reports, water quality is discussed in terms of local, State, and regional issues.AuthorsMichael D. Woodside, Anne B. Hoos, James A. Kingsbury, Jeffrey R. Powell, Rodney R. Knight, Jerry W. Garrett, Reavis L. Mitchell, John A. RobinsonWater quality of the Flint River basin, Alabama and Tennessee, 1999-2000
The U.S. Geological Survey monitored eight stream sites in the Flint River Basin during the period January 1999 through May 2000, to characterize patterns in the occurrence of pesticides, fecal-indicator bacteria, and nutrients in relation to season and streamflow conditions and to land-use patterns. This study is part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, which was designed to assessAuthorsAnne B. Hoos, Jerry W. Garrett, Rodney R. KnightOccurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements in fish tissue in the lower Tennessee River basin, 1980-98
The U.S. Geological Survey, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, evaluated the occurrence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements in fish tissue in samples collected in the lower Tennessee River Basin study unit. Fish tissue analysis provides a time-averaged measurement of contaminants as well as a direct measurement of theAuthorsR. R. Knight, J.R. PowellNon-USGS Publications**
Murphy, J. C., Knight, R. R., Wolfe, W. J. and Gain, W.S. (2013), Predicting Ecological Flow Regime at Ungaged Sites: A Comparison of Methods. River Research and Applications, 29: 660–669. doi: 10.1002/rra.2570Rodgers, K.D., Breaker, B.K., Hart, R.M., and Knight, R.R., 2017, Geospatial data supporting assessments of streamflow alteration to support bay and estuary restoration in the Gulf States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7QF8R33**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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