Roy Bartholomay is the Director of the USGS Idaho Water Science Center.
Roy previously served as the Chief of the USGS Idaho National Laboratory Project Office and as the Water-Quality Specialist and Chief of the Huron Programs Office of the USGS South Dakota Water Science Center. His scientific research involves studies on groundwater geochemistry and water quality.
Professional Experience
2021 - Present, Director, USGS Idaho Water Science Center
2008 - 2021, Project Chief, USGS Idaho National Laboratory Project Office, Idaho Water Science Center
2002 - 2007, Huron Programs Office Chief and Water Quality Specialist, USGS South Dakota Water Science Center
1987 - 2001, Hydrologist, USGS Idaho National Laboratory Project Office, Idaho Water Science Center
Education and Certifications
B.S., Geology, 1987, North Dakota State University
M.S., Geology, 1990, Idaho State University
USGS Western Region Managers Development Program, 2001
Affiliations and Memberships*
Tobacco Root Geological Society
Idaho Academy of Sciences
Honors and Awards
U.S. Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, 2020
Science and Products
Evaluation of sample preservation methods for analysis of selected volatile organic compounds in groundwater at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Historical development of the U.S. Geological Survey hydrological monitoring and investigative programs at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–2020
Completion summary for boreholes USGS 148, 148A, and 149 at the Materials and Fuels Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Optimization of the Idaho National Laboratory water-quality aquifer monitoring network, southeastern Idaho
Field methods, quality-assurance, and data management plan for water-quality activities and water-level measurements, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Multilevel groundwater monitoring of hydraulic head, water temperature, and chemical constituents in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2014–18
Regionally continuous Miocene rhyolites beneath the eastern Snake River Plain reveal localized flexure at its western margin: Idaho National Laboratory and vicinity
Iodine-129 in the Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at and near the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2017–18
An update of hydrologic conditions and distribution of selected constituents in water, Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer and perched groundwater zones, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, emphasis 2016–18
Completion summary for borehole TAN-2312 at Test Area North, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Updated procedures for using drill cores and cuttings at the Lithologic Core Storage Library, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Correlation between basalt flows and radiochemical and chemical constituents in selected wells in the southwestern part of the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Publications - Idaho National Laboratory
Water Monitoring - Idaho National Laboratory
Water Archive Library - Idaho National Laboratory
Hydrologic Investigations near the Remote Handled Low-Level Waste Facility
Naval Reactors Facility Groundwater-Quality Monitoring
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 96
Evaluation of sample preservation methods for analysis of selected volatile organic compounds in groundwater at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
During 2020, water samples were collected from 25 wells completed in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer and from 1 well completed in perched groundwater above the aquifer at the Idaho National Laboratory to determine the effect of different sample-preservation methods on the laboratory determinations of concentrations of volatile organic compounds. Paired-sample sets were collected at each wellAuthorsKerri C. Treinen, Roy C. BartholomayHistorical development of the U.S. Geological Survey hydrological monitoring and investigative programs at the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2002–2020
This report summarizes the historical development and operations, from 2002 to 2020, of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) hydrologic monitoring and investigative programs at the Idaho National Laboratory in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy. The report covers the USGS’s programs for water-level monitoring, water-quality sampling, geochemical studies, geophysical logging, geologic frAuthorsRoy C. BartholomayCompletion summary for boreholes USGS 148, 148A, and 149 at the Materials and Fuels Complex, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, drilled and constructed boreholes USGS 148A and USGS 149 for stratigraphic framework analyses and long-term groundwater monitoring of the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in southeastern Idaho. Initially, boreholes USGS 148A and USGS 149 were continuously cored toAuthorsBrian V. Twining, Neil V. Maimer, Roy C. Bartholomay, Blair W. PackerOptimization of the Idaho National Laboratory water-quality aquifer monitoring network, southeastern Idaho
Long-term monitoring of water-quality data collected from wells at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has provided essential information for delineating the movement of radiochemical and chemical wastes in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, southeastern Idaho. Since 1949, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, has maintained as many as 200 wells in theAuthorsJason C. Fisher, Roy C. Bartholomay, Gordon W. Rattray, Neil V. MaimerField methods, quality-assurance, and data management plan for water-quality activities and water-level measurements, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
IntroductionWater-quality activities and water-level measurements conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Project Office coincide with the USGS mission of appraising the quantity and quality of the Nation’s water resources. The activities are conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho Operations Office. Results of water-qualityAuthorsRoy C. Bartholomay, Neil V. Maimer, Amy J. Wehnke, Samuel L. HelmuthMultilevel groundwater monitoring of hydraulic head, water temperature, and chemical constituents in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2014–18
Radiochemical and chemical wastewater discharged to infiltration ponds and disposal wells since the early 1950s at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), southeastern Idaho, has affected the water quality of the eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer. In 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, added a multilevel well-monitoring network to their oAuthorsBrian V. Twining, Roy C. Bartholomay, Jason C. Fisher, Calvin AndersonRegionally continuous Miocene rhyolites beneath the eastern Snake River Plain reveal localized flexure at its western margin: Idaho National Laboratory and vicinity
The eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) is a northeast-trending topographic basin interpreted to be the result of the time-transgressive track of the North American plate above the Yellowstone hotspot. The track is defined by the age progression of silicic volcanic rocks exposed along the margins of the ESRP. However, the bulk of these silicic rocks are buried under 1 to 3 kilometers of younger basalAuthorsKyle L. Schusler, David M. Pearson, Michael J. McCurry, Roy C. Bartholomay, Mark H. AndersIodine-129 in the Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at and near the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2017–18
From 1953 to 1988, approximately 0.941 curies of iodine-129 (129I) were contained in wastewater generated at the Idaho National Laboratory, with almost all of it discharged at or near the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). Until 1984, most of the wastewater was discharged directly into the eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer through a deep disposal well; however, some waAuthorsNeil V. Maimer, Roy C. BartholomayAn update of hydrologic conditions and distribution of selected constituents in water, Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer and perched groundwater zones, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, emphasis 2016–18
Since 1952, wastewater discharged to infiltration ponds (also called percolation ponds) and disposal wells at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has affected water quality in the eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer and perched groundwater zones underlying the INL. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, maintains groundwater-monitoring networks aAuthorsRoy C. Bartholomay, Neil V. Maimer, Gordon W. Rattray, Jason C. FisherCompletion summary for borehole TAN-2312 at Test Area North, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
In 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, drilled and constructed borehole TAN-2312 for stratigraphic framework analyses and long-term groundwater monitoring of the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Laboratory in southeast Idaho. The location of borehole TAN-2312 was selected because it was downgradient from TAN and believed to beAuthorsBrian V. Twining, Roy C. Bartholomay, Mary K. V. HodgesUpdated procedures for using drill cores and cuttings at the Lithologic Core Storage Library, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
In 1990, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office, established the Lithologic Core Storage Library at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The facility was established to consolidate, catalog, and permanently store nonradioactive drill cores and cuttings from subsurface investigations conducted at the INL, and to provide a location for rAuthorsMary K.V. Hodges, Linda C. Davis, Roy C. BartholomayCorrelation between basalt flows and radiochemical and chemical constituents in selected wells in the southwestern part of the Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Wastewater discharged to wells and ponds and wastes buried in shallow pits and trenches at facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have contributed contaminants to the eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP) aquifer in the southwestern part of the INL. This report describes the correlation between subsurface stratigraphy in the southwestern part of the INL with information on the presence or abAuthorsRoy C. Bartholomay, Mary K. V. Hodges, Duane E. Champion - Science
Publications - Idaho National Laboratory
Since the USGS established a project office at the Idaho National Laboratory in 1949, we have published the findings of our scientific monitoring and research. Many of these publications are available through the USGS Publications Warehouse. A complete bibliography of our publications is available at the link below.Water Monitoring - Idaho National Laboratory
We monitor groundwater and surface-water quality as well as streamflow and reservoir levels at nine surface-water sites. Water samples are collected and analyzed for selected common ions, trace elements, nutrients, radiochemical constituents, and organic compounds. Samples are analyzed by the Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory and the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory. Since...Water Archive Library - Idaho National Laboratory
Since 1966, we have archived over 6000 samples of about 500 mL each of "raw" (unfiltered and unpreserved) water from groundwater and surface-water quality sites collected during our monitoring activities. Through the years, we've kept the water samples in a secure room and tracked which samples researchers have requested and analyzed for various projects. Contact us for more information about the...Hydrologic Investigations near the Remote Handled Low-Level Waste Facility
The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed a location for a new facility to store waste at the INL. In the unlikely event that waste leaks from the facility, it will be important to monitor whether the contamination reaches the aquifer and baseline information is need before the facility is built. Because we need to know how water and contaminants may travel through the aquifer, we need to gather...Naval Reactors Facility Groundwater-Quality Monitoring
As part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, it is important to evaluate the effect of Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) activities on the water quality of the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer. - Multimedia
*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