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Ryan F Thompson

Hydrologist for the Dakota Water Science Center

Ryan is a hydrologist at the USGS Dakota Water Science Center. Ryan received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, and a M.S. degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering with a water resources emphasis, from South Dakota State University. Since joining the USGS in 1995, Ryan has been involved primarily in surface water studies, often involving GIS and GPS as tools.

Professional Experience

  • 1995-1997, Environmental Engineer, U.S. Geological Survey

    1997-present, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Civil & Environmental Engineering, South Dakota State University, 1995

    B.S. Civil Engineering, South Dakota State University, 1991

Science and Products

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USGS

Implementing a Web-Based Streamflow Statistics Tool for South Dakota (StreamStats)

The objective of this study is to provide a Web-based interactive tool (StreamStats) for determining streamflow statistics for any stream location within South Dakota for which applicable streamflow regression equations have been published.
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Implementing a Web-Based Streamflow Statistics Tool for South Dakota (StreamStats)

The objective of this study is to provide a Web-based interactive tool (StreamStats) for determining streamflow statistics for any stream location within South Dakota for which applicable streamflow regression equations have been published.
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USGS

South Dakota Watershed Boundary Dataset

Dataset for South Dakota Watershed Boundary.
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Dakota Water Science Center
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South Dakota Watershed Boundary Dataset

Dataset for South Dakota Watershed Boundary.
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Filter Total Items: 18

Shoreline erosion at selected areas along Lake Sharpe on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota, 1966–2015

The Lower Brule Reservation in central South Dakota is losing land because of shoreline erosion along Lake Sharpe, a reservoir on the Missouri River, which has caused detrimental effects for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe including losses of cultural sites, recreation access points, wildlife habitat, irrigated cropland, and landmass. To better understand and quantify shoreline erosion, the Lower Brul
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Hydrogeologic framework and groundwater conditions of the Ararat Basin in Armenia

Armenia is a landlocked country located in the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe. It shares borders with the countries of Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey and Azerbaijan on the west. The Ararat Basin is a transboundary basin in Armenia and Turkey. The Ararat Basin (or Ararat Valley) is an intermountain depression that contains the Aras R
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

StreamStats, version 4

IntroductionStreamStats version 4, available at https://streamstats.usgs.gov, is a map-based web application that provides an assortment of analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and engineering purposes. Developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the primary purpose of StreamStats is to provide estimates of streamflow statistics for user-selected ungage
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Water Resources Mission Area, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, StreamStats

Pesticide concentrations in wetlands on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South and North Dakota, July 2015

During July 2015, water samples were collected from 18 wetlands on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in northeastern South Dakota and southeastern North Dakota and analyzed for physical properties and 54 pesticides. This study by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate was designed to provide an update on pesticide concentrations of the same 18 wetlands that w
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Ground-survey and water-quality data for selected wetlands on or near the Lower Brule Indian Reservation in South Dakota, 2012-13

Numerous lakes, ponds, and wetlands are located within the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. Wetlands are an important resource providing aquatic habitat for plants and animals, and acting as a natural water filtration system. Several of the wetlands on or near the reservation are of particular interest, but information on the physical and biological integrity of these wetlands was needed to provide
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Estimation of potential scour at bridges on local government roads in South Dakota, 2009-12

In 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey and South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) began a study to estimate potential scour at selected bridges on local government (county, township, and municipal) roads in South Dakota. A rapid scour-estimation method (level-1.5) and a more detailed method (level-2) were used to develop estimates of contraction, abutment, and pier scour. Data from 41 lev
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Estimation of potential bridge scour at bridges on state routes in South Dakota, 2003-07

Flowing water can erode (scour) soils and cause structural failure of a bridge by exposing or undermining bridge foundations (abutments and piers). A rapid scour-estimation technique, known as the level-1.5 method and developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, was used to evaluate potential scour at bridges in South Dakota in a study conducted in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Trans
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Data collected to support monitoring of constructed emergent sandbar habitat on the Missouri River downstream from Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska, 2004-06

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has constructed emergent sandbar habitat on sections of the Missouri River bordering South Dakota and Nebraska downstream from Gavins Point Dam to create and enhance habitat for threatened and endangered bird species. Two areas near river miles 761.3 and 769.8 were selected for construction of emergent sandbar habitat. Pre- and postconstruction data were collected
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Peak stages from backwater conditions at streamflow-gaging stations in and near South Dakota through water year 2001

Stream stages associated with the annual peak discharge are presented for 182 streamflow-gaging stations in and near South Dakota. The peak stage at a station can occur as the result of the annual maximum discharge, but also as the result of backwater conditions. Backwater, often caused by ice, can produce a peak stage higher than the stage coincident with annual maximum discharge. The U.S. Geolog
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Compilation of data to support development of a pesticide management plan by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, South and North Dakota

Evaluation of recharge to the Skunk Creek Aquifer from a constructed wetland near Lyons, South Dakota

A wetland was constructed in the Skunk Creek flood plain near Lyons in southeast South Dakota to mitigate for wetland areas that were filled during construction of a municipal golf course for the city of Sioux Falls. A water-rights permit was obtained to allow the city to pump water from Skunk Creek into the wetland during times when the wetland would be dry. The amount of water seeping through th

Water resources of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South and North Dakota, and Roberts County, South Dakota

In 1994, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe; Roberts County; and the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Geological Survey Program, began a 6-year investigation to describe and quantify the water resources of the area within the 1867 boundary of the Lake Traverse Reservation and adjacent parts of Roberts County. Roberts Count
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Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Estimated water surface elevations for selected monthly flow exceedance percentiles for Firesteel Creek upstream from Lake Mitchell in Davison County, South Dakota, 2021

The City of Mitchell, South Dakota is exploring ways to improve water quality in Firesteel Creek, which flows into Lake Mitchell. One possible way is to construct a wetland on City-owned land in the Firesteel Creek floodplain above Lake Mitchell, allowing sediment deposition and nutrient uptake by aquatic vegetation in the constructed wetland. In order for a constructed wetland to be designed, inf
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Dakota Water Science Center

Bathymetric Data Collection for Larimore Dam in North Dakota, August 2020

Data were collected in August, 2020 to support development of a bathymetric map for Larimore Dam in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveying equipment was used in static and real-time kinematic (RTK) mode to establish a local reference mark and check-in/check-out point, to collect water surface elevations, and to collect topographic points along establi
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Dakota Water Science Center

Lower Brule Reservation Shoreline Erosion, Additional Data Layers, South Dakota, 2018

Additional data layers have been developed to supplement recently published information collected and developed for an investigation of shoreline erosion along the Lower Brule Reservation in Central South Dakota. The additional data layers presented in this data release include georeferenced 1965 single frame aerial photos, digitized shoreline features from the georeferenced 1965 images, digitized
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Dakota Water Science Center

A Selective Drainage Toolbox to Hydroenforce Culverts and Other Features in Lidar-Derived Digital Elevation Models

This is release 1.0 of the Selective Drainage Toolbox. These tools are designed to be accessed using ArcGIS Desktop software (versions 9.3.1 to 10.4.1). The toolbox is composed of a collection of custom tools that implement geographic information system (GIS) techniques that can be used to identify and enforce drainage hydro features in digital elevation models- with a specific applicability to hi
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National Geospatial Program
Image: Groundwater Outreach in Huron, SD
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Science and Products