The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Samuel H. Austin
Hydrologist, USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center.
Areas of interest: Surface water hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, environmental and economic analytics, forest management, forecasting, scenario analysis. Evaluating management decisions, trends, time-series, economic and financial questions, supply-chain dynamics, logistics, impulse-response problems.
Special skills: System dynamics modeling, developing project specific analytical tools, custom design of sampling experiments, characterizing statistical variation and relations, determining probable outcomes, testing data for trends, evaluating large and small datasets, reconditioning data.
Methods applied: Discrete and dynamic modeling and simulation. Evaluation of processes, decision interactions, and outcomes that include identifying system structure and simulating endogenous feedback. Interpreting, and characterizing large datasets using innovative statistical methods.
Fields of endeavor: Forest land-use and carbon metrics, surface water flows, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, processes that include humans and ecosystems.
Areas of special knowledge: forest hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, watershed analysis, forest ecosystem dynamics, open channel flow, suspended and bed sediments, particle shear stress, critical shear velocities, stream classification and evaluation, production-distribution and control systems, management decision-making, biogeochemical cycling and feedback in natural systems.
See ORC-ID page for examples illustrating the educational potential of interactive simulation tools.
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Darcy's Law
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Urban Runoff
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Sediment Motion
Education and Certifications
Duke University School of the Environment, MF, Forestry
Warren Wilson College, BA, Environmental Science
Science and Products
Tracking Status and Trends in Seven Key Indicators of River and Stream Condition in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Freshwater Flow into Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Estimated Streamflow: METHODS
Modeling summer month hydrological drought probabilities in the United States using antecedent flow conditions
USGS-VDOT Bridge Scour Pilot Study
Estimating Drought Streamflow Probabilities for Virginia Streams
Estimating Peak Streamflow Per Square Mile in Virginia’s Urban Basins
Peak-Flow Characteristics of Virginia Streams
Accumulated wastewater calculations for smallmouth bass sampling sites in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Virginia Bridge Scour Pilot Study Streamflow Data
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the Northeastern United States (2019)
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the Delaware River Basin (2020)
Monthly Streamflows, Drought Indices, and Supporting Statistics for USGS Gage Stations Used to Identify Variability of Hydrological Droughts in the Conterminous United States, 1951 through 2014
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the United States
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Sunset at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia with tree silhouettes.
Sunset at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia with tree silhouettes.
Looking West To Old Rag Mountain in Madison County Virginia
Looking West To Old Rag Mountain in Madison County Virginia
Trail Near Blue Ridge Parkway Near Afton, Virginia
Trail Near Blue Ridge Parkway Near Afton, Virginia
Water in a Mountain Stream in Nelson County Virginia
Water in a Mountain Stream in Nelson County Virginia
An Appalachian Mountain Stream in the Spring. Photographed by Samuel H Austin
An Appalachian Mountain Stream in the Spring. Photographed by Samuel H Austin
A fast flowing freshwater mountain stream.
A fast flowing freshwater mountain stream.
A flower in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
A flower in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Humpback Rocks Views
Humpback Rocks Views
Open Field Near Blue Ridge Parkway
Open Field Near Blue Ridge Parkway
Massanutten Mountain in Virginia
Massanutten Mountain in Virginia
Grasses in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Grasses in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Ferns In Appomattox State Forest In Virginia
Ferns In Appomattox State Forest In Virginia
Looking east to the Atlantic Ocean from Cadillac Mountain, Maine.
Looking east to the Atlantic Ocean from Cadillac Mountain, Maine.
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia.
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia.
Stream flowing in Highland County Virginia, June 26, 2006. Photograph by Samuel H Austin.
Stream flowing in Highland County Virginia, June 26, 2006. Photograph by Samuel H Austin.
Streamwater flowing over a rural road in Highland County, Virginia, June, 2006.
Streamwater flowing over a rural road in Highland County, Virginia, June, 2006.
Resource professionals stand in the rain beside a mountain stream.
Resource professionals stand in the rain beside a mountain stream.
The effects of wastewater reuse on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Virginia Bridge Scour Pilot Study—Hydrological Tools
Forecasting drought probabilities for streams in the northeastern United States
Linking altered flow regimes to biological condition: An example using benthic macroinvertebrates in small streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Drought forecasting for streams and groundwaters in northeastern United States
U.S. Geological Survey - Virginia Department of Transportation: Bridge scour pilot study
Variability of hydrological droughts in the conterminous United States, 1951 through 2014
Characteristics of peak streamflows and extent of inundation in areas of West Virginia and southwestern Virginia affected by flooding, June 2016
Modeling summer month hydrological drought probabilities in the United States using antecedent flow conditions
Variability of runoff-based drought conditions in the conterminous United States
Methods for estimating drought streamflow probabilities for Virginia streams
Interactive Map: Northeast Region Drought Streamflow Probabilities
This application allows the display and query of drought probability. Maximum likelihood logistic regression is used to estimate drought probabilities for selected Northeast region streams.
Interactive Map: Estimating Drought Streamflow Probabilities for Virginia Streams
Maximum likelihood logistic regression is used to estimate drought probabilities for selected Virginia rivers and streams 5 to 11 months in advance. Hydrologic drought streamflow probabilities for summer months are provided as functions of streamflows during the previous winter months. This application allows the display and query of these drought streamflow probabilities for Virginia streams.
The effects of wastewater reuse on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Science and Products
Tracking Status and Trends in Seven Key Indicators of River and Stream Condition in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Freshwater Flow into Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Estimated Streamflow: METHODS
Modeling summer month hydrological drought probabilities in the United States using antecedent flow conditions
USGS-VDOT Bridge Scour Pilot Study
Estimating Drought Streamflow Probabilities for Virginia Streams
Estimating Peak Streamflow Per Square Mile in Virginia’s Urban Basins
Peak-Flow Characteristics of Virginia Streams
Accumulated wastewater calculations for smallmouth bass sampling sites in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Virginia Bridge Scour Pilot Study Streamflow Data
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the Northeastern United States (2019)
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the Delaware River Basin (2020)
Monthly Streamflows, Drought Indices, and Supporting Statistics for USGS Gage Stations Used to Identify Variability of Hydrological Droughts in the Conterminous United States, 1951 through 2014
Terms, Statistics, and Performance Measures for Maximum Likelihood Logistic Regression Models Estimating Hydrological Drought Probabilities in the United States
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Nation's largest ecosystem restoration efforts, so monitoring to assess changes in condition is crucial. The USGS is monitoring the status and trends of key indicators for the health of streams and rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Sunset at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia with tree silhouettes.
Sunset at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia with tree silhouettes.
Looking West To Old Rag Mountain in Madison County Virginia
Looking West To Old Rag Mountain in Madison County Virginia
Trail Near Blue Ridge Parkway Near Afton, Virginia
Trail Near Blue Ridge Parkway Near Afton, Virginia
Water in a Mountain Stream in Nelson County Virginia
Water in a Mountain Stream in Nelson County Virginia
An Appalachian Mountain Stream in the Spring. Photographed by Samuel H Austin
An Appalachian Mountain Stream in the Spring. Photographed by Samuel H Austin
A fast flowing freshwater mountain stream.
A fast flowing freshwater mountain stream.
A flower in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
A flower in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Humpback Rocks Views
Humpback Rocks Views
Open Field Near Blue Ridge Parkway
Open Field Near Blue Ridge Parkway
Massanutten Mountain in Virginia
Massanutten Mountain in Virginia
Grasses in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Grasses in Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park Virginia
Ferns In Appomattox State Forest In Virginia
Ferns In Appomattox State Forest In Virginia
Looking east to the Atlantic Ocean from Cadillac Mountain, Maine.
Looking east to the Atlantic Ocean from Cadillac Mountain, Maine.
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Crabtree Falls in Nelson County Virginia
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia.
Flooded road in Highland County Virginia.
Stream flowing in Highland County Virginia, June 26, 2006. Photograph by Samuel H Austin.
Stream flowing in Highland County Virginia, June 26, 2006. Photograph by Samuel H Austin.
Streamwater flowing over a rural road in Highland County, Virginia, June, 2006.
Streamwater flowing over a rural road in Highland County, Virginia, June, 2006.
Resource professionals stand in the rain beside a mountain stream.
Resource professionals stand in the rain beside a mountain stream.
The effects of wastewater reuse on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative abundance in the Shenandoah River Watershed, USA
Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Virginia Bridge Scour Pilot Study—Hydrological Tools
Forecasting drought probabilities for streams in the northeastern United States
Linking altered flow regimes to biological condition: An example using benthic macroinvertebrates in small streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Drought forecasting for streams and groundwaters in northeastern United States
U.S. Geological Survey - Virginia Department of Transportation: Bridge scour pilot study
Variability of hydrological droughts in the conterminous United States, 1951 through 2014
Characteristics of peak streamflows and extent of inundation in areas of West Virginia and southwestern Virginia affected by flooding, June 2016
Modeling summer month hydrological drought probabilities in the United States using antecedent flow conditions
Variability of runoff-based drought conditions in the conterminous United States
Methods for estimating drought streamflow probabilities for Virginia streams
Interactive Map: Northeast Region Drought Streamflow Probabilities
This application allows the display and query of drought probability. Maximum likelihood logistic regression is used to estimate drought probabilities for selected Northeast region streams.
Interactive Map: Estimating Drought Streamflow Probabilities for Virginia Streams
Maximum likelihood logistic regression is used to estimate drought probabilities for selected Virginia rivers and streams 5 to 11 months in advance. Hydrologic drought streamflow probabilities for summer months are provided as functions of streamflows during the previous winter months. This application allows the display and query of these drought streamflow probabilities for Virginia streams.