P. K. Weiskel, D. M. Wolock, P. J. Zarriello, R. M. Vogel, S. B. Levin, 2014: Hydroclimatic regimes: a distributed water-balance framework for hydrologic assessment, classification, and management, Hydrology and Earth Systems Sciences, vol 18.
, and R. M. Lent4
Sara Brandt Levin
Biography
I am a physical scientist with the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center in MN. I began working at the USGS in 2007 with a background in surface hydrology and statistics. My projects are primarily focused on simulation and statistical modeling of surface water reservoirs, streamflow at ungaged sites, and the interactions between human water-use, water availability, and stream ecology.
Education
Master of Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, 2010
Master of Environmental Management, Duke University, 2002
Bachelor of Arts, University of North Carolina, 1997
Science and Products
Date published: December 17, 2018
Status: Completed The Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator: A Decision-Support Tool to Estimate Streamflow and Water Availability at Ungaged, User-Defined Stream Locations in Connecticut
The Connecticut streamflow and sustainable water use estimator is a decision-support tool that provides estimates of daily unaltered streamflow, water-use adjusted streamflow (for the portions of the state where water-use data are available), and water availability for ungaged, user-defined sites in Connecticut.
Contacts: Sara Brandt Levin, Jonathan Morrison
Date published: December 13, 2018
Status: Completed Estimation of Daily Streamflow and Water Availability in the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator, Version 2.0
The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator is a decision-support tool that provides estimates of daily unaltered streamflow, water-use-adjusted streamflow, and water availability for ungaged, user-defined sites in Massachusetts. In this recently completed study, version 2.0 of the original Sustainable-Yield Estimator (Archfield and others, 2010) was developed with minor changes to the...
Contacts: Sara Brandt Levin, Jeffrey R Barbaro
Year Published: 2020
Evaluation of uncertainty intervals for daily, statistically derived streamflow estimates at ungaged basins across the continental U.S.
Streamflow estimation methods that transfer information from an index gage to an ungaged site are commonly used; however, uncertainty in daily streamflow estimates are often not adequately quantified. In this study, daily streamflow was simulated at 1,331 validation streamgages across the continental United States using four transfer-based...
Levin, Sara B.; Farmer, William H.Attribution: Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Year Published: 2018
User guide for the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator (MA SYE—version 2.0) computer program
This report is a user guide for the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator (MA SYE) computer program (version 2.0). The MA SYE was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to provide a planning-level decision-support tool designed to help decision makers estimate daily...
Granato, Gregory E.; Levin, Sara B.Attribution: Data, Tools, and Technology, Water, New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Massachusetts, United States of America
View Citation
Granato, G.E., and Levin, S.B., 2018, User guide for the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator (MA SYE—version 2.0) computer program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1169, 7 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181169.
Year Published: 2018
Methods used to estimate daily streamflow and water availability in the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator version 2.0
The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator is a decision support tool that provides estimates of daily unaltered streamflow, water-use-adjusted streamflow, and water availability for ungaged, user-defined basins in Massachusetts. Daily streamflow at the ungaged site is estimated for unaltered (no water use) and water-use scenarios. The...
Levin, Sara B. ; Granato, Gregory E.Attribution: Data, Tools, and Technology, Water, New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Massachusetts, United States of America
View Citation
Levin, S.B., and Granato, G.E., 2018, Methods used to estimate daily streamflow and water availability in the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator version 2.0: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5146, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185146.
Year Published: 2018
The Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator—A decision-support tool to estimate water availability at ungaged stream locations in Connecticut
Freshwater streams in Connecticut are subject to many competing demands, including public water supply; agricultural, commercial, and industrial water use; and ecosystem and habitat needs. In recent years, drought has further stressed Connecticut’s water resources. To sustainably allocate and manage water resources among these competing uses,...
Levin, Sara B.; Olson, Scott A.; Nielsen, Martha G.; Granato, Gregory E.Attribution: Data, Tools, and Technology, Water, New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Connecticut, United States of America
View Citation
Levin, S.B., Olson, S.A., Nielsen, M.G., and Granato, G.E., 2018, The Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator—A decision-support tool to estimate water availability at ungaged stream locations in Connecticut: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5135, 34 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185135.
Year Published: 2018
User guide for the Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator (CT SSWUE—version 1.0) computer program
This report is a user guide for the Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator (CT SSWUE) computer program (version 1.0). The CT SSWUE was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to provide a planning-level decision-support tool designed to help...
Granato, Gregory E.; Levin, Sara B.Attribution: Data, Tools, and Technology, Water, New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Connecticut, United States of America
View Citation
Granato, G.E., and Levin, S.B., 2018, User guide for the Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator (CT SSWUE—version 1.0) computer program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1163, 7 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181163.
Year Published: 2018
Characterizing uncertainty in daily streamflow estimates at ungauged locations for the Massachusetts sustainable yield estimator
Hydrologic characterization at ungauged locations is one of the quintessential challenges of hydrology. Beyond simulation of historical streamflows, it is similarly important to characterize the level of uncertainty in hydrologic estimates. In tandem with updates to Massachusetts Sustainable Yield Estimator, this work explores the application of...
Farmer, William; Levin, Sara B.
Year Published: 2016
Effects of water-supply reservoirs on streamflow in Massachusetts
State and local water-resource managers need modeling tools to help them manage and protect water-supply resources for both human consumption and ecological needs. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, has developed a decision-support tool to estimate the effects of reservoirs on...
Levin, Sara B.Attribution: , New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Levin, S.B., 2016, Effects of water-supply reservoirs on streamflow in Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5123, 35 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165123.
Year Published: 2011
Factors influencing riverine fish assemblages in Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, conducted an investigation of fish assemblages in small- to medium-sized Massachusetts streams. The objective of this study was to...
Armstrong, David S.; Richards, Todd A.; Levin, Sara B.Attribution: , New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Factors influencing riverine fish assemblages in Massachusetts; 2011; SIR; 2011-5193; Armstrong, David S.; Richards, Todd A.; Levin, Sara B.
Year Published: 2011
Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0
The firm yield is the maximum average daily withdrawal that can be extracted from a reservoir without risk of failure during an extended drought period. Previously developed procedures for determining the firm yield of a reservoir were refined and applied to 38 reservoir systems in Massachusetts, including 25 single- and multiple-reservoir systems...
Levin, Sara B.; Archfield, Stacey A.; Massey, Andrew J.View Citation
Refinement and evaluation of the Massachusetts firm-yield estimator model version 2.0; 2011; SIR; 2011-5125; Levin, Sara B.; Archfield, Stacey A.; Massey, Andrew J.
Year Published: 2010
Indicators of streamflow alteration, habitat fragmentation, impervious cover, and water quality for Massachusetts stream basins
Massachusetts streams and stream basins have been subjected to a wide variety of human alterations since colonial times. These alterations include water withdrawals, treated wastewater discharges, construction of onsite septic systems and dams, forest clearing, and urbanization—all of which have the potential to affect streamflow regimes, water...
Weiskel, Peter K.; Brandt, Sara L.; DeSimone, Leslie A.; Ostiguy, Lance J.; Archfield, Stacey A.View Citation
Indicators of streamflow alteration, habitat fragmentation, impervious cover, and water quality for Massachusetts stream basins; 2010; SIR; 2009-5272; Weiskel, Peter K.; Brandt, Sara L.; DeSimone, Leslie A.; Ostiguy, Lance J.; Archfield, Stacey A.
Year Published: 2010
The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator: A decision-support tool to assess water availability at ungaged stream locations in Massachusetts
Federal, State and local water-resource managers require a variety of data and modeling tools to better understand water resources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, has developed a statewide, interactive decision-support tool to meet this need. The decision-support tool,...
Archfield, Stacey A.; Vogel, Richard M.; Steeves, Peter A.; Brandt, Sara L.; Weiskel, Peter K.; Garabedian, Stephen P.Attribution: , New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, , Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
The Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator: A decision-support tool to assess water availability at ungaged stream locations in Massachusetts; 2010; SIR; 2009-5227; Archfield, Stacey A.; Vogel, Richard M.; Steeves, Peter A.; Brandt, Sara L.; Weiskel, Peter K.; Garabedian, Stephen P.
Year Published: 2009
Local and Cumulative Impervious Cover of Massachusetts Stream Basins
Impervious surfaces such as paved roads, parking lots, and building roofs can affect the natural streamflow patterns and ecosystems of nearby streams. This dataset summarizes the percentage of impervious area for watersheds across Massachusetts by using a newly available statewide 1-m binary raster dataset of impervious surface for 2005. In order...
Brandt, Sara L.; Steeves, Peter A.View Citation
Local and Cumulative Impervious Cover of Massachusetts Stream Basins; 2009; DS; 451; Brandt, Sara L.; Steeves, Peter A.
Pre-USGS Publications
Farmer, William H. and Sara Levin, 2018. Characterizing Uncertainty in Daily Streamflow Estimates at Ungauged Locations for the Massachusetts Sustainable Yield Estimator. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 54(1): 198‐210. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12603
Date published: December 13, 2018
Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator (MASYE) application software (version 2.0)
This software release provides the database application that runs the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator (MA SYE) computer program (version 2.0).
Date published: December 13, 2018
Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator (CTSSWUE Version 1.0) application software
This software release provides the database application that runs the Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator (CT SSWUE) computer program (version 1.0).
Date published: October 5, 2016
The Massachusetts Reservoir Simulation Tool
Overview
The Massachusetts Reservoir Simulation Tool is a screening-level model developed to examine the effects of reservoirs on the natural streamflow of streams in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Reservoir Simulation Tool simulates the daily water balance equation of a water supply reservoir and estimates the magnitude, frequency and duration of spillage below the...
Date published: October 19, 2011
The Massachusetts Firm-Yield Estimator, version 2.0
Overview
The firm yield of a reservoir is defined as the maximum yield that can be delivered from a system without failure, even during a severe drought. The Firm Yield Estimator model (FYE) uses the daily water-balance equation to estimate reservoir storage from October 1, 1960 to September 30, 2004, which includes the most extreme drought of record.