Hydrologic Studies Chief, Oklahoma Branch, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
Shana has been working for the USGS since 2001 and started as a student Hydrologic Technician. She worked for the USGS Colorado Water Science Center in Denver from 2005 to 2007 on water quality of the South Platte River alluvium and Denver Basin aquifers. Shana served as the Groundwater Specialist of the Oklahoma Water Science Center from 2008-2018. Shana also worked for the Oklahoma Water Survey in Norman, Oklahoma at the University of Oklahoma during 2018 on collaborative hydrologic projects. Her projects in Oklahoma have included studies on alluvial aquifers and bedrock hydrogeology.
Shana worked in a collaborative study team on the Garber-Wellington aquifer, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, that included potentiometric-surface maps, percent-sand-based geologic framework, groundwater-flow modeling with water-use allocation scenarios. In addition, Shana has been involved in the Rush Springs aquifer studies for the Caddo Nation that included water-level data collection, streambed-conductance measurements, analysis of groundwater/surface-water interactions, springs inventory, and water budget and water-use modeling. She has worked on various water concerns with Tribes across Oklahoma, including the Osage Nation, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Chickasaw Nation, Pawnee Nation, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.
Shana has more recently been working with Hydrologists in the Studies Section on various projects throughout the state including hydrogeologic framework and modeling of water quantities of the Boone and Roubidoux aquifers in northeastern Oklahoma and the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer in south-central Oklahoma.
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Geology, Oklahoma State University, May 2003
B.S. in Geology, Oklahoma State University, May 2000
Honors and Awards
Twenty Years of Service Award (2021) USGS
Science and Products
Hydrologic data for water-management plans—A resource for Tribal Governments in Oklahoma
Assessment of water availability in the Osage Nation using an integrated hydrologic-flow model
Hydrogeology, numerical simulation of groundwater flow, and effects of future water use and drought for reach 1 of the Washita River alluvial aquifer, Roger Mills and Custer Counties, western Oklahoma, 1980–2015
Hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow in the Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) Aquifer, Oklahoma, 1987 to 2009, and simulation of available water in storage, 2010–2059
Hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow and analysis of projected water use for the Canadian River alluvial aquifer, western and central Oklahoma
Quality of groundwater in the Denver Basin aquifer system, Colorado, 2003-5
Evaluation of groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Caddo Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, Caddo County, Oklahoma, 2010-13
A Compilation of Spatial Datasets to Support a Preliminary Assessment of Pesticides and Pesticide Use on Tribal Lands in Oklahoma
Selected metals in sediments and streams in the Oklahoma Part of the Tri-State Mining District, 2000-2006
A Compilation of Spatial Datasets and Surface-Water and Ground-Water Data from the U.S. Geological Survey and Other Federal and Oklahoma State Agencies for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
Near-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004
Reconnaissance of Soil, Ground Water, and Plant Contamination at an Abandoned Oilfield-Service Site near Shawnee, Oklahoma, 2005-2006
Karst Aquifers: Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer
Deep Well Monitoring During Seismic Activity
Water Budget Analysis of the Pawnee Tribe Jurisdictional Area in Payne County, OK
Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
Groundwater Modeling at the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
Investigation of Hydrogeology and Water Availability in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma
Subject-Area Specialists
Interpretive Reports
Oklahoma Water Science Center Publications
Other Reports and Data Releases
Fact Sheets
Open-File Reports
MODFLOW-One Water Hydrologic Model integrated hydrologic-flow model used to evaluate water availability in the Osage Nation
MODFLOW-NWT model used in Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Washita River Alluvial Aquifer, Western Oklahoma
Potentiometric surface in the Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) aquifer, Oklahoma, 2009
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 15
Hydrologic data for water-management plans—A resource for Tribal Governments in Oklahoma
IntroductionThe major streams in Oklahoma, and the alluvial aquifers associated with those major streams, are important resources for the 39 federally recognized Tribes in Oklahoma. Many Tribal Governments are interested in developing water-management plans (hereinafter referred to as “water plans”) to preserve water resources for the future. This report provides a general overview of the types ofAuthorsMaryKate Higginbotham, Shana L. MashburnAssessment of water availability in the Osage Nation using an integrated hydrologic-flow model
The Osage Nation of northeastern Oklahoma, conterminous with Osage County, covers about 2,900 square miles. The area is primarily rural with 62 percent of the land being native prairie grass, and much of the area is used for cattle ranching and extraction of petroleum and natural gas. Protection of water rights are important to the Osage Nation because of its reliance on cattle ranching and the poAuthorsJonathan P. Traylor, Shana L. Mashburn, Randall T. Hanson, Steven M. PetersonHydrogeology, numerical simulation of groundwater flow, and effects of future water use and drought for reach 1 of the Washita River alluvial aquifer, Roger Mills and Custer Counties, western Oklahoma, 1980–2015
The Washita River alluvial aquifer is a valley-fill and terrace alluvial aquifer along the valley of the Washita River in western Oklahoma that provides a productive source of groundwater for agricultural irrigation and water supply. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) has designated the westernmost section of the aquifer in Roger Mills and Custer Counties, Okla., as reach 1 of the Washita RAuthorsJohn H. Ellis, Derek W. Ryter, Leland T. Fuhrig, Kyle W. Spears, Shana L. Mashburn, Ian M.J. RogersHydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow in the Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) Aquifer, Oklahoma, 1987 to 2009, and simulation of available water in storage, 2010–2059
The Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) aquifer underlies about 3,000 square miles of central Oklahoma. The study area for this investigation was the extent of the Central Oklahoma aquifer. Water from the Central Oklahoma aquifer is used for public, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic supply. With the exception of Oklahoma City, all of the major communities in central Oklahoma relyAuthorsShana L. Mashburn, Derek W. Ryter, Christopher R. Neel, S. Jerrod Smith, Jessica S. CorrellHydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow and analysis of projected water use for the Canadian River alluvial aquifer, western and central Oklahoma
This report describes a study of the hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow for the Canadian River alluvial aquifer in western and central Oklahoma conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The report (1) quantifies the groundwater resources of the Canadian River alluvial aquifer by developing a conceptual model, (2) summarizes the genAuthorsJohn H. Ellis, Shana L. Mashburn, Grant M. Graves, Steven M. Peterson, S. Jerrod Smith, Leland T. Fuhrig, Derrick L. Wagner, Jon E. SanfordQuality of groundwater in the Denver Basin aquifer system, Colorado, 2003-5
Groundwater resources from alluvial and bedrock aquifers of the Denver Basin are critical for municipal, domestic, and agricultural uses in Colorado along the eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. Rapid and widespread urban development, primarily along the western boundary of the Denver Basin, has approximately doubled the population since about 1970, and much of the population depends on groundwaAuthorsMaryLynn Musgrove, Jennifer A. Beck, Suzanne Paschke, Nancy J. Bauch, Shana L. MashburnEvaluation of groundwater and surface-water interactions in the Caddo Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, Caddo County, Oklahoma, 2010-13
Streamflows, springs, and wetlands are important natural and cultural resources to the Caddo Nation. Consequently, the Caddo Nation is concerned about the vulnerability of the Rush Springs aquifer to overdrafting and whether the aquifer will continue to be a viable source of water to tribal members and other local residents in the future. Interest in the long-term viability of local water resourceAuthorsShana L. Mashburn, S. Jerrod SmithA Compilation of Spatial Datasets to Support a Preliminary Assessment of Pesticides and Pesticide Use on Tribal Lands in Oklahoma
This CD-ROM contains spatial datasets that describe natural and anthropogenic features and county-level estimates of agricultural pesticide use and pesticide data for surface-water, groundwater, and biological specimens in the state of Oklahoma. County-level estimates of pesticide use were compiled from the Pesticide National Synthesis Project of the U.S. Geological Survey, National Water-QualityAuthorsShana L. Mashburn, Kimberly T. WintonSelected metals in sediments and streams in the Oklahoma Part of the Tri-State Mining District, 2000-2006
The abandoned Tri-State mining district includes 1,188 square miles in northeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, and southwestern Missouri. The most productive part of the Tri-State mining district was the 40-square mile part in Oklahoma, commonly referred to as 'the Picher mining district' in north-central Ottawa County, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma part of the Tri-State mining district was a primaryAuthorsWilliam J. Andrews, Mark F. Becker, Shana L. Mashburn, S. Jerrod SmithA Compilation of Spatial Datasets and Surface-Water and Ground-Water Data from the U.S. Geological Survey and Other Federal and Oklahoma State Agencies for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
This report contains spatial datasets of natural and anthropogenic features and spatial datasets detailing surface-water, ground-water, and other types of environmental information collected in and surrounding Kickapoo Tribal Lands. Spatial datasets were compiled from Federal and Oklahoma State agencies. Surface-water, ground-water, and other types of environmental information of natural and anthrAuthorsShana Lichelle MashburnNear-decadal changes in nitrate and pesticide concentrations in the South Platte River alluvial aquifer, 1993-2004
The lower South Platte River basin of Colorado and Nebraska is an area of intense agriculture supported by surface-water diversions from the river and ground-water pumping from a valley-fill alluvial aquifer. Two well networks consisting of 45 wells installed in the South Platte alluvial aquifer were sampled in the early 1990s and again in the early 2000s to examine near-decadal ground-water qualiAuthorsS.S. Paschke, K.R. Schaffrath, S.L. MashbumReconnaissance of Soil, Ground Water, and Plant Contamination at an Abandoned Oilfield-Service Site near Shawnee, Oklahoma, 2005-2006
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, began a reconnaissance study of a site in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, in 2005 by testing soil, shallow ground water, and plant material for the presence of trace elements and semivolatile organic compounds. Chemical analysis of plant material at the site was investigated as a preliminary tool to determine thAuthorsShana L. Mashburn, S. Jerrod Smith - Science
Karst Aquifers: Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer
The Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, which underlies more than 500 square miles in south central Oklahoma, is the principal water source for approximately 39,000 people in several cities in the region. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated the aquifer's eastern portion as a Sole Source Aquifer, a mechanism to protect drinking water supplies in areas with limited water supply.Deep Well Monitoring During Seismic Activity
The USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center is working cooperatively with the USGS Earthquake Science Center (California) to monitor real-time downhole pressures, temperatures, and water levels in an effort to understand changes in pore-fluid pressure in the Arbuckle Group associated with seismic activity.Water Budget Analysis of the Pawnee Tribe Jurisdictional Area in Payne County, OK
The objective of this proposed project is to construct an annual water budget for the Cimarron River alluvial aquifer between USGS streamgages Cimarron River near Ripley, OK and a proposed new USGS streamgage. Components of the water budget (precipitation, [runoff], evapotranspiration, stream base flow, bedrock lateral flow, and groundwater pumping) will be calculated for the 2017 water year...Boone and Roubidoux Aquifers Study
The objective of the study is to conduct an investigation of the hydrogeology of the Boone and Roubidoux aquifers that will provide information to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board that will enable that agency to determine maximum annual yield of the aquifers based on different proposed management plans.Groundwater Modeling at the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
The Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center performs computer simulations using MODFLOW to simulate groundwater/surface-water interaction, quantify groundwater resources, and evaluate the effects of withdrawals on future groundwater supplies for aquifers in Oklahoma and Texas.Investigation of Hydrogeology and Water Availability in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the spatial distribution and volume of the fresh and brackish (saline) groundwater resources on the Reservation of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. This investigation will evaluate the sources of water and water use in the Reservation, through activities such as historical water use, characterization of water wells, and predicting the potential effects of...Subject-Area Specialists
Please feel free to contact any of our subject-area specialists. Center Director/Surface-water specialist - Jason LewisData Chief - VacantStudies Chief - Matthew VaronkaGeographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist - S. Jerrod SmithGroundwater specialist - Shana MashburnWater-quality specialist - Stephanie BuckWater-use specialist - Carol BeckerInterpretive Reports
The Oklahoma Water Science Center publishes water-information reports on many topics and in many formats. From this Web page, you can locate, view, download, or order scientific and technical articles and reports as well as general interest publications such as booklets, fact sheets, pamphlets, and posters resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners.Scientific...Oklahoma Water Science Center Publications
This page will help you locate, view, and download scientific and technical articles and reports as well as general interest publications such as booklets, fact sheets, pamphlets, and posters resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners.The USGS Publications Warehouse contains on-line content and citations for over 100,000 publications.Other Reports and Data Releases
The Oklahoma Water Science Center publishes water-information reports on many topics and in many formats. From this Web page, you can locate, view, download, or order scientific and technical articles and reports as well as general interest publications such as booklets, fact sheets, pamphlets, and posters resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners.Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets are intended as a short publication that provides for rapid publication and dissemination of facts and findings.Open-File Reports
Open-file reports include unpublished manuscript reports, maps, and other material and are made available for public consultation and use. They are a nonpermanent form of publication that may be cited in other publications as sources of information. - Data
MODFLOW-One Water Hydrologic Model integrated hydrologic-flow model used to evaluate water availability in the Osage Nation
The integrated hydrologic-flow model, called the Osage Nation Integrated Hydrologic Model (ONIHM) was developed to assess water availability in the Osage Nation. This model was developed using the MODFLOW-One Water Hydrologic Model (MF-OWHM) code. The ONIHM was discretized into an orthogonal grid of 276 rows and 289 columns, and each grid cell measured 1,312.34 feet (ft) per side, with eight variaMODFLOW-NWT model used in Simulation of Groundwater Flow, and Analysis of Projected Water Use for the Washita River Alluvial Aquifer, Western Oklahoma
In 2020 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, published a calibrated numerical groundwater-flow model and associated model documentation report that evaluated the effects of potential groundwater withdrawals on groundwater flow and availability in the Washita River alluvial aquifer in western Oklahoma. The results of groundwater-availability scenarios - Maps
Potentiometric surface in the Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) aquifer, Oklahoma, 2009
A study of the hydrogeology of the Central Oklahoma aquifer was started in 2008 to provide the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) hydrogeologic data and a groundwater flow model that can be used as a tool to help manage the aquifer. The 1973 Oklahoma water law requires the OWRB to do hydrologic investigations of Oklahoma's aquifers (termed 'groundwater basins') and to determine amounts of water