Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Sharon A Fitzgerald, PhD

Intro:

I am a biogeochemist who has been with the Survey since 1991. I was born and raised in Queens, NY and have lived in Wisconsin (doctorate and hired into the USGS), Michigan (post doc), Florida (attached to the USGS), Puerto Rico (attached to the USGS), Alberta (attached to the USGS), and now in Raleigh still with the USGS. I am trained in early diagenetic processes involving organic matter decomposition in bed sediments and pelagic-benthic coupling processes. I have extensive experience with sediment coring and porewater extraction.  I have an interest in using biogenic silica in lake sediments to reconstruct paleoclimate.

 

Professional positions:

U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrologist or Research Hydrologist (1991 to present), Madison/Middleton WI, St. Petersburg FL, Guaynabo Puerto Rico, Calgary AB, Canada, Raleigh, NC.

National Research Council, Post Doctoral Fellow (1990-91), NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.  Research Proposal/Topic: “An Organic Carbon Budget for Pelagic/Benthic Coupling in Lake Michigan.”

 

Education:

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee: PhD – 1989, Geosciences/Biogeochemistry (major), Limnology (minor), Dissertation:  “The Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids in Sediments from the Great Lakes.”

Queens College (City University of New York):  B.A. - 1982, Environmental Biogeochemistry within Geosciences (Major), No minor (96 credits in the major)

Science and Products

link
Albemarle-Pamlico Basin Map

Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Study Unit

The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
By
National Water Quality Program, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
link

Albemarle-Pamlico Drainage Study Unit

The Albemarle-Pamilco Drainage Study Unit (ALBE) is part of the National Water Quality Program (NWQP, formerly National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)). NWQP is an ongoing program of the U.S. Geological Survey to provide an understanding of water-quality conditions; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
Learn More
link
Albemarle Sound National Monitoring Network Pilot, S.C. and Virginia

Albemarle Sound, NC -- National Monitoring Network Demonstration Site

The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and...
By
South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
link

Albemarle Sound, NC -- National Monitoring Network Demonstration Site

The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and...
Learn More

Datasets for Characterization of Water-Quality and Bed-Sediment Conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, 2011-18

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, conducted a study to establish baseline water-quality conditions and bed-sediment chemistry in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. This Data Release contains the associated data described in the Open-File Report, "Characterization of Water-Quality and Bed-Sedi
By
South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
Filter Total Items: 16

Occurrence and distribution of mercury in streams and reservoirs in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, July 2007–June 2009

During the time period 2001–2006, the U.S. Geological Survey reported mercury-concentration measurements that exceeded the North Carolina water-quality criterion (NCWQC) of 0.012 microgram per liter for total recoverable mercury in streams and reservoirs across the Triangle Area of North Carolina. Mercury data were sparse, however, generally consisting of only one or two water samples per year. Ad
Authors
Anna M. McKee, Sharon Fitzgerald, Mary J. Giorgino
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–15

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority, a division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is planning to make transportation improvements in the Currituck Sound area by constructing a two-lane bridge from U.S. Highway 158 just south of Coinjock, North Carolina, to State Highway 12 on the Outer Banks just south of Corolla, North Carolina. The results of the Final Environmental Impact St
Authors
Chad R. Wagner, Sharon Fitzgerald, Dominick J. Antolino
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of water-quality and bed-sediment conditions in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, prior to the Mid-Currituck Bridge construction, 2011–18

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority plans to improve transportation in the Currituck Sound area by constructing a two-lane bridge—the Mid-Currituck Bridge—across Currituck Sound from the mainland to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The results of the final environmental impact statement for the project indicate potential water-quality and habitat effects for Currituck Sound associated with the b
Authors
Stephen L. Harden, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Chad R. Wagner, Emilia L. Bristow, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Assessing water quality from highway runoff at selected sites in North Carolina with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM)

In 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) entered into a cooperative agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to develop a North Carolina-enhanced variation of the national Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM) with available North Carolina-specific streamflow and water-quality data and to demonstrate use of the model by documenting selected simulat
Authors
J. Curtis Weaver, Gregory E. Granato, Sharon A. Fitzgerald
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), New England Water Science Center

Effect of land-applied biosolids on surface-water nutrient yields and groundwater quality in Orange County, North Carolina

Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids is the most common method of biosolids management used in North Carolina and the United States. Biosolids have characteristics that may be beneficial to soil and plants. Land application can take advantage of these beneficial qualities, whereas disposal in landfills or incineration poses no beneficial use of the waste. Some independent studies and
Authors
Chad R. Wagner, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Kristen Bukowski McSwain, Stephen L. Harden, Laura N. Gurley, Shane W. Rogers
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge runoff on receiving streams

The presentation will provide an overview of a collaborative study between USGS, NC Department of Transportation and URS Corporation to characterize stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge runoff on receiving streams. This investigation measured bridge deck runoff from 15 bridges for 12-15 storms, stream water-quality data for baseflow and storm conditions at fou
Authors
Chad Wagner, Sharon Fitzgerald, Matthew Lauffer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Baseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012

Records were obtained for 305 wells and 1 spring in northwestern Lee and southeastern Chatham counties, North Carolina. Well depths ranged from 26 to 720 feet and yields ranged from 0.25 to 100 gallons per minute. A subset of 56 wells and 1 spring were sampled for baseline groundwaterquality constituents including the following: major ions; dissolved metals; nutrients; dissolved gases (including m
Authors
Melinda J. Chapman, Laura N. Gurley, Sharon A. Fitzgerald
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Water-quality characteristics indicative of wastewater in selected streams in the upper Neuse River Basin, Durham and Orange Counties, North Carolina, from 2004 to 2013

Data were collected during three time periods to assess the effects of wastewater treatment and disposal practices on the occurrence of selected contaminants indicative of wastewater in the upper Neuse River Basin, North Carolina. The first phase of data collection, December 2004 to June 2005, and the second phase, April to October 2008, addressed the effects of point and nonpoint sources of waste
Authors
Gloria M. Ferrell, Matthew S. Yearout, Barbara H. Grimes, Alexandria K. Graves, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Michael T. Meyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Estuarine monitoring programs in the Albemarle Sound study area, North Carolina

Albemarle Sound was selected in 2012 as one of the two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and their tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. coastal waters and tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems and inla
Authors
Michelle Moorman, Katharine R. Kolb, Stacy Supak
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Characterization of stormwater runoff from bridges in North Carolina and the effects of bridge deck runoff on receiving streams

In 2008, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2436 that required the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to study the water-quality effects of bridges on receiving streams. In response, the NCDOT and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated on a study to provide information necessary to address the requirements of the Bill. To better understand the effects of
Authors
Chad R. Wagner, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, Roy D. Sherrell, Douglas A. Harned, Erik L. Staub, Brian H. Pointer, Loren L. Wehmeyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Emerging scientific tools for studies of water quality, coral reef health, and watershed management in the tropics/Caribbean

No abstract available.
Authors
Sharon A. Fitzgerald
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Distribution and transport of polychlorinated biphenyls and associated particulates in the Milwaukee River System, Wisconsin, 1993-95

The distribution and transport of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined at various sites on Cedar Creek and its receiving stream, the Milwaukee River. PCB congener distributions were determined in the operationally defined dissolved phase, suspended-particle phase, and surficial bed sediments (0?2 centimeters depth). At most sites, the relative abundances of PCB congeners in the
Authors
Jeffrey S. Steuer, Sharon A. Fitzgerald, David W. Hall
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products