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Steven R Corsi

Steven Corsi is a Research Hydrologist (Chemistry) with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Impact of aircraft and pavement deicers on aquatic ecosystems
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of airport deicer management systems
  • Assessment of anthropogenic impact on stream water quality
  • Aquatic toxicity evaluation
  • Recreational water quality
  • Surface water investigations of waterborne pathogens

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, 1989

  • B.S. in Physics, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 1986

Affiliations and Memberships

  • State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Hydrologist

  • Society of Toxicology and Chemistry

Science and Products

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Indiana Harbor Canal at East Chicago, IN

Indiana Harbor Canal at East Chicago, IN

Water-quality “super” gages (also known as “sentry” gages) provide real-time, continuous measurements of the physical and chemical characteristics of stream water at or near selected U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. A super gage includes streamflow and water-quality instrumentation and representative stream sample collection for laboratory analysis. USGS...
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Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center
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Indiana Harbor Canal at East Chicago, IN

Water-quality “super” gages (also known as “sentry” gages) provide real-time, continuous measurements of the physical and chemical characteristics of stream water at or near selected U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. A super gage includes streamflow and water-quality instrumentation and representative stream sample collection for laboratory analysis. USGS...
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Toxic Substances: Evaluation of Contaminants and their Potential Biological Effects in Great Lakes Tributaries

The objective of this project is to Identify emerging contaminants and assess impacts on Great Lakes fish and wildlife.
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Toxic Substances: Evaluation of Contaminants and their Potential Biological Effects in Great Lakes Tributaries

The objective of this project is to Identify emerging contaminants and assess impacts on Great Lakes fish and wildlife.
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Photo looking from Lake Michigan inland toward the Milwaukee skyline and river mouth

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Watercourse Corridor Study

Since 2000, the USGS and MMSD have been partners in the Milwaukee Area Watercourse Corridor Study. The USGS applied a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor and assess stream water quality within studies of aquatic communities, geomorphology and habitat, water and sediment, and streamflow. Results are provided to MMSD and watershed management agencies for planning and decision-making.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Watercourse Corridor Study

Since 2000, the USGS and MMSD have been partners in the Milwaukee Area Watercourse Corridor Study. The USGS applied a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor and assess stream water quality within studies of aquatic communities, geomorphology and habitat, water and sediment, and streamflow. Results are provided to MMSD and watershed management agencies for planning and decision-making.
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Image showing an optical sensor system used to test wastewater.

Using optical sensors to detect sewage contamination in the Great Lakes

In the Great Lakes, large volumes of sewage never make it to wastewater treatment plants due to illicit discharges and leaking sewer infrastructure, but contamination can be difficult to detect. This study will define the utility and practicality of using optical sensors to identify the sources and timing of sewage contamination in surface water and storm sewers in real-time field settings.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Using optical sensors to detect sewage contamination in the Great Lakes

In the Great Lakes, large volumes of sewage never make it to wastewater treatment plants due to illicit discharges and leaking sewer infrastructure, but contamination can be difficult to detect. This study will define the utility and practicality of using optical sensors to identify the sources and timing of sewage contamination in surface water and storm sewers in real-time field settings.
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Photo of the Milwaukee, Wis., skyline

MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study: Contaminants in Water and Sediment

There are many kinds of chemical, physical, and biological contaminants contained in water and sediment, and new or “emerging” contaminants are continually being discovered. USGS investigations of contaminants in the MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study include studies of PAHs, microplastics, wastewater contamination, waterborne pathogens, as well as modeling long term trends in water quality.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study: Contaminants in Water and Sediment

There are many kinds of chemical, physical, and biological contaminants contained in water and sediment, and new or “emerging” contaminants are continually being discovered. USGS investigations of contaminants in the MMSD Watercourse Corridor Study include studies of PAHs, microplastics, wastewater contamination, waterborne pathogens, as well as modeling long term trends in water quality.
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Photo of a snow plow with a load of road salt

Evaluating chloride trends due to road-salt use and its impacts on water quality and aquatic organisms

Chloride, a key component of road salt, is soluble, highly mobile in water, and, at high concentrations, can be toxic to aquatic vegetation and wildlife. USGS scientists have been analyzing temporal, seasonal, and environmental trends in chloride concentrations across the U.S. to determine the effects that road salt may be having on water quality and aquatic organisms.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Evaluating chloride trends due to road-salt use and its impacts on water quality and aquatic organisms

Chloride, a key component of road salt, is soluble, highly mobile in water, and, at high concentrations, can be toxic to aquatic vegetation and wildlife. USGS scientists have been analyzing temporal, seasonal, and environmental trends in chloride concentrations across the U.S. to determine the effects that road salt may be having on water quality and aquatic organisms.
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Photgraph of USGS employee surveying snowbanks at General Mitchell International Airport

Evaluating the impacts of aircraft deicers in runoff from General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wis.

Chemicals used to deice planes at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee may be entering nearby streams in concentrations that may be harmful to aquatic life. This project will investigate the toxicity of decing chemicals, evaluate their impact on receiving streams, and assess changes in water quality in response to the implementation of deicer management at General Mitchell Airport.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Evaluating the impacts of aircraft deicers in runoff from General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wis.

Chemicals used to deice planes at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee may be entering nearby streams in concentrations that may be harmful to aquatic life. This project will investigate the toxicity of decing chemicals, evaluate their impact on receiving streams, and assess changes in water quality in response to the implementation of deicer management at General Mitchell Airport.
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Photo of a boy playing in the water on a Wisconsin beach.

Beach health in Wisconsin

Beach water-quality (beach health) data are collected for both coastal and inland Wisconsin beaches. These data are collected and analyzed by multiple agencies throughout Wisconsin including local health departments, universities, state agencies, and federal agencies including the USGS.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Beach health in Wisconsin

Beach water-quality (beach health) data are collected for both coastal and inland Wisconsin beaches. These data are collected and analyzed by multiple agencies throughout Wisconsin including local health departments, universities, state agencies, and federal agencies including the USGS.
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Illustration showing potential sources of pathogen contamination for Lake Michigan beaches

Environmental factors and risk estimation for waterborne pathogens at three Great Lakes beaches

The goals of this study were to quantify pathogen concentrations in water at three Lake Michigan beaches, identify environmental factors that influence pathogen occurrence and variability, and to estimate health risks for recreational swimmers.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment
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Environmental factors and risk estimation for waterborne pathogens at three Great Lakes beaches

The goals of this study were to quantify pathogen concentrations in water at three Lake Michigan beaches, identify environmental factors that influence pathogen occurrence and variability, and to estimate health risks for recreational swimmers.
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Great Lakes tributary pharmaceutical water samples from water year 2018

This data release provides water chemistry results and quality assurance data for samples collected from Great Lakes tributaries in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and New York. In total, 158 chemicals were analyzed which are primarily pharmaceuticals. Between one and four water samples were collected at 37 sampling locations between November 2017 and July 2018 resulti
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Pesticides and pesticide transformation product data from passive samplers deployed in 15 Great Lakes tributaries, 2016

This dataset includes pesticides and pesticide transformation products in 15 tributaries of the Great Lakes. Pesticides were monitored using polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) to estimate concentrations in water following standard protocols (Alvarez, 2010) in June and July 2016. POCIS extracts were analyzed for 225 chemicals (USGS National Water Quality Laboratory schedule 5437, S
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Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Optical signals of water for prediction of wastewater contamination, human-associated bacteria, and fecal indicator bacteria in surface water of Great Lake tributaries from 2011 to 2016

Data are from water samples collected from tributaries of the Great Lakes at three different drainage basin scales, including 1). watershed scale: 8 tributaries of the Great Lakes, 2). subwatershed scale: 5 locations from the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and 3). small scale: 213 storm sewers and open channel locations in three subwatersheds within the Great Lakes Basin including the Middle B
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Data and regression models describing biofilms and water quality in streams surrounding Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2009-2014)

Heterotrophic biofilm growths were monitored in sites upstream and downstream of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; samples were collected primarily during and surrounding the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 deicing seasons, with additional sample collection occurring in 2014. Biofilms were assessed using both field surveys and modern genetic approaches, and responses to e
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Microplastics in the water column and sediment in Milwaukee-Area streams, the Milwaukee Harbor, and Lake Michigan, 2016

This dataset describes the quantity, morphology, and polymer identity of microplastics in the water column and surficial sediments of Milwaukee-Area streams, the Milwaukee Harbor, and Lake Michigan (Wisconsin). Water samples were collected at 10 locations, 2-4 times each, from May to September, 2016. At the 4 shallowest locations, water was collected only at the water surface. At the remaining 6 l
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Idaho Water Science Center

Microplastics in the surficial benthic sediment from Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, 2013 and 2014

This dataset describes the quantity, morphology, concentration and polymer identity of microplastics in surficial benthic sediment of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. Lake Michigan sediment samples were collected at 20 locations in September, 2013 and Lake Erie sediment samples were collected at 12 locations in September, 2014 while on-board the R.V. Lake Guardian. Sampling and analysis methods are de
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Chemistry of waters collected in the Wolf Creek and Buffalo Creek watersheds in West Virginia in 2016

Water chemistry data for samples collected in 2016 in the Wolf Creek and Buffalo Creek watersheds in West Virginia. The dataset includes stream characteristics including flow and location information for sampling sites.
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Water Resources

Regression models and associated data for describing variability of host specific bacteria fluxes in eight Great Lakes tributaries, 2011-2013

Three regression models were developed for describing variability of host-specific flux data in eight Great Lakes tributaries. Models include one for Lachnospiraceae flux, one for human bacteroides flux, and one for ruminant bacteroides flux. Models were developed using the R project for statistical computing with core functionality and the survival, smwrBase, and smwrQW packages. Predictor variab
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Human-associated indicator bacteria and human specific virus loads, sample volumes, and drainage areas for six Menomonee River Watershed sampling locations

Human-associated indicator bacteria and human specific viruses in the Menomonee River watershed in Milwaukee, WI were investigated from April 2009 to March 2011 at six sampling locations within the watershed. We used concentration and water volume data from runoff-event and low-flow periods to compute loads for each sample collected, and subsequently used those loads, and drainage area from each
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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Microbial source tracking and evaluation of best management practices for restoring degraded beaches of Lake Michigan

Attempts to mitigate shoreline microbial contamination require a thorough understanding of pollutant sources, which often requires multiple years of data collection (e.g., point/nonpoint) and the interacting factors that influence water quality. Because restoration efforts can alter shoreline or beach morphology, revisiting source inputs is often necessary. Microbial source tracking (MST) using so
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Ecosystems, Great Lakes Science Center

Risk-based prioritization of organic chemicals and locations of ecological concern in sediment from Great Lakes tributaries

With improved analytical techniques, environmental monitoring studies are increasingly able to report the occurrence of tens or hundreds of chemicals per site, making it difficult to identify the most relevant chemicals from a biological standpoint. For this study, organic chemical occurrence was examined, individually and as mixtures, in the context of potential biological effects. Sediment was c
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Optical properties of water for prediction of wastewater contamination, human-associated bacteria, and fecal indicator bacteria in surface water at three watershed scales

Relations between spectral absorbance and fluorescence properties of water and human-associated and fecal indicator bacteria were developed for facilitating field sensor applications to estimate wastewater contamination in waterways. Leaking wastewater conveyance infrastructure commonly contaminates receiving waters. Methods to quantify such contamination can be time consuming, expensive, and ofte
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Water Resources, California Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Identifying chemicals and mixtures of potential biological concern detected in passive samplers from Great Lakes tributaries using high-throughput data and biological pathways

Waterborne contaminants were monitored in 69 tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes in 2010 and 2014 using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). A risk-based screening approach was used to prioritize chemicals and chemical mixtures, identify sites at greatest risk for biological impacts, and identify potential hazards to monitor at those
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Spatial distribution of microplastics in surficial benthic sediment of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie

The spatial distribution, concentration, particle size, and polymer compositions of microplastics in Lake Michigan and Lake Erie sediment were investigated. Fibers/lines were the most abundant of the five particle types characterized. Microplastic particles were observed in all samples with mean concentrations for particles greater than 0.355 mm of 65.2 p kg–1 in Lake Michigan samples (n = 20) and
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Primary sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to streambed sediment in Great Lakes tributaries using multiple lines of evidence

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most widespread and potentially toxic contaminants in Great Lakes (USA/Canada) tributaries. The sources of PAHs are numerous and diverse, and identifying the primary source(s) can be difficult. The present study used multiple lines of evidence to determine the likely sources of PAHs to surficial streambed sediments at 71 locations across 26 Gre
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Water Resources, Idaho Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column and surficial sediment from the Milwaukee River basin to Lake Michigan

Microplastic contamination was studied along a freshwater continuum from inland streams to the Milwaukee River estuary to Lake Michigan, and vertically from the water surface, water subsurface and sediment. Microplastics were detected in all 96 water samples and nine sediment samples collected. Results indicated a gradient of polymer presence with depth: low-density particles decreased from water
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Idaho Water Science Center

Prioritizing chemicals of ecological concern in Great Lakes tributaries using high-throughput screening data and adverse outcome pathways

Chemical monitoring data were collected in surface waters from 57 Great Lakes tributaries from 2010-13 to identify chemicals of potential biological relevance and sites at which these chemicals occur. Traditional water-quality benchmarks for aquatic life based on in vivo toxicity data were available for 34 of 67 evaluated chemicals. To expand evaluation of potential biological effects, measured ch
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Idaho Water Science Center

Mixed-chemical exposure and predicted effects potential in wadeable southeastern USA streams

Complex chemical mixtures have been widely reported in larger streams but relatively little work has been done to characterize them and assess their potential effects in headwaterstreams. In 2014, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) sampled 54 Piedmont streams over ten weeks and measured 475 unique organic compounds using five analytical methods. Maximum and median exposure conditions were
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Water Resources, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Sewage loading and microbial risk in urban waters of the Great Lakes

Despite modern sewer system infrastructure, the release of sewage from deteriorating pipes and sewer overflows is a major water pollution problem in US cities, particularly in coastal watersheds that are highly developed with large human populations. We quantified fecal pollution sources and loads entering Lake Michigan from a large watershed of mixed land use using host-associated indicators. Was
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Reconnaissance of mixed organic and inorganic chemicals in private and public supply tapwaters at selected residential and workplace sites in the United States

Safe drinking water at the point-of-use (tapwater, TW) is a United States public health priority. Multiple lines of evidence were used to evaluate potential human health concerns of 482 organics and 19 inorganics in TW from 13 (7 public supply, 6 private well self-supply) home and 12 (public supply) workplace locations in 11 states. Only uranium (61.9 μg L–1, private well) exceeded a National Prim
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, National Water Quality Laboratory

Patterns of host-associated fecal indicators driven by hydrology, precipitation, and land use attributes in Great Lakes watersheds

Fecal contamination from sewage and agricultural runoff is a pervasive problem in Great Lakes watersheds. Most work examining fecal pollution loads relies on discrete samples of fecal indicators and modeling land use. In this study, we made empirical measurements of human and ruminant-associated fecal indicator bacteria and combined these with hydrological measurements in eight watersheds ranging
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

ToxMixtures: A package to explore toxicity due to chemical mixtures

The ToxMixtures R-package includes a set of functions to analyze, visualize, and organize measured chemical concentration data as it relates to chemical mixtures. ToxMixtures combines outputs from the R-package toxEval with open access sources on molecular biology to provide information on potential biological effects of chemicals detected in environmental matrices. To use ToxMixtures, the user wi
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

toxEval

Evaluation of measured concentration data using the ToxCast high-throughput screening database or a user-defined set of concentration benchmarks.
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Urban Stream Contamination Increasing Rapidly Due to Road Salt

Average chloride concentrations often exceed toxic levels in many northern United States streams due to the use of salt to deice winter pavement, and...

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