Tamara Kraus
Tamara Kraus is a Research Soil Scientist at the California Water Science Center.
Tamara Kraus received a master's degree in Agronomy and a doctoral degree in Soils and Biogeochemistry from the University of California, Davis. She has been working at the USGS California Water Science Center (CAWSC) in Sacramento since 2004, where she does research on the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and the linkages between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Her projects span a range of topics from identifying sources of dissolved organic carbon and to inform drinking water quality management, to using constructed wetlands to reverse subsidence, to the application of in situ coagulation to remove mercury from surface waters, to understanding the links between nutrients and phytoplankton.
Professional Experience
2010-present Soil Scientist, US Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA
2006-2009 Post Doctoral Researcher, US Geological Survey through UC Davis, Sacramento, CA
2004-2005 National Research Council Post Doctoral Fellow with US Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA
1996-2003 Research Assistant: Soil Chemistry Lab, , University of California, Davis, CA
1996-2003 Teaching Assistant: Soils and Biogeochemistry, , University of California, Davis, CA
1995-1996 Post-Graduate Researcher/Project Manager, University of California, Davis, CA
1992-1994 Research Assistant: Agronomy, University of California, Davis, CA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Soils and Biogeochemistry, 2002, University of California, Davis , CA Dissertation: Tannins and Nutrient Dynamics in Forest Soils: Plant-Litter-Soil Interactions
M.S., Agronomy and Range Science, 1994, University of California, Davis, CAThesis: Weed Abundance and Competition in Water-Seeded versus Drill-Seeded Rice in California
B.A., Biology and Society: Agriculture and the Environment, 1989, College of Arts and Sciences Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Science and Products
Designing a high-frequency nutrient and biogeochemical monitoring network for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, northern California
A river-scale Lagrangian experiment examining controls on phytoplankton dynamics in the presence and absence of treated wastewater effluent high in ammonium
Using continuous underway isotope measurements to map water residence time in hydrodynamically complex tidal environments
Optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM): Effects of biological and photolytic degradation
Mercury, monomethyl mercury, and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in surface water entering and exiting constructed wetlands treated with metal-based coagulants, Twitchell Island, California
Investigating the temporal effects of metal-based coagulants to remove mercury from solution in the presence of dissolved organic matter
Experimental dosing of wetlands with coagulants removes mercury from surface water and decreases mercury bioaccumulation in fish
Concurrent photolytic degradation of aqueous methylmercury and dissolved organic matter
Sources and characteristics of organic matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, related to the formation of disinfection by-products in treated drinking water
Seeing the light: the effects of particles, dissolved materials, and temperature on in situ measurements of DOM fluorescence in rivers and streams
Structural stability of coprecipitated natural organic matter and ferric iron under reducing conditions
The water-quality monitoring program for the Baltimore reservoir system, 1981-2007—Description, review and evaluation, and framework integration for enhanced monitoring
Science and Products
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Designing a high-frequency nutrient and biogeochemical monitoring network for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, northern California
Executive SummaryThis report is the third in a series of three reports that provide information about how high-frequency (HF) nutrient monitoring may be used to assess nutrient inputs and dynamics in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California (Delta). The purpose of this report is to provide the background, principles, and considerations for designing an HF nutrient-monitoring network for the DeAuthorsBrian A. Bergamaschi, Bryan D. Downing, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Brian A. PellerinA river-scale Lagrangian experiment examining controls on phytoplankton dynamics in the presence and absence of treated wastewater effluent high in ammonium
Phytoplankton are critical component of the food web in most large rivers and estuaries, and thus identifying dominant controls on phytoplankton abundance and species composition is important to scientists, managers, and policymakers. Recent studies from a variety of systems indicate that ammonium ( NH+4) in treated wastewater effluent decreases primary production and alters phytoplankton speciesAuthorsTamara E. C. Kraus, Kurt D. Carpenter, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Alexander Parker, Elizabeth B. Stumpner, Bryan D. Downing, Nicole Travis, Frances Wilkerson, Carol Kendall, Timothy MussenUsing continuous underway isotope measurements to map water residence time in hydrodynamically complex tidal environments
Stable isotopes present in water (δ2H, δ18O) have been used extensively to evaluate hydrological processes on the basis of parameters such as evaporation, precipitation, mixing, and residence time. In estuarine aquatic habitats, residence time (τ) is a major driver of biogeochemical processes, affecting trophic subsidies and conditions in fish-spawning habitats. But τ is highly variable in estuariAuthorsBryan D. Downing, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Carol Kendall, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Kate J. Dennis, Jeffery A. Carter, Travis von DessonneckOptical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM): Effects of biological and photolytic degradation
Advances in spectroscopic techniques have led to an increase in the use of optical properties (absorbance and fluorescence) to assess dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and infer sources and processing. However, little information is available to assess the impact of biological and photolytic processing on the optical properties of original DOM source materials. We measured changes in commAuthorsAngela Hansen, Tamara E. C. Kraus, Brian Pellerin, Jacob Fleck, Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. BergamaschiMercury, monomethyl mercury, and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in surface water entering and exiting constructed wetlands treated with metal-based coagulants, Twitchell Island, California
Coagulation with metal-based salts is a practice commonly employed by drinking-water utilities to decrease particle and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in water. In addition to decreasing dissolved organic carbon concentrations, the effectiveness of iron- and aluminum-based coagulants for decreasing dissolved concentrations both of inorganic and monomethyl mercury in water was demonstratedAuthorsElizabeth B. Stumpner, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Jacob A. Fleck, Angela M. Hansen, Sandra M. Bachand, William R. Horwath, John F. DeWild, David P. Krabbenhoft, Philip A.M. BachandInvestigating the temporal effects of metal-based coagulants to remove mercury from solution in the presence of dissolved organic matter
The presence of mercury (Hg), particularly methylmercury (MeHg), is a concern for both human and ecological health as MeHg is a neurotoxin and can bioaccumulate to lethal levels in upper trophic level organisms. Recent research has demonstrated that coagulation with metal-based salts can effectively remove both inorganic mercury (IHg) and MeHg from solution through association with dissolved organAuthorsYumiko K. Henneberry, Tamara E. C. Kraus, David P. Krabbenhoft, William R. HorwathExperimental dosing of wetlands with coagulants removes mercury from surface water and decreases mercury bioaccumulation in fish
Mercury pollution is widespread globally, and strategies for managing mercury contamination in aquatic environments are necessary. We tested whether coagulation with metal-based salts could remove mercury from wetland surface waters and decrease mercury bioaccumulation in fish. In a complete randomized block design, we constructed nine experimental wetlands in California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin DAuthorsJoshua T. Ackerman, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Jacob A. Fleck, David P. Krabbenhoft, William R. Horwarth, Sandra M. Bachand, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman, Philip A.M. BachandConcurrent photolytic degradation of aqueous methylmercury and dissolved organic matter
Monomethyl mercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that threatens ecosystem viability and human health. In aquatic systems, the photolytic degradation of MeHg (photodemethylation) is an important component of the MeHg cycle. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is also affected by exposure to solar radiation (light exposure) leading to changes in DOM composition that can affect its role in overall mercuryAuthorsJacob A. Fleck, Gary W. Gill, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Bryan D. Downing, Charles N. AlpersSources and characteristics of organic matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, related to the formation of disinfection by-products in treated drinking water
This study characterized the amount and quality of organic matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, to gain an understanding of sources that contribute to the formation of chlorinated and brominated disinfection by-products (DBPs), focusing on regulated DBPs in treated drinking water from two direct-filtration treatment plants that together serve approximately 100,000 customers. The central hypothesAuthorsKurt D. Carpenter, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Jami H. Goldman, John Franco Saraceno, Bryan D. Downing, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Gordon McGhee, Tracy TriplettSeeing the light: the effects of particles, dissolved materials, and temperature on in situ measurements of DOM fluorescence in rivers and streams
Field-deployable sensors designed to continuously measure the fluorescence of colored dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in situ are of growing interest. However, the ability to make FDOM measurements that are comparable across sites and over time requires a clear understanding of how instrument characteristics and environmental conditions affect the measurements. In particular, the effects of waterAuthorsBryan D. Downing, Brian A. Pellerin, Brian A. Bergamaschi, John Franco Saraceno, Tamara E.C. KrausStructural stability of coprecipitated natural organic matter and ferric iron under reducing conditions
The objective was to assess the interaction of Fe coprecipitated with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its effect on Fe (hydr)oxide crystallinity and DOM retention under abiotic reducing conditions. A Fe-based coagulant was reacted with DOM from an agricultural drain and the resulting precipitate (floc) was exposed to S(-II) and Fe(II). Solution concentrations of Fe(II/III) and DOM were monitoreAuthorsYumiko K. Henneberry, Tamara E.C. Kraus, Peter S. Nico, William R. HorwathThe water-quality monitoring program for the Baltimore reservoir system, 1981-2007—Description, review and evaluation, and framework integration for enhanced monitoring
The City of Baltimore, Maryland, and parts of five surrounding counties obtain their water from Loch Raven and Liberty Reservoirs. A third reservoir, Prettyboy, is used to resupply Loch Raven Reservoir. Management of the watershed conditions for each reservoir is a shared responsibility by agreement among City, County, and State jurisdictions. The most recent (2005) Baltimore Reservoir Watershed MAuthorsMichael T. Koterba, Marcus C. Waldron, Tamara E.C. Kraus - Web Tools
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