Tanja N. Williamson, PhD
Soil-water scientist experienced in natural and human-affected systems, including links with vegetation and landscape dynamics. Research interest spans landscape and water-resource effects of agriculture, mining, development, and climate change. Published research supported by OSMRE, USDA, NSF, USEPA, USGS, state agencies, and universities.
Recent and ongoing research includes:
- Hydrologic modeling of mixed land-use watersheds
- the importance of land-cover change to streamflow magnitude, variability, and seasonality
- developing decision-support systems that inform resource managers
- Incorporation of soil-physical data into hydrologic modeling
- Comparison of lab and field measurements to modeled soil properties
- Sensitivity of hydrologic models to changes in soil properties
- Simulation of hydrologic response from landscape reconstruction
- Temporal variability of soil-water storage and movement
- Agricultural resilience under projected climate change
- Delineation of ephemeral and intermittent streams in Appalachia
- Conservation management in agricultural landscapes
- Identifying sediment source
- Linking soil-water storage with the stream environment
- Extent and characteristics of tile-drains (sub-surface agricultural drainage)
Education
Ph.D. Soil and Water Science (Pedology), University of California, Riverside, 1999
M.S. Earth Science (Geomorphology), University of California, Riverside, 1995
B.S. Geoscience, The Pennsylvania State University, 1992 (includes PSU Field Camp)
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey
- Research Hydrologist, Kentucky Water Science Center (2010 to present)
- Hydrologist, Kentucky Water Science Center (2006 to 2010)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky (2016 to present)
Quinte Conservation, Belleville, ON, Canada (2006)
Loyalist College, Belleville, ON, Canada (2004-2005)
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, Geosciences (1999-2004)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 26
Low-altitude visible and multispectral imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Ohio Surface Water 1 Low-altitude visible and multispectral imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Ohio Surface Water 1
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Bioreactor Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Bioreactor
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2 Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5 Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3 Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky. Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky.
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from upland source and streambank sampling sites in the Little River basin, Kentucky. Data were collected from March to November of 2014. These data include total nitrogen and carbon concentrations, organic carbon concentrations, concentrations for 37 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were grouped into one...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from suspended and bottom sediments of streams in Minnesota. Data were collected in September 2011 and April 2012. These data include total nitrogen and carbon, organic carbon, concentrations for 39 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were grouped into one of three land-use categories: channel (Mid-bank,Low...
Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010 Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010
This dataset provides physical and chemical data for a sediment-fingerprinting study conducted in the upper parts of the Linganore Creek watershed in an effort to quantify and determine the sources of fine-grained sediments eroded from and deposited on streambanks, flood plains, channel beds, and agricultural and forested uplands. Data were collected from August 1, 2008 through December...
Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin
This database was developed for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER) for the Delaware River Basin (DRB), a decision support tool that provides a consistent and objective method of simulating streamflow under historical, forecasted, and managed conditions (Williamson and others, 2015). This database provides historical spatial and climatic data for simulating...
Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018 Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018
Context: The freshwater resources of the Central Appalachian region are impacted by stressors operating on multiple spatial scales, from local land use and land management (e.g., timber harvests and surface mining) to regional air quality patterns (e.g., pollutant emissions) and broader-scale climate variability. In order to isolate the effects of any of these stressors on water...
Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils
Robinson Forest, in eastern Kentucky, is a research forest owned and operated by the University of Kentucky (UK) since the 1920s. The Forest is situated in a portion of eastern Kentucky that has undergone extensive resource extraction, including silvaculture and both underground and surface mining of coal. This site has been used to evaluate hydrologic process, stream permanence, and the...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from upland-source and streambank sampling sites in the Black Creek basin, Indiana. Data include total nitrogen and carbon concentrations, carbon species, total concentrations for 42 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were identified as one of five land-use types: active cropland (corn, soybean, hay, and...
Filter Total Items: 40
Phosphorus sources, forms, and abundance as a function of streamflow and field conditions in a Maumee River tributary, 2016-2019 Phosphorus sources, forms, and abundance as a function of streamflow and field conditions in a Maumee River tributary, 2016-2019
Total phosphorus (TP), dissolved P (DP), and suspended sediment (SS) were sampled in Black Creek, Indiana, monthly during base flow and for 100 storm events during water years 2016–2019, enabling analysis of how each of these varied as a function of streamflow and field conditions at nested edge-of-field sites. Particulate P was normalized for SS (PSS = [TP − DP]/SS). Streamflow events...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Edward Dobrowolski, Rebecca Kreiling
Evaluating the influence of the Forestry Reclamation Approach on throughfall quantity in eastern Kentucky Evaluating the influence of the Forestry Reclamation Approach on throughfall quantity in eastern Kentucky
The Appalachian Region is a rich forested ecosystem that has been impacted by coal mining. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 was enacted to resolve many of the environmental problems caused by surface mining. Reclamation practices resulted in excessive soil compaction and use of nonnative grasses and shrubs that have altered hydrologic processes. The Forestry...
Authors
Morgan Gerlitz, Carmen Agouridis, Tanja Williamson, Chris Barton
Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions
Above average precipitation from October 2018 through July 2019 in the Maumee River (R.) Basin resulted in 29% of cropland left fallow, providing a glimpse of potential effects from decreased nutrient application. Ongoing monitoring at 15 water-quality sites on the Maumee R. upstream from Defiance enabled comparison with 2017, which was hydrologically similar to 2019 in precipitation and
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Kimberly Shaffer, Donna Runkle, Matthew Hardebeck, Edward Dobrowolski, Jeffrey Frey, Nancy Baker, Katie Collier, Carrie Huitger, Stephanie Kula, Ralph Haefner, Lisa Hartley, Hunter Crates, J. Webber, Dennis Finnegan, Nicholas Reithel, Chad Toussant, Thomas Weaver
Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites
Managing nutrient and sediment runoff from fields that drain to the Great Lakes is key to mitigating harmful algal blooms. Implementation of best management practices on agricultural land is considered a critical step to improving water quality in these streams, however the effect of these best management practices is difficult to quantify. The purpose of this study was to use a suite of...
Authors
J. Webber, Tanja Williamson
The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds
The University of Kentucky (U KY) has owned Robinson Forest (37.460723° N, 83.158598° W) since 1923, conducting experiments crucial to understanding the environmental effects of land management in the region. Part of the management of Robinson Forest has been collection of environmental data, including precipitation quantity, bulk‐deposition chemistry, streamflow, stream‐water chemistry...
Authors
Kenton Sena, Chris Barton, Tanja Williamson
Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana
Changes to water resources are critical to all sectors of the economy. Climate change will affect the timing and quantity of water available in the environment as well as have an adverse effect on the quality of that water. Floods, droughts, and changing patterns of water scarcity—when water is not available in sufficient enough quantities or of a suitable quality at the right time to...
Authors
Keith Cherkauer, Laura Bowling, Kyuhyun Byun, Indrajeet Chaubey, Natalie Chin, Darren Ficklin, Alan Hamlet, Stephen Kines, Charlotte Lee, Ram Neupane, Garett Pignotti, Sanoar Rahman, Sarmistha Singh, Pandara Valappil-Femeena, Tanja Williamson
Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Black Creek, a headwater to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie, is an agricultural basin with a mix of cropland (66%), pasture (19%), and forest (7%) linked by a road network to the rural community. Suspended sediment was collected monthly during the 2018 water year for the main stem and two sub-basins using in-situ, passive samplers that integrated a range of streamflow conditions...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Edward Dobrowolski, Allen Gellis, Timur Sabitov, Lillian Gorman Sanisaca
Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology
Forests in the Appalachian region of the U.S. are threatened by a variety of short- and long-term pressures, including climate change, invasive species, and resource extraction. Surface mining for coal is one of the most important drivers of land-use change in the region, reducing native forest cover, causing forest fragmentation, eliminating intact soil, and affecting water resources...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Chris Barton
Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes
Effective and efficient methods are needed to map agricultural subsurface drainage systems. Visible-color (VIS-C), multispectral (MS), and thermal infrared (TIR) imagery obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may provide a means for determining drainage pipe locations. Aerial surveys using a UAV with VIS-C, MS, and TIR cameras were conducted at 29 agricultural field sites in the...
Authors
Barry Allred, Luis Martinez, Melake Fessehazion, Greg Rouse, Tanja Williamson, DeBonne Wishart, Triven Koganti, Robert Freeland, Neal Eash, Adam Batschelet, Robert Featheringill
Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds
A multi-agency, integrated series of studies were initiated in 2017 under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, and the University of Minnesota to quantify the source, downstream travel time, and storage of particulate-bound phosphorus and sediment in agricultural tributaries to the Great Lakes. Of particular interest are...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Faith Fitzpatrick, Diana Karwan, Randall Kolka, Edward Dobrowolski, James Blount, Ethan Pawlowski
Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin
We examined the impacts of changes in land cover and soil conditions on the flow regime of the upper Delaware River Basin using the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER). We simulated flows for two periods, circa 1600 and 1940, at three sites using the same temperature and precipitation conditions: the East Branch (EB), West Branch (WB), and mainstem Delaware River...
Authors
Theodore Endreny, Peter Kwon, Tanja Williamson, Richard Evans
Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060 Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060
In order to simulate the potential effect of forecasted land‐cover change on streamflow and water availability, there has to be confidence that the hydrologic model used is sensitive to small changes in land cover (
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Peter Claggett
Non-USGS Publications**
Regolith Water in Zero-Order Chaparral and Perennial Grass Watersheds Four Decades after Vegetation Conversion Tanja N. Williamson, Brent D. Newman, Robert C. Graham, and Peter J. Shouse Vadose Zone Journal 2004 3: 3: 1007-1016 doi:10.2136/vzj2004.1007
Effects of a chaparral-to-grass conversion on soil physical and hydrologic properties after four decades Tanja N. Williamson, Robert C. Graham, and Peter J. Shouse Geoderma 2004 123: 1-2: 99-114
Pedogenesis–Terrain Links in Zero-Order Watersheds after Chaparral to Grass Vegetation Conversion Tanja N. Williamson, Paul E. Gessler, Peter J. Shouse, and Robert C. Graham Soil Science Society of America Journal 2006 70: 6: 2065-2074 doi:10.2136/sssaj2003.0316
Identification of stolen rare palm trees by soil morphological and mineralogical properties Brad D. Lee, Tanja N. Williamson, and Robert C. Graham Journal of Forensic Science 2002 47: 190-194
Forensic soils: An integrative laboratory exercise for Introductory Soil Science Brad D. Lee, Tanja N. Williamson, Robert C. Graham, and Lanny J. Lund Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 1998 27:110-112
**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
Filter Total Items: 26
Low-altitude visible and multispectral imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Ohio Surface Water 1 Low-altitude visible and multispectral imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Ohio Surface Water 1
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Bioreactor Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Bioreactor
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2 Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5 Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3 Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3
These orthophotos and digital surface model (DSM) were derived from low-altitude (approximately 92-m above ground surface) images collected from Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights over edge-of-field sites that are part of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) monitoring. The objective of this UAS photogrammetry data collection was to provide...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky. Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky.
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from upland source and streambank sampling sites in the Little River basin, Kentucky. Data were collected from March to November of 2014. These data include total nitrogen and carbon concentrations, organic carbon concentrations, concentrations for 37 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were grouped into one...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from suspended and bottom sediments of streams in Minnesota. Data were collected in September 2011 and April 2012. These data include total nitrogen and carbon, organic carbon, concentrations for 39 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were grouped into one of three land-use categories: channel (Mid-bank,Low...
Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010 Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010
This dataset provides physical and chemical data for a sediment-fingerprinting study conducted in the upper parts of the Linganore Creek watershed in an effort to quantify and determine the sources of fine-grained sediments eroded from and deposited on streambanks, flood plains, channel beds, and agricultural and forested uplands. Data were collected from August 1, 2008 through December...
Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin
This database was developed for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER) for the Delaware River Basin (DRB), a decision support tool that provides a consistent and objective method of simulating streamflow under historical, forecasted, and managed conditions (Williamson and others, 2015). This database provides historical spatial and climatic data for simulating...
Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018 Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018
Context: The freshwater resources of the Central Appalachian region are impacted by stressors operating on multiple spatial scales, from local land use and land management (e.g., timber harvests and surface mining) to regional air quality patterns (e.g., pollutant emissions) and broader-scale climate variability. In order to isolate the effects of any of these stressors on water...
Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils
Robinson Forest, in eastern Kentucky, is a research forest owned and operated by the University of Kentucky (UK) since the 1920s. The Forest is situated in a portion of eastern Kentucky that has undergone extensive resource extraction, including silvaculture and both underground and surface mining of coal. This site has been used to evaluate hydrologic process, stream permanence, and the...
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples
This data release includes physical and chemical data for samples from upland-source and streambank sampling sites in the Black Creek basin, Indiana. Data include total nitrogen and carbon concentrations, carbon species, total concentrations for 42 metals, and particle-size analysis. Source samples were identified as one of five land-use types: active cropland (corn, soybean, hay, and...
Filter Total Items: 40
Phosphorus sources, forms, and abundance as a function of streamflow and field conditions in a Maumee River tributary, 2016-2019 Phosphorus sources, forms, and abundance as a function of streamflow and field conditions in a Maumee River tributary, 2016-2019
Total phosphorus (TP), dissolved P (DP), and suspended sediment (SS) were sampled in Black Creek, Indiana, monthly during base flow and for 100 storm events during water years 2016–2019, enabling analysis of how each of these varied as a function of streamflow and field conditions at nested edge-of-field sites. Particulate P was normalized for SS (PSS = [TP − DP]/SS). Streamflow events...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Edward Dobrowolski, Rebecca Kreiling
Evaluating the influence of the Forestry Reclamation Approach on throughfall quantity in eastern Kentucky Evaluating the influence of the Forestry Reclamation Approach on throughfall quantity in eastern Kentucky
The Appalachian Region is a rich forested ecosystem that has been impacted by coal mining. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 was enacted to resolve many of the environmental problems caused by surface mining. Reclamation practices resulted in excessive soil compaction and use of nonnative grasses and shrubs that have altered hydrologic processes. The Forestry...
Authors
Morgan Gerlitz, Carmen Agouridis, Tanja Williamson, Chris Barton
Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions
Above average precipitation from October 2018 through July 2019 in the Maumee River (R.) Basin resulted in 29% of cropland left fallow, providing a glimpse of potential effects from decreased nutrient application. Ongoing monitoring at 15 water-quality sites on the Maumee R. upstream from Defiance enabled comparison with 2017, which was hydrologically similar to 2019 in precipitation and
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Kimberly Shaffer, Donna Runkle, Matthew Hardebeck, Edward Dobrowolski, Jeffrey Frey, Nancy Baker, Katie Collier, Carrie Huitger, Stephanie Kula, Ralph Haefner, Lisa Hartley, Hunter Crates, J. Webber, Dennis Finnegan, Nicholas Reithel, Chad Toussant, Thomas Weaver
Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites
Managing nutrient and sediment runoff from fields that drain to the Great Lakes is key to mitigating harmful algal blooms. Implementation of best management practices on agricultural land is considered a critical step to improving water quality in these streams, however the effect of these best management practices is difficult to quantify. The purpose of this study was to use a suite of...
Authors
J. Webber, Tanja Williamson
The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds
The University of Kentucky (U KY) has owned Robinson Forest (37.460723° N, 83.158598° W) since 1923, conducting experiments crucial to understanding the environmental effects of land management in the region. Part of the management of Robinson Forest has been collection of environmental data, including precipitation quantity, bulk‐deposition chemistry, streamflow, stream‐water chemistry...
Authors
Kenton Sena, Chris Barton, Tanja Williamson
Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana
Changes to water resources are critical to all sectors of the economy. Climate change will affect the timing and quantity of water available in the environment as well as have an adverse effect on the quality of that water. Floods, droughts, and changing patterns of water scarcity—when water is not available in sufficient enough quantities or of a suitable quality at the right time to...
Authors
Keith Cherkauer, Laura Bowling, Kyuhyun Byun, Indrajeet Chaubey, Natalie Chin, Darren Ficklin, Alan Hamlet, Stephen Kines, Charlotte Lee, Ram Neupane, Garett Pignotti, Sanoar Rahman, Sarmistha Singh, Pandara Valappil-Femeena, Tanja Williamson
Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Black Creek, a headwater to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie, is an agricultural basin with a mix of cropland (66%), pasture (19%), and forest (7%) linked by a road network to the rural community. Suspended sediment was collected monthly during the 2018 water year for the main stem and two sub-basins using in-situ, passive samplers that integrated a range of streamflow conditions...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Edward Dobrowolski, Allen Gellis, Timur Sabitov, Lillian Gorman Sanisaca
Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology
Forests in the Appalachian region of the U.S. are threatened by a variety of short- and long-term pressures, including climate change, invasive species, and resource extraction. Surface mining for coal is one of the most important drivers of land-use change in the region, reducing native forest cover, causing forest fragmentation, eliminating intact soil, and affecting water resources...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Chris Barton
Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes
Effective and efficient methods are needed to map agricultural subsurface drainage systems. Visible-color (VIS-C), multispectral (MS), and thermal infrared (TIR) imagery obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may provide a means for determining drainage pipe locations. Aerial surveys using a UAV with VIS-C, MS, and TIR cameras were conducted at 29 agricultural field sites in the...
Authors
Barry Allred, Luis Martinez, Melake Fessehazion, Greg Rouse, Tanja Williamson, DeBonne Wishart, Triven Koganti, Robert Freeland, Neal Eash, Adam Batschelet, Robert Featheringill
Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds
A multi-agency, integrated series of studies were initiated in 2017 under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, and the University of Minnesota to quantify the source, downstream travel time, and storage of particulate-bound phosphorus and sediment in agricultural tributaries to the Great Lakes. Of particular interest are...
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Faith Fitzpatrick, Diana Karwan, Randall Kolka, Edward Dobrowolski, James Blount, Ethan Pawlowski
Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin
We examined the impacts of changes in land cover and soil conditions on the flow regime of the upper Delaware River Basin using the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources (WATER). We simulated flows for two periods, circa 1600 and 1940, at three sites using the same temperature and precipitation conditions: the East Branch (EB), West Branch (WB), and mainstem Delaware River...
Authors
Theodore Endreny, Peter Kwon, Tanja Williamson, Richard Evans
Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060 Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060
In order to simulate the potential effect of forecasted land‐cover change on streamflow and water availability, there has to be confidence that the hydrologic model used is sensitive to small changes in land cover (
Authors
Tanja Williamson, Peter Claggett
Non-USGS Publications**
Regolith Water in Zero-Order Chaparral and Perennial Grass Watersheds Four Decades after Vegetation Conversion Tanja N. Williamson, Brent D. Newman, Robert C. Graham, and Peter J. Shouse Vadose Zone Journal 2004 3: 3: 1007-1016 doi:10.2136/vzj2004.1007
Effects of a chaparral-to-grass conversion on soil physical and hydrologic properties after four decades Tanja N. Williamson, Robert C. Graham, and Peter J. Shouse Geoderma 2004 123: 1-2: 99-114
Pedogenesis–Terrain Links in Zero-Order Watersheds after Chaparral to Grass Vegetation Conversion Tanja N. Williamson, Paul E. Gessler, Peter J. Shouse, and Robert C. Graham Soil Science Society of America Journal 2006 70: 6: 2065-2074 doi:10.2136/sssaj2003.0316
Identification of stolen rare palm trees by soil morphological and mineralogical properties Brad D. Lee, Tanja N. Williamson, and Robert C. Graham Journal of Forensic Science 2002 47: 190-194
Forensic soils: An integrative laboratory exercise for Introductory Soil Science Brad D. Lee, Tanja N. Williamson, Robert C. Graham, and Lanny J. Lund Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 1998 27:110-112
**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.