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Tara A Gross

Tara is an IT Specialist with the USGS Colorado Water Science Center (COWSC) in Lakewood, CO.

Tara began her career in the USGS North Dakota Water Science Center in Bismarck, ND in 2006 where she worked until her move to the COWSC in 2015. Her expertise in GIS, application development, API development, and graphic arts is used in studies of water across the nation. Tara is also the web content manager for the COWSC, the USGS Water Science School, and for StreamStats.
 

Professional Experience

  • 2006 - 2015 • USGS North Dakota Water Science Center (now the USGS Dakota Water Science Center)

  • 2015 - Present • USGS Colorado Water Science Center
     

Education and Certifications

  • B.S. in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in application development from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND, 2007

  • A.A.S. in Geographic Information Systems from Bismarck State College in Bismarck, ND, 2008
     

Science and Products

The water cycle

An illustrated diagram of the water cycle. This is a modern, updated version of the widely used diagram featured on the USGS Water Science School. Notably, this new water cycle diagram depicts humans and major categories of human water use as key components of the water cycle, in addition to the key pools and fluxes of the hydrologic cycle. This product targets an 8th grade audience and is designe
Authors
Hayley R. Corson-Dosch, Cee S. Nell, Rachel E. Volentine, Althea A. Archer, Ellen Bechtel, Jennifer L. Bruce, Nicole Felts, Tara A. Gross, Dianne Lopez-Trujillo, Charlotte E. Riggs, Emily K. Read
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Colorado Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Water Science School [Bookmark]

Introduction The U.S. Geological Survey’s online Water Science School is a one-stop shop for water education resources. In addition to sharing images, data, and diagrams, the Water Science School provides lesson plans for teachers as well as multiple interactive activities for students, such as questionnaires, calculators, and quizzes. This bookmark introduces Drippy, the Water Science School masc
Authors
Tara A. Gross
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Regression equations to estimate seasonal flow duration, n-day high-flow frequency, and n-day low-flow frequency at sites in North Dakota using data through water year 2009

Seasonal mean daily flow data from 119 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in North Dakota; the surrounding states of Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota; and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan with 10 or more years of unregulated flow record were used to develop regression equations for flow duration, n-day high flow and n-day low flow using ordinary least-squares
Authors
Tara Williams-Sether, Tara A. Gross
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Regional regression equations to estimate peak-flow frequency at sites in North Dakota using data through 2009

Annual peak-flow frequency data from 231 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in North Dakota and parts of Montana, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with 10 or more years of unregulated peak-flow record, were used to develop regional regression equations for exceedance probabilities of 0.5, 0.20, 0.10, 0.04, 0.02, 0.01, and 0.002 using generalized least-squares techniques. Updated peak-fl
Authors
Tara Williams-Sether
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center, StreamStats

2009 Spring floods in North Dakota, western Minnesota, and northeastern South Dakota

In 2009, record-breaking snowfalls and additional spring moisture caused severe flooding in parts of the Missouri River and Red River of the North (Red River) Basins in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. There were 48 peak of record stages and 36 discharges recorded at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages located in both basins between March 20 and May 15, 2009. High water continued to affec
Authors
Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Tara A. Gross
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

A history of flooding in the Red River Basin

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), one of the principal Federal agencies responsible for the collection and interpretation of water-resources data, works with other Federal, State, local, tribal, and academic entities to ensure that accurate and timely data are available for making decisions regarding public welfare and property during natural disasters and to increase public awareness of the haza
Authors
Karen R. Ryberg, Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Tara A. Banse, Gregg J. Wiche
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

10th Anniversary of the 1997 Red River Flood

The 1997 flood on the Red River was one of the worst natural disasters in recent history for many people and communities in the Red River of the North Basin. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), one of the principal Federal agencies responsible for the collection and interpretation of water-resources data, works with other Federal, State, local, tribal, and academic entities to ensure that accurate
Authors
K.R. Ryberg, K. M. Macek-Rowland, G.J. Wiche, L.A. Klapprodt
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center
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PROSPER in StreamStats screenshot

StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications

StreamStats provides access to spatial analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and for engineering and design purposes. The map-based user interface can be used to delineate drainage areas, get basin characteristics and estimates of flow statistics, and more. Available information varies from state to state.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
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StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications

StreamStats provides access to spatial analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and for engineering and design purposes. The map-based user interface can be used to delineate drainage areas, get basin characteristics and estimates of flow statistics, and more. Available information varies from state to state.
Learn More
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Water Science School Home Banner

Water Science School

Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science School. We offer information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.

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Water Science School

Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science School. We offer information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.

Learn More
link
Colorado StreamStats Screen Capture

StreamStats for Colorado

StreamStats is a map based Web application that provides information that can be used by engineers, managers, and planners to make informed decisions on water-related activities. The map-based user interface can be used to delineate drainage areas, get basin characteristics and estimates of flow statistics. StreamStats allows for the analysis of upstream and downstream relations along streams. In...
By
Colorado Water Science Center
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StreamStats for Colorado

StreamStats is a map based Web application that provides information that can be used by engineers, managers, and planners to make informed decisions on water-related activities. The map-based user interface can be used to delineate drainage areas, get basin characteristics and estimates of flow statistics. StreamStats allows for the analysis of upstream and downstream relations along streams. In...
Learn More

Locations of Dams and Basins in South Carolina, derived from U.S. Army Corps Engineers National Inventory of Dams

Reliable peak-streamflow information is critical for proper design of stream-related infrastructure, such as bridges, and StreamStats is a Web-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application that provides a user-friendly interface to estimate peak flows (https://streamstats.usgs.gov/ss/). StreamStats develops these peak-flow estimates using basin characteristics for the entire contributing
By
South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), StreamStats

Surface Materials Data from Breccia-Pipe Uranium Mine and Reference Sites, Arizona, USA

This data release includes elemental analysis of soil samples collected at breccia-pipe uranium mines, at one undeveloped breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at a reference site in northern Arizona. Samples were collected near the Arizona 1, Canyon, Kanab North, and Pinenut uranium mines, over the EZ2 breccia-pipe uranium deposit, and at the Little Robinson Tank reference site. Samples were collect
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Colorado Water Science Center
A landscape depicting where water is (in bright blue) and how it moves (with arrows). Human activities are shown throughout.
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A landscape depicting where water is (in bright blue) and how it moves (with arrows). Human activities are shown throughout.
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A landscape depicting where water is (in bright blue) and how it moves (with arrows). Human activities are shown throughout.
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Time of Travel Beta Application

The Time of Travel Beta Application was built in cooperation with the Inland Oil Spill Preparedness Program. The primary goal of the application is to provide rapid estimates for instream travel times for emergency spill response scenarios. The application also provided mean reach velocities and general travel time estimates that also can be used by other water resource managers.

By
Water Resources Mission Area, StreamStats

StreamStats Application

StreamStats provides access to spatial analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and for engineering and design purposes. The map-based user interface can be used to delineate drainage areas, get basin characteristics and estimates of flow statistics, and more. Available information varies from state to state.

By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Pacific Islands Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

GageStats Services

The Gage Statistic (GageStats) Services were developed to provide gage characteristics and streamflow statistics to support the StreamStats application via RESTful principles. The StreamStats application uses GageStats Services to display the gages and related gage pages. These services provide U.S. Geological Survey developed and published gage characteristics such as drainage area or mean basin
By
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Runoff Modeling Web Services

In cooperation with StreamStats, the runoff modeling services were developed using RESTful principles in order to assist engineers and watershed managers by calculating peak runoff for small watersheds.

By
Colorado Water Science Center

Science and Products