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Tara L Root, PhD

I have worked on a wide range of projects addressing problems related to surface water-groundwater interaction, nutrient transport, saltwater intrusion, and naturally occurring arsenic contamination.  Prior to joining the USGS, I had 15 years of experience in academia, where I taught hydrogeology and water resources courses, supervised student research, and managed a water analysis lab. 

Professional Experience

  • U.S.G.S., Hydrologist, 2020 – present, Davie, Florida

  • Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Associate Professor and Director of the Water Analysis Lab Core Facility, 2013 – 2020, Boca Raton, Florida

  • Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Assistant Professor, 2005 - 2013, Boca Raton, Florida

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Geology, minor in Environmental Chemistry and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005

  • M.S., Geology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000

  • B.S., Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1998

Science and Products

USGS science for a changing world logo

Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

The sustainability of coastal water resources is being affected by climate change, sea level rise, and modifications to land use and hydrologic systems. To prepare for and respond to these drivers of hydrologic change, coastal water managers need real-time data, an understanding of temporal trends, and information about how current and historical data compare. Coastal water managers...
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

The sustainability of coastal water resources is being affected by climate change, sea level rise, and modifications to land use and hydrologic systems. To prepare for and respond to these drivers of hydrologic change, coastal water managers need real-time data, an understanding of temporal trends, and information about how current and historical data compare. Coastal water managers often must mak
Learn More

State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H

Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara Root, Matthew Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth Tomaszewski
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Duersch, B., Bhada, Root, T. and Louda, W., 2020. The role of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in sequestering phosphorus compounds and trace elements: speciations and dynamics. Science of the Total Environment, 725, 138366.
Weisner, M., Root, T.L., Harris, M., Mitsova, D, and Liu, W., 2020. Tap water perceptions and socioeconomics: Assessing the dissatisfaction of the poor. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 21: 269-278.
Survis, F.D. and Root, T.L., 2017. The rain-watered lawn: Informing effective lawn watering behavior. Journal of Environmental Management, 199:109-115.
Survis, F.D., Root, T.L., and Pathak, C.S., 2017. Identifying seasonal opportunities to save water: Using weekly rainfall and evapotranspiration patterns to evaluate outdoor water restriction policy in South Florida. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 2(4):133-143.
Kuhn, T. and Root, T., 2012. Environmental controls on the distribution and vigor of an endangered grass (Panicum abscissum Swallen). Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences,35:403-411.
Survis, F. and Root, T. 2012. Evaluating the effectiveness of water restrictions: A case study from southeast Florida. Journal of Environmental Management 112:377-383.
Root, T., Gotkowitz, M., Bahr, J., and Attig, J. 2009. Arsenic geochemistry and hydrostratigraphy in Midwestern U.S. glacial deposits. Ground Water 48:903-912.
Lakhan, S., Root, T., and Fadiman, M. 2009. Household water in northern Trinidad: Source, collection, storage, and socioeconomics. The Florida Geographer 40:48-61.
Root, T. 2008. Arsenic speciation and form in a glacial aquifer in the Midwestern United States. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 31:25-33.
Root, T. and Carlson, E. 2007. Water quality and hydrology of an environmental preserve in Palm Beach County, Florida. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 30:457-465.
Root, T., Bahr, J., and Gotkowitz, M.., 2005. Geochemical and environmental controls on arsenic in ground water in southeastern Wisconsin, in O’Day, P. et al., Advances in Arsenic Research, American Chemical Society Symposium Series, 915, pp. 161- 173.

**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

USGS science for a changing world logo

Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

The sustainability of coastal water resources is being affected by climate change, sea level rise, and modifications to land use and hydrologic systems. To prepare for and respond to these drivers of hydrologic change, coastal water managers need real-time data, an understanding of temporal trends, and information about how current and historical data compare. Coastal water managers...
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

Development of a web-based tool for coastal water resources management

The sustainability of coastal water resources is being affected by climate change, sea level rise, and modifications to land use and hydrologic systems. To prepare for and respond to these drivers of hydrologic change, coastal water managers need real-time data, an understanding of temporal trends, and information about how current and historical data compare. Coastal water managers often must mak
Learn More

State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H

Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara Root, Matthew Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth Tomaszewski
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Duersch, B., Bhada, Root, T. and Louda, W., 2020. The role of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in sequestering phosphorus compounds and trace elements: speciations and dynamics. Science of the Total Environment, 725, 138366.
Weisner, M., Root, T.L., Harris, M., Mitsova, D, and Liu, W., 2020. Tap water perceptions and socioeconomics: Assessing the dissatisfaction of the poor. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 21: 269-278.
Survis, F.D. and Root, T.L., 2017. The rain-watered lawn: Informing effective lawn watering behavior. Journal of Environmental Management, 199:109-115.
Survis, F.D., Root, T.L., and Pathak, C.S., 2017. Identifying seasonal opportunities to save water: Using weekly rainfall and evapotranspiration patterns to evaluate outdoor water restriction policy in South Florida. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 2(4):133-143.
Kuhn, T. and Root, T., 2012. Environmental controls on the distribution and vigor of an endangered grass (Panicum abscissum Swallen). Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences,35:403-411.
Survis, F. and Root, T. 2012. Evaluating the effectiveness of water restrictions: A case study from southeast Florida. Journal of Environmental Management 112:377-383.
Root, T., Gotkowitz, M., Bahr, J., and Attig, J. 2009. Arsenic geochemistry and hydrostratigraphy in Midwestern U.S. glacial deposits. Ground Water 48:903-912.
Lakhan, S., Root, T., and Fadiman, M. 2009. Household water in northern Trinidad: Source, collection, storage, and socioeconomics. The Florida Geographer 40:48-61.
Root, T. 2008. Arsenic speciation and form in a glacial aquifer in the Midwestern United States. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 31:25-33.
Root, T. and Carlson, E. 2007. Water quality and hydrology of an environmental preserve in Palm Beach County, Florida. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 30:457-465.
Root, T., Bahr, J., and Gotkowitz, M.., 2005. Geochemical and environmental controls on arsenic in ground water in southeastern Wisconsin, in O’Day, P. et al., Advances in Arsenic Research, American Chemical Society Symposium Series, 915, pp. 161- 173.

**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.

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