Theresa Presser
Theresa Presser is a Emeritus Research Chemist with the Earth System Processes Division of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area in Menlo Park, California.
Theresa Presser is a Emeritus Research Chemist with the Earth System Processes Division of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area in Menlo Park, California. Her expertise is the environmental science of selenium. Selenium is a reproductive toxin that bioaccumulates through food webs to affect top predator species. Her field studies and body of site knowledge of Se-impacted areas document and analyze the connection of anthropogenic activities (e.g., agricultural drainage, oil refining, and mining of phosphate, coal, copper, and uranium) to aquatic environments. Her research conceptualizes, quantifies, and models the variables that determine how selenium is processed from geologic sources through ecosystems. Ecosystem-scale selenium modeling, developed in collaboration with Samuel Luoma, provides a new quantitative tool to predict the ecological effects of selenium and, thus, understand the management of selenium in the environment. The model frames a site-specific occurrence of selenium; quantifies exposure of predators through dietary selenium biodynamics (i.e., species-specific physiological parameters); and connects to the base of the food web using a metric that describes the partitioning of selenium between particulate material and dissolved phases. The initial basis for the methodology used data from a set of common aquatic settings and food webs to illustrate that an environmentally safe dissolved selenium concentration will differ among ecosystems depending on the biogeochemical conditions and ecological pathways in those systems. Thus, model development narrows uncertainties for ecosystem protection through integration of a site-specific system’s ecology, biochemistry, and hydrology and inhabiting species’ life-cycle and ecotoxicology. A cooperative U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife website entitled Linking Selenium Sources to Ecosystems: Local and Global Perspectives is available at: https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/linking-selenium-sources-ecosystems-local-and-global
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Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 31
Modeling of selenium for the San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay, California
The San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay in southern California are contaminated with selenium (Se) as a result of groundwater associated with urban development overlying a historical wetland, the Swamp of the Frogs. The primary Se source is drainage from surrounding seleniferous marine sedimentary formations. An ecosystem-scale model was employed as a tool to assist development of a site-spe
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
Technical Analysis of In-Valley Drainage Management Strategies for the Western San Joaquin Valley, California
The western San Joaquin Valley is one of the most productive farming areas in the United States, but salt-buildup in soils and shallow groundwater aquifers threatens this area?s productivity. Elevated selenium concentrations in soils and groundwater complicate drainage management and salt disposal. In this document, we evaluate constraints on drainage management and implications of various approac
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Steven E. Schwarzbach
Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological effects of a proposed San Luis Drain extension
Selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta) could change significantly if federal and state agencies (1) approve an extension of the San Luis Drain to convey agricultural drainage from the western San Joaquin Valley to the North Bay (Suisun Bay, Carquinez Strait, and San Pablo Bay); (2) allow changes in flow patterns of the lower San Joaquin River and Bay-Delta while usi
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
Linking selenium sources to ecosystems: San Francisco Bay-Delta Model
Marine sedimentary rocks of the Coast Ranges contribute selenium to soil, surface water, and ground water in the western San Joaquin Valley, California. Irrigation funnels selenium into a network of subsurface drains and canals. Proposals to build a master drain (i.e., San Luis Drain) to discharge into the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary remain as controversial today as they were in the 1950s, whe
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
The phosphoria formation: A model for forecasting global selenium sources to the environment
Mining of the Permian Phosphoria Formation — a marine, oil-generating, phosphatic shale — provided the selenium (Se) source implicated in the recent deaths of livestock in southeast Idaho. Field studies and the geohydrologic balance of Se in southeast Idaho confirm risk to animals from exposure to Se through leaching of mined waste shale into streams, discharge of regional drainage, and impoundmen
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, D. Z. Piper, K. J. Bird, J. P. Skorupa, S. J. Hamilton, S. J. Detwiler, Mark Huebner
Selenium loading through the Blackfoot River watershed--linking sources to ecosystem
The upper Blackfoot River watershed in southeast Idaho receives drainage from 11 of 16 phosphate mines that have extracted ore from the Phosphoria Formation, three of which are presently active. Toxic effects from selenium (Se), including death of livestock and deformity in aquatic birds, were documented locally in areas where phosphatic shales are exposed (Piper et al., 2000; Presser et al., Chap
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Matthew Hardy, Mark Huebner, Paul J. Lamothe
Excess nitrogen in selected thermal and mineral springs of the Cascade Range in northern California, Oregon, and Washington: Sedimentary or volcanic in origin?
Anomalous N2/Ar values occur in many thermal springs and mineral springs, some volcanic fumaroles, and at least one acid-sulfate spring of the Cascade Range. Our data show that N2/Ar values are as high as 300 in gas from some of the hot springs, as high as 1650 in gas from some of the mineral springs, and as high as 2400 in gas from the acid-sulfate spring on Mt. Shasta. In contrast, gas dischargi
Authors
Robert H. Mariner, William C. Evans, T. S. Presser, L. D. White
Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological effects of a proposed San Luis drain extension
During the next few years, federal and state agencies may be required to evaluate proposals and discharge permits that could significantly change selenium (Se) inputs to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta), particularly in the North Bay (i.e., Suisun Bay and San Pablo Bay). These decisions may include discharge requirements for an extension of the San Luis Drain (SLD) to the estuary to
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma, Theresa S. Presser
The Phosphoria Formation at the Hot Springs Mine in Southeast Idaho: A source of selenium and other trace elements to surface water, ground water, vegetation, and biota
Major-element oxides and trace elements in the Phosphoria Formation at the Hot Springs Mine, Idaho were determined by a series of techniques. In this report, we examine the distribution of trace elements between the different solid components aluminosilicates, apatite, organic matter, opal, calcite, and dolomite that largely make up the rocks. High concentrations of several trace elements througho
Authors
David Z. Piper, J. P. Skorupa, T. S. Presser, M. A. Hardy, S. J. Hamilton, M. Huebner, R. A. Gulbrandsen
Mass balance approach to selenium cycling through the San Joaquin Valley, sources to river to bay
Surface and ground waters of the Central Valley of California (e.g., rivers, dams, off-stream storage reservoirs, pumping facilities, irrigation and drinking water supply canals, agricultural drainage canals) are part of a hydrologic system that makes up a complex ecosystem extending from the riparian wetlands of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers through the San Francisco Bay/Delta Estuary to
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, David Z. Piper
The geologic origin and pathways of mobility of selenium from the California Coast Ranges to the west-central San Joaquin valley
No abstract available.
Authors
Theresa S. Presser
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 31
Modeling of selenium for the San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay, California
The San Diego Creek watershed and Newport Bay in southern California are contaminated with selenium (Se) as a result of groundwater associated with urban development overlying a historical wetland, the Swamp of the Frogs. The primary Se source is drainage from surrounding seleniferous marine sedimentary formations. An ecosystem-scale model was employed as a tool to assist development of a site-spe
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
Technical Analysis of In-Valley Drainage Management Strategies for the Western San Joaquin Valley, California
The western San Joaquin Valley is one of the most productive farming areas in the United States, but salt-buildup in soils and shallow groundwater aquifers threatens this area?s productivity. Elevated selenium concentrations in soils and groundwater complicate drainage management and salt disposal. In this document, we evaluate constraints on drainage management and implications of various approac
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Steven E. Schwarzbach
Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological effects of a proposed San Luis Drain extension
Selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta) could change significantly if federal and state agencies (1) approve an extension of the San Luis Drain to convey agricultural drainage from the western San Joaquin Valley to the North Bay (Suisun Bay, Carquinez Strait, and San Pablo Bay); (2) allow changes in flow patterns of the lower San Joaquin River and Bay-Delta while usi
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
Linking selenium sources to ecosystems: San Francisco Bay-Delta Model
Marine sedimentary rocks of the Coast Ranges contribute selenium to soil, surface water, and ground water in the western San Joaquin Valley, California. Irrigation funnels selenium into a network of subsurface drains and canals. Proposals to build a master drain (i.e., San Luis Drain) to discharge into the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary remain as controversial today as they were in the 1950s, whe
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Samuel N. Luoma
The phosphoria formation: A model for forecasting global selenium sources to the environment
Mining of the Permian Phosphoria Formation — a marine, oil-generating, phosphatic shale — provided the selenium (Se) source implicated in the recent deaths of livestock in southeast Idaho. Field studies and the geohydrologic balance of Se in southeast Idaho confirm risk to animals from exposure to Se through leaching of mined waste shale into streams, discharge of regional drainage, and impoundmen
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, D. Z. Piper, K. J. Bird, J. P. Skorupa, S. J. Hamilton, S. J. Detwiler, Mark Huebner
Selenium loading through the Blackfoot River watershed--linking sources to ecosystem
The upper Blackfoot River watershed in southeast Idaho receives drainage from 11 of 16 phosphate mines that have extracted ore from the Phosphoria Formation, three of which are presently active. Toxic effects from selenium (Se), including death of livestock and deformity in aquatic birds, were documented locally in areas where phosphatic shales are exposed (Piper et al., 2000; Presser et al., Chap
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, Matthew Hardy, Mark Huebner, Paul J. Lamothe
Excess nitrogen in selected thermal and mineral springs of the Cascade Range in northern California, Oregon, and Washington: Sedimentary or volcanic in origin?
Anomalous N2/Ar values occur in many thermal springs and mineral springs, some volcanic fumaroles, and at least one acid-sulfate spring of the Cascade Range. Our data show that N2/Ar values are as high as 300 in gas from some of the hot springs, as high as 1650 in gas from some of the mineral springs, and as high as 2400 in gas from the acid-sulfate spring on Mt. Shasta. In contrast, gas dischargi
Authors
Robert H. Mariner, William C. Evans, T. S. Presser, L. D. White
Forecasting selenium discharges to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: Ecological effects of a proposed San Luis drain extension
During the next few years, federal and state agencies may be required to evaluate proposals and discharge permits that could significantly change selenium (Se) inputs to the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta), particularly in the North Bay (i.e., Suisun Bay and San Pablo Bay). These decisions may include discharge requirements for an extension of the San Luis Drain (SLD) to the estuary to
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma, Theresa S. Presser
The Phosphoria Formation at the Hot Springs Mine in Southeast Idaho: A source of selenium and other trace elements to surface water, ground water, vegetation, and biota
Major-element oxides and trace elements in the Phosphoria Formation at the Hot Springs Mine, Idaho were determined by a series of techniques. In this report, we examine the distribution of trace elements between the different solid components aluminosilicates, apatite, organic matter, opal, calcite, and dolomite that largely make up the rocks. High concentrations of several trace elements througho
Authors
David Z. Piper, J. P. Skorupa, T. S. Presser, M. A. Hardy, S. J. Hamilton, M. Huebner, R. A. Gulbrandsen
Mass balance approach to selenium cycling through the San Joaquin Valley, sources to river to bay
Surface and ground waters of the Central Valley of California (e.g., rivers, dams, off-stream storage reservoirs, pumping facilities, irrigation and drinking water supply canals, agricultural drainage canals) are part of a hydrologic system that makes up a complex ecosystem extending from the riparian wetlands of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers through the San Francisco Bay/Delta Estuary to
Authors
Theresa S. Presser, David Z. Piper
The geologic origin and pathways of mobility of selenium from the California Coast Ranges to the west-central San Joaquin valley
No abstract available.
Authors
Theresa S. Presser