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Thomas J Mack, PG

Tom Mack has been a hydrogeologist with the USGS since 1983.

Tom has conducted numerous hydrologic investigations from site-specific contaminant studies to regional-scale resource assessments in the Northeastern U.S., Afghanistan, Africa, Emirates, and Madagascar. He specializes in regional groundwater resource assessments in valley-fill and fractured-bedrock settings. Other areas of expertise include: remotely-sensed data and groundwater flow modeling in regional water-availability investigations, analysis of GIS data for regional water and mineral resource evaluation, surface and borehole geophysical techniques, and borehole drilling.  

 

Professional Experience

  • Program Manager, Los Planes Watershed Water Cycle Augmentation Project, Baja California Sur, Mexico, 2022-present

  • Program Manager, Afghanistan Project, USDOD-USAID, 2018-2023

  • Senior Hydrogeologist, Kenya and Ethiopia USAID Groundwater Resources Project, 2016-2018

  • Groundwater Specialist, New England Water Science Center, 2014-2017

  • Groundwater Modeler, Abu Dhabi Groundwater Resources Project, United Arab Emirates, 2014-2016

  • Senior Hydrogeologist, Afghanistan Project, USAID, 2006-2009, USDOD, 2009-2014

  • Senior Hydrogeologist, Review team member for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2010-2011

  • Hydrogeologist, Madagascar Minerals Project, 2005-2006

  • Groundwater Specialist, New Hampshire-Vermont District, 1995-2012

  • Groundwater Investigations and Research Studies Chief, New Hampshire-Vermont District, 1995-2003

  • Groundwater Specialist, New England Program Area, 1992-1995

  • Project Chief, Hydrologist New England USEPA Superfund projects, 1985-1992

  • Hydrogeologist, Geophysicist, Water Resources Division, Long Island NY Subdistrict, 1983-1985

     

Education and Certifications

  • University of New Hampshire, M.S. Hydrology 1982

  • Hartwick College, New York, B.A. Geology 1980

  • Certified Professional Hydrogeologist – American Institute of Hydrology - No. 1643

  • Certified Professional Geologist – New York, USA, No. 24 and New Hampshire, USA, No.159

     

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 37

Virtual training prepared for the former Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water—Streamgaging, fluvial sediment sampling, bathymetry, and streamflow and sediment modeling

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) created a virtual training series for the Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW), now known as the National Water Affairs Regulation Authority (NWARA), to provide critical hydrological training as an alternative to an in-person training. The USGS was scheduled to provide in-person surface-water training for NWARA during 2020; however, travel was halted bec
Authors
Joel T. Groten, Joshua F. Valder, Brenda K. Densmore, Logan W. Neal, Justin Krahulik, Thomas J. Mack
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center, Nebraska Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, International Programs, USGS Projects in Afghanistan

Hydrogeologic framework and simulation of predevelopment groundwater flow, eastern Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates

Groundwater in eastern Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is an important resource that is widely used for irrigation and domestic supplies in rural areas. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi cooperated on an investigation to integrate existing hydrogeologic information and to answer questions about regional groundwater resources in Abu Dhabi by developing a numerica
Authors
Jack R. Eggleston, Thomas J. Mack, Jeffrey L. Imes, Wade Kress, Dennis W. Woodward, Daniel J. Bright
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, International Programs

Passive seismic survey of sediment thickness, Dasht-e-Nawar basin, eastern Afghanistan

Exploration of water resources is needed for public supply, extraction of mineral resources, and economic development in Afghanistan. Remotely-sensed data are useful for identifying the general nature of surface sediments, however, “boots on the ground” geophysical surveys or drilling programs are needed to quantify the thickness of sediments or aquifers. The nature of such investigations presents
Authors
Thomas J. Mack
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Preliminary-assessment and upgrade of a groundwater flow model of the Seacoast Bedrock Aquifer, New Hampshire

In 2003 and 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey investigated the availability of groundwater resources in a 160-square mile area of coastal New Hampshire (Figure 1) using a regional groundwater flow model (Mack, 2009). At that time, population growth and increasing water demand prompted concern for the sustainability of the region’s groundwater resources in a fractured-crystalline bedrock-aquifer wit
Authors
Thomas J. Mack
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Groundwater level trends and drivers in two northern New England glacial aquifers

We evaluated long-term trends and predictors of groundwater levels by month from two well-studied northern New England forested headwater glacial aquifers: Sleepers River, Vermont, 44 wells, 1992-2013; and Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, 15 wells, 1979-2004. Based on Kendall Tau tests with Sen slope determination, a surprising number of well-month combinations had negative trends (decreasing water l
Authors
James B. Shanley, Ann T. Chalmers, Thomas J. Mack, Thor E. Smith, Philip T. Harte
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, New England Water Science Center

Use of historic Persian water system data in groundwater models: Examples from Afghanistan and Emirates

Obtaining calibration data for models depicting conditions during pre-development periods can be challenging as such periods are characteristically data poor. This study presents two examples where simulation of historic water conveyance structures were used to help characterize historic, or pre-modern, conditions in calibration of groundwater flow models. Persian water conveyance structures, cal
Authors
Thomas J. Mack, Jack R. Eggleston
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, International Programs

Sustainability of water-supply at military installations, Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

The Kabul Basin, including the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, is host to several military installations of Afghanistan, the United States, and other nations that depend on groundwater resources for water supply. These installations are within or close to the city of Kabul. Groundwater also is the potable supply for the approximately four million residents of Kabul. The sustainability of water resourc
Authors
Thomas J. Mack, Michael P. Chornack, Ingrid M. Verstraeten
By
Water Resources Mission Area, International Programs

Lineament analysis of mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan

During a preliminary mineral resource assessment of Afghanistan (Peters and others, 2007), 24 mineralized areas of interest (AOIs) were highlighted as the focus for future economic development throughout various parts of the country. In addition to located mineral resources of value, development of a viable mining industry in Afghanistan will require the location of suitable groundwater resources
Authors
Bernard E. Hubbard, Thomas J. Mack, Allyson L. Thompson
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, International Programs

Summaries of important areas for mineral investment and production opportunities of nonfuel minerals in Afghanistan

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) entered into an agreement with the Afghanistan Geological Survey to study and assess the fuel and nonfuel mineral resources of Afghanistan from October 2009 to September 2011 so that these resources could be economically extracted to expand the economy of Afghanistan. This

Authors
Stephen G. Peters, Trude V.V. King, Thomas J. Mack, Michael P. Chornack
By
USGS Projects in Afghanistan

Technique for estimation of streamflow statistics in mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan

A technique for estimating streamflow statistics at ungaged stream sites in areas of mineral interest in Afghanistan using drainage-area-ratio relations of historical streamflow data was developed and is documented in this report. The technique can be used to estimate the following streamflow statistics at ungaged sites: (1) 7-day low flow with a 10-year recurrence interval, (2) 7-day low flow wit

Authors
Scott A. Olson, Thomas J. Mack
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, International Programs

Geophysical and flow-weighted natural-contaminant characterization of three water-supply wells in New Hampshire

Three bedrock water-supply systems in New Hampshire were studied, using borehole geophysics and flow-weighted sampling techniques, to determine the sources and distribution of natural contaminants in water entering the boreholes and to assess whether borehole modifications might be used to reduce contaminant levels. Well water in more than 100 community water-supply systems in New Hampshire have n
Authors
Thomas J. Mack, Marcel Belaval, James R. Degnan, Stephen J. Roy, Joseph D. Ayotte
By
New England Water Science Center

Quantifying effects of climate change on the snowmelt-dominated groundwater resources of northern New England

Recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) climate studies in New England have shown substantial evidence of hydrologic changes during the last 100 years, including trends toward earlier snowmelt runoff, decreasing occurrence of river ice, and decreasing winter snowpack. These studies are being expanded to include investigation of trends in groundwater levels and fluctuations. Groundwater is an importan
Authors
Robert W. Dudley, Glenn A. Hodgkins, James B. Shanley, Thomas J. Mack
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center
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photo of a dam in a dry stream bed

Research in the Los Planes Watershed – Water Cycle Augmentation

The USGS is working with partners to understand the impacts of installing structures made from rock, sandbags and wood in channels at a dryland ranch in southern Baja California. Hydrogeological instrumentation, recording observations, modeling hydrogeological scenarios, and an interdisciplinary scientific study of the watershed interactions between water, ecological systems, and human activities...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Land Change Science Program, Western Geographic Science Center
link

Research in the Los Planes Watershed – Water Cycle Augmentation

The USGS is working with partners to understand the impacts of installing structures made from rock, sandbags and wood in channels at a dryland ranch in southern Baja California. Hydrogeological instrumentation, recording observations, modeling hydrogeological scenarios, and an interdisciplinary scientific study of the watershed interactions between water, ecological systems, and human activities...
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MODFLOW-NWT Upgrade and Preliminary-Assessment of a Groundwater-Flow Model of the Seacoast Bedrock Aquifer, New Hampshire

Improvements to an existing regional groundwater-flow model of a 160-square mile area of coastal New Hampshire (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20085222), incorporating MODFLOW-NWT and by more accurately representing stream characteristics, were presented at the MODFLOW and More 2017 conference in an example simulating approximate changes in water use. The groundwater-flow model developed for the previ
By
New England Water Science Center
A Decade of Water Science: USGS Helps Assess Water Resources in Afghanistan

A Decade of Water Science: USGS Helps Assess Water Resources in Afghanistan

For the past decade, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey have shared their expertise with the Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) in efforts to...

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