Thomas Williams is a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey - Kansas Water Science Center in Lawrence, Kansas. His work focuses on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting water-quality data in streams throughout eastern Kansas, with an emphasis on the Kansas River.
Research objectives include: (1) characterizing current and historic water-quality conditions in the Kansas River related to sediment, nutrients, major ions, bromide, fecal indicator bacteria, cyanobacteria, and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds; and (2) developing and evaluating surrogate models that use water-quality samples and continuously measured physiochemical properties to estimate concentrations or probability of occurrence of water-quality constituents that are not easily measured in real time.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Geosciences from the University of Missouri
Master’s Degree in Physical Geography from the University of Iowa
Science and Products
Characterization of Potentially Toxic CyanoHAB Initiation in Slow-Moving Streams, Wetlands, and Oxbows
Water-Quality Monitoring in the Lower Kansas River Basin
Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algal) Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins
Discrete water-quality data for the Kansas River and tributaries, July 2012 - September 2016
Phytoplankton data for the Kansas River and tributaries, July 2012 through February 2017
Linear regression model documentation for computing water-quality constituent concentrations or densities using continuous real-time water-quality data for the Kansas River above Topeka Weir at Topeka, Kansas, November 2018 through June 2021
Technical note—Relative variability of selected turbidity standards and sensors in use by the U.S. Geological Survey
Linear regression model documentation and updates for computing water-quality constituent concentrations or densities using continuous real-time water-quality data for the Kansas River, Kansas, July 2012 through September 2019
Water-quality conditions with an emphasis on cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds in the Kansas River, Kansas, July 2012 through September 2016
Occurrence of cyanobacteria, microcystin, and taste-and-odor compounds in Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, 2001-16
Spatiotemporal variability of inorganic nutrients during wastewater effluent dominated streamflow conditions in Indian Creek, Johnson County, Kansas, 2012–15
Hydrology of tidal freshwater forested wetlands of the southeastern United States
Science and Products
- Science
Characterization of Potentially Toxic CyanoHAB Initiation in Slow-Moving Streams, Wetlands, and Oxbows
Targeted sampling in selected slow-moving streams, wetlands, and oxbows to receiving reservoirs and rivers will allow us to better characterize the hydrologic, water-quality, and biological conditions present during the formation and transport of potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms.Water-Quality Monitoring in the Lower Kansas River Basin
The Kansas River is a primary source of drinking water for about 800,000 people in northeastern Kansas. Water-quality concerns related to excessive nutrient, bacteria, and sediment concentrations have been identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Additionally, the occurrence and transport of cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae), associated toxins, and taste-and-odor...Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algal) Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins
Freshwater and marine harmful algal blooms (HABs) can occur anytime water use is impaired due to excessive accumulations of algae. In freshwater, the majority of HABs are caused by cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae). Cyanobacteria cause a multitude of water-quality concerns, including the potential to produce taste-and-odor causing compounds and toxins that are potent enough to poison... - Data
Discrete water-quality data for the Kansas River and tributaries, July 2012 - September 2016
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data Release provides discrete water-quality data collected from four sites on the Kansas River and four of its tributaries during July 2012 through September 2016. The water-quality constituents included in this data release are the cyanotoxins microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, the taste-and-odor compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, major ions, alkalinityPhytoplankton data for the Kansas River and tributaries, July 2012 through February 2017
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data Release provides phytoplankton data collected from the Kansas River and tributaries, during July 2012 through February 2017. All data are reported as raw calculated values and are not rounded to USGS significant figures. This data release was produced in compliance with the open data requirements as a way to make scientific products associated with USGS rese - Publications
Linear regression model documentation for computing water-quality constituent concentrations or densities using continuous real-time water-quality data for the Kansas River above Topeka Weir at Topeka, Kansas, November 2018 through June 2021
The Kansas River and its associated alluvial aquifer provide drinking water to more than 950,000 people in northeastern Kansas. Water suppliers that rely on the Kansas River as a water-supply source use physical and chemical processes to treat and remove contaminants before public distribution. An early-notification system of changing water-quality conditions allows water suppliers to proactivelyAuthorsThomas J. WilliamsTechnical note—Relative variability of selected turbidity standards and sensors in use by the U.S. Geological Survey
The challenges associated with field measurements of turbidity are well known and result primarily from differences in reported values that depend on instrument design and the resulting need for reporting units that are specific to those designs. A critical challenge for making comparable turbidity measurements is the selection and use of appropriate turbidity standards for sensor calibration. TheAuthorsGuy M. Foster, Lindsey R. King, John D. Jastram, John K. Joiner, Brian A. Pellerin, Jennifer L. Graham, Thomas J. WilliamsLinear regression model documentation and updates for computing water-quality constituent concentrations or densities using continuous real-time water-quality data for the Kansas River, Kansas, July 2012 through September 2019
The Kansas River provides drinking water to about 800,000 people in northeastern Kansas. Water-treatment facilities that use the Kansas River as a water-supply source use chemical and physical processes during water treatment to remove contaminants before public distribution. Advanced notification of changing water-quality conditions near water-supply intakes allows water-treatment facilities to pAuthorsThomas J. WilliamsWater-quality conditions with an emphasis on cyanobacteria and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds in the Kansas River, Kansas, July 2012 through September 2016
Cyanobacteria cause a multitude of water-quality concerns, including the potential to produce toxins and taste-and-odor compounds that may cause substantial economic and public health concerns, and are of particular interest in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that are used for drinking-water supply. Extensive cyanobacterial blooms typically do not develop in the Kansas River; however, reservoirs inAuthorsJennifer L. Graham, Guy M. Foster, Thomas J. Williams, Matthew D. Mahoney, Madison R. May, Keith A. LoftinOccurrence of cyanobacteria, microcystin, and taste-and-odor compounds in Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, 2001-16
Cheney Reservoir, located in south-central Kansas, is one of the primary drinking-water supplies for the city of Wichita and an important recreational resource. Since 1990, cyanobacterial blooms have been present occasionally in Cheney Reservoir, resulting in increased treatment costs and decreased recreational use. Cyanobacteria, the cyanotoxin microcystin, and the taste-and-odor compounds geosmiAuthorsJennifer L. Graham, Guy M. Foster, Thomas J. Williams, Ariele R. Kramer, Theodore D. HarrisSpatiotemporal variability of inorganic nutrients during wastewater effluent dominated streamflow conditions in Indian Creek, Johnson County, Kansas, 2012–15
Nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, are a leading cause of water-quality impairment in Kansas and the Nation. Indian Creek is one of the most urban drainage basins in Johnson County, Kansas, and environmental and biological conditions are affected by contaminants from point and other urban sources. The Johnson County Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin (hereinafter Middle Basin) wastewaterAuthorsGuy M. Foster, Jennifer L. Graham, Thomas J. Williams, Lindsey R. KingHydrology of tidal freshwater forested wetlands of the southeastern United States
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard H. Day, Thomas J. Williams, Christopher M. Swarzenski