Timothy D Straub
Tim Straub is a Supervisory Hydrologist with the USGS, Water Resources Mission Area, Observing Systems Division. Tim leads the Field Support and Research to Operations Team for the Hydrologic Networks Branch. He is also the Chief of the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project.
Professional Experience
2022-present: Supervisory Hydrologist - Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB), Observing Systems Division
- Lead the Field Support and Research to Operations (FS and R2O) Team for the WMA
- Plan, administer, and coordinate field support and research activities for WMA
- Draft, oversee, review, and provide feedback on work assignments conducted by staff2021-2022: Program Manager - Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS): Illinois River
- Manage project plans and budgets for next generation monitoring in the Illinois River Basin
- Ensure implementation of state-of-the-art instrumentation and increased data coverage
- Establish effective working relationships with other Integrated Water Science programs2019-2022: Supervisory Hydrologist - Central Midwest Water Science Center (CMWSC)
- Lead the Nutrient and Sediment Interactions Section with staff in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri
- Work with others on the Center Leadership Team to ensure efficient and strategic operations
- Oversee and help with program development and science products2017-Present: Chief, Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP) (Acting from 10/2017 to 09/2020)
- Conduct and oversee research on sediment samplers and sediment surrogate technologies
- Manage FISP budget, funding contributions, and procurement actions
- Write FISP technical memorandum and reports for products of FISP-funded research projects2014-2018: Surface-Water and Sediment Specialist for the Water Science Center
- Provide leadership and expertise to ensure reliable surface-water and sediment data collection, analysis, and modeling throughout the center.2008-2014: Sediment Specialist for the Water Science Center
1995-2019: Hydrologist
- Serve as a project manager or member to obtain, process, analyze, and model the following data types and processes: hydrologic, hydraulic, sediment, water quality, and geomorphic.
- Maintain effective communication with cooperating and collaborating agencies to ensure project results are useful and timely.
- Write and present findings of data and tech1994–1995: Student Trainee
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 2007
M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois, 2000
B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, 1995
Affiliations and Memberships*
2022-Present: Member of the multiagency Sediment Acoustic Leadership Team
2017-2019: Chairperson for the multiagency Sediment Acoustic Leadership Team
- Coordinate sediment acoustic research, assistance, and guidance for WMA
- Facilitate collaboration among2014-2015: USGS Co-representative for the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project
2013-2015: Lead scientist of the USGS Midwest Region Sediment and Nutrient Investigations Initiative
2012-2017: Member of the multiagency Sediment Acoustic Leadership Team
2011-2013: Member of the USGS Midwest Region Sediment and Nutrient Investigations Initiative
2008-2014: Sediment Specialist for the Water Science Center
2008-2010: Member of the Subcommittee on Sedimentation workgroup on Dam Removal Analysis
2001-Present: Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois
Science and Products
State of the science and decision support for measuring suspended sediment with acoustic instrumentation
Intake efficiency field results for Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project bag samplers
Field evaluation of the Sequoia Scientific LISST-ABS acoustic backscatter sediment sensor
Flood-inundation maps for the Little Calumet River from Lansing to South Holland, Illinois, 2020
Measuring suspended sediment in sand-bedded rivers using down-looking acoustic doppler current profilers
Time-series sediment acoustics and LISST-ABS testing
FISP: What's new in samplers and sediment measurement technologies
Strategic directions of the USGS water mission area’s fluvial sediment science program
Flood-hazard analysis of four headwater streams draining the Argonne National Laboratory property, DuPage County, Illinois
Estimating suspended sediment using acoustics in a fine-grained riverine system, Kickapoo Creek at Bloomington, Illinois
Sediment acoustic index method for computing continuous suspended-sediment concentrations
Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) tool
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Sound Sediment Science
A training course to augment USGS Course H-17-037, Acoustic Index Method for Estimating Fluvial Suspended Sediment and USGS Techniques and Methods Report 3C-5
Sediment Acoustics
Geospatial Datasets for the Flood-Inundation Study of Little Calumet River from Lansing to South Holland, Illinois, 2020
The Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) Tool
The Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) tool is a stand-alone tool to assist in the creation of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models by providing visual and quantitative diagnostics to the user.
USGS Fluvial Erosion Hazards (FEH) Primer
This primer highlights methods used in regional and reach-scale assessments of fluvial erosion hazards (FEH). Fluvial erosion includes bed erosion, meaning lowering of the bed of a stream, as well as bank erosion, which refers to the retreat of stream banks that occurs as a stream widens or migrates laterally.
Science and Products
State of the science and decision support for measuring suspended sediment with acoustic instrumentation
Intake efficiency field results for Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project bag samplers
Field evaluation of the Sequoia Scientific LISST-ABS acoustic backscatter sediment sensor
Flood-inundation maps for the Little Calumet River from Lansing to South Holland, Illinois, 2020
Measuring suspended sediment in sand-bedded rivers using down-looking acoustic doppler current profilers
Time-series sediment acoustics and LISST-ABS testing
FISP: What's new in samplers and sediment measurement technologies
Strategic directions of the USGS water mission area’s fluvial sediment science program
Flood-hazard analysis of four headwater streams draining the Argonne National Laboratory property, DuPage County, Illinois
Estimating suspended sediment using acoustics in a fine-grained riverine system, Kickapoo Creek at Bloomington, Illinois
Sediment acoustic index method for computing continuous suspended-sediment concentrations
Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) tool
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Sound Sediment Science
A training course to augment USGS Course H-17-037, Acoustic Index Method for Estimating Fluvial Suspended Sediment and USGS Techniques and Methods Report 3C-5
Sediment Acoustics
Geospatial Datasets for the Flood-Inundation Study of Little Calumet River from Lansing to South Holland, Illinois, 2020
The Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) Tool
The Surrogate Analysis and Index Developer (SAID) tool is a stand-alone tool to assist in the creation of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models by providing visual and quantitative diagnostics to the user.
USGS Fluvial Erosion Hazards (FEH) Primer
This primer highlights methods used in regional and reach-scale assessments of fluvial erosion hazards (FEH). Fluvial erosion includes bed erosion, meaning lowering of the bed of a stream, as well as bank erosion, which refers to the retreat of stream banks that occurs as a stream widens or migrates laterally.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government