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Tyler King

Tyler King is a hydrologist with the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise, Idaho.

Tyler’s research focuses on operationalizing scientific approaches to better monitor and understand changes in water quality and quantity. He has focused to date on research into the accuracy of low-cost discharge measurement methods, development of methods for operationally retrieving water quality estimates from satellite imagery, advancing fundamental understanding of the factors that link temperature regimes of Arctic rivers to their environment, remotely sensing river discharge by coupling aerial imagery with hydraulic models, quantifying the impact of reservoir operation on downstream river temperature, and identifying algal taxa from hyperspectral satellite imagery.  With each of these foci, Tyler aims to translate scientific advances into application driven datasets and tools to assist decision makers and the public in natural resource management.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Satellite-based remote sensing of water quality; freshwater algal blooms; operational image processing; process-based river temperature modeling; low-cost discharge measurement technique; remote sensing of discharge.

Professional Experience

  • Hydrologist, USGS Idaho Water Science Center, June 2019 – Present

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2018, Utah State University

  • M.S., Hydrology, 2012, University of New Hampshire

  • B.S., Environmental Science, 2010, University of New Hampshire

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Water Resources Association (AWRA)

Science and Products

Mapping the probability of freshwater algal blooms with various spectral indices and sources of training data

Algal blooms are pervasive in many freshwater environments and can pose risks to the health and safety of humans and other organisms. However, monitoring and tracking of potentially harmful blooms often relies on in-person observations by the public. Remote sensing has proven useful in augmenting in situ observations of algal concentration, but many hurdles hinder efficient application by end user
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Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Evaluation of select velocity measurement techniques for estimating discharge in small streams across the United States

Multiple instruments and methods exist for collecting discrete streamflow measurements in small streams with low flows, defined here as less than 5.7 m3/s (200 ft3/s). Included in the available methods are low-cost approaches that are infrequently used, in part, because their uncertainty is not well known. In this work, we evaluated the accuracy and suitability of three low-cost velocity measureme
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Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Spectral mixture analysis for surveillance of harmful algal blooms (SMASH): A field-, laboratory-, and satellite-based approach to identifying cyanobacteria genera from remotely sensed data

Algal blooms around the world are increasing in frequency and severity, often with the possibility of adverse effects on human and ecosystem health. The health and economic impacts associated with harmful algal blooms, or HABs, provide compelling rationale for developing new methods for monitoring these events via remote sensing. Although concentrations of chlorophyll-a and key pigments like phyco
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Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
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USGS hydrographer measuring streamflow on the Donner Und Blitzen River, Oregon

Monitoring Streamflow in Remote Headwater Streams

Remote headwater streams are important sources of water that are not well understood. Working with other USGS science centers across the country, we are developing methods for estimating streamflow in these environments. Data from these efforts will contribute to improving our understanding of water availability and how drought may be affecting these stream ecosystems.
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Idaho Water Science Center
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Monitoring Streamflow in Remote Headwater Streams

Remote headwater streams are important sources of water that are not well understood. Working with other USGS science centers across the country, we are developing methods for estimating streamflow in these environments. Data from these efforts will contribute to improving our understanding of water availability and how drought may be affecting these stream ecosystems.
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Map of Idaho with available satellites

Satellite Monitoring of Algal Blooms in Idaho Water Bodies

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing concern in Idaho. Within the past five years, Idaho agencies have issued at least 57 HAB notices on 29 water bodies throughout the state. Toxins produced by HABs pose risks to human and animal health. Local economies may also be adversely affected when algal blooms discourage outdoor recreation. Routinely monitoring the state's many water bodies is too...
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Idaho Water Science Center
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Satellite Monitoring of Algal Blooms in Idaho Water Bodies

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing concern in Idaho. Within the past five years, Idaho agencies have issued at least 57 HAB notices on 29 water bodies throughout the state. Toxins produced by HABs pose risks to human and animal health. Local economies may also be adversely affected when algal blooms discourage outdoor recreation. Routinely monitoring the state's many water bodies is too...
Learn More
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Tray of sample bottles in an automated sampling device

Automated Sampling for Phosphorus in the Lower Boise River

For decades, the lower Boise River downstream of Lucky Peak Reservoir has been highly enriched with phosphorus. Too much of a good thing, the high concentrations of phosphorus create a cycle of excessive plant growth, decreased oxygen for fish, and even algal blooms.
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Idaho Water Science Center
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Automated Sampling for Phosphorus in the Lower Boise River

For decades, the lower Boise River downstream of Lucky Peak Reservoir has been highly enriched with phosphorus. Too much of a good thing, the high concentrations of phosphorus create a cycle of excessive plant growth, decreased oxygen for fish, and even algal blooms.
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Collecting periphyton samples, Boise River, Idaho

Assessing the Water Quality of the Lower Boise River and Selected Tributaries

For decades, the lower Boise River downstream of Lucky Peak Reservoir has been highly enriched with phosphorus. Too much of a good thing, the high concentrations of phosphorus create a cycle of excessive plant growth, decreased oxygen for fish, and even algal blooms.
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Idaho Water Science Center
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Assessing the Water Quality of the Lower Boise River and Selected Tributaries

For decades, the lower Boise River downstream of Lucky Peak Reservoir has been highly enriched with phosphorus. Too much of a good thing, the high concentrations of phosphorus create a cycle of excessive plant growth, decreased oxygen for fish, and even algal blooms.
Learn More

Chlorophyll-a concentrations and algal bloom condition paired with Sentinel-2 aquatic reflectance values collected for Brownlee Reservoir, ID from 2015 through 2020

This data release presents two calibration datasets that relate aquatic reflectance derived from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with algal bloom conditions in the Brownlee Reservoir on the Idaho Oregon border. These datasets were developed to evaluate remote sensing methods for identifying algal blooms in Brownlee Reservoir like those from July 2022 that are illustrated in field photo (left) and sat
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Idaho Water Science Center

Phytoplankton identification and biovolume data for field samples from Detroit Lake, Oregon, and Owasco Lake, New York, collected in August 2019 and August 2020

This dataset contains taxonomic and biovolume data for phytoplankton sampled from Detroit Lake, OR, in August, 2019, and August, 2020. Taxonomy is reported to the lowest possible taxonomic level along with total and percent biovolume. Surface grab samples for phytoplankton enumeration were collected with a van Dorn type sampler and then transferred into a clearn polycarbonate churn. Whole water sa
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Water Resources Mission Area

Measurements of Discharge in Small, Low-Flowing Streams Using Multiple Techniques

The accompanying datasets include all field measurements collected as part of a study to evaluate multiple streamflow measurement techniques in small streams throughout the United States. Each individual dataset is paired with a metadata record describing the contents and purpose of that dataset.
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Idaho Water Science Center
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News Coverage: New Research Could Aid Early Detection Of Algae Blooms

Boise State Public Radio interviews USGS hydrologist Tyler King about a new study to address the growing problem of harmful algal blooms in Idaho.

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Science and Products

*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