Victoria Glenn Christensen

Victoria Christensen received her B.A. from Hamline University and B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kansas. Her master’s research examined the occurrence and fate of dissolved solids, nutrients, atrazine, and bacteria in an agricultural watershed. She joined the USGS Kansas Water Science Center in 1992 and the USGS Minnesota Water Science Center in 2002.  Her interests and project work include real-time water-quality monitoring, effects of land use on water quality, the fate of nutrients in agricultural and reservoir systems, and reservoir sediment studies. She also has an interest in writing and communicating science topics to broad audiences and is a trainer and USGS Subject Matter Expert on Scientific Project Management.

Publications:

Christensen, V.G., Maki, R.P., and Stelzer, E.A., 2017, Algal Blooms, Anatoxin-a Production, and Potential Effects on Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health, in Toward a Superior Future:Advancing Science for a Sustainable Environment, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 38th Annual Meeting, November, 12-16, 2017, Minneapolis, Minnesota, p. 256-7.

Christensen, V.G., Larson, J.H., Maki, R.P., Sandheinrich, M.B., Brigham, M.E., Kissane, Claire, and LeDuc, J.E., 2017, Lake levels and water quality in comparison to fish mercury body burdens, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, 2013-14: U.S Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5175, 17. p. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165175.

Kastner, B.J., Christensen, V.G., Williamson, T.N., and Sanocki, C.A., 2016, Migratory bird habitat in relation to tile drainage and poorly drained hydrologic soil groups: 2016 10th International Drainage Symposium Conference, 6-9 September 2016, Minneapolis, Minnesota.(doi:10.13031/IDS.20162493338). 

Christensen, Victoria G., Wakeman, E.S., and Maki, R.P., 2016, Discharge and Nutrient Transport between Lakes in a Hydrologically Complex Area of Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, 2010-2012, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 1–14. DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12412 [Link]

Christensen, V.G., and Maki, R.P., 2015, Trophic State in Voyageurs National Park lakes before and after implementation of a revised water-level management plan. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 51(1): 99-111. DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12234. [Link]

Williamson, T.N., Christensen, V.G., Gellis, A., Richardson, W.E., Frey, J.W., Kieta, K.A., 2014, Sources of stream sediment in Midwest agricultural basins and the relation to land retirement adjacent to the channel: Journal of Environmental Quality, 43:1624–1634 (2014) doi:10.2134/jeq2013.12.0521. [Link]

Christensen, V.G., and Kieta, K.A., 2014, Assessment of conservation easements, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids in West Fork Beaver Creek, Minnesota, 1999–2012: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5002, 16 p., plus app. [Download File]

Christensen, V.G., Maki, R.P., and Kiesling, R.L., 2013, Evaluation of internal loading and water level changes: implications for phosphorus, algal production, and nuisance blooms in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, Northern Minnesota: Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management, vol . 209, p. 202-215. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Lee, Kathy E.; Kieta, Kristen A.; Elliott, Sarah M., 2012. Presence of selected chemicals of emerging concern in water and bottom sediment from the St. Louis River, St. Louis Bay, and Superior Bay, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2010. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5184, vii, 23 p. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Lee, Kathy E.; McLees James M.; Niemela, Scott L., 2012. Relations between retired agricultural land, water quality, and aquatic-community health, Minnesota River Basin. American Society of Agronomy , 14 p. [Link]

Christensen, V.G., Maki, R.P., and Kiesling, R.L., 2011, Relation of nutrient concentrations, nutrient loading, and algal production to changes in water levels in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, 2008–09: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5096, 50 p. [Link]

Christensen, V.G., Ziegler, A.C., Graham, J.A., and Esralew, R.A., 2011, In-stream water-quality estimation: case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring in the central USA: International Symposium for 19th Anniversary of World Water Day, Seoul, Korea, March 21, 2011, 24 p. [Download File]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Jones, Perry M.; Edlund, Mark B.; Ramstack, Joy M., 2010. Water quality (2000-08) and historical phosphorus concentrations from paleolimnological studies of Swamp and Speckled Trout Lakes, Grand Portage Reservation, northeastern Minnesota. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5192, viii, 17 p.; Appendices [Link]

Maki, R.P. and Christensen, V.G., 2010, Nutrient cycling and relation to changes in water levels for Kabetogama Lake, Voyaguers National Park, northern Minnesota, 2008-09, in Aquatic Sciences: Global Changes from the Center to the Edge, 2010 Summer Meeting of ASLO and NABS, Sante Fe, New Mexico, June 6-11, 2010. [Download File]

Christensen, V.G., Lee, K.E., Sanocki, C.A., Mohring, E.M., and Kiesling, R.L., 2009, Water-quality and biological characteristics and responses to agricultural land retirement in three streams of the Minnesota River Basin, Water Years 2006-08: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5215, 52 p., 3 app. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Esralew, Rachel A.; Allen, Monica L., 2008. Estimated Nutrient Concentrations and Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in the Eucha-Spavinaw Basin, Northwestern Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma, 2004-2007. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5218, vi, 32 p. [Link]

Christensen, V. G., 2007. Nutrients, Suspended Sediment, and Pesticides in Water of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1990-2004. Geological Survey (U.S.) Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5065, vi, 36 p. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Graham, Jennifer L.; Milligan, Chad R.; Pope, Larry M.; Ziegler, Andrew C., 2006. Water quality and relation to taste-and-odor compounds in North Fork Ninnescah River and Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas, 1997-2003. Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5095, vi, 43 p. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Wente, Stephen P.; Sandheinrich, Mark B.; Brigham, Mark E., 2006. Spatial variations in fish-tissue mercury concentrations in the St. Croix River basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004. Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5063, 26 p. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Bergman, Andrea L. , 2005. Hydrologic conditions and lake-level fluctuations at Long Lost Lake, 1939-2004, White Earth Indian Reservation, Clearwater County, Minnesota. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5181, 25 p. [Link]

Rasmussen, Patrick P.; Christensen, Victoria G., 2005. Hydrologic and water-quality conditions in the Kansas River, northeast Kansas, November 2001-August 2002, and simulation of ammonia assimilative capacity and bacteria transport during low flow. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5188, 120 p. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Payne, G. A.; Kallemeyn, Larry W., 2004. Effects of changes in reservoir operations on water quality and trophic state indicators in Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, 2001-03. Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5044, vi, 42 p. : ill., maps ; 28 cm. [Link]

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., Ziegler, A.C., 2002, Real-time water quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient and bacteria concentrations in Kansas streams: Water Science and Technology, Vol. 45, No. 9, pp 205-219.

Christensen, V. G., 2001. Characterization of surface-water quality based on real-time monitoring and regression analysis, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, south-central Kansas, December 1998 through June 2001. Water-Resources Investigations Report 2001-4248, 28 p. [Link]

Ziegler, A. C.; Ross, H. C.; Trombley, T. J.; Christensen, V. G., 2001. Effects of artificial recharge on water quality in the Equus Beds Aquifer, south-central Kansas, 1995-2000. Fact Sheet 096-01, 4 p.[Link]

Christensen, V.G., and Juracek, K.E., 2001, Variability of metals in erservoir sediment from two adjacent basins in the Central Great Plains: Environmental Geology, vol. 40, nos. 4 and 5, pp 470-481.

Mau, David P.; Christensen, Victoria G., 2000. Comparison of Sediment Deposition in Reservoirs of Four Kansas Watersheds. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 102-00, 1 folded sheet ([4] p.) : col. ill., col. map ; 28 cm. col. ill., col. map ; [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Jian, Xiaodong; Ziegler, Andrew C., 2000. Regression analysis and real-time water-quality monitoring to estimate constituent concentrations, loads, and yields in the Little Arkansas River, south-central Kansas, 1995-99. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services [distributor], Water-Resources Investigations Report 2000-4126, vi, 36 p. :ill. (some col.), col. maps ;28 cm. [Link]

Ziegler, Andrew C.; Christensen, Victoria G.; Ross, Heather C., 1999. Baseline water quality and preliminary effects of artificial recharge on ground water, south-central Kansas, 1995-98. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services [distributor], Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4250, vi, 74 p. :ill. (some col.), col. maps ;28 cm. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G., 1999. Deposition of selenium and other constituents in reservoir bottom sediment of the Solomon River Basin, north-central Kansas. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services [distributor], Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4230, iv, 46 p. :ill. (some col.), maps (some col.) ;28 cm. [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G., 1999. Real-Time Water-Quality Monitoring for Protection of Wildlife at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, South-Central Kansas. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 182-99, 1 sheet ([2] p.) : col. ill., col. map ; 28 cm. col. ill., col. map ; [Link]

Christensen, Victoria G.; Ziegler, Andrew C., 1998. Atrazine in Source Water Intended for Artificial Ground-Water Recharge, South-Central Kansas. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 074-98, [4] p. : col. ill., col. map ; 28 cm. col. ill., col. map ; [Link]

Christensen, V. G.; Pope, L. M., 1997. Occurrence of dissolved solids, nutrients, atrazine, and fecal coliform bacteria during low flow in the Cheney Reservoir watershed, south-central Kansas, 1996. U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services [distributor], Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4153, iv, 13 p. :ill., col. maps ;28 cm. [Link]

Pope, Larry M.; Christensen, Victoria G., 1997. Water-Quality Study of the Cheney Reservoir Watershed, South-Central Kansas. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 104-97, 1 sheet ([2] p.) : col. ill., maps (1 col.) ; 28 cm. col. ill., maps (1 col.) ; [Link]

Conference Proceedings -

Williamson, T.N., Christensen, V.G., Richardson, W.E., Frey, J.W., Gellis, A.C., Kieta, K.A., and Fitzpatrick, F.A., 2014, Sources of stream sediment in Midwest agricultural basins and the relation to the land retirement adjacent to the channel, Paper 58 in Making Waves in Conservation: Our Life on Land and its Impact on Water, proceedings of the 69th Soil and Water Conservation Service International Annual Conference, Lombard, Illinois, July 27-30, 2014.

Maki, R.P. and Christensen, V.G., 2010, Nutrient cycling and relation to changes in water levels for Kabetogama Lake, Voyaguers National Park, northern Minnesota, 2008-09, in Aquatic Sciences: Global Changes from the Center to the Edge, 2010 Summer Meeting of ASLO and NABS, Sante Fe, New Mexico, June 6-11, 2010.

Christensen, V.G., and Lee, K.E., 2008, Effects of agricultural land retirement in the Minnesota River basin, in  Riparian Ecosystems and Buffers: Working at the Water's Edge, 2008 AWRA Summer Specialty Conference, Virginia Beach, Virginia, June 30 - July 2, 2008, 7 p.

Graham, J.L., Christensen, V.G., Pope, L.M., and Ziegler, A.C., 2006, Estimating taste-and-odor occurrences in Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, using real-time water-quality monitors, in Proceedings of the 26^th International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society, November 8-10, 2006, Indianapolis, IN, p. 43.

Christensen, V.G., Ziegler, A.C., Rasmussen, P.P., and Jian, Xiaodong, 2003, Continuous real-time water-quality monitoring of Kansas streams, in Proceedings of 2003 Spring Specialty Conference on Agricultural Hydrology and Water Quality, May 12-14, 2003, Kansas City, Missouri: Middleburg, Virginia, American Water Resources Association, AWRA Technical Publication Series No. TPS-03-1, compact disc.

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., and Ziegler, A.C., 2002, Comparison of estimated sediment loads using continuous turbidity measurements and regression analysis, in Proceedings of Turbidity and Other Surrogates Workshop, Reno, Nevada, April 30-May 2, 2002: Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Rasmussen, P.P., Bennett, Trudy, Lee, Casey, and Christensen, V.G., 2002, Continuous in-situ measurement of turbidity in Kansas streams, in Proceedings of Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates Workshop, April 30-May 2, 2002, Reno, Nevada: Subcommittee on Sedimentation, 3 p.

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., Ziegler, A.C., and Jian, Xiaodong, 2001, Continuous turbidity monitoring and regression analysis to estimate total suspended solids and fecal coliform bacteria loads in real time, in Proceedings of the Seventh Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference, March 25-29, 2001 Reno, Nevada: Subcommittee on Sedimentation, v. 1, p. III-94 to III-101.

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., Ziegler, A.C., and Jian, Xiaodong, 2001, Continuous monitoring and regression analysis to estimate bacteria loads, in Proceedings of TMDL Science Issues Conference, March 4-7, 2001, St. Louis, Missouri: Water Environment Federation, p. 405-411.

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., Ziegler, A.C., and Jian, Xiaodong, 2001, Continuous monitor­ing and regression analysis to estimate bacteria loads, in Warwick, J.J. ed., Proceedings of AWRA Annual Spring Specialty Conference on Water-Quality, Monitoring and Modeling, San Antonio, Texas, April 30-May 2, 2001: Middleburg, Virginia, American Water Resources Association, p. 77-82.

Christensen, V.G., Rasmussen, P.P., and Ziegler, A.C., 2001, Real-time water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient and bacteria concentrations in Kansas streams, in Melching, C.S., and Alp, Emre, eds., Conference proceedings, 5th International Conference, dif­fuse/nonpoint pollution and watershed management, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 10-15, 2001: International Water Association, CD-ROM, session 9, p.1-9.

Christensen, V.G., Ziegler, A.C., Jian, Xiaodong, 2001, Real-time turbidity monitoring and regression analysis to estimate total suspended solids and fecal coliform bacteria loads in streams, Seventh Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference, March 25-29, 2001, Reno, Nevada.

Mau, D.P., and Christensen, V.G., 2001, Reservoir sedimentation studies to determine variability of phosphorus transport in Kansas, Seventh Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference, March 25-29, 2001, Reno, Nevada.

Christensen, V.G., Jian, Xiaodong, and Ziegler, A.C., 1999, Use of real-time water-quality monitoring and multiple-regression analysis for estimation of selected atrazine loads in streamflow, south-central Kansas, in Proceedings of the Seventh Symposium on Chemistry and Fate of Modern Pesticides, September 14-16, 1999.

Christensen, V.G., and Ziegler, A.C., 1998, Characterization of atrazine in source water intended for artificial recharge, in Proceedings of 1998 Water Quality Technical Conference, November 1- 5, 1998, San Diego, California: Denver, CO, 1998, American Water Works Association, 9 p.

Other Publications -

Christensen, V.G., 2000, Trends in arsenic, selenium, and strontium concentrations in the Solomon River Basin in HydroGRAM: Topeka KS, Kansas Water Office, Spring 2000, p. 18-21.

Christensen, V.G., 1999, Real-time water-quality monitoring for protection of wildlife at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, south-central Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-99-182, 2 p.

Christensen, V.G., and Ziegler, A.C., 1998, Atrazine in source water intended for artificial ground-water recharge, south-central Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-074-98, 4 p.

Pope, L.M., and Christensen, V.G., 1997, Water-quality study of the Cheney Reservoir watershed, south-central Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 104-97, 2 p.

Pope, L.M., and Christensen, V.G., 1998, Water-quality study of the Cheney Reservoir watershed, south-central Kansas in HydroGRAM: Topeka, KS, Kansas Water Office, Spring, 1998, p. 15-17.

Mau, D.P. and Christensen, V.G., 2000, Comparison of sediment deposition in reservoirs of four Kansas watersheds: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 102-00, 4 p.

Ziegler, A.C., Ross, H.C., Trombley, T.J., and Christensen, V.G., 2001, Effects of artificial recharge on water quality in the Equus Beds aquifer, south-central Kansas, 1995-2000: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 096-01, 4 p.