Victoria Glenn Christensen, PhD
Dr. Christensen is a research hydrologist who studies HABs, algal toxins, and cyanobacteria. She is a member of the Environmental Health Program's Algal Toxin Team and serves as the acting Communications Coordinator for the Water Mission Area.
Victoria Christensen studies cyanotoxins, with a focus on the neurotoxins, anatoxin-a and saxitoxin. Cyanotoxins are produced by cyanobacterial harmful alglal blooms (HABs), which are sometimes called blue-green algae. Her master’s research examined the occurrence and fate of dissolved solids, nutrients, atrazine, and bacteria in an agricultural watershed. Her dissertation research focused on cyanotoxin mixtures with an emphasis neurotoxins—looking at the environmental variables like wind and temperature that may trigger cyanobacteria to produce or release toxins. In addition to the study of harmful algae and their toxins, Victoria's 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. 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.
Professional Experience
Dr. Christensen has been working for the USGS for over twenty years and has experience in water quality, water-level management, and has done extensive research on cyanotoxins, harmful algal blooms, and nutrients. Prior to working for the USGS, she held positions with University of Kansas, Twin Cities Testing, and 3M Corporation.
Education and Certifications
PhD, Environmental and Conservation Science, North Dakota State University
MS, Water Resources Science, Dept. of Engineering, University of Kansas
BS, Geology, University of Kansas
BA, Management, Hamline University
Science and Products
Assessment of conservation easements, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids in West Fork Beaver Creek, Minnesota, 1999-2012
Evaluation of internal loading and water level changes: implications for phosphorus, algal production, and nuisance blooms in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
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
Relations between retired agricultural land, water quality, and aquatic-community health, Minnesota River Basin
Relation of nutrient concentrations, nutrient loading, and algal production to changes in water levels in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, 2008-09
In-stream water-quality estimation: Case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring in the central USA
Water quality (2000-08) and historical phosphorus concentrations from paleolimnological studies of Swamp and Speckled Trout Lakes, Grand Portage Reservation, northeastern Minnesota
Water-Quality and Biological Characteristics and Responses to Agricultural Land Retirement in Three Streams of the Minnesota River Basin, Water Years 2006-08
Estimated Nutrient Concentrations and Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in the Eucha-Spavinaw Basin, Northwestern Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma, 2004-2007
Nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in water of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1990-2004
Water quality and relation to taste-and-odor compounds in the North Fork Ninnescah River and Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas, 1997-2003
Spatial variations in fish-tissue mercury concentrations in the St. Croix River basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004
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Filter Total Items: 49
Assessment of conservation easements, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids in West Fork Beaver Creek, Minnesota, 1999-2012
This study examined conservation easements and their effectiveness at reducing phosphorus and solids transport to streams. The U.S. Geological Survey cooperated with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and worked collaboratively with the Hawk Creek Watershed Project to examine the West Fork Beaver Creek Basin in Renville County, which has the largest number of Reinvest In Minnesota lanAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Kristen A. KietaEvaluation of internal loading and water level changes: implications for phosphorus, algal production, and nuisance blooms in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Hydrologic manipulations have the potential to exacerbate or remediate eutrophication in productive reservoirs. Dam operations at Kabetogama Lake, Minnesota, were modified in 2000 to restore a more natural water regime and improve water quality. The US Geological Survey and National Park Service evaluated nutrient, algae, and nuisance bloom data in relation to changes in Kabetogama Lake water leveAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Ryan P. Maki, Richard L. KieslingPresence 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
The St. Louis Bay of Lake Superior receives substantial urban runoff, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and industrial effluent. In 1987, the International Joint Commission designated the St. Louis Bay portion of the lower St. Louis River as one of the Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Concerns exist about the potential effects of chemicals of emerging concern on aquatic biota because many of theseAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Kathy Lee, Kristen A. Kieta, Sarah M. ElliottRelations between retired agricultural land, water quality, and aquatic-community health, Minnesota River Basin
The relative importance of agricultural land retirement on water quality and aquatic-community health was investigated in the Minnesota River Basin. Eighty-two sites, with drainage areas ranging from 4.3 to 2200 km2, were examined for nutrient concentrations, measures of aquatic-community health (e.g., fish index of biotic integrity [IBI] scores), and environmental factors (e.g., drainage area andAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Kathy Lee, James M. McLees, Scott L. NiemelaRelation of nutrient concentrations, nutrient loading, and algal production to changes in water levels in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, 2008-09
Nutrient enrichment has led to excessive algal growth in Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota. Water- and sediment-quality data were collected during 2008-09 to assess internal and external nutrient loading. Data collection was focused in Kabetogama Lake and its inflows, the area of greatest concern for eutrophication among the lakes of Voyageurs National Park. Nutrient andAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Ryan P. Maki, Richard L. KieslingIn-stream water-quality estimation: Case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring in the central USA
Five U.S. Geological Survey case studies in real-time stream and lake monitoring are presented. The emphases of the case studies are in-stream biological characteristics, fecal coliform bacteria, atrazine, phosphorus, and taste-and-odor compounds.AuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Andrew C. Ziegler, Jennifer L. Graham, Rachel A. EsralewWater quality (2000-08) and historical phosphorus concentrations from paleolimnological studies of Swamp and Speckled Trout Lakes, Grand Portage Reservation, northeastern Minnesota
A paleolimnological approach was taken to aid the Grand Portage Reservation, in northeastern Minnesota, in determining reference conditions for lakes on the reservation. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians and the Science Museum of Minnesota, conducted a study to describe water quality (2000-08) and historical total phosphorus concentrations (AuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Perry M. Jones, Mark B. Edlund, Joy M. RamstackWater-Quality and Biological Characteristics and Responses to Agricultural Land Retirement in Three Streams of the Minnesota River Basin, Water Years 2006-08
Water-quality and biological characteristics in three streams in the Minnesota River Basin were assessed using data collected during water years 2006-08. The responses of nutrient concentrations, suspended-sediment concentrations, and biological characteristics to agricultural land retirement also were assessed. In general, total nitrogen, suspended-sediment, and chlorophyll-a concentrations, andAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Kathy Lee, Christopher A. Sanocki, Eric H. Mohring, Richard L. KieslingEstimated Nutrient Concentrations and Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring in the Eucha-Spavinaw Basin, Northwestern Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma, 2004-2007
The Eucha-Spavinaw basin is the source of water for Lake Eucha and Spavinaw Lake, which are part of the water supply for the City of Tulsa. The City of Tulsa has received complaints of taste and odor in the finished drinking water because of deteriorating water quality. The deterioration is largely because of algal growth from the input of nutrients from the Eucha-Spavinaw basin. The U.S. GeologicAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Rachel A. Esralew, Monica L. AllenNutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in water of the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1990-2004
Nutrient, suspended sediment, and pesticide data from 1990 through 2004 in the Red River of the North Basin were compiled, summarized, and compared to historical data. Streamflow varied widely throughout the basin during the 1990-2004 study period. For 19 of 22 streamflow sites, median annual streamflow during the study period exceeded the long-term average streamflow. High streamflow can have a sAuthorsV.G. ChristensenWater quality and relation to taste-and-odor compounds in the North Fork Ninnescah River and Cheney Reservoir, south-central Kansas, 1997-2003
Cheney Reservoir, the primary water supply for the city of Wichita in south-central Kansas, and its main source of inflow, the North Fork Ninnescah River, were sampled between 1997 and 2003 for sediment, nutrients, and the taste-and-odor-causing compounds geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). It is believed that objectionable tastes and odors in Cheney Reservoir result from cyanobacteria (blue-greAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Jennifer L. Graham, Chad R. Milligan, Larry M. Pope, Andrew C. ZieglerSpatial variations in fish-tissue mercury concentrations in the St. Croix River basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004
Parts of the St. Croix River in Minnesota and Wisconsin are under fish-consumption advisories because of elevated mercury concentrations that have been measured in fish from this river. The U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, cooperated in a study to determine the spatial variation of mercury in fish in the St. Croix River and selected tributarAuthorsVictoria G. Christensen, Stephen P. Wente, Mark B. Sandheinrich, Mark E. Brigham - News