William R Selbig
Bill Selbig is a Research Hydrologist with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
Mr. Selbig has 20 years of experience in measuring the quantity and quality of nonpoint source runoff in urban environments. The majority of Bill’s research is focused on characterizing the hydrologic and chemical response of stormwater to structural and non-structural practices designed to mitigate stormwater pollution. Much of his research is used to stimulate or amend stormwater policy within the state of Wisconsin. In the last 10 years his work has helped environmental managers quantify the water-quality benefits of street cleaners, establish criteria for successful use of rain gardens with varying soils and vegetative species, better understand the synergistic effect of green infrastructure compared to conventional curb-and-gutter construction techniques, and identify through source tracking potential “hot spots” of environmental toxicants in the urban environment. Bill's involvement in advancing both analytical and field methods for water quality data collection has proven beneficial to environmental managers, engineers, and academia who depend on accurate water-quality data for evaluation of proprietary devices, development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), permit compliance, and hydrologic modeling. Bill currently holds a patent on an innovative stormwater sampling device known as the Depth-Integrated Sampler Arm (DISA). In addition to working for the USGS, Bill currently serves on several local, state and national research groups and technical committees that focus on urban nonpoint runoff.
EDUCATION
M.S., 1998, Water Resources Management (Hydrology), University of Wisconsin – Madison
B.S., 1993, Geology, University of Wisconsin – Madison
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Bill has considerable experience monitoring and interpreting nonpoint source runoff in urban environments. He has participated in several research studies that focus on mitigating stormwater pollution through structural or non-structural practices such as street sweeping, rain gardens, and low-impact development (LID). Bill is also involved in improving the accuracy of water-quality data through development of new sample collection and processing methods.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS AND ACTIVITES
- American Water Resources Association
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - Gross Solids Pollutant Protocol Committee
- Watershed Science Bulletin editorial board
- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Stormwater Advisory Panel
- Transportation Research Board of the National Academies
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Technical Standards Oversight Committee
- Great Lakes Commission on Green Infrastructure
CURRENT PROJECTS
- Characterization of Solids Concentration and Particle-Size Distribution from Urban Land Uses and Source Areas
- Improved Stormwater Sampling Techniques
- Evaluation of the Water Quality Benefits of Permeable Pavement
- Monitoring and Predicting the Impacts of Trees on Urban Stormwater Volume Reduction
- Measuring Leaf Collection Programs as a
Science and Products
From streets to streams: Assessing the toxicity potential of urban sediment by particle size
Simulation of climate-change effects on streamflow, lake water budgets, and stream temperature using GSFLOW and SNTEMP, Trout Lake Watershed, Wisconsin
Characterizing the distribution of particles in urban stormwater: advancements through improved sampling technology
Regression modeling of particle size distributions in urban stormwater: Advancements through improved sample collection methods
Characterizing the size distribution of particles in urban stormwater by use of fixed-point sample-collection methods
Development of a depth-integrated sample arm to reduce solids stratification bias in stormwater sampling
Development of a depth-integrated sample arm to reduce solids stratification bias in stormwater sampling
Ratios of total suspended solids to suspended sediment concentrations by particle size
Evaluation of Turf-Grass and Prairie-Vegetated Rain Gardens in a Clay and Sand Soil, Madison, Wisconsin, Water Years 2004-08
Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban stormwater, Madison, Wisconsin, 2005–08
A comparison of runoff quantity and quality from two small basins undergoing implementation of conventional- and low-impact-development (LID) strategies: Cross Plains, Wisconsin, water years 1999–2005
Evaluation of Street Sweeping as a Stormwater-Quality-Management Tool in Three Residential Basins in Madison, Wisconsin
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 43
From streets to streams: Assessing the toxicity potential of urban sediment by particle size
Urban sediment can act as a transport mechanism for a variety of pollutants to move towards a receiving water body. The concentrations of these pollutants oftentimes exceed levels that are toxic to aquatic organisms. Many treatment structures are designed to capture coarse sediment but do not work well to similarly capture the fines. This study measured concentrations of select trace metals and PAAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Roger T. Bannerman, Steven CorsiSimulation of climate-change effects on streamflow, lake water budgets, and stream temperature using GSFLOW and SNTEMP, Trout Lake Watershed, Wisconsin
Although groundwater and surface water are considered a single resource, historically hydrologic simulations have not accounted for feedback loops between the groundwater system and other hydrologic processes. These feedbacks include timing and rates of evapotranspiration, surface runoff, soil-zone flow, and interactions with the groundwater system. Simulations that iteratively couple the surface-AuthorsRandall J. Hunt, John F. Walker, William R. Selbig, Stephen M. Westenbroek, R. Steve ReganCharacterizing the distribution of particles in urban stormwater: advancements through improved sampling technology
A new sample collection system was developed to improve the representation of sediment in stormwater by integrating the entire water column. The depth-integrated sampler arm (DISA) was able to mitigate sediment stratification bias in storm water, thereby improving the characterization of particle size distribution from urban source areas. Collector streets had the lowest median particle diameter oAuthorsWilliam R. SelbigRegression modeling of particle size distributions in urban stormwater: Advancements through improved sample collection methods
A new sample collection system was developed to improve the representation of sediment entrained in urban storm water by integrating water quality samples from the entire water column. The depth-integrated sampler arm (DISA) was able to mitigate sediment stratification bias in storm water, thereby improving the characterization of suspended-sediment concentration and particle size distribution atAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Michael N. FienenCharacterizing the size distribution of particles in urban stormwater by use of fixed-point sample-collection methods
The U.S Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and in collaboration with the Root River Municipal Stormwater Permit Group monitored eight urban source areas representing six types of source areas in or near Madison, Wis. in an effort to improve characterization of particle-size distributions in urban stormwater by use of fixed-point sample colleAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Roger T. BannermanDevelopment of a depth-integrated sample arm to reduce solids stratification bias in stormwater sampling
A new depth-integrated sample arm (DISA) was developed to improve the representation of solids in stormwater, both organic and inorganic, by collecting a water quality sample from multiple points in the water column. Data from this study demonstrate the idea of vertical stratification of solids in storm sewer runoff. Concentrations of suspended sediment in runoff were statistically greater using aAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Roger T. BannermanDevelopment of a depth-integrated sample arm to reduce solids stratification bias in stormwater sampling
A new depth-integrated sample arm (DISA) was developed to improve the representation of solids in stormwater, both organic and inorganic, by collecting a water quality sample from multiple points in the water column. Data from this study demonstrate the idea of vertical stratification of solids in storm sewer runoff. Concentrations of suspended sediment in runoff were statistically greater using aAuthorsW.R. Selbig, R.T. BannermanRatios of total suspended solids to suspended sediment concentrations by particle size
Wet-sieving sand-sized particles from a whole storm-water sample before splitting the sample into laboratory-prepared containers can reduce bias and improve the precision of suspended-sediment concentrations (SSC). Wet-sieving, however, may alter concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) because the analytical method used to determine TSS may not have included the sediment retained on the sieAuthorsW.R. Selbig, R.T. BannermanEvaluation of Turf-Grass and Prairie-Vegetated Rain Gardens in a Clay and Sand Soil, Madison, Wisconsin, Water Years 2004-08
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with a consortium of 19 cities, towns, and villages in Dane County, Wis., undertook a study to compare the capability of rain gardens with different vegetative species and soil types to infiltrate stormwater runoff from the roof of an adjacent structure. Two rain gardens, one planted with turf grass and the other with native prairie species, were construcAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Nicholas BalsterConcentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban stormwater, Madison, Wisconsin, 2005–08
Concentrations of 18 PAH compounds were characterized from six urban source areas (parking lots, feeder street, collector street, arterial street, rooftop, and strip mall) around Madison, Wisconsin. Parking lots were categorized into those that were or were not sealed. On average, chrysene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were the dominant PAH compounds in all urban stormwater samples. Geometric mean conAuthorsWilliam R. SelbigA comparison of runoff quantity and quality from two small basins undergoing implementation of conventional- and low-impact-development (LID) strategies: Cross Plains, Wisconsin, water years 1999–2005
Environmental managers are often faced with the task of designing strategies to accommodate development while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Low-impact development (LID) is one such strategy that attempts to mitigate environmental degradation commonly associated with impervious surfaces. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, studiAuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Roger T. BannermanEvaluation of Street Sweeping as a Stormwater-Quality-Management Tool in Three Residential Basins in Madison, Wisconsin
Recent technological improvements have increased the ability of street sweepers to remove sediment and other debris from street surfaces; the effect of these technological advancements on stormwater quality is largely unknown. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the City of Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, evaluated three street-sweeper technologies from 2002AuthorsWilliam R. Selbig, Roger T. Bannerman - News