NWDTW 2024: Full Schedule

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8:00am CDT

CQW Best Practices When Servicing a Sonde

Best practices for beginners in continuous water quality when performing a servicing on a multi-parameter sonde.

Speakers

Taylor Camper

Hydrologic Technician, USGS: Western WA Field Office

I have been with the Survey since 2017, the first 6 years with the VA-WV WSC and 1 year with the Western WA Field Office. During my career, I have worked primarily in QW, focused on continuous and discrete water-quality work. I have made plenty of mistakes, but they have all been... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 20 minutes

8:00am CDT

Upcoming Changes to Public Delivery of WaterWatch

This presentation and listening session is oriented toward anyone who needs to understand upcoming changes to features currently being provided by the WaterWatch product (https://waterwatch.usgs.gov), from hydrotechs and program managers. WaterWatch is nearing the end of life and key features are being modernized through Water Data for the Nation (WDFN) including the National Water Dashboard and new statistical features expected in water services.

In this listening session, we will give a brief overview of some of the major changes in public delivery, which include changes to delivery method (website vs API vs Python package), integration of statistical visualizations into other WDFN features, and new ways of grouping map layers in National Water Dashboard. The remainder of the session will be an open discussion for attendees to ask questions, provide comments and share feedback on how these changes could impact your work and that of your cooperators and data users.

Speakers

Shawna Gregory

Water Data for the Nation Product Owner

Shawna Gregory is a Product Owner for Water Data for the Nation, the primary access point for real-time and historical USGS water data and information. In this role, Shawna is leading a user-centered design approach to web-based delivery applications as the USGS is modernizing water... Read More →

Florence Thompson

Geographer, USGS OTWSC

Florence Thompson is a geographer and has been with the U.S. Geological Survey since 2006. She is currently a member of the Integrated Hydrology and Data Science Branch in the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center. In her early years with USGS she produced national hydrologic datasets... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Grand Ballroom C

COMPUTER TOOLS, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By WMA (Headquarters)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

GNSS RT Surveys: Best Practices and Error Analysis

This discussion will focus on best practices for Real-Time GNSS surveys, using Real-Time Networks and local radio-linked base stations for kinematic observations. Part of this discussion will highlight the process of evaluating uncertainty.

Speakers

Paul Rydlund

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 1+2

GNSS/SURVEYING, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Geospatial Data and Vertical Datum (GDVD)
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

Batteries, Charging and Current.

Part 3 in a series, a companion of Basic Electronics Principles and Meters and Measurements.

Speakers

Michael West

Electronics Technician - Telemetry, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 6

HIF & EQUIPMENT, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

Drilling into the USGS Groundwater Tapes Recalibration Program

This session will provide an overview of the Groundwater Tape Recalibration Program, as well as the Water Science Centers’ participation in the program. Topics will include navigating the OneStop Website and managing your equipment using Query Portal tools. Additionally, the calibration procedure used by the hydraulics lab team at the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility will be presented, including the criteria used to evaluate the tapes. The calibration sheets provided for each tape will be explained to facilitate understanding of what the results mean and how to use them. Quality Assurance program results from recent years will also be presented.

Speakers

Christopher Wilson

Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS

Recently, I have become the section chief for the Hydraulics and Water Quality section at the HIF, overseeing the QA programs for ADCPs, ADVs, mechanical meters, and groundwater tapes, as well as the preparation and calibration of the water quality probes and sondes. Before joining... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Grand Ballroom B

HIF & EQUIPMENT, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

Collecting Data with Moving Bed Conditions

Overview of the cause and effect of a moving bed and methods to identify and correct for a moving bed when measureing discharge with and ADCP from a moving boat.

Speakers

Justin Boldt

Hydrologist, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 7

HYDROACOUSTICS, ANALYSIS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

RIVRS: Workflow and techniques for tidal index velocity data collection and computation

This presentation will cover the distinctions of workflow and techniques applied in operating a tidal index velocity discharge station. Topics covered in the overview will include site selection, instrumentation, maintenance, field measurement techniques, rating development, and computation.

Speakers

Fabian Kahn

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Work areas: Index Velocity Discharge, GNSS, Storm Tide Response

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 10

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By CFWSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

Relating Rating and Shift Development to Channel Geometry

The shape and slope of a stage-discharge rating as well as the hinge and merge points of associated shifts are related to the geometry of the stream channel. This presentation will discuss that relationship using modeling results from several scenarios (differing channel shapes and changes related to scour and fill).

Speakers

Jeff Kitchen

Surface Water Specialists, USGS

I'm the surface water specialist of the CAWSC data program. I have extensive experience with records computation and rating development as well as indirect survey methods.

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 9

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

USGS in Belize

Andrew Gorman from OKI and Christopher Smith from SAWSC were funded by the WMO to visit with Belize's Hydrology department to asses their program and deliver necessary training.

Speakers

Andrew Gorman

USGS

Chris Smith

Field Office Chief, USGS

I am the Field Office Chief of the Norcross (Atlanta) Georgia office. I am also the Chair of the Hydrologic Data Advisory Committee (HDAC). I am proudest of my years helping others learn the job and my years of field work, where I have always tried to set a good example. My most significant... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 8

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

Discrete Water-Quality Sampling - (part 1 of 3) What to do before discrete water-quality samples are collected

This session will cover the various aspects of what is typically done before a discrete water-quality sample can be collected and options for project management.
It will include a general overview of the discrete water-quality sampling process, how to look up lab codes/schedules, what bottles are needed for what analysis, equipment blanks, filling out ASR's and other laboratory paperwork, site selection, assessing equipment needs, establishing field folders and various project related documents.
Target audience: Staff who are interested or new(er) to collecting a discrete water-quality sample or will be in the future.

Speakers

Lee Bodkin

I am the water-quality specialist for the south-Atlantic water science center (GA/NC/SC - aka SAWSC) and sit in the Raleigh, NC office.I started with the USGS in 2007 as a hydro-tech in the Gulf Coast program office of the OK-TX WSC, became a hydrologist in 2009 and became the QW... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Regency Ballroom B

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

8:00am CDT

NAAR Shark Tank Award Ceremony

Winner of NAAR Shark Tank will present their innovative idea.

Speakers

Crystal Hammer

Supervisory Hydrologic Technician/Field Office Chief (Columbus, OH), U.S. Geological Survey

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
Midway 5

WATER USE, SHOW AND TELL

Duration 20 minutes

8:00am CDT

Automated Time-Series Records Status and Future

What is the current status of Water Mission Area time-series record automation work and what does the future hold for available tools and research?

Speakers

Wade Walker

USGS AQ-TS Product Owner, USGS

Current USGS AQUARIUS Time-Series product owner who represents the USGS stake in the software and helps enable new USGS work within it. Spent 20 years as a Hydrologic Technician in Pueblo, CO, doing just about all types of data collection we have and developing grassroots software... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 9:20am CDT
Grand Ballroom A

COMPUTER TOOLS, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 80 minutes

8:00am CDT

GeeWhiz! The GWSI Replacement Project overview, updates, and cleanup tasks

Groundwater Site Inventory (GWSI) version 5.2 is a menu-based data storage and management system on the UNIX platform that is nearing end-of-life and requires modernization. GWSI includes site inventory information and groundwater thematic metadata and is considered part of legacy National Water Information System (NWIS). GWSI is currently in the process of being replaced by modern solutions as part of the NWIS Modernization Program, and the legacy product will be retired by the end of Fiscal Year 2025. By that time, all data stored within legacy GWSI will either be deprecated and archived or migrated to one of three locations: Monitoring Location Registry (MLR), AQUARIUS Time-Series (AQTS), or the new GroundWater Information System (GWIS) database, pronounced as “GeeWhiz”. In this presentation, we will outline the plan for completing modernization, provide updates on our progress so far, and discuss requests for help from Water Science Center Local Data Managers (LDMs) on several cleanup tasks associated with archival and migration.

Speakers

Catherine Fargen

Ben Sperl

Hydrologist, USGS Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana WSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 3+4

GROUNDWATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By NWIS Modernization (with OSD Sponsor)
Intended Audience LDMs
Duration 80 minutes

8:30am CDT

Results from the Water Temperature Thermistor Field Test, 2022-2024

Learn more about the completed field evaluation of three commercially available water temperature thermistors (Sutron AquaTemp, Forest Technology Systems (FTS) Digitemps, and Instrumentation Northwest (INW) T1 SDI-12), findings, and future steps. The three temperature thermistors were installed side-by-side at 6 different locations from Water Science Centers that volunteered for the study (locations include Hawaii, New York, Nevada, Indiana, North Carolina, and South Dakota) and operated for 18 months. Data and more information are available at Water Temperature Thermistor Field Test Sharepoint (https://doimspp.sharepoint.com/sites/usgs-Continuous-Water-Quality/SitePages/Water-Temperature-Thermistor-Field-Test.aspx).

Speakers

Kim Shaffer

Continuous Water Quality Lead for the Hydrologic Networks Branch, USGS

Kimberly Shaffer has a degree in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University and has worked for the U.S. Geological Survey for the past 26 years. As a hydrologist, she has collected and published streamflow, water-quality, and water-use data. In 2021, Kim became the Continuous... Read More →

Brian McCallum

National Streamgage Network Coordinator, USGS-WMA-OSD

Brian McCallum is currently the National Streamgage Network Coordinator within the USGS Water Mission Area, Observing Systems Division. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelors (1991) and master’s degrees (1992) in civil engineering. He started full-time... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 8:30am - 9:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

9:00am CDT

What’s new with the NOMS Water Data Exploration System (WADERS)?

This course will be of interest for field personnel across the Water Enterprise that have to daily QA/QC their real-time data. This product of the Network Operations Management System (NOMS) project is the planned replacement support tool for field personnel to use in lieu of NWISWeb for all sites, but particularly for sites coded with internal or cooperator-only access. This presentation will go over the latest improvements to WADERS based upon user feedback and look to gain additional user feedback for future releases.

Speakers

Cary Carman

San Angelo, Texas, USGS

Chuck Hansen

Hydrologist, USGS

Chuck Hansen is a Hydrologist with the California Water Science Center in Sacramento. He leadsa team of software and hardware engineers focusing on remote sensing and data delivery.

Colin Keating

Physical Scientist, USGS California WSC

Colin joined the USGS in 2021 as a software developer and has contributed to numerous data dissemination and mapping products including the National Water Dashboard-internal and WADERS.

James Merges

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Grand Ballroom C

COMPUTER TOOLS, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

HWM Data Collection and STN

Tips and tricks to HWM data collection in various environments. The presentation will go into detail on HWM preservation, collection and documentation.

Speakers

William Capurso

William Capurso received a M.S. in Environmental Studies from Long Island University, C.W. Post and a B.A. in Natural Science and Math with a concentration in Chemistry from Dowling College. William started his career with the USGS in 2004 and has over 19 years of experience leading... Read More →

David Stillwell

Hydrographer, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 1+2

GNSS/SURVEYING, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Discharge Measurements in Difficult Conditions

Planning and prep tips to improve data collection during high flow events.

Speakers

Garret Welsh

Garret began his career with the USGS as a student in the Iowa City, IA office in 2009 before joining on as a full time hydro tech after completing his studies. In 2015 he transferred to the Mounds View, MN office. He is a member of the Hydroacoustics Workgroup (HaWG) and spends... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 7

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Qrev: Whats new

An overview of new and coming features in QRev software.

Speakers

Mike Rehmel

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 6

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Introduction to Camera Usage in USGS Monitoring Networks

This presentation will be an introduction for those interested in using cameras in their monitoring networks. Applications for imagery, site considerations, selecting a camera system, and a NIMS/HIVIS overview will be discussed with examples from VA/WV WSC and other USGS stations. An emphasis will be on Vivotek network camera and Sierra Wireless modem systems and game/trail cameras. We will also discuss how to add cameras and batch upload images in NIMS Admin Console for control monitoring or other useful applications.

Speakers

Chelsea Vande Pol

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 9

IMAGING/REMOTE SENSING, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Annual Peak Explorer

The USGS has over 100 years of peaks at stream gages. Now we can see how peaks compare on a map! Amy will demo the script and graphics, with various options for dates, qualifiers, and drainage area.

Speakers

Amy Simonson

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 10

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Modernization of surface water station mapping of vertical control points

This presentation covers a web application to quickly and easily create/access accurate maps of station vertical control points. The purpose of creating these maps is to expedite locating these points during levels and prevent issues caused by mixing up points. These maps can be easily accessed using QR codes that can be printed onto stickers placed on the inside of a gage house or added to the station paperwork.

Speakers

Nicholas Pierson

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 5

SURFACE WATER, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

The National Flood Plan

An overview of the 2024 USGS National Flood Plan, which serves to document the National level perspective of the organizational framework, decision processes, resources, and responsibilities of riverine flood response.

Speakers

Karl Winters

National Flood Coordinator, USGS

Karl serves as the National Flood Coordinator, and a Surface-Water Specialist in the Hydrologic Networks Branch. He provides operational support and coordination of USGS flood response, as well as training and support for flood documentation and modeling, and computation of streamflow... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 9:20am CDT
Midway 8

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

9:00am CDT

Discrete Water-Quality Sampling - (part 2 of 3) Techniques and Methods for Discrete Sample Collection (SW & GW)

This session will cover the various techniques and methods used to collect a discrete water-quality sample.
It will include an overview of various discrete sampling equipment, conditions the equipment is appropriate for, techniques for using the equipment, introduction to sample processing and sample preservation.
Target audience: Staff who are interested or new(er) to collecting a discrete water-quality sample or will be in the future.

Class will Break from 9:30 to 10 am.

Speakers

Lee Bodkin

Wednesday July 17, 2024 9:00am - 10:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom B

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

10:00am CDT

ADCP Mid-Section Measurements – The Azimuth Method

A review of the theory, setup, common issues, and best practices in the use of the azimuth method for Acoustic Doppler Current Meters (ADCPs) during Mid-Section Measurements. The mid-section method for discharge computations using ADCPs is a useful tool for collecting discharge measurements when moving boat measurements are not possible or are extremely poor due to issues with bottom tracking, moving bed, river traffic, cable-car measurements, and ice measurements, or as an option for check measurements. The Azimuth Method utilizes the ADCP’s internal compass and a fixed Tagline Azimuth to calculate flow during stationing. This talk discusses common issues associated with tagline azimuths, compass calibration best practices, and differences between Sontek and RDI software. With knowledge of best practices as well as common errors encountered while utilizing the azimuth method, mid-section measurements can be produced with greater confidence while minimizing measurement uncertainty.

Speakers

Thomas Granger

Hydrologic Technician, USGS - SAWSC

Thomas is a hydrologic technician with SAWSC, in the Asheville Field Office. Previously, he has worked on riparian surveys in the high elevation Sierras in California and Western Colorado, along with extensive time conducting aquatic ecology surveys via airboat and helicopter in the... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:20am CDT
Midway 11

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By SAWSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

10:00am CDT

Hydroacoustic Resources

Overview of resoures avaliable to assist with Hydroacoustic issues and equipment

Speakers

Garret Welsh

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:20am CDT
Midway 1+2

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

10:00am CDT

Using Flowtracker2 for Water Temperature Cross Sections

Showing how to use flowtracker2 acoustic data to get a water temperature cross section at a site and looking at the data with the examples.

Speakers

Diana Phillips

Hydrologist, USGS NYWSC

Diana Phillips has a Bachelor of Science in both Environmental Science with a specialization in Sustainability Science and Policy and in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany, SUNY. Diana has a range of streamgaging experience including surface water, groundwater, water quality... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:20am CDT
Grand Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

10:00am CDT

Water Temperature Monitoring in the Illinois River Basin

Temperature is a principal driver for a variety of in-stream processes including but not limited to biotic activities, chemical reactions, and changes in fluid properties. Additionally, changes in precipitation patterns, snow cover, stream shading, groundwater inputs, and air temperature are driving factors for stream temperatures. The Illinois River Basin supports a variety of uses such as wildlife habitat, power generation, and recreation. Higher in-stream temperatures can lead to harmful algal blooms and other biological and chemical extremes that can cause diminished or toxic habitat for wildlife and limit the human use of streams and rivers within the Illinois River Basin.

As part of the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) project in the Illinois River Basin paired air and water temperature probes were deployed at 34 sites in 4 major tributaries to the Illinois River and includes monitoring upstream and downstream of 3 reservoirs. This broad spatial distribution using relatively low-cost temperature probes will provide a dataset that could be used to inform numerous research questions across disciplines and agencies.

The objective of this effort is two-fold: (1) to assess the effects of different environmental factors on temperature dynamics in surface water and, (2) to quantify the effect of reservoirs on stream temperature in reaches downstream of a dam. Specifically, what are the major drivers for stream temperatures within the Illinois River Basin and how do these drivers change seasonally or geographically within the basin.

Speakers

Luis Garcia

Lindsey Schafer

Lydia Shotton

Hydrologic Technician, USGS CMWSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

10:00am CDT

Media Training: Working with the News Media

This presentation will provide you with an overview on how to work with the news media and how to work with OCAP to respond to media inquiries.

Speakers

Mikaela Craig

Public Affairs Specialist, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Midway 6

10:00am CDT

Terrestrial lidar data collection, change detection, and accuracy assessment using a scanning total station along a shoreline in eastern Suffolk County, NY.

A combined point cloud of about 85.6 million points was collected during 27 scans of a section of the western shoreline along the Shinnecock Peninsula of Suffolk County, New York, to document baseline geospatial conditions during July and October 2022 using a scanning total station. The three-dimensional accuracy of the combined point cloud is assessed to identify potential systematic error sources associated with the surveying equipment and the novel methodology used to collect and field-register (data are oriented and aligned in real time) point cloud data. The accuracy of the combined point cloud was assessed in terms of relative and absolute reference frames. Relative accuracy provides a measure of error within the local coordinate system and is determined by combining the uncertainty associated with the position of the scan station (the point being occupied by the scanning total station during the scan), the uncertainty associated with the position of the network control points, and the uncertainty associated with the laser of the scanning total station. Assessment of the absolute accuracy includes these three potential error sources combined with the uncertainty associated with the geodetic coordinates to which the local control network is referenced. The combined overall relative horizontal and vertical accuracy of the point cloud is 0.0156 and 0.0241 meter, respectively, at the 95 percent confidence level; the combined overall absolute horizontal and vertical accuracy of the point cloud is 0.0374 and 0.0733 meter, respectively, at the 95 percent confidence level.
A second survey was conducted during March 2023 following a substantial erosion event associated with (unnamed) Winter Storm “Elliot” (weather channel assigned this unofficial name). A bare-earth digital elevation model was then created of “pre-storm” (1st survey) and “post-storm” (2nd survey) conditions. The pre-storm, bare-earth DEM, was then compared with the post-storm DEM to detect topographic (and shallow bathymetric) change along the western shoreline and determine areas/features that are most susceptible to erosion during a major coastal storm event. The distribution and magnitude of erosion and deposition, and potential volume changes, will be disseminated in a USGS scientific report.

Speakers

Michael Noll

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Midway 8

GNSS/SURVEYING, ANALYSIS

Presented By Geospatial Data and Vertical Datum (GDVD)
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 50 minutes

10:00am CDT

Show and Tell: Gage Installs, wiring to construction

DISCUSSION GROUP--This guided session aims to provide a venue for dialogue amongst those interested in gage construction. Utilizing the projector in the classroom we can share photos so have your photos handy and able to send them through email or teams

Speakers

Ernie McCoy

Hydrologic Technician, USGS-Dakota WSC

Hydrotech at the Grand Forks field office in North Dakota. I started as a student the summer of 09, graduated from UND with a bachelors degree in Environmental Geoscience. I stream gage, collect discrete samples and run continuous monitors collecting the big five.

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Midway 5

HIF & EQUIPMENT, SHOW AND TELL

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

10:00am CDT

The NEW HIF, same as the old HIF?

This session will provide an update on the HIF 2.0 facility. Along with a progress report on the facility's operations, this session will discuss the existing and new functions of the HIF, as well as the services available to WSCs and their hydrologic technicians.

Speakers

Christopher Wilson

Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Midway 10

HIF & EQUIPMENT, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

10:00am CDT

3D scanning and 3D design software for field equipment.

This presentation will cover how to use 3D CAD modeling software for designing of field equipment. There will be a discussion on the different types of 3D CAD modeling software, as well as demos. The second part of the presentation will be use of a 3D scanner and importing into CAD software.

The demo will be with Fusion 360, Free trials can be found here: F360 free trial.

Caution: Using the free trial or hobbist trial for government work or products is against the terms of service. Our use is for training purposes only. Do not install the free trial too early, or time may elapse before the class period.

We will be using an Einstar 3D scanner, and scanning equipment and inserting them into digital space.

Check out the Innovation Depot for cool things going on with design and testing!

Speakers

Bryce Redinger

Hydro Tech, USGS

I am a HydroTech out of the Carson City, NV office. I have been working for the USGS for just over 16 years. I have a passion for design and development of equipment and teaching. I am the training coordinator for the state of Nevada, and stream gage remote locations in Nevada as... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 11:20am CDT
Midway 9

COMPUTER TOOLS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 80 minutes

10:00am CDT

Give Feedback to Your Software Product Lead

Do you use any of these software applications? DECAP, MLR, Go2, AQUARIUS Time-Series, NWIS Reporting Application, QRev, RIVRS, Superfly, SVMAQ, SIMS/RMS, SLAP, WADERS. If you answered "yes" to any of them, please come to this listening session to meet the "Product Owner" (PO). The PO's job is to hear your needs and prioritize work on the application accordingly (within the constraints of budgets, of course...). So, please come meet your PO and share your feedback, ideas and concerns.

Speakers

Travis Knight

Hydrologist, USGS-HNB

Pete Ruhl

Laura Flight

Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS

ShortLaura began her USGS career in 1995 as a summer student and was hired full-time in 1997 as a Hydrologic Technician running surface water and groundwater field trips and computing records. Over time she started doing LDM duties, teaching courses, and testing NWIS applications... Read More →

Wade Walker

USGS AQ-TS Product Owner, USGS

Sonya Vasquez and Automated Records group members

Amber Jones

Physical Scientist/Product Owner, USGS

Melissa Riskin

National Water Quality Network Coordinator

Colleen Barr

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 11:20am CDT
Grand Ballroom B

COMPUTER TOOLS, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 80 minutes

10:00am CDT

Imagery and Remote Sensing Listening Session

In our NWDTW in Phoenix last year, we held an "unconference" listening session on non-contact and remote sensing-related work in USGS. This session was valuable for helping steer work over the next several months. We plan to hold another listening session with NWDTW attendees to hear your current successes, pain points, blockers, or visionary ideas directly from you. Come and participate in this open format discussion and help guide how we continue to leverage and grow Imagery and Remote Sensing science at USGS.

Speakers

Frank Engel

Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey

Me in a Sentence: Geographer and researcher passionate about developing new tools, technology, and apps using remote sensing to solve real-world problems.A bit more about me:I joined the Illinois WSC Data Section in 2012 while pursuing my Ph.D. in Geography and Civil Engineering... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:00am - 11:20am CDT
Midway 7

IMAGING/REMOTE SENSING, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 80 minutes

10:30am CDT

QATools: Newly Augmented Flag Criteria used by the OQA’s Time-Series Check tool for Groundwater Levels

This talk will provide an overview of the newly augmented flag criteria used by the OQA’s Time-Series Check tool for groundwater levels. The tool compares site-visit-collected electronic readings and tape downs for publicly viewable groundwater levels, and flags discrepancies that likely indicate errors. The tool has always incorporated the uncertainty of the tape-down measurement, and now it also incorporates the uncertainty of the electronic reading. The discussion will address uncertainty of electronic readings and of tape downs, including uncertainty fields in SVMAQ and AQTS and uncertainty computations for electronic readings based on manufacturer technical specifications.

Speakers

Michelle Sneed

Technical Quality Assurance Advisor for Groundwater Science, Office of Quality Assurance

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Midway 3+4

GROUNDWATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Office of Quality Assurance (OQA)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

10:30am CDT

Common Problems with ADCPs and Qms

Tips on detecting and correcting common problems found in ADCP measurements

Speakers

Nicholas Stasulis

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Midway 1+2

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

10:30am CDT

"How Do You Do?" Hiring the Right People

DISCUSSION GROUP--This guided session aims to provide a venue for dialogue amongst data chiefs, field office chiefs, and/or field office leadership on different strategies for recruiting and selecting the best possible candidates. We all understand the challenges with staffing, both hiring and retaining, but there are lessons that can be learned from each other. Specific topics may include effective recruiting, navigating the challenges in the hiring process, and keys to retaining your current staff. Outcomes of the discussion should be a better national level understanding of how to navigate the challenges with staffing and possibly a unified message that could be shared to encourage needed improvements.

Speakers

Jeremy White

Supv Hydrologic Technician, US Geological Survey

I have been in the VA-WV WSC for over 25 years and have had the opportunity to do work within many different water disciplines across my career. For the past 10+ years, I have served as the Field Office Chief for the Charleston, WV, office.

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Midway 11

LEADERSHIP, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Advanced
Duration 50 minutes

10:30am CDT

Q&A on Policies, Procedures, and Methods with HNB and OQA

During the plenary talks, attendees will hear about OQA and OCOO efforts to advance policies, procedures, and methods (PPM) development to support the Water Enterprise. This joint session, offered by the Hydrologic Network Branch (HNB) and Office of Quality Assurance (OQA), will allow attendees to ask questions about the new PPM Function, the PPM development process, and current priorities for PPM development in the coming year.

Speakers

Mike Rehmel

Tim Straub

Field Support and Research to Operations Supervisor, Hydrologic Networks Branch, Observing Systems Division, WMA

Molly Wood

Hydrologic Networks Branch Chief, USGS WMA

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Grand Ballroom A

LEADERSHIP, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

10:30am CDT

Discrete Water-Quality Sampling - (part 3 of 3) What Happens After a Discrete Water-Quality Sample has been Collected

This session will cover what has to be done after a discrete water-quality sample has been collected.
It will include sample processing methods and order, sample preservation, overview of sample shipping, completing paperwork and an introduction to data review options.
Target audience: Staff who are interested or new(er) to collecting a discrete water-quality sample or will be in the future.

Speakers

Lee Bodkin

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom B

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

10:30am CDT

Real-time Phosphorus: USGS Testing and Usage of Phosphorus Analyzers

Phosphorus data is an integral part of numerous scientific studies due to its role as a potential limiting nutrient. This presentation will demonstrate some successful ways to achieve real-time phosphorus data and results from testing six commercially available analyzers. Results cover usage, data quality, and common issues collecting real-time phosphorus.

Speakers

Colin Peake

Physical Scientist, USGS - CMWSC

I’m into all things continuous water quality! Expert in nutrient sensor technologies.

Wednesday July 17, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

1:00pm CDT

Poster Session

Meet and greet with the poster presenters. Posters will be available to browse all week.

Poster Presenters

Alexandra Adams

Andrew Knaak

Arthur Lilienthal

Hydrologist, USGS

Casey Lovato

Catherine Fargen

Elias Tejeda

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Emilie Kitterman

Hydrologic Technician, CAWSC USGS

Gordon Mcquaid

USGS

Hannah Davis

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Hannah is a Hydrologic Technician with the Pennsylvania Water Science Center. She has been with the U. S. Geological Survey since 2015 where she started as a hydro tech. After 1.5 years she moved to VA/WV WSC in Charleston WV for 6 years and then transferred back to PA. As part of... Read More →

Jacob Brinkman

Physical Scientist, USGS

Joe Borkovich

Hydrologist, USGS CAWSC

Presenting Poster with Jennifer Shelton

Lawrence Fujiwara

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Poster Session:Title: Utilizing ArcGIS Field Maps for Field Operations: Taking advantage of mobile phone apps. Released by Esri in 2020, the California Water Science Center Estuarine Hydrodynamics and sediment transport group has been utilizing the ArcGIS Field Map mobile app since... Read More →

Liam Kenefic

Marc Stewart

Deputy Director for Data, ORWSC

Matthew Petkewich

GW Specialist, USGS

Molly Wood

Hydrologic Networks Branch Chief, USGS WMA

Nick Van Nevel

Hydrologic Technician, KS WSC

Poster Session:"Development and Testing of Standard Operating Procedures for Meteorological Monitoring using Multi-Parameter Weather Instruments"The KSWSC has begun utilizing multi-parameter weather instruments (a Vaisala WXT536 and a Kestrel 5500 Weather Meter) for multiple projects... Read More →

Ryan Waters

Hydrologic Technician, KS WSC

Samantha Dittrich

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Victor Cortes

Vong Lor

Physical Scientist, USGS CAWSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Pegram

PLENARY

Presented By HDAC
Intended Audience General Audience

3:00pm CDT

RESCUE- Real-time Emergency System for Checking in and Updating Entries

We designed an application through power apps that will provide a more accurate account of those in a given facility. This new facility check-in will provide detailed information of staff and visitors present in a facility in the event of an emergency.

Speakers

Ayelet Delascagigas

CAWSC Field Safety Coordinator, USGS

Ayelet has been with the USGS since 2015 working as a Hydro tech with the CAWSC Bio Geo Chemistry. Her work focused on surface water quality issues and food web dynamics throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. She has her Bachelors in biochemistry... Read More →

Carlos Willis

IT Specialist, USGS

Interested in Power BI, Power Automate, and SharePoint things.

Sean Andrews

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Midway 8

SAFETY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By CAWSC Safety
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Preliminary Testing and Developments of the Next Generation Sampler: US-PD-21

Concerns over maintaining antiquated samplers and manufacturing techniques led to the determination that a new sampler design and production would be in the best interest of Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP) participating agencies (USGS, Bureau of Reclamation, Corps of Engineers, USDA). Applying current 3-D printing technology presents the possibility of producing one new generation sampler that could serve as both a depth- and point-integrating sampler. Components that would change the function of the sampler would be more economical to produce and reduce the cost of purchasing an entirely new sampler. 3-D printing materials will also allow many components of the sampler to be buoyant. This feature would improve recovery chances if the sampler head or parts were dropped in the water while working from a boat, therefore reducing replacement costs. Also, with sediment surrogate technology on the rise, a sampler designed to incorporate surrogate instrumentation would enhance sediment data-collection efforts.

Speakers

Tim Straub

Field Support and Research to Operations Supervisor, Hydrologic Networks Branch, Observing Systems Division, WMA

Michael Manning

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Grand Ballroom A

SEDIMENT, ANALYSIS

Presented By Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP)
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

3:00pm CDT

External laboratory data: An example workflow using scripting and other tools for data management, evaluation, approval, and upload

The USGS frequently uses external laboratories for analyses of discrete water-quality samples. For example, if a cooperator is interested in a constituent that the National Water Quality Lab (NWQL) does not analyze, the project team may identify a suitable laboratory that performs this analysis. However, if an external lab is not contracted through the NWQL, specific data management and approval procedures must be considered. Use of a non-contracted external lab may require staff to upload sample results to the National Water Information System (NWIS), and possibly complete the USGS’s formal laboratory evaluation process (LEP).

In this presentation, we will show an example workflow describing data management, LEP document preparation, QA/QC evaluation, and uploading results to WDFN through the USGS batch data loader (BDL). This workflow was developed by the California WSC Biogeochemistry (BGC) Group and uses scripting in both Python and R, and a Tableau data visualization tool to manage and evaluate external laboratory data. These tools have helped us streamline our process, saving time and reducing transcription errors. We receive numerous data files from external laboratories, and this workflow has increased the efficiency of publishing our data in NWIS. Other Centers could likely incorporate the tools we developed into their own processes to further enhance workflows for evaluating and using external laboratories.

Speakers

Maura Uebner

Hydrologic Technician / LDM

I currently work as a Hydrologic Technician with the Biogeochemistry Group (BGC) in the CAWSC. BGC primarily works in the San Francisco Bay-Delta region, where we operate a network of ~20 continuous water quality monitoring sites, perform wide-area high-speed water quality mapping... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:20pm CDT
Regency Ballroom B

WATER QUALITY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 20 minutes

3:00pm CDT

National Tech/Staff Exchange

Speakers

Maria Clemens

Hydrologic Technician, USGS - OKI WSC

Member of HDAC and NWDTW 2024 Planning Team

Andrew Gorman

USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Grand Ballroom B

Presented By HDAC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Water Level Confidence: Tackling Challenging Datum Issues with Automated GNSS Surveys

The California Water Science Center’s Estuarine Hydrodynamics team works in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (the Delta) and faces two main challenges with tying water level to datum. Challenges include: 1) long distances between land and gage infrastructure on pilings in the river (sometimes ~300m+). This makes it virtually impossible to use traditional leveling techniques. 2) land movement. The Delta is comprised of human-made levee systems that are susceptible to significant movement due to the organic soils of the region. Couple this with the movement of a given gage’s piling and it becomes extremely time consuming and costly to determine the accuracy of the water level’s data tied to datum.
The solution? Automate static GNSS surveys on every gage every week. We use a single board computer (SBC), GNSS Survey Grade Receiver, cellular modem, and datalogger to conduct a 12-hour static survey once per week. Once the survey is complete, the SBC packages the raw data, converts those data to a format the National Geodetic Survey’s Online Position User Service (OPUS) can ingest and then sends the converted file off to the USGS sFTP server as well as OPUS. Once the OPUS corrections have been made, we receive an email containing the corrected data and metadata and can then relate those data to our water level with much more confidence.

Speakers

Trevor Violette

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Midway 1+2

GNSS/SURVEYING, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 50 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Processing ADCP MidSection Discharge Measurements with QRevMS

QRevMS is an application used for processing and reviewing ADCP midsection discharge measurements. Like QRev, QRevMS processes data loaded from the manufacture data files using automated quality checks and data filtering. During this talk we will discuss the background of the application, the various settings throughout the user interface, and give a demonstration on the applications use.

Speakers

Travis Knight

Hydrologist, USGS-HNB

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Midway 6

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch non-contact activities and services

This presentation provides an overview of the non-contact activities that the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch (HRSB) performs or assists, with an eye toward how WSCs can benefit. We will discuss what the HRSB does and how we work with WSCs to use remote sensing and non-contact science to make their jobs easier.

Speakers

Jack Eggleston

Frank Engel

Geographer, U.S. Geological Survey

Carole Johnson

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 3:50pm CDT
Midway 5

IMAGING/REMOTE SENSING, ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 50 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Training Basics for Water Workforce Instructors and Presenters

Beyond subject matter expertise, developing effective training for any audience requires significant planning, organization, and attention to detail to ensure learners receive the maximum benefit. This session is geared toward new or aspiring instructors and presenters who want to learn about foundational training logistics, modalities, and delivery. Participants will gain insight into topics like venue selection, audience engagement, and creating accessible and helpful presentations.

Speakers

Grant Walters

Senior Learning & Development Advisor (Contractor) - Water Workforce Development & Training, United States Geological Survey/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Midway 10

LEADERSHIP, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Water Workforce Development & Training Function
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 80 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Feedback on public web delivery

Join Water Data for the Nation developers and product owners to experiment with or give feedback on public web delivery like the National Water Dashboard, Monitoring Location Pages, legacy NWISweb. This is an opportunity for the USGS community to give freeform feedback and ask questions about web delivery.

Speakers

Shawna Gregory

Water Data for the Nation Product Owner

Florence Thompson

Geographer, USGS OTWSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 3+4

COMPUTER TOOLS, LISTENING SESSION

Presented By WMA (Headquarters)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 110 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Telemetry Ingest and Dataflow for Non-Satellite Data Collection

The telemetry ingest dataflow (TID) project is part of the overall NWISmod initiative that is updating internal NWIS systems to meet with current technology. The objectives of the TID project are to provide Water Science-Centers with a centralized method and infrastructure to ingest non-satellite water-data into NWIS (Cellular and machine-to-machine). The goal of the system is to eliminate the burden on Science Centers that use various methods and workarounds to publish non-satellite telemetered data into the NWIS dataflow. This presentation will introduce the TID services and include discussions and examples of field logger setup, connection to the TID service, and modifications in DECAP that will accommodate new data sources.

Speakers

Jon Wilson

Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Laura Flight

Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS

Erich Kessler

Erich Kessler is a hydrologist within the Western Data section of the Upper Midwest Water Science Center. He is a technical point of contact for all things surface water related within his center. On a daily basis, he performs various LDM tasks related to data collection, such as... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 11

DATABASE (DBA/LDM/NWIS), ANALYSIS

Presented By Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB)
Intended Audience LDMs
Duration 110 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Continuous Groundwater Levels: Site selection, instrumentation, and servicing

This talk will present a basic overview of continuous groundwater data collection including discussion on site selection and conditions, and equipment selection, calibration, and installation. Procedures for a general site visit including discrete measurement, data download, equipment servicing, and site maintenance will be included.

Speakers

Lance Gruhn

Hydrologist, USGS

Lance Gruhn is a Hydrologist stationed in Iowa City, Iowa and is the groundwater technical and field support lead for the Hydrologic Networks Branck of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area. Lance coordinates the Groundwater Data Processing class and the Groundwater Field Techniques... Read More →

Michelle Sneed

Technical Quality Assurance Advisor for Groundwater Science, Office of Quality Assurance

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Grand Ballroom C

GROUNDWATER, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By OQA and HNB
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 110 minutes

3:00pm CDT

Field Site Safety Inspections using Field Activity Safety Tracking (FAST)

Field Activity Safety Tracking or FAST is a module that lives inside of Site Visit Mobile AQ or SVMAQ. This module can be used to replace paper forms used for Annual Site Safety Inspections. This application will increase compliance with mandatory annual site safety inspections and reduce administrative burden on field staff. Data recorded includes identification and classification of field hazards as well as real time reporting on needed site maintenance. Supervisors and safety staff alike can use data collected using the application to verify inspections are being completed, identify hazards, and even map different types of infrastructure on the landscape such as stilling wells. This application was funded by NOMS and developed by the Integrated Hydrology & Data Science Branch or IHDS in OTWSC in cooperation with the Southeast Region.

Speakers

Shelby Hunter

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 9

SAFETY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Office of the Southeast Region Director
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 110 minutes

3:00pm CDT

What to do after you've measured the "big one": USGS peak-flow data for Hydrologic Technicians

Annual peak streamflow data from USGS streamgages are a critical dataset engineers and hydrologists use for flood frequency analyses that inform bridge designs, floodplain maps, and other projects in and along rivers. Updated Federal guidelines for flood-frequency analysis (Bulletin 17C) were released in 2019, which allow for better use of information published by the USGS, such as censored (greater than or less than) data, and data sources outside of streamgage records, such as historic peaks. In this workshop, attendees will learn how annual peak-flow data are used, what peak flow qualification codes mean and when to use them, what flood information should be included in station descriptions and manuscripts in SIMS, the proper application of “highest since” notes to annual peaks, proper treatment of peak flows at crest-stage gages, and lots of other flood-related facts. An example streamgage will be analyzed with the PeakFQ software to demonstrate application of USGS data to a real-world flood-frequency problem.

Speakers

Daniel Wagner

Padraic O'Shea

Statistician, U.S. Geological Survey

Seth Siefken

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Regency Ballroom C

SURFACE WATER, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By WMA (Headquarters)
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 110 minutes

3:30pm CDT

Image Velocimetry in New York - Initial Results and Accuracy

A first look at the data coming out of the 50 new image velocimetry gages in New York is presented, including initial impressions of issues and successes, and comparison to select concurrent conventional measurements

Speakers

Christopher Macpherson

Hydrologist, USGS - NYWSC

I’ve been with the USGS for 10 years. I’m currently working on the NY camera expansion project and NGWOS groundwater/surface-water interactions in the Neversink River test bed. I like to explore cutting-edge technologies and thrive on unconventional problem-solving.

Chris Grindle

Physical Scientist, USGS

Started in the USGS with the VA/WV WSC in 2016. Currently work for the NYWSC undertaking a large expansion of their Imagery Gage network. I enjoy trying to use new methods and technologies to provide more high quality and relevant data. My focuses are in gage construction, equipment... Read More →

Elizabeth Nystrom

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Midway 8

IMAGING/REMOTE SENSING, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 20 minutes

3:30pm CDT

Top 5 Reasons Why Live Scope Sonar is Essential for Deploying Large Samplers in Large Rivers

Utilizing the newest sonar technology allows river sampling teams to greatly enhance their capability to view a sampler track during deployment. This essential tool allows the sampler operator to visualize in real-time, the ascending and descending location of the sampler throughout the water column. The active sonar screen information provides a clear side perspective of not only the position of the moving sampler, but upstream and downstream moving bed forms. During high water events which produce higher velocities, and increased depths, sampler cable payouts tend to differ from actual water depths due to drag on the tether cables and samplers. This unwanted effect can misinform operators of the sampler’s actual depth. Using Live Scope sonar technology greatly enhances an operator’s capability to deploy a sampler to precise depths and therefore avoiding unwanted bed contact or hazards.

Speakers

Michael Manning

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Midway 7

SEDIMENT, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Datalogger and Camera setup for Situational Awareness and Image Velocimetry

Increasing value is being placed on Image-based data collection for both situational awareness and remote measurement. NY WSC is investigating various camera hardware that can be effectively controlled using a Campbell Scientific CR1000x datalogger. A combination of techniques are being evaluated including: image capture and transmission to HIVIS for situational awareness, video capture for the purposes of computing discharge with image velocimetry. As these setups are power-hungry, power budgets play a very significant role on the success of these approaches.

Speakers

Martyn Smith

Hydrologic Applied Innovations Lab (HAIL), US Geological Survey

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Midway 8

IMAGING/REMOTE SENSING, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 20 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Building a flood detection and warning system using the internet-of-things

In response to the damage incurred due to recent extreme rainfall events, as well as the likely increasing frequency of such events due to global climate change, cities across the Nation are developing plans to prepare for future flash flood events. In 2021, the USGS, as part of the Next Generation Water Observing System, began installing a stormwater monitoring network in the cities of Madison, WI and Harwood Heights, IL. Part of this effort includes a vast network of LoRa-enabled sensors used to measure water levels in storm drains, pipes, and channels in areas that have a history of frequent flooding. While this effort was originally designed to facilitate calibration and validation of hydrologic models, it has since been revised to explore the potential to use this network as an early urban flood detection and warning system to city officials.

In the summer of 2023, multiple storm fronts passed through both Madison and Harwood Heights, creating flash flood events throughout the city. This presentation will highlight the performance of the flood detection and warning network for those events and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet-of-things compared to more traditional means of data collection and dissemination.

Speakers

Bill Selbig

Jim Duncker

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Midway 7

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Monitoring harmful algal blooms in two Colorado reservoirs using discrete and continuous water-quality sampling, and remote sensing

This information is intended for a presentation, rather than a training course.
Multiple techniques are being used in two Colorado reservoir systems (the Three Lakes System near Granby, Colorado, and Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison, Colorado) to monitor Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The techniques are continuous monitoring of fluorescence of total chlorophyll and phycocyanin, discrete sampling for chlorophyll-a and algal taxonomy, and construction of satellite (Sentinel 2) models mapping chlorophyll-a concentrations. In the presentation we will compare the results of the different monitoring techniques with the timing of HABs in the reservoirs. The different techniques have different utility in each of the reservoirs and used in combination help track the occurrence of HABs throughout the ice-free season.

Speakers

Katie Walton-Day

Tanner Chapin

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:20pm CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 20 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Using FRGS to Document Datum Conversion at Gaging Stations

This will walk the audience through how FRGS is being used in datum conversion at gaging stations. The presenter will use FRGS in real-time to demonstrate how FRGS interacts with the NGS database to begin planning for the campaign. Documentation of GNSS data collection in the field will be simulated. The presentation will conclude with a demonstration of how to use FRGS to assess the uncertainty of the GNSS survey and apply vertical adjustments. (If time allows, I will show an example of the tracking sheet that we use in SAWSC to pass datum metadata from the surveyor to a reviewer, and finally to our LDM)

Speakers

David Stillwell

Hydrographer, USGS

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 1+2

GNSS/SURVEYING, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Intermediate
Duration 50 minutes

4:00pm CDT

GPS and GPS Compasses with ADCPs

A review of setup and best practices in the use of GPS for both velocity and heading data with ADCPs

Speakers

Chany Huddleston Adrianza

Supervisory Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Chany is a supervisor for the New York Water Science Center Observing Systems Branch in Troy. She served as a member and chair of the Hydroacoustics Workgroup (HaWG 2019-2024) and spends a good amount of time involved in hydroacoustics testing, helping with classes offered by the... Read More →

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Grand Ballroom A

HYDROACOUSTICS, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Women’s Safety in the Field

There has been an expressed need for a greater focus on women’s safety in the field. As a whole, field safety is not just a concern for women, but for all employees. We will discuss overall field safety as well as the unique situations women might find themselves in.

Speakers

Sarina Little

Hydrologic Technician, USGS

Lara Chapman

Hydrologic Technician, United States Geological Survey

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 5

SAFETY, TIPS AND TRICKS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

4:00pm CDT

Show and Tell: QW Monitors Deployments

DISCUSSION GROUP--This guided session aims to provide a venue for dialogue amongst those interested in QW monitor deployments and other things related to QW monitors. Utilizing the projector in the classroom we can share photos so have your photos handy and able to send them through email or teams.

Speakers

Ernie McCoy

Hydrologic Technician, USGS-Dakota WSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm CDT
Grand Ballroom B

WATER QUALITY, SHOW AND TELL

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 50 minutes

4:30pm CDT

NGWOS Soil Moisture Sensing in the Delaware River Basin

As part of NGWOS efforts in the Delaware River Basin, a soil moisture sensing testbed was developed at a continuous records observation well, DE 723. Both proximal and in-situ sensors were installed utilizing both novel and traditional technologies. Likely the precursor to a soil moisture sensing techniques and methods (T&M), practices are being developed for calibration, installation, verification, and analysis. Over 100 time-series are being maintained and reviewed using AQ Time-Series. Beyond soil moisture content other time-series include meteorological parameters (i.e. solar flux, precipitation, wind speed, etc), cosmic ray neutron counts, and soil temperature. Discrete measurements used for verifying in-situ and proximal soil moisture sensors are also being made and include soil core grab samples, downhole nuclear magnetic resonance logs, and handheld soil moisture "check measurements". These efforts are advancing the USGS's ability to quantify water being stored in the soil zone, while also characterizing an underrepresented phase of the water cycle. Future work regarding computation of infiltration and recharge rates, prediction of streamflow responses, and quantification of drought conditions will all benefit from long-term soil moisture records established by the USGS.

Speakers

Patrick Anzman

Hydrologic Technician, USGS PAWSC

Mitchell Weaver

Hydrologist, PAWSC

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 8

GROUNDWATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience Introductory
Duration 20 minutes

4:30pm CDT

Autonomous Vessels for Improved Consistency In Hydrologic Surveying

The California Water Science Center’s Estuarine Hydrodynamics team has been utilizing autonomous, un-crewed surface vessels (USVs) to conduct ADCP and bathymetric surveys throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (the Delta). These vessels have become an invaluable tool. They reduce human-error by performing consistent, repeatable transects that have constant boat speeds, straight paths, and consistent starting and ending locations.
Using USVs certainly comes with some considerations. Users should consider transect locations (large, small, open, covered), navigational hazards (pilings, buoys, docks, debris, shipping lanes), sea and weather conditions (wind chop), potential for compass interference, and power.
After these considerations, the use of USVs has improved data collection and increased efficiency allowing for multiple cross-sections simultaneously without extra personnel.

Speakers

Trevor Violette

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Midway 7

SURFACE WATER, ANALYSIS

Presented By HAWG
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes

4:30pm CDT

Replacing the Hach Nitratax: Preliminary Laboratory and Field results from the NT3 series.

The Hach Nitratax has been extensively used by the USGS to collect real-time nitrate concentrations in surface waters. The Nitratax has been replaced by the NT3 series creating uncertainty about data quality and comparability to existing nitrate data. Preliminary results from laboratory and field testing the NT3 series will be shown.

Speakers

Colin Peake

Physical Scientist, USGS - CMWSC

I’m into all things continuous water quality! Expert in nutrient sensor technologies.

Wednesday July 17, 2024 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Regency Ballroom A

WATER QUALITY, ANALYSIS

Presented By Your WSC
Intended Audience General Audience
Duration 20 minutes