Jeff P Raffensperger, Ph.D.
Dr. Jeff Raffensperger is a hydrologist in the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center. He has led or collaborated on studies of hydrologic processes, water quality, and modeling. He has been a member of several National Teams working to improve estimation of water budgets, with a research focus on groundwater discharge and base flow to streams and rivers.
Professional Experience
2009-present: HYDROLOGIST, USGS MD-DE-DC WSC
Member, National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Team, National Water Budget Estimation and Evaluation (WBEEP) Team, and the Water Budget Baseline (WBB) Team, investigating sources of streamflow.
2006-2023: GROUNDWATER SPECIALIST, USGS MD-DE-DC WSC
Responsible for overall quality of groundwater science and data for the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center.
Leader, Data Quality Management Team, 2014-2017. Member, 2017-present. Worked closely with database administrators to develop and implement data-quality assurance processes.2004-09: HYDROLOGIST/RESEARCH HYDROLOGIST, USGS MD-DE-DC WSC
Project chief, Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring project, 2005-07. Managed project resources and data collection at four major river water-quality sites. Developed new methods for analyzing and communicating results of load and trend estimation (using ESTIMATOR) to Cooperators.
1999-2004: SUPERVISORY HYDROLOGIST, USGS MD-DE-DC WSC
Supervisory responsibility for the Watershed Studies Section. Wrote work plan and managed the DE Inland Bays HSPF model project. Co-authored Delaware Inland Bays HSPF model report. Developed new studies and wrote work plans for the Potomac TMDL, Mattawoman Creek, and Anacostia River water-quality projects.
2009-2022: LECTURER, The Johns Hopkins University, Engineering for Professionals, Baltimore, MD.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Hydrogeology, 1993, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
M.A. in Hydrogeology, 1990, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
M.S. in Geology, 1988, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
B.S. in Geology (Cum Laude), 1985, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Science and Products
Geology, hydrology, and groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Central Chemical facility, Hagerstown, Maryland
Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050
Simulated effects of sea-level rise on the shallow, fresh groundwater system of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Simulation of groundwater flow in the aquifer system of the Anacostia River and surrounding watersheds, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Estimation of base flow by optimal hydrograph separation for the conterminous United States and implications for national-extent hydrologic models
Optimal hydrograph separation using a recursive digital filter constrained by chemical mass balance, with application to selected Chesapeake Bay watersheds
Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and refined conceptual model of groundwater flow for Coastal Plain aquifers at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2005-12
Hydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2009-12
Old groundwater in parts of the upper Patapsco aquifer, Atlantic Coastal Plain, Maryland, USA: Evidence from radiocarbon, chlorine-36 and helium-4
Simulation of groundwater flow to assess future withdrawals associated with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey science for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and implications for environmental management
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Modeling Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Coding and Statistical Data Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Groundwater Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
USGS-Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Model
MODFLOW-NWT model with SWI2 used to evaluate the water-table response of sea-level rise and change in recharge, Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia:
Base flow estimation via optimal hydrograph separation at CONUS watersheds and comparison to the National Hydrologic Model - Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System by HRU calibrated version
Hydrograph-separation results for 225 streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed derived by using PART, HYSEP (Fixed, Local minimum, Slide), BFI, and a Recursive Digital Filter with streamflow data ranging from 1913 through 2016
Science and Products
Geology, hydrology, and groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Central Chemical facility, Hagerstown, Maryland
Hydrogeologic characterization of Area B, Fort Detrick, Maryland
Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050
Simulated effects of sea-level rise on the shallow, fresh groundwater system of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Simulation of groundwater flow in the aquifer system of the Anacostia River and surrounding watersheds, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Estimation of base flow by optimal hydrograph separation for the conterminous United States and implications for national-extent hydrologic models
Optimal hydrograph separation using a recursive digital filter constrained by chemical mass balance, with application to selected Chesapeake Bay watersheds
Hydrogeologic framework, hydrology, and refined conceptual model of groundwater flow for Coastal Plain aquifers at the Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2005-12
Hydrogeologic characterization and assessment of bioremediation of chlorinated benzenes and benzene in wetland areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2009-12
Old groundwater in parts of the upper Patapsco aquifer, Atlantic Coastal Plain, Maryland, USA: Evidence from radiocarbon, chlorine-36 and helium-4
Simulation of groundwater flow to assess future withdrawals associated with Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey science for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and implications for environmental management
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.