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Scott Ducar

Scott Ducar is a hydrologist with the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise, Idaho.

Scott is involved with various field-based and remote sensing studies throughout Idaho. He has experience in both groundwater and surface-water quality, and his recent work includes sediment transport modeling, remote sensing of water quality, and land-use impacts on small alluvial streams.

Professional Experience

  • Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Water Science Center, August 2021 – Present 

  • Student Contractor, U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Water Science Center, September 2020 – August 2021 

  • Researcher, Idaho Geological Survey, May 2019 – September 2020 

  • Staff Geologist, PNG Environmental INC., November 2015 – July 2018 

  • Well-site Geologist, High Plains Consulting LLC, June 2014 – October 2015 

Education and Certifications

  • Professional Geologist, PGL - 1765

  • M.S. Hydrological Sciences, 2020, Boise State University

  • B.S. Geological Sciences, Hydrogeology Option, 2014, University of Idaho

Science and Products

link
Rock Creek, south-central Idaho

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Camas Prairie, Southern Idaho

Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Camas Prairie, Southern Idaho

Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a...
Learn More
link
Groundwater-Level Measurement, Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Residents, businesses, agricultural producers, and Mountain Home Air Force Base all rely on the Mountain Home Plateau's groundwater resources. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about the sustainability of the regional aquifer. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs updated information about the groundwater resources of the Mountain Home Plateau to help administer water...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Residents, businesses, agricultural producers, and Mountain Home Air Force Base all rely on the Mountain Home Plateau's groundwater resources. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about the sustainability of the regional aquifer. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs updated information about the groundwater resources of the Mountain Home Plateau to help administer water...
Learn More
link
Measuring Discharge with an ADCP, Clear Lakes Spring, Idaho

Estimating Spring Discharge to the Snake River, Milner Dam to King Hill, Southern Idaho

Groundwater discharges to the Snake River from numerous volcanic rock springs along the northern canyon wall between Milner Dam and King Hill. Water-resource managers need to be able to quantify the amount of this water to understand the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer's recharge, storage, and discharge. When completed, this study will provide the Idaho Department of Water Resources with an...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Estimating Spring Discharge to the Snake River, Milner Dam to King Hill, Southern Idaho

Groundwater discharges to the Snake River from numerous volcanic rock springs along the northern canyon wall between Milner Dam and King Hill. Water-resource managers need to be able to quantify the amount of this water to understand the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer's recharge, storage, and discharge. When completed, this study will provide the Idaho Department of Water Resources with an...
Learn More
link
USGS hydrologic technicians collect a sediment sample from the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River

Sediment Transport in the Yankee Fork Salmon River

The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River is one of the larger watersheds in the upper Salmon River subbasin of central Idaho. Mining activities since the late 19th century, specifically placer mining and associated dredging from 1940 to 1953, have left the fluvial system in a highly altered and unnatural state. To improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the Yankee Fork, the Bureau of Reclamation and...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Sediment Transport in the Yankee Fork Salmon River

The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River is one of the larger watersheds in the upper Salmon River subbasin of central Idaho. Mining activities since the late 19th century, specifically placer mining and associated dredging from 1940 to 1953, have left the fluvial system in a highly altered and unnatural state. To improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the Yankee Fork, the Bureau of Reclamation and...
Learn More
link
Image: Owyhee Canyonlands Streamgage Installation

Streamflow Evaluation for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness

Several river segments in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness have been designated as “Wild and Scenic” under the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This designation is intended to protect the “outstanding remarkable values” (ORVs) in this area—specifically fish and wildlife habitat, scenic and geological features, and recreational opportunities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Streamflow Evaluation for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness

Several river segments in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness have been designated as “Wild and Scenic” under the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This designation is intended to protect the “outstanding remarkable values” (ORVs) in this area—specifically fish and wildlife habitat, scenic and geological features, and recreational opportunities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is...
Learn More

Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours and well numbers used to map groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022 in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Ida

Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours for spring 2022 (April 4 to 8, 2022) and autumn 2022 (October 30 to November 4, 2022) were created for the alluvial aquifer in Big Lost River Valley. The well numbers and station names used to create the potentiometric-surface contours and groundwater-level change maps are provided in this data release. The location, depth to water, and potentiometric-su
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Streamflow regressions and annual and semimonthly exceedance probability statistics for wild and scenic rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, used streamflow measurements at 11 partial-record sites and related them to nearby USGS or Idaho Power Company real-time streamgages (index sites) to provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites within the Wild and Scenic River of the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, Idaho. Daily mean stre
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Streamflow regressions and daily mean streamflow estimates for Kootenai River tributaries near Bonners Ferry, Idaho (ver 2.0, January 2023)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, used streamflow measurements at 14 partial-record sites and related them to nearby USGS real-time streamgages (index sites) to provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites. Daily mean streamflow was estimated by developing a regression relationship between streamflow at each partial-record
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Potentially Resolvable National Hydrography Dataset Waterbodies and Flowlines from Landsat Images in the United States (excluding Alaska)

This data release presents two datasets including waterbodies (reservoirs, lakes, ponds, wetlands, etc.) and flowlines (stream reaches) from the high-resolution National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus HR) that are potentially observable from Landsat images for the United States (excluding Alaska). To determine where National Hydrography Dataset Plus high resolution (NHDPlus HR; USGS 2019) featu
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Synthetic streamflow regressions and daily mean streamflow estimates at three sites on the Yankee Fork Salmon River near Clayton, ID, Water Years 2012-2019

To provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites within the Yankee Fork Salmon River watershed, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, used discharge measurements at three partial-record sites and related those measurements to a nearby USGS real-time streamgage (index site). Daily mean streamflow was estimated by developing a reg
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022, in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey and the Idaho Department of Water Resources measured groundwater levels during spring 2022 and autumn 2022 to create detailed potentiometric-surface maps for the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley in south-central Idaho. Wells were assigned to shallow, intermediate, and deep water-bearing units based on well depth, groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude,
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample near Meadow Creek, Washington, for mercury analysis. Baldwin and USGS colleagues conducted a study of mercury mobilization, methylation, and bioaccumulation in aquatic insects in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest burned by wildfire.

By
Idaho Water Science Center
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample near Meadow Creek, Washington, for mercury analysis. Baldwin and USGS colleagues conducted a study of mercury mobilization, methylation, and bioaccumulation in aquatic insects in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest burned by wildfire.

By
Idaho Water Science Center

Mapping the probability of freshwater algal blooms with various spectral indices and sources of training data

Algal blooms are pervasive in many freshwater environments and can pose risks to the health and safety of humans and other organisms. However, monitoring and tracking of potentially harmful blooms often relies on in-person observations by the public. Remote sensing has proven useful in augmenting in situ observations of algal concentration, but many hurdles hinder efficient application by end user
Authors
Tyler Victor King, Stephen Hundt, Konrad Hafen, Victoria G. Stengel, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Updated annual and semimonthly streamflow statistics for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, southwestern Idaho, 2021

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), continued streamflow data collection in water years 2013–21 to update daily streamflow regressions and annual and semimonthly streamflow statistics initially developed in 2012 for streams designated as “wild,” “scenic,” or “recreational” under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wi
Authors
Taylor J. Dudunake, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center

Sediment transport in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho, water years 2012–19

Placer and dredging operations in the Yankee Fork Basin, Idaho, have left more than 5 miles of the lower Yankee Fork of the Salmon River (Yankee Fork) in a highly altered fluvial condition, resulting in poor habitat quantity and quality for native fish species. Since 2011, the Bureau of Reclamation and other stakeholders have implemented a series of restoration efforts to improve the connectivity
Authors
Gregory M. Clark, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center

Science and Products

link
Rock Creek, south-central Idaho

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Camas Prairie, Southern Idaho

Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Camas Prairie, Southern Idaho

Southern Idaho's Camas Prairie is a 730-square-mile basin nestled between the Mount Bennett Hills and the Soldier Mountains and drained by Camas Creek. The area is culturally significant to native peoples who have gathered the bulbs of the common camas for food. Since the late 19th century, the basin has also been an important agricultural area. Camas Creek contributes water to Magic Reservoir, a...
Learn More
link
Groundwater-Level Measurement, Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Residents, businesses, agricultural producers, and Mountain Home Air Force Base all rely on the Mountain Home Plateau's groundwater resources. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about the sustainability of the regional aquifer. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs updated information about the groundwater resources of the Mountain Home Plateau to help administer water...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Characterizing the Water Resources of the Mountain Home Plateau, Southern Idaho

Residents, businesses, agricultural producers, and Mountain Home Air Force Base all rely on the Mountain Home Plateau's groundwater resources. Declining groundwater levels raise concerns about the sustainability of the regional aquifer. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) needs updated information about the groundwater resources of the Mountain Home Plateau to help administer water...
Learn More
link
Measuring Discharge with an ADCP, Clear Lakes Spring, Idaho

Estimating Spring Discharge to the Snake River, Milner Dam to King Hill, Southern Idaho

Groundwater discharges to the Snake River from numerous volcanic rock springs along the northern canyon wall between Milner Dam and King Hill. Water-resource managers need to be able to quantify the amount of this water to understand the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer's recharge, storage, and discharge. When completed, this study will provide the Idaho Department of Water Resources with an...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Estimating Spring Discharge to the Snake River, Milner Dam to King Hill, Southern Idaho

Groundwater discharges to the Snake River from numerous volcanic rock springs along the northern canyon wall between Milner Dam and King Hill. Water-resource managers need to be able to quantify the amount of this water to understand the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer's recharge, storage, and discharge. When completed, this study will provide the Idaho Department of Water Resources with an...
Learn More
link
USGS hydrologic technicians collect a sediment sample from the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River

Sediment Transport in the Yankee Fork Salmon River

The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River is one of the larger watersheds in the upper Salmon River subbasin of central Idaho. Mining activities since the late 19th century, specifically placer mining and associated dredging from 1940 to 1953, have left the fluvial system in a highly altered and unnatural state. To improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the Yankee Fork, the Bureau of Reclamation and...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Sediment Transport in the Yankee Fork Salmon River

The Yankee Fork of the Salmon River is one of the larger watersheds in the upper Salmon River subbasin of central Idaho. Mining activities since the late 19th century, specifically placer mining and associated dredging from 1940 to 1953, have left the fluvial system in a highly altered and unnatural state. To improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in the Yankee Fork, the Bureau of Reclamation and...
Learn More
link
Image: Owyhee Canyonlands Streamgage Installation

Streamflow Evaluation for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness

Several river segments in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness have been designated as “Wild and Scenic” under the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This designation is intended to protect the “outstanding remarkable values” (ORVs) in this area—specifically fish and wildlife habitat, scenic and geological features, and recreational opportunities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is...
By
Idaho Water Science Center
link

Streamflow Evaluation for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness

Several river segments in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness have been designated as “Wild and Scenic” under the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This designation is intended to protect the “outstanding remarkable values” (ORVs) in this area—specifically fish and wildlife habitat, scenic and geological features, and recreational opportunities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is...
Learn More

Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours and well numbers used to map groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022 in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Ida

Groundwater potentiometric-surface contours for spring 2022 (April 4 to 8, 2022) and autumn 2022 (October 30 to November 4, 2022) were created for the alluvial aquifer in Big Lost River Valley. The well numbers and station names used to create the potentiometric-surface contours and groundwater-level change maps are provided in this data release. The location, depth to water, and potentiometric-su
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Streamflow regressions and annual and semimonthly exceedance probability statistics for wild and scenic rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, used streamflow measurements at 11 partial-record sites and related them to nearby USGS or Idaho Power Company real-time streamgages (index sites) to provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites within the Wild and Scenic River of the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, Idaho. Daily mean stre
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Streamflow regressions and daily mean streamflow estimates for Kootenai River tributaries near Bonners Ferry, Idaho (ver 2.0, January 2023)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, used streamflow measurements at 14 partial-record sites and related them to nearby USGS real-time streamgages (index sites) to provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites. Daily mean streamflow was estimated by developing a regression relationship between streamflow at each partial-record
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Potentially Resolvable National Hydrography Dataset Waterbodies and Flowlines from Landsat Images in the United States (excluding Alaska)

This data release presents two datasets including waterbodies (reservoirs, lakes, ponds, wetlands, etc.) and flowlines (stream reaches) from the high-resolution National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus HR) that are potentially observable from Landsat images for the United States (excluding Alaska). To determine where National Hydrography Dataset Plus high resolution (NHDPlus HR; USGS 2019) featu
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Synthetic streamflow regressions and daily mean streamflow estimates at three sites on the Yankee Fork Salmon River near Clayton, ID, Water Years 2012-2019

To provide daily mean streamflow values at ungaged (partial-record) sites within the Yankee Fork Salmon River watershed, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, used discharge measurements at three partial-record sites and related those measurements to a nearby USGS real-time streamgage (index site). Daily mean streamflow was estimated by developing a reg
By
Idaho Water Science Center

Groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude in 2022 and groundwater-level changes between 1968, 1991, and 2022, in the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley, south-central Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey and the Idaho Department of Water Resources measured groundwater levels during spring 2022 and autumn 2022 to create detailed potentiometric-surface maps for the alluvial aquifer in the Big Lost River Valley in south-central Idaho. Wells were assigned to shallow, intermediate, and deep water-bearing units based on well depth, groundwater potentiometric-surface altitude,
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample near Meadow Creek, Washington, for mercury analysis. Baldwin and USGS colleagues conducted a study of mercury mobilization, methylation, and bioaccumulation in aquatic insects in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest burned by wildfire.

By
Idaho Water Science Center
USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

USGS research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample from a watershed burned by wildfire

U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist Austin Baldwin collects a soil sample near Meadow Creek, Washington, for mercury analysis. Baldwin and USGS colleagues conducted a study of mercury mobilization, methylation, and bioaccumulation in aquatic insects in headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest burned by wildfire.

By
Idaho Water Science Center

Mapping the probability of freshwater algal blooms with various spectral indices and sources of training data

Algal blooms are pervasive in many freshwater environments and can pose risks to the health and safety of humans and other organisms. However, monitoring and tracking of potentially harmful blooms often relies on in-person observations by the public. Remote sensing has proven useful in augmenting in situ observations of algal concentration, but many hurdles hinder efficient application by end user
Authors
Tyler Victor King, Stephen Hundt, Konrad Hafen, Victoria G. Stengel, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Updated annual and semimonthly streamflow statistics for Wild and Scenic Rivers, Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness, southwestern Idaho, 2021

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), continued streamflow data collection in water years 2013–21 to update daily streamflow regressions and annual and semimonthly streamflow statistics initially developed in 2012 for streams designated as “wild,” “scenic,” or “recreational” under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in the Owyhee Canyonlands Wi
Authors
Taylor J. Dudunake, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center

Sediment transport in the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho, water years 2012–19

Placer and dredging operations in the Yankee Fork Basin, Idaho, have left more than 5 miles of the lower Yankee Fork of the Salmon River (Yankee Fork) in a highly altered fluvial condition, resulting in poor habitat quantity and quality for native fish species. Since 2011, the Bureau of Reclamation and other stakeholders have implemented a series of restoration efforts to improve the connectivity
Authors
Gregory M. Clark, Scott D. Ducar
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center
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