David J Holtschlag, PStat
Starting in 1976, I have had a successful and enjoyable career as a hydrologist with the USGS. During more than 40 years, I participated in numerous field and research studies to characterize water resources in Michigan and parts of the Great Lakes. I am grateful and indebted to my colleagues for their professionalism, inspiration, and helpfulness.
David actively serves as an USGS Scientist Emeritus.
Professional Studies/Experience
Served as the Surface-Water Specialist for the USGS Michigan Water Science Center. Developed both 1- and 2-dimensional hydrodynamic models of surface-water bodies on the Great Lakes Waterway, Ohio River, and numerous rivers in Michigan. An unsteady 1-dimensional model of St. Clair River was developed to quantify changes in conveyance properties along individual reaches of the river using water-level gaging station data distributed throughout St. Clair River. A 2-dimensional model of St. Clair-Detroit River was developed to identify source areas to public-water intakes. A two-dimension model of the Ohio River was used to characterize flow and the dispersion of point discharge constituents based on a study using dye injections. Carried out flood frequency analysis and flood hydraulic analysis using standard models. Developed an Bayesian network model of multivariate water-quality constituents on the White River in Indiana to estimate an unmeasured subset of constituents based on an arbitrarily selected subset of measured constituents. Developed mixed effects statistical models to characterize the effects of irrigation, land use, precipitation, and temperature on selected basins in southwestern Michigan.
Mentorship/Outreach
Assisted early career hydrologists in the application of advanced statistical models including the mixed effects models and spatial models of hydrologic phenomena.
Current Interest
Development of state-space models to sequentially update parameter estimates of spline functions describing stage-discharge relations based on individual discrete-flow measurements. Apply Kalman filtering and smoothing to provide real-time and finalized estimates of the magnitudes and uncertainties of unit flow data based on unit stage data.
Education and Certifications
University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S.. in Forestry, 1974
University of Minnesota, M'S. Forest Hydrology, 1976
Michigan State University, M'S. System Science, 1990
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Statistical Association, Accredited Professional Statistician
Science and Products
Simulation of ground-water flow in the Saginaw Aquifer, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, Michigan
A dynamical-systems approach for computing ice-affected streamflow
Simulation of ground-water flow in the Saginaw Aquifer, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, Michigan
A generalized estimate of ground-water-recharge rates in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Statistical models for estimating daily streamflow in Michigan
Changes in water quality of Michigan streams near urban areas, 1973-84
Cost effectiveness of stream-gaging program in Michigan
Stream discharge in Michigan - Miscellaneous measurements
Hydrology and land use in Van Buren County, Michigan
Statistical models for estimating flow characteristics of Michigan streams
Estimating generalized flood skew coefficients for Michigan
Flow model of Saginaw River near Saginaw, Michigan
Science and Products
Simulation of ground-water flow in the Saginaw Aquifer, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, Michigan
A dynamical-systems approach for computing ice-affected streamflow
Simulation of ground-water flow in the Saginaw Aquifer, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties, Michigan
A generalized estimate of ground-water-recharge rates in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Statistical models for estimating daily streamflow in Michigan
Changes in water quality of Michigan streams near urban areas, 1973-84
Cost effectiveness of stream-gaging program in Michigan
Stream discharge in Michigan - Miscellaneous measurements
Hydrology and land use in Van Buren County, Michigan
Statistical models for estimating flow characteristics of Michigan streams
Estimating generalized flood skew coefficients for Michigan
Flow model of Saginaw River near Saginaw, Michigan
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government