Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
Joanna Thamke
Joanna is currently the Center Director for the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. She works with the ORWSC's leadership team to guide more than 100 scientists, technicians, administrative and information technology professionals.
Joanna has been with the USGS since the mid-1980s and has spent most of her career in Helena, MT. Her projects focus on water quality, water availability, water use, and energy in the Williston Basin.
Science and Products
International Hydrological Studies of Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
The USGS serves as the lead agency for the United States to measure and apportion natural flows of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers according to the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the International Joint Commission Order of 1921. The division of water between the United States and Canada is overseen by the Accredited Officers of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers, who are appointed by their respective...
Flaxville Aquifer
The Flaxville aquifer is present in the northern and central parts of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and consists of sand and gravel that forms extensive plateaus and topographic benches used for dryland farming. Because many residents rely on groundwater as their primary water supply on the Reservation, the Flaxville and underlying aquifers are important sources of groundwater. The goal of this...
Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
Delineation of Brine Contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
Brine is a byproduct of crude oil production. Handling and disposal of brine during the last 50 years in the East Poplar oil field has resulted in contamination of not only the shallow Quaternary aquifers, but also the Poplar River. Previous investigations have documented and partially delineated the extent of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field during the early 1990s. In the 10 years...
Williston and Powder River Basins Groundwater Availability Study
The development of two nationally important energy-producing areas, the Williston structural basin (containing the Bakken Formation) and Powder River structural basin, provide a critical opportunity to study the water-energy nexus within a groundwater context. Large volumes of water are needed for energy development in these basins. The hydraulically connected aquifers in the regional glacial...
Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development
Project Period: 2016-ongoing Cooperator: U.S. Geological Survey Water Availability and Use Science Program Project Chiefs: Ryan McShane and Jeremy McDowell
Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation. Photo taken north of Lame Deer, Montana.
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation. Photo taken north of Lame Deer, Montana.
Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota
Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.
Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.
Watford water depot near the center of the Williston structural basin
Watford water depot. Water depots supply water for hydraulically-fractured oil and gas wells. The Watford City water depot is located near the center of the Williston structural basin
Watford water depot. Water depots supply water for hydraulically-fractured oil and gas wells. The Watford City water depot is located near the center of the Williston structural basin
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.
Wetland water depot south of Watford City, North Dakota
Wetland water depot. Some North Dakota ranchers have converted their wetland water rights for industrial use as water depots. Photo taken south of Watford City, North Dakota
Wetland water depot. Some North Dakota ranchers have converted their wetland water rights for industrial use as water depots. Photo taken south of Watford City, North Dakota
Scientist Taking Water Samples
Todd Preston, USGS contract scientist, collecting a surface-water sample from a Prairie Pothole wetland.
Todd Preston, USGS contract scientist, collecting a surface-water sample from a Prairie Pothole wetland.
Science and Products
International Hydrological Studies of Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
The USGS serves as the lead agency for the United States to measure and apportion natural flows of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers according to the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the International Joint Commission Order of 1921. The division of water between the United States and Canada is overseen by the Accredited Officers of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers, who are appointed by their respective...
Flaxville Aquifer
The Flaxville aquifer is present in the northern and central parts of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and consists of sand and gravel that forms extensive plateaus and topographic benches used for dryland farming. Because many residents rely on groundwater as their primary water supply on the Reservation, the Flaxville and underlying aquifers are important sources of groundwater. The goal of this...
Science Team about Energy and Plains and Potholes Environments (STEPPE)
Brine Contamination to Plains and Potholes Environments from Energy Development in the Williston Basin
Delineation of Brine Contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Northeastern Montana
Brine is a byproduct of crude oil production. Handling and disposal of brine during the last 50 years in the East Poplar oil field has resulted in contamination of not only the shallow Quaternary aquifers, but also the Poplar River. Previous investigations have documented and partially delineated the extent of brine contamination in the East Poplar oil field during the early 1990s. In the 10 years...
Williston and Powder River Basins Groundwater Availability Study
The development of two nationally important energy-producing areas, the Williston structural basin (containing the Bakken Formation) and Powder River structural basin, provide a critical opportunity to study the water-energy nexus within a groundwater context. Large volumes of water are needed for energy development in these basins. The hydraulically connected aquifers in the regional glacial...
Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development
Project Period: 2016-ongoing Cooperator: U.S. Geological Survey Water Availability and Use Science Program Project Chiefs: Ryan McShane and Jeremy McDowell
Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
Section of Prospect Creek where stream has no flow
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation. Photo taken north of Lame Deer, Montana.
The white stone outcrop is the Tongue River Formation. Photo taken north of Lame Deer, Montana.
Clinker formation near Medora, North Dakota
Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.
Clinker is formed whn rock units that overlie exposed burning coal seams are baked and fused. The red clinker is more resistant to erosion than non-baked adjacent Fort Union Formation sandstone and forms the caps of many plateaus and buttes.
Watford water depot near the center of the Williston structural basin
Watford water depot. Water depots supply water for hydraulically-fractured oil and gas wells. The Watford City water depot is located near the center of the Williston structural basin
Watford water depot. Water depots supply water for hydraulically-fractured oil and gas wells. The Watford City water depot is located near the center of the Williston structural basin
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.
Landscape near the northern Theodore Roosevelt National Park is characterized by the eroded Fort Union Formation.Photo is taken along Highway 85.
Wetland water depot south of Watford City, North Dakota
Wetland water depot. Some North Dakota ranchers have converted their wetland water rights for industrial use as water depots. Photo taken south of Watford City, North Dakota
Wetland water depot. Some North Dakota ranchers have converted their wetland water rights for industrial use as water depots. Photo taken south of Watford City, North Dakota
Scientist Taking Water Samples
Todd Preston, USGS contract scientist, collecting a surface-water sample from a Prairie Pothole wetland.
Todd Preston, USGS contract scientist, collecting a surface-water sample from a Prairie Pothole wetland.