Rob Runkel
Rob is a Research Hydrologist with the USGS Colorado Water Science Center in Lakewood, CO.
Rob began his career with the USGS while he was a graduate student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado. Rob's expertise and experience includes the development and application of models to simulate constituent transport, the characterization of small watersheds affected by acid mine drainage, and the use of tracers to quantify constituent transport in surface waters.
Professional Experience
1992-Present Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
1989-1992 Research Engineer, University of Colorado, Center for Advanced Decision Support in Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES), Boulder, Colorado
1987-1989 Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Education and Certifications
Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, 1985, Computer Science and Environmental Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Master of Environmental Management, 1987, Water Resources, Duke University: Monte Carlo Analysis of the Surface Water Component for Land Disposal Restriction Determinations
Doctor of Philosophy, 1993, Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado: Development and Application of an Equilibrium-based Simulation Model for Reactive Solute Transport in Small Streams
Affiliations and Memberships*
Associate Editor, Water Resources Research, 2006–2014
Member, American Geophysical Union
Member, Society for Freshwater Science
Member, European Geosciences Union
Science and Products
Strontium isotopic systematics of mineralized and background water samples, Montezuma Mining District, Colorado
Effects of flow regime on metal concentrations and the attainment of water quality standards in a remediated stream reach, Butte, Montana
Non-invasive flow path characterization in a mining-impacted wetland
On the use of rhodamine WT for the characterization of stream hydrodynamics and transient storage
Use of natural and applied tracers to guide targeted remediation efforts in an acid mine drainage system, Colorado Rockies, USA
Streamflow and water-quality conditions including geologic sources and processes affecting selenium loading in the Toll Gate Creek watershed, Aurora, Arapahoe County, Colorado, 2007
Hydrologic controls on the transport and cycling of carbon and nitrogen in a boreal catchment underlain by continuous permafrost
Estimating instream constituent loads using replicate synoptic sampling, Peru Creek, Colorado
Using spatially detailed water-quality data and solute-transport modeling to improve support total maximum daily load development
Evaluating remedial alternatives for an acid mine drainage stream: A model post audit
Evaluating remediation alternatives for mine drainage, Little Cottonwood Creek, Utah, USA
One-Dimensional Transport with Equilibrium Chemistry (OTEQ) - A reactive transport model for streams and rivers
Science and Products
Strontium isotopic systematics of mineralized and background water samples, Montezuma Mining District, Colorado
Effects of flow regime on metal concentrations and the attainment of water quality standards in a remediated stream reach, Butte, Montana
Non-invasive flow path characterization in a mining-impacted wetland
On the use of rhodamine WT for the characterization of stream hydrodynamics and transient storage
Use of natural and applied tracers to guide targeted remediation efforts in an acid mine drainage system, Colorado Rockies, USA
Streamflow and water-quality conditions including geologic sources and processes affecting selenium loading in the Toll Gate Creek watershed, Aurora, Arapahoe County, Colorado, 2007
Hydrologic controls on the transport and cycling of carbon and nitrogen in a boreal catchment underlain by continuous permafrost
Estimating instream constituent loads using replicate synoptic sampling, Peru Creek, Colorado
Using spatially detailed water-quality data and solute-transport modeling to improve support total maximum daily load development
Evaluating remedial alternatives for an acid mine drainage stream: A model post audit
Evaluating remediation alternatives for mine drainage, Little Cottonwood Creek, Utah, USA
One-Dimensional Transport with Equilibrium Chemistry (OTEQ) - A reactive transport model for streams and rivers
*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