Tanja N. Williamson, PhD
Soil-water scientist experienced in natural and human-affected systems, including links with vegetation and landscape dynamics. Research interest spans landscape and water-resource effects of agriculture, mining, development, and climate change. Published research supported by OSMRE, USDA, NSF, USEPA, USGS, state agencies, and universities.
Recent and ongoing research includes:
- Hydrologic modeling of mixed land-use watersheds
- the importance of land-cover change to streamflow magnitude, variability, and seasonality
- developing decision-support systems that inform resource managers
- Incorporation of soil-physical data into hydrologic modeling
- Comparison of lab and field measurements to modeled soil properties
- Sensitivity of hydrologic models to changes in soil properties
- Simulation of hydrologic response from landscape reconstruction
- Temporal variability of soil-water storage and movement
- Agricultural resilience under projected climate change
- Delineation of ephemeral and intermittent streams in Appalachia
- Conservation management in agricultural landscapes
- Identifying sediment source
- Linking soil-water storage with the stream environment
- Extent and characteristics of tile-drains (sub-surface agricultural drainage)
Education
Ph.D. Soil and Water Science (Pedology), University of California, Riverside, 1999
M.S. Earth Science (Geomorphology), University of California, Riverside, 1995
B.S. Geoscience, The Pennsylvania State University, 1992 (includes PSU Field Camp)
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey
- Research Hydrologist, Kentucky Water Science Center (2010 to present)
- Hydrologist, Kentucky Water Science Center (2006 to 2010)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky (2016 to present)
Quinte Conservation, Belleville, ON, Canada (2006)
Loyalist College, Belleville, ON, Canada (2004-2005)
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, Geosciences (1999-2004)
Science and Products
Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky.
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota
Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010
Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin
Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018
Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Fluvial-target samples
Sources of Pathogens, Nutrients, and Sediment in the Upper Little River Basin, Kentucky (2012-14)
Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions
Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites
The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds
Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana
Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology
Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes
Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds
Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin
Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060
Delineation of tile-drain networks using thermal and multispectral imagery—Implications for water quantity and quality differences from paired edge-of-field sites
Multiple-source tracking: Investigating sources of pathogens, nutrients, and sediment in the Upper Little River Basin, Kentucky, water years 2013–14
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.
Science and Products
Low-altitude visible imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Indiana Surface Water 1 and 2
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 4 and 5
Low-altitude visible, multispectral, and thermal-infrared imagery from edge-of-field monitoring sites for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Wisconsin Surface Water 3
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Little River, Kentucky.
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in the West Fork of Beaver Creek, Minnesota
Sources of fine-grained sediment in the Linganore Creek Watershed, Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland, 2008-2010
Database for the Water Availability Tool for Environmental Resources for the Delaware River Basin
Water quality of precipitation and streamflow, with air temperature data, in four Kentucky, Appalachian watersheds - 1971 to 2018
Hydrologic simulations for Robinson Forest and Reclaimed Mineland Soils
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Source samples
Chemical and physical data for sediment source fingerprinting of suspended and bottom sediment in Black Creek, Indiana, tributary to the Maumee River and western Lake Erie - Fluvial-target samples
Sources of Pathogens, Nutrients, and Sediment in the Upper Little River Basin, Kentucky (2012-14)
Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations in the Maumee River and tributaries during 2019 rain-induced fallow conditions
Workflow for using unmanned aircraft systems and traditional geospatial data to delineate agricultural drainage tiles at edge-of-field sites
The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds
Climate change impacts and strategies for adaptation for water resource management in Indiana
Monthly suspended-sediment apportionment for a western Lake Erie agricultural tributary
Hydrologic modeling to examine the influence of the forestry reclamation approach and climate change on mineland hydrology
Overall results and key findings on the use of UAV visible-color, multispectral, and thermal infrared imagery to map agricultural drainage pipes
Tracking phosphorus and sediment sources and transport from fields and channels in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative priority watersheds
Reduced soil macropores and forest cover reduce warm-season baseflow below ecological thresholds in the upper Delaware River Basin
Sensitivity of streamflow simulation in the Delaware River Basin to forecasted land‐cover change for 2030 and 2060
Delineation of tile-drain networks using thermal and multispectral imagery—Implications for water quantity and quality differences from paired edge-of-field sites
Multiple-source tracking: Investigating sources of pathogens, nutrients, and sediment in the Upper Little River Basin, Kentucky, water years 2013–14
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.