Kristen Bukowski McSwain, P.G.
Biography
Education:
M.S. in Soil Science, North Carolina State University
Thesis: Groundwater-surface water interaction and nutrient retention within a floodplain of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina
B.S. in Geology, Georgia State University
Research Interests:
Temperature as a tracer in groundwater/surface-water interaction; Salt-water intrusion and its impact to coastal water supply; Use of stable isotopes to track groundwater movement; Groundwater monitoring for water supply and anthropogenic impact
Professional Experience:
July 2020 - Present: Physical Scientist, Office of Planning and Programming, USGS Water Mission Area
June 2019 - June 2020: Coordinator, Advisory Committee on Water Information, USGS Water Mission Area
November 2016 - June 2019: Groundwater Specialist, USGS, South Atlantic Water Science Center
January 2013 - November 2016: Hydrologist, USGS, Raleigh NC
January 2011 - January 2013: Student Trainee (Hydrology), USGS, Raleigh NC
November 2005 - January 2011: Hydrologist, USGS, Raleigh NC
February 2004-November 2005: Hydrogeologic Technician, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh NC
November 1999 - July 2001: Supervisory Hydrologist, USGS, Atlanta GA
June 1995 - November 1999: Hydrologist, USGS, Atlanta GA
November 1994 - June 1995: Geologist, Jordan, Jones, & Goulding, Atlanta GA
November 1992 - November 1994: Student Intern, USGS, Atlanta, GA
Science and Products
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Cooperative Matching Funds Projects
New projects from coast to coast will advance the research on harmful algal blooms (HABs) in lakes, reservoirs and rivers. The vivid emerald-colored algal blooms are caused by cyanobacteria, which can produce cyanotoxins that threaten human health and aquatic ecosystems and can cause major economic damage.
Groundwater/Surface Water Interaction near Ellerbe Creek, Durham, NC
Falls Lake has been included in the North Carolina Division of Water Quality’s 303(d) list of “impaired” waters, due to violations of the State chlorophyll-a standard caused by excessive nutrient inputs (North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, 2010a). The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has adopted nutrient management...
Evaluation of Nutrients in Durham County, North Carolina, Urban Streams
Falls Lake and Jordan Lake are included in the North Carolina Division of Water Quality's 303(d) list of "impaired" waters due to violations of the State chlorophyll-a standard caused by excessive nutrient inputs. Scientific data are needed allocate resources to achieve nutrient reduction targets have been adopted for the Falls Lake and Jordan Lake watersheds for stormwater, as well as for...
Hydrologic Assessment of New Hanover County, NC Aquifers
New Hanover County is one of the most populated areas along the North Carolina coastline and the population is projected to expand by 25 percent over the next 20 years. County managers and town planners are concerned about escalating demand for groundwater within the county and recognize the importance of high-quality drinking water to meet the demands of a growing population.
This...
Characterization of subsurface bedrock fractures at GMH Electronics EPA Superfund Site near Roxboro, NC
The US Environmental Protection designated a former electronics manufacturing facility as a Superfund cleanup site near Roxboro, North Carolina. Operations at a former gasoline station/store and electronic component production facility may have resulted in the presence of a volatile-organic compound (VOC) plume in groundwater in the area; referred to as the "GMH Electronics Site".
The...
South Atlantic Water Science Center Strategic Science Plan: 2019–23
Executive SummaryThe South Atlantic Water Science Center Strategic Science Planning Team has developed a unified strategic science plan to guide the science vision of the South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) in response to the merging of the Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina Water Science Centers. This plan proposes a path forward...
Cuffney, Thomas F.; Garcia, Ana M.; Horowitz, Arthur J.; LaFontaine, Jacob H.; Landmeyer, James E.; McKee, Anna M.; McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Painter, Jaime A.; Shelton, John M.; Smith, Christopher A.
Delineation of areas having elevated electrical conductivity, orientation and characterization of bedrock fractures, and occurrence of groundwater discharge to surface water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Barite Hill/Nevada Goldfields Superfund site near McCormick, South Carolina
During October 2012 through March 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, Superfund Section, conducted borehole geophysical logging, surface geophysical surveys, and water-quality profiling in selected wells and areas to characterize or delineate the extent of elevated...
Chapman, Melinda J.; Huffman, Brad A.; McSwain, Kristen Bukowski
Effect of land-applied biosolids on surface-water nutrient yields and groundwater quality in Orange County, North Carolina
Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids is the most common method of biosolids management used in North Carolina and the United States. Biosolids have characteristics that may be beneficial to soil and plants. Land application can take advantage of these beneficial qualities, whereas disposal in landfills or incineration poses no...
Wagner, Chad R.; Fitzgerald, Sharon A.; McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Harden, Stephen L.; Gurley, Laura N.; Rogers, Shane W.
Use of stable isotopes of nitrogen and water to identify sources of nitrogen in three urban creeks of Durham, North Carolina, 2011-12
A preliminary assessment of nitrate sources was conducted in three creeks that feed nutrient impaired Falls and Jordan Lakes in the vicinity of Durham County, North Carolina, from July 2011 to June 2012. Cabin Branch, Ellerbe Creek, and Third Fork Creek were sampled monthly to determine if sources of nitrate in surface water could be identified on...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Young, Megan B.; Giorgino, Mary L.
Hydrogeology, hydraulic characteristics, and water-quality conditions in the surficial, Castle Hayne and Peedee aquifers of the greater New Hanover County area, North Carolina, 2012-13
A major issue facing the greater New Hanover County, North Carolina, area is the increased demand for drinking water resources as a result of rapid growth. The principal sources of freshwater supply in the greater New Hanover County area are withdrawals of surface water from the Cape Fear River and groundwater from the underlying Castle Hayne and...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Gurley, Laura N.; Antolino, Dominick J.
Hydrogeology, groundwater seepage, nitrate distribution, and flux at the Raleigh hydrologic research station, Wake County, North Carolina, 2005-2007
rom 2005 to 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, conducted a study to describe the geologic framework, measure groundwater quality, characterize the groundwater-flow system, and describe the groundwater/surface-water interaction at the 60-acre Raleigh...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Bolich, Richard E.; Chapman, Melinda J.
Determination of flow losses in the Cape Fear River between B. Everett Jordan Lake and Lillington, North Carolina, 2008-2010
During 2008-2010, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a hydrologic investigation in cooperation with the Triangle J Council of Governments Cape Fear River Flow Study Committee and the North Carolina Division of Water Resources to collect hydrologic data in the Cape Fear River between B. Everett Jordan Lake and Lillington in central North Carolina...
Weaver, J. Curtis; McSwain, Kristen Bukowski
Distribution of transmissivity and yield of the surficial, Castle Hayne, and Peedee aquifers in Northern New Hanover County, North Carolina
Data were collected from more than 230 wells in northern New Hanover County, North Carolina, to evaluate the distribution of transmissivity and yield of the surficial, Castle Hayne, and Peedee aquifers of the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. Constant-rate,single-well aquifer test data were obtained and analyzed to calculate additional...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Nagy, Laura A.
Groundwater level and specific conductance monitoring at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, Onslow County, North Carolina, 2007-2008
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, monitored water-resources conditions in the surficial, Castle Hayne, Peedee, and Black Creek aquifers in Onslow County, North Carolina, from November 2007 through September 2008. To comply with North Carolina Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area regulations,...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski
Summary and statistical analysis of precipitation and groundwater data for Brunswick County, North Carolina, Water Year 2008
Groundwater conditions in Brunswick County, North Carolina, have been monitored continuously since 2000 through the operation and maintenance of groundwater-level observation wells in the surficial, Castle Hayne, and Peedee aquifers of the North Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system. Groundwater-resource conditions for the Brunswick County area...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Strickland, A.G.
Water-Resources Data and Hydrogeologic Setting at the Raleigh Hydrogeologic Research Station, Wake County, North Carolina, 2005-2007
Water-resources data were collected to describe the hydrologic conditions at the Raleigh hydrogeologic research station, located in the Piedmont Physiographic Province of North Carolina. Data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, from May 2005...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski; Bolich, Richard E.; Chapman, Melinda J.; Huffman, Brad A. Summary of Ground-Water Data for Brunswick County, North Carolina, Water Year 2007
Ground-water availability in Brunswick County, North Carolina, has been monitored continuously since 2000 through the operation and maintenance of ground-water-level observation wells in the surficial, Castle Hayne, Peedee, and Black Creek aquifers of the North Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system. Ground-water-resource conditions for the...
McSwain, Kristen Bukowski