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Mike McHale
Mike McHale

Contact Information

Mike McHale
U.S. Geological Survey
425 Jordan Road
Troy, N.Y. 12180
ph: 518-285-5675
fax: 518-285-5601
email: mmchale@usgs.gov

Current Position:Research Hydrologist

Education: PhD. in Watershed Hydrology and Biogeochemistry from The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1999

BS in Geology from The State University of New York at Cortland, 1992

I began working at the USGS in 1997 while finishing my doctorate. My doctoral research focused on identifying the role of hydrology in controlling nitrogen cycling within the Arbutus Lake watershed in the Adirondack Mountains.

The focus of my research here at the Survey is to evaluate the effect of human activity on surface water quality. In this capacity I have been involved in research to assess the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices in the Catskill Mountains, the impact of forest harvesting on surface water quality, and I have conducted mercury cycling research.

I also manage three water quality monitoring networks whose purpose is to track long-term changes in water quality and identify the effect of land use on water quality. The New York City Water Quality Network is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and provides New York City with information vital to maintain a clean source of drinking water. I am also the eastern coordinator for the Hydrologic Benchmark Network, a nationwide USGS network of water quality stations in watersheds with minimal human influence. These watersheds serve as a benchmark against which watersheds that have been altered by human activity can be compared.
Selected Publications:(24 biblios)
  1. McHale, M.R., Murdoch, P.S., Burns, D.A., and Baldigo, B.P., 2008, Effects of forest harvesting on ecosystem health in the headwaters of the New York City water supply, Catskill Mountains, New York:, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5057, 22 p., also available online. Details
  2. McHale, M.R., 2008, Mercury in wet-only precipitation in the Catskill Mountains, New York, 2004-07:, NYSERDA Data Report 6818, 12 p. Details
  3. McHale, M.R., Burns, D.A., Lawrence, G.B. and Murdoch, P.S., 2007, Factors controlling soil water and stream water aluminum concentrations after a clearcut in a forested watershed with calcium-poor soils:, Biogeochemistry, v. 84, no. 3, p. 311-331. Details
  4. McHale, M.R. and McChesney, Dennis, 2007, Phosphorus concentrations in stream-water and reference samples--an assessment of laboratory comparability:, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1267, 25 p., online only. Details
  5. Burns, D.A., Klaus, Julian, and McHale, M.R., 2007, Recent climate trends and implications for water resources in the Catskill Mountain region, New York, USA:, Journal of Hydrology, v. 336, issue 1-2, p. 155-170, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.12.019 Details
  6. Lincoln, T.A., Horan-Ross, D.A., McHale, M.R., and Lawrence, G.B., 2006, Quality-assurance data for routine water analyses by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Troy, New York--July 1997 through June 1999:, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1245, 25 p., online only. Details
  7. Lincoln, T.A., Horan-Ross, D.A., McHale, M.R., and Lawrence, G.B., 2006, Quality-assurance data for routine water analyses by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Troy, New York--July 1999 through June 2001:, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1246, 27 p., online only. Details
  8. Burns, D.A., McHale, M.R., Driscoll, C.T., and Roy, K.M., 2006, Response of surface water chemistry to reduced levels of acid precipitation: Comparison of trends in two regions of New York, USA:, Hydrological Processes, v. 20, no. 7 (4/30/06), p. 1611-1627, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.5961. Details
  9. Murdoch, P.S., McHale, M.R., Mast, M.A., and Clow, D.W., 2006, The U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Benchmark Network:, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2005-3135, 6 p., 4 figs. Details
  10. Burns, D.A., McHale, M.R., Drscoll, C.T., Lovett, G.M., Roy, K.M., Mitchell, M.J., and Weathers, K.C., 2005, An assessment of recovery and key processes affecting the response of surface waters to reduced levels of acid precipitation in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains:, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Final Report 05-03 (NYSERDA 6486), July 2005, 28 p. Details
  11. Lincoln, T.A., Horan-Ross, D.A., McHale, M.R., and Lawrence, G.B., 2005, Quality-assurance data for routine water analyses by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Troy, New York; July 1995 through June 1997:, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1327, 23 p., online only. Details
  12. Murdoch, P.S., McHale, M.R., Lawrence, G.B., and Burns, D.A., 2004, Multi-scale evaluation of the effects of soil calcium depletion on forest health and stream water quality in the northern Delaware River Basin of southeastern New York [abs.], Compendium of Abstracts, 2d Annual New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference, Sept. 21-22, 2004, Fishkill, New York, p. 26 Details
  13. McHale, M.R., Cirmo, C.P., Mitchell, M.J., and McDonnell, J.J., 2004, Wetland nitrogen dynamics in an Adirondack forested watershed:, Hydrological Processes, v. 18, issue 10, p. 1853-1870, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.1452 Details
  14. McHale, M.R., Murdoch, P.S., Burns, D.A., and Lawrence, G.B., 2004, Controls on inorganic monomeric aluminum release from soils after a clearcut in southeastern New York State, USA:, EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract H41E-0340 Details
  15. McHale, M.R. and McChesney, Dennis, 2004, Comparability of laboratories conducting phosphorus analyses for natural waters in the New YorkC Reservoir watershed [abs.]:, Compendium of Abstracts, 2d Annual New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference, Sept. 21-22, 2004, Fishkill, New York, p. 23 Details
  16. Munson, R, Driscoll, C.T., and McHale, M.R., 2003, Mercury in Adirondack/Catskill wetlands, lakes and terrestrial systems:, in Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection in New York: Linking Science and Policy: Conference Proceedings, Albany, NY, October 7-8, 2003, poster presentation Details
  17. Burns, D.A., Driscoll, C.T., Lovett, G.M., Mitchell, M.J., Roy, Daren, McHale, M.R., and Weathers, Kathie, 2003, An integrated assessment of the recovery of surface waters from reduced levels of acid precipitation in the Catskills and Adirondacks:, in Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation, and Protection in New York: Linking Science and Policy: Conference Proceedings, Albany, NY, October 7-8, 2003, p. B10-B11 Details
  18. McHale, M.R., Murdoch, P.S., and Burns, D.A., 2002, Nitrate and aluminum transport through soil layers in a clear-cut watershed:, EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 83, no. 47, Fall meeting supplement, abstract no. H61C-0790, p. F470. Details
  19. McHale, M.R. and Burns, D.A., 2002, Recovery from acid deposition in the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains:, in Douglas, K. E., and Bedient, P. S., eds., 2002, NADP Scientific Symposium and Technical Committee Meeting, Proceedings, NADP, 2002, September 10-13, 2002, Seattle, Washington, p. 52 Details
  20. McHale, M.R., Cirmo, C.P., Mitchell, M.J., and McDonnell, J.J., 2002, Nitrogen alteration of surface and subsurface water in two Adirondack wetlands:, Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, 37th annual meeting, v. 34, no. 1, p. A-80 Details
  21. McHale, M.R., McDonnell, J.J., Mitchell, M.J., and Cirmo, C.P., 2002, A field-based study of soil water and groundwater nitrate release in an Adirondack forested watershed:, Water Resources Research, v. 38, no. 4, 1031, p. 2-1 to 2-16, doi:10.1029/2000WR000102. Details
  22. Lincoln, T.A., Horan-Ross, D.A., McHale, M.R., and Lawrence, G.B., 2001, Quality-assurance data for routine water quality analyses by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Troy, New York; July 1993 through June 1995:, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-071, 25 p., online only. Details
  23. McHale, M.R. and Phillips, P.J., 2001, Stream-water chemistry, nutrients, and pesticides in Town Brook, a headwater stream of the Cannonsville Reservoir Watershed, Delaware County, New York, 1999, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4050, 19 p. Details
  24. McHale, M.R., Mitchell, M.J., McDonnell, J.J., and Cirmo, C, P., 2000, Nitrogen solutes in an Adirondack forested watershed: Importance of dissolved organic nitrogen:, Biogeochemistry, v. 48, p. 165-184 Details
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