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USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Dale M. Robertson

Research Hydrologist, Surface-water Chemistry

Contact Information

U.S. Geological Survey
Wisconsin Water Science Center
8505 Research Way
Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
Phone: 608-821-3867
Fax: 608-821-3817
Email: dzrobert@usgs.gov

Education

• B.S. in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics - St. Norbert College, DePere, Wisconsin, 1981.
• M.S. in Oceanography and Limnology - University of Wisconsin-Madison. Thesis: "Interbasin Separation and Its Impact on the Annual Heat Budgets of the Individual Basins in Trout Lake, Wisconsin," 1984.
• Ph.D. in Oceanography and Limnology - University of Wisconsin-Madison. Thesis: "The Use of Lake Water Temperature and Ice Cover as Climatic Indicators", 1989.
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, in Reservoir Modeling - Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, 1989-1991.

Areas of Expertise

• limnology
• water-quality modeling
• influence of environmental factors, watershed management strategies, and in-lake management alternatives on the water quality of rivers and lakes
• ice as climatic indicators
• effects of artificial destratification
• regional loading estimates
• meteorological and lake physical measurements
• air-water interactions

Current Projects

• Estimation of Nutrient and Sediment Loading in the Mississippi River and Great Lakes Basins with Regional SPARROW Models


• Assessment of the water quality, hydrology, and biology of Delavan Lake, WI


• Impacts of phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations on the biological integrity of Wisconsin streams


• Water Quality, Hydrology, and Simulated Response to Changes in Phosphorus Loading of Silver Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin: With Special Emphasis on Responses to Changes in Water Level


• Water Quality, Hydrology, and Simulated Response to Changes in Phosphorus Loading of Whitefish Lake, Douglas County, Wisconsin: With Special Emphasis on Responses to Changes in Water Level

Recently completed projects

• Assessment of the hydrology, water quality, and phosphorus loading of Butternut Lake
• Eutrophication modeling to aid in the development of a TMDL for the Salton Sea
• Water quality of Nagawicka Lake in response to hydrologic and phosphorus loading
• Assessment of phosphorus loading, winter anoxia, and stage regulation of Little St. Germain, Vilas County, WI
• Assessment of the water quality, hydrology, and biology of Geneva Lake, WI

Selected Publications

USGS Series Publications

Robertson, D.M., Weigel, B.M., and Graczyk, D.J., 2008, Nutrient Concentrations and their relations to the biotic integrity of nonwadeable rivers in Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1754, 81 p.

Wisconsin Water Science Center Lake-Studies Team: Rose, W. J.; Garn, H. S.; Goddard, G. L.; Marsh, S. B.; Olson, D. L.; Robertson, D. M., 2008, Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 2007: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1182, 204 p.

Robertson, D.M., and Rose, W.J., 2008, Water quality, hydrology, and simulated response to changes in phosphorus loading of Butternut Lake, Price and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin, with special emphasis on the effects of internal phosphorus loading in a polymictic lake: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5053, 46 p.

Rose, W. J., Garn, H. S., Goddard, G. L., Marsh, S. B., Olson, D. L., Robertson, D. M., 2007, Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 2006, 186 p., USGS Open-File Report 2007-1173

Rose, W. J., Garn, H. S., Goddard, G. L., Marsh, S. B., Olson, D. L., Robertson, D. M., 2006, Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 2005, USGS Open-File Report 2006-1080

H.S. Garn, D.M Robertson, W.J. Rose, G.L. Goddard, and J.S. Horwatich, 2006, Water Quality, Hydrology, and Response to Changes in Phosphorus Loading of Nagawicka Lake, a Calcareous Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5273, 53 p.

D.M. Robertson, D.A. Saad, and D.M. Heisey, 2006, Present and Reference Concentrations and Yields of Suspended Sediment in Streams in the Great Lakes Region and Adjacent Areas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5066, 46 p. - HTML - PDF

D.M. Robertson, D.J. Graczyk, P.J. Garrison, L. Wang, G. LaLiberte, and R. Bannerman, 2006, Nutrient Concentrations and Their Relations to the Biotic Integrity of Wadeable Streams in Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1722, 156 p. HTML - PDF

Robertson, D.M., Rose, W.J., and Saad, D.A., 2005, Water quality, hydrology, and phosphorus loading to Little St. Germain Lake, Wisconsin, with special emphasis on the effects of winter aeration and ground-water inputs: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5071, 36 p. Full text

Dupre, D.H., and Robertson, D.M., 2004, Water quality of Nippersink Creek and Wonder Lake, McHenry County, Illinois, 1994-2001: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5085, 35 p. Full text (pdf)

Rose, William J.; Robertson, Dale M.; Mergener, Elizabeth A., 2004, Water quality, hydrology, and the effects of changes in phosphorus loading to Pike Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin, with special emphasis on inlet-to-outlet short-circuiting: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5141, 42 p.

Robertson, D.M., Rose, W.J., and Garn, H.S., 2003, Water quality and the effects of changes in phosphorus loading, Red Cedar Lakes, Barron and Washburn Counties, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4238, 42 p. Full text

Robertson, D.M., Rose, W.J., and Saad, D.A., 2003, Water quality and the effects of changes in phosphorus loading to Muskellunge Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4011, 18 p. Full text

Garn, H.S., Elder, J.F., and Robertson, D.M., 2003, Why study lakes? An overview of U.S. Geological Survey lake studies in Wisconsin : U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-063-03, 8 p. Full text

Lenz, B.N., Robertson, D.M., Fallon, J.D., and Ferrin, R., 2003, Nutrient and suspended-sediment concentrations and loads and benthic-invertebrate data for tributaries to the St. Croix River, Wisconsin and Minnesota, 1997-99: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4162, 57 p. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., Goddard, G.L, Mergerer, E.A., Rose, W.J., and Garrison, P.J., 2002, Hydrology and water quality of Geneva Lake, Walworth County, Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 02-4039, 73 p. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., and Lenz, B.N., 2002, Response of the St. Croix River Pools, Wisconsin and Minnesota, to various phosphorus-loading scenarios: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4181, 36 p. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., Saad, D.A., and Wieben, A.M., 2001, An alternative regionalization scheme for defining nutrient criteria for rivers and streams, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 01-4073, 57 p. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., 2000, One-dimensional simulation of stratification and dissolved oxygen in McCook Reservoir, Illinois : U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 00-4258, 17 p. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., and Rose, W.J., 2000, Hydrology, water quality, and phosphorus loading of Little St. Germain Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin : U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 00-4209. 8 p. Full text.

Elder, J.F., Robertson, D.M., and Garrison, P.J., 2000, Chemical composition of surficial deposits in Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-121-00. Full text

Graczyk, D.J., Robertson, D.M., Rose, W.J., and Steuer, J.J., 2000, Comparison of water-quality samples collected by siphon samplers and automatic samplers in Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-067-00. Full text

Johnson, G.P., Hornewer, N.J., Robertson, D.M., and Olson, D.T., 2000, Methodology, data collection, and data analysis for determination of water-mixing patterns induced by aerators and mixers, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 00-4101. 72 p.

Saad, D.A., and Robertson, D.M., 2000, Water-resources-related information for the St. Croix Reservation and vicinity, Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 00-4133, 65 P. Full text (pdf)

Robertson, D.M., 1998, Evaluation of the surface-water sampling design in the Western Lake Michigan Drainages in relation to environmental factors affecting water quality, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 98-4072, 53 p. Abstract

Rose, W.J., and Robertson, D.M., 1998, Hydrology, water quality, and phosphorus loading of Kirby Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-066-98, 4 p. Full text

Robertson, D.M., 1997, Climate and weather, and Fitzpatrick, F.A., Robertson, D.M., Saad, D.A., and Sullivan, D.J., 1997, Surface water, In: Environmental setting and implications for water quality in the Western Lake Michigan Drainages, C.A. Peters (ed.), U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 97-4196, 79 p. Abstract - Full text (djvu)

Robertson, D.M., 1996. Use of frequency-volume analyses to estimate regionalized yields and loads of sediment, phosphorus, and polychlorinated biphenyls to Lakes Michigan and Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 96-4092, 47 p. Abstract - Full text (djvu)

Robertson, D.M., 1996, Sources and transport of phosphorus in the Western Lake Michigan Drainages, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-208-96, 4 p. Full text (pdf)

Roberton, D.M., and Saad, D.A., 1996. Water-quality assessment of the Western Lake Michigan Drainages - Analysis of available information on nutrients and suspended sediment, water years 1971-90, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 96-4012, 165 p. Abstract - Full text (djvu)

Robertson, D.M., Field, S.J, Elder, J.F., Goddard, G.L., and James, W.F., 1996. Phosphorus dynamics of Delavan Lake Inlet in southeastern Wisconsin, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 96-4160, 18 p. Abstract - Full text (djvu)

Robertson, D.M., and Saad, D.A., 1995. Environmental factors used to subdivide the Western Lake Michigan Drainages into relatively homogeneous units for water-quality site selection. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet, FS-220-95, 4 p. Full text (pdf)

Journal Publications, Book Chapters, and Other Publications

Diebel, Matthew, Maxted, J., Robertson, D.M., Han, S., and Vander Zanden, J., 2008, Landscape planning for agricultural nonpoint-source pollution reduction III: Assessing phosphorus and sediment reduction potential: Environmental Management, In Press.

Juckem, P.F., Hunt, R.J., Anderson, M.P., and Robertson, D.M., 2008, Effects of climate and land management change on streamflow in the driftless area of Wisconsin: Journal of Hydrology, v. 355, p. 123-130. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.03.010  

Robertson, D.M., and Schladow, S.G., 2008, Response in the water quality in the Salton Sea to changes in phosphorus loading: An empirical modeling approach: Hydrobiologia, v. 604, p. 5–19. doi:10.1007/s10750-008-9321-4

Robertson, D.M., Schladow, S.G., and Holdren, G.C., 2008, Long-term changes in the phosphorus loading to and trophic state of the Salton Sea: Hydrobiologia, v. 604, p. 21–36. doi:10.1007/s10750-008-9312-5

Chung, E., Schladow, S.G., Perez-Losada, J., and Robertson, D.M., 2008. A linked hydrodynamic and water quality model for the Salton Sea: Hydrobiologia, v. 604, p. 57–75. doi:10.1007/s10750-008-9311-6

Robertson, D.M., Garn, H.S., and Rose, W.J., 2007, Response of calcareous Nagawicka Lake, Wisconsin, to changes in phosphorus loading. Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 23, p. 298-312.

Weigel, B., and Robertson, D.M., 2007, Identifying biotic integrity and water chemistry relations in nonwadeable rivers in Wisconsin: Towards the development of nutrient criteria: Environmental Management, Vol. 40, No. 4, p. 691–708. doi:10.1007/s00267-006-0452-y

Wang, L., Robertson, D.M., and Garrison, P.J., 2007, Linkages between nutrients and assemblages of macroinvertebrates and fish in wadeable streams: Implication to nutrient criteria development: Environmental Management, Vol. 39, No. 2, p. 194-212. doi:10.1007/s00267-006-0135-8

Robertson, D.M., Saad, D.A., and Heisey, D.M., 2006, A regional classification scheme for estimating reference water quality in streams using land-use-adjusted spatial regression-tree analysis: Environmental Management, vol. 37, no. 2, pp 209-229. doi:10.1007/s00267-005-0022-8

Magnuson, J.J., Benson, B.J., Lenters, J.D, and Robertson, D.M., 2005, Climate driven variability and change, Chapter 7, In Magnuson, J.J., Kratz, T.K, and Benson, B.J eds. Long-term dynamics of lakes in the landscape, Oxford University Press, p. 141-175.

Marzolf, G.R., and Robertson, D.M., Reservoirs, 2005, In Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciences: Anderson, M.G., and McDonnell, J.J., eds., v. 4, part 9, John Wiley & Sons, p. 1675-1680.

Robertson, D.M., and Saad, D.A., 2003, Environmental Water-Quality Zones for Streams: A Regional Classification Scheme: Environmental Management, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 581-602. doi:10.1007/s00267-002-2955-5

Robertson, D.M., 2003, Influence of different temporal sampling strategies on estimating total phosphorus and suspended sediment concentration and transport in small streams: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Vol. 39, No. 5, p 1281-1308. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2003.tb03709.x

Magnuson, J.J., Krohelski, J.T., Kunkel, K.E., and Robertson, D.M., 2003, Wisconsin 's waters and climate: historical changes and possible futures: In Wisconsin's waters: a confluence of perspectives. Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy, p. 23-36.  

Olsen, A.R., and Robertson, D.M., 2003, Monitoring design: Water Resources Impact, Vol. 5, No. 5, p. 14-16. TOC

Robertson, D.M., Wynne, R.H., and Chang, W.Y.B., 2002, Variability in ice cover across the northern hemisphere during the 1900's associated with El Nino events, Proc. of the International Limnological Society, SIL, Dublin, Ireland , August, 1998.

Lathrop, R.C., Carpenter, S.R., and Robertson, D.M., 2002, Interacting factors causing excep­tional water clarity in Lakes Mendota and Monona, Wisconsin, Proc. of the International Limno­logical Society, SIL, Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 1998.

Madenjian, C.P., Fahenstiel, G.L., Johengen, T.H., Nalepa, T.F., Venderploeg, H.A., Fleischer, G.W., Schneeberger, P.J., Benjamin, D.M., Smith, E.B., Bence, J.R., Rutherford, E.S., Lavis, D.S., Robertson, D.M., Jude, D.J., and Ebener, M.P., 2002, Dynamics of the Lake Michigan food web, 1970-2000: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Vol. 59, p. 736-753.

Magnuson, J.J., Wynne, R.H., Benson, B.J., and Robertson, D.M., 2002, Lake and river ice as a powerful indicator of past and present climates, Proc. of the International Limnological Society, SIL, Dublin, Ireland, August, 1998.

Robertson, D.M., Goddard, G.L., Helsel, D.R., and MacKinnon, K.L., 2000, Rehabilitation of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin, Lake and Reservoir Management, Vol. 20, No. 3, p. 155-176.

Robertson, D.M., and Richards, K.D., 2000, Influence of different temporal sampling strategies on estimating loads and maximum concentrations in small stream, Proceedings of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council National Monitoring Conference, Austin, TX, April, p. 209-223.

Magnuson, J.J., Robertson, D.M., Wynne, R.H., Benson, B.J., Livingstone, D.M., Arai, T., Assel, R.A., Barry, R.G., Card, V., Kuusisto, E., Granin, N.G., Prowse, T.D., Stewart, K.M., and Vuglinski, V.S., 2000, Historical Trends in Lake and River Ice Cover in the Northern Hemisphere, Science, Vol. 289, No. 5485, p. 1743-1746.

Lathrop, R.C., Carpenter, S.R., and Robertson, D.M., 1999, Summer water clarity responses to phosphorus, Daphnia grazing, and internal mixing in Lake Mendota, Limnology and Oceanography, 44(1):137-146.

Panuska, J.C., and Robertson, D.M., 1999, Estimating phosphorus concentrations following alum treatment using apparent settling velocities, Lakes and Reservoir Management, Vol. 15(1), p. 28-38.

Robertson, D.M., Elder, J.F., Goddard, G.L., and James, W.F., 1998, Dynamics in phosphorus retention in wetlands upstream of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin, Lakes and Reservoir Management: Vol. 14(4), p. 466-477.

Robertson, D.M., and Roerish, E.D., 1999, Influence of various water-quality sampling strategies on load estimates for small streams, Water Resources Research, Vol. 35, No. 12, p. 3747-3759.

Robertson, D.M., 1997, Regionalized loads of sediment and phosphorus to Lakes Michigan and Superior - High flow and long-term average, Journal of Great Lakes Research, Vol. 23, p. 416-439.

Hornewer, N.J., Johnson, G.P., Robertson, D.M., and Hondzo, M., 1997, Field-scale tests for determining mixing patterns associated with coarse-bubble air diffuser configurations, Egan Quarry, Illinois, In: Environmental and Coastal Hydraulics: Protecting the Aquatic Habitat, Proceedings of the International Association of Hydraulic Research, San Francisco, CA, USA, p. 57-63.

Anderson, W.L., Robertson, D.M., and Magnuson, J.J., 1996. Evidence of recent warming and El Nino-related variation in ice breakup of Wisconsin lakes, Limnology and Oceanography, 41(5):815-821.

Klump, J.V., Edgington, D.N., Sager, P.E., and Robertson, D.M., 1996, The bigeochemistry of Green Bay : 1. Sedimentary phosphorus cycling in a phosphorus mass balance for the Green Bay ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Vol. 54, No. 1, p. 10-26.

Imberger, J., Robertson, D.M., and Boland, K., 1996, Lake Number : A quantitative indicator of mixing to be used in water quality management. ScientificImpeller, Solna, Sweden, No. 4, p. 9-15.

Assel, R.A., and Robertson, D.M. 1995. Changes in winter air temperatures near Lake Michigan during 1851 - 1993, as determined from regional lake-ice records. Limnology and Oceanography, 40(1):165-176.

Assel, R.A., Robertson, D.M., Hoff, M.H., and Selgeby, J.H. 1995. Climatic-change implications from long-term (1823-1994) ice records near the Laurention Great Lakes. Annals of Glaciology, Vol. 21, p. 383-386.

Robertson, D.M., Anderson, W., and Magnuson, J.J. 1994. Relations between El Nino/Southern Oscillation events and the climate and ice cover of lakes in Wisconsin. P 48-57. in Greenland, D. ed., El Nino and Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Sites. Publication No. 18. LTER Network Office: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 57 pp.

Robertson, D.M., and Imberger, J. 1994. Lake Number, a quantitative indicator of mixing used to estimate changes in dissolved oxygen. Internationale Revue der Gesamten Hydrobiologie, Vol. 79, p. 159-176.

Luecke, C., Lunte, C.C., Wright, R.A., Robertson, D.M., and McLain, A.S. 1992. Impacts of variation in planktivorous fish on abundance of Daphnids: A simulation model of the Lake Mendota Food Web, in Kitchell, J.F. ed., Food Web Management: A Case Study of Lake Mendota, Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, 553p.

Robertson, D.M., R.A. Ragotzkie, and J.J. Magnuson. 1992. Lake ice records used to detect historical and future climatic changes. Climatic Change 21:407-427.

Assel, R.A., and Robertson, D.M. 1992. Climatic changes near the Great Lakes inferred from 141-year ice records. Proceedings of the 5th International Meeting on Statistical Climatology. Toronto, Canada. June, p. 81-85.

Robertson, D.M., S.G. Schladow, and J.C. Patterson. 1991. Interacting bubble plumes: the effect on aerator design. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics. Hong Kong. In: Environmental Hydraulics. J.H.W. Lee and Y.K. Cheung, Eds. Balkema, Rotterdam. 167-172.

Imberger, J., and D.M. Robertson. 1991. Estimating changes in water quality using Lake Number, a new quantitative indicator of mixing. Proceedings of the International Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, Perth, Australia. P. 260-267. October 1991. ED561JI.

Robertson, D. M. 1990. Lakes as indicators of and responders to climate change. In The Proceedings of Climate Variability and Ecosystem Response LTER Intersite Workshop. Boulder, Co. August, 1988. D. Greenland and L. Swift Eds.

Robertson, D.M., J. Imberger, and K. Boland. 1990. Lake Number : A quantitative indicator of mixing to be used in water quality management. Water: Journal of the Australian Water and Wastewater Association. Dec. 29-33.

Robertson, D.M. and R. A. Ragotzkie. 1990. Changes in the thermal structure of moderate to large sized lakes in response to changes in air temperature. Aquatic Sciences. 52/4: 360-380.

Robertson, D M., and R. A. Ragotzkie. 1990. Thermal structure of a multibasin lake: Influence of morphometry, interbasin exchange, and groundwater. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 47: 1206-1212.

Robertson, D. M. 1989. The use of lake water temperature and ice cover as climatic indicators. Ph.D. Thesis. Oceanography and Limnology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Robertson, D. M. 1987. Northern Lakes, Wisconsin. In The Climates of the Long-term Ecological Research Sites, Ed. D. Greenland, Paper No. 44, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado.

Robertson, D. M. 1984. Interbasin separation and its impact on the annual heat budgets of the individual basins in Trout Lake, WI. M.S. Thesis. Oceanography and Limnology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison.