John Brakebill, GIS Specialist/Geographer

Education

B.S.

1988, Towson State University, Geography and Environmental Planning

Professional Experience

1991 - Present U.S. Geological Survey Baltimore, Maryland

GIS Specialist

• Uses Geographic Information Systems to research and develop applications, digital spatial data, and landscape analyses used to evaluate water-quality and ecosystem health issues in the Chesapeake Bay region.
• Creates and manages geographic information databases including cartographic, geographic, water-quality, ground-water, surface-water, and biological information in support of regional and national water-quality transport models.
• Applies programming knowledge and statistical skills to develop applications, technical assistance, and spatial data relevant to regional and national water-quality issues.
• Serves as a GIS technical subject matter expert for the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center.
• Prepares, presents, and reviews technical briefings, reports and scientific papers.

1998 - Present U.S. Geological Survey Baltimore, Maryland

Water Quality Modeling

• Applies a statistical water-quality model (SPAtially Referenced Regressions on Watershed attributes (SPARROW)) in the Chesapeake Bay region to assess the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment entering Chesapeake Bay.
• Provides, discusses, and explains SPARROW model results with resource managers to assist in decision making processes for Chesapeake Bay restoration.
• Prepares presents, and reviews technical briefings, reports and scientific papers.

Software and Programming Experience

ArcGIS (all modules), ArcView, Access, Excel, SAS, S-Plus, Python Visual Basic, Arc Macro Language (AML), Avenue, HTML, AWK, PERL

Recent Publications

Alexander, R.B., Smith, R.A., Schwarz, G.E., Boyer, E.W., Nolan, J.V., and Brakebill, J.W., 2008, Differences in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Delivery to the Gulf of Mexico From the Mississippi River Basin. Environ. Sci. Technol., 42 (3), 822-830, 2008. 10.1021/es0716103 http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i03/abs/es0716103.html

Brakebill, J.W., Ator, S.W., and Schwarz, G.E., 2008, (in Review) Relating Sediment Sources to Fluvial Sediment Loads in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Regional Application of the SPARROW Watershed Model.

USGS, 2007. Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Implications for Environmental Management. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1316. S.W. Phillips ed. 63p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1316/