Karl Pohlmann
Research Hydrogeologist Emeritus
Phone
702-862-5485
Campus
Las Vegas Campus
Division
Hydrologic Sciences
Professional Interests
Mr. Pohlmann’s experience and interests include characterization and analysis of hydrogeologic frameworks, groundwater flow, and contaminant transport through field data collection, interpretation and modeling. Field investigations focus on delineation of local and regional groundwater flow systems in the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts. The modeling emphasizes a stochastic approach, incorporating spatial variability in hydrogeologic parameters and the uncertainty in estimating these parameters, and has been used for development of conceptual models, site characterization and closure, delineation of wellhead protection areas, and development of risk assessments.
Research Areas
- Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport
- Hydrogeological Controls on Availability and Quality of Ground Water
- Integrated Watershed Systems
Education
| Degree | Institution | Area |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. | Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana | Geosciences |
| B.S. | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis | Geology |
Keywords
hydrogeology, groundwater flow systems, scientific visualization, springs, modeling, contaminant transport, uncertainty, spatial variability
Publications
2021
& (2021). Pahute Mesa Hydrology: Assessment of Elevated Water Levels in Pahute Mesa Post-shot Holes(DOE/NV/0003590-67)
2020
, , , & (2020). A Method to Represent a Well in a Three?dimensional Discrete Fracture Network Model. Groundwater. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.13030
, , , & (2020). Determination of fracture apertures via calibration of three-dimensional discrete-fracture-network models: application to Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site, USA. Hydrogeology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02254-3
, , , & (2020). Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Storage Analysis. Desert Research Institute
, , , & (2020). Indian Wells Valley GSP Model Documentation, Appendix â 3H,. Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority
, , & (2020). Revised Groundwater Modeling Assessment of Pahrump Valley, Nevada – Interim Report, 84 pp., Report prepared for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
2018
, , & (2018). Letter Report: Well Evaluations for U-20aa PS 1D, U-20i PS 1D, U-19g PS 1D, and U-19c PS 2D at Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site, Desert Research Institute Letter Report DOE/NV/0003590-12
, , & (2018). Letter Report: Ambient Chemtool Logging of ER-3-3_p1, Desert Research Institute Letter Report DOE/NV/0003590-08
, , & (2018). Letter Report: Well Evaluation of UE-12t-6, Desert Research Institute Letter Report DOE/NV/0003590-18
, , , & (2018). Letter Report: Well Evaluation of UE-12t-6: Desert Research Institute
2017
, , , , , , , & (2017). Hydraulic fracturing in the upper Humboldt River basin, Nevada, USA. 15th Water-Rock Interaction International Symposium, WRI-15. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 17, 189-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeps.2016.12.065
, , & (2017). Ambient Chemistry Logging, TFM Logging, and Discrete-interval Fluid Sampling of ER-20-12(LTR0003590-01)
, , & (2017). Ambient Chemtool Logging of ER-4-1_m1(DOE/NV/0003590-04)
, , , , & (2017). Hydrophysical Evaluation of Wells TW-B, TW-7, UE-6d, U-2gg PSE 3A, U-10L 1, and UE-6e in Yucca Flat(45274, DOE/NV/0000939-40), Desert Research Institute Publication No. 45274
& (2017). Investigation of the Sources of Selected Springs in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area using Stable Isotopes(41271)
2016
, , , & (2016). Evaluating Groundwater Interbasin Flow Using Multiple Models and Multiple Types of Data. Groundwater, 54(6), 805-817. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12422
2015
, , & (2015). Approximating dose and risk for contaminants in groundwater from the Underground Nuclear Test Area of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), DOE/NV/0000939-25, DRI 45262
, , , , , , , , , , & (2015). Interim Final Report, Hydraulic Fracturing in the Upper Humboldt River Basin, Aquifer Quality Assessment Program, Desert Research Institute Publication No. 41263
2014
, , , , & (2014). Development and Calibration of Dual-Permeability Flow Models with Discontinuous Fault Networks. Vadose Zone Journal, 13(8), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2013.10.0183
2013
, , , & (2013). Assessment of Conditions at Closed Rural Landfills in Clark County, Nevada
& (2013). Effective Approach to Calculate Groundwater Return Flow to a River from Irrigation Areas. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 140(7). American Society of Civil Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000701
2012
& (2012). Numerical Simulation of Inter-basin Groundwater Flow into Northern Yucca Flat, Nevada National Security Site, Using the Death Valley Regional Flow System Model
, , & (2012). Significance of Groundwater Divide in Water Accounting and Return Flow Calculation for Lower Colorado River Aquifers
2010
, , , , , & (2010). Sensitivity of Solute Advective Travel Time to Porosities of Hydrogeologic Units. Ground Water, 48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2009.00664.x
, , , , , , , , & (2010). Mason Valley Groundwater Model: Linking Surface Water and Groundwater in the Walker River Basin, Nevada. Journal of American Water Resources Association, 46(3), 554-573. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00434.x
, , , , & (2010). Incorporation of conceptual and parametric uncertainty into radionuclide flux estimates from a fractured granite rock mass. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-010-0385-0
, , , , , & (2010). Sensitivity to Formation Porosity of Contaminant Transport from Nevada Test Site to Yucca Mountain. Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management, ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.1944-8376.0000047
2009
, , , , & (2009). A model-averaging method for assessing groundwater conceptual model uncertainty. Ground Water, 48, 716-728. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2009.00633.x
, , & (2009). Monte Carlo simulation of superdiffusion and subdiffusion in macroscopically heterogeneous media. Water Resources Research, 45(10), Article No. W10417. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007448
, , , , , & (2009). Uncertainty and Sensitivity of Contaminant Travel Times from the Upgradient Nevada Test Site to the Yucca Mountain Area
2008
, , & (2008). Expert elicitation of recharge model probabilities for the Death Valley Regional Flow System. Journal of Hydrology, 354, 102-115
2007
, , , , , & (2007). Modeling of Groundwater Flow and Radionuclide Transport at the Climax Mine sub-CAU, Nevada Test Site
2006
, , , , , , , , & (2006). Incorporating parametric uncertainty in the design of alternative landfill covers in arid regions. Vadose Zone Journal, 5, 742-750
, , , , , , , , & (2006). Designing alternative landfill covers using parametric uncertainty analysis.Chapter Designing alternative landfill covers using parametric uncertainty analysis.. In , Unsaturated Soils, 682-694
2005
, , , & (2005). Sensitivity analysis and assessment of prior model probabilities in MLBMA with application to unsaturated fractured tuff. Water Resources Research, 41
2004
, , & (2004). Uncertainty Analysis of Seawater Intrusion and Implications for Radionuclide Transport at Amchitka Islands Underground Nuclear TestsChapter Uncertainty Analysis of Seawater Intrusion and Implications for Radionuclide Transport at Amchitka Islands Underground Nuclear Tests. In , Coastal Aquifer Management: Monitoring, Modeling, and Case Studies, 207-231
, , , , , , , & (2004). Technical approach for designing alternative covers at Edwards Air Force Base, California. . Desert Research Institute publication No. 41192, Contract #DACA05-02-C-0009
2003
& (2003). Analysis of Vadose Zone Monitoring System Computer Simulation of Water Flux Under Conditions of Variable Vegetative Cover: E-Area Disposal Trenches, DRI Report No. 41188
& (2003). Documentation for the Hydrogeologic Database of the BMI Complex, Henderson, Nevada, DRI Report No. 41190
, , , , , , , & (2003). Technical Approach for Designing Alternative Covers at Edwards Air Force Base, California, DRI Report No. 41192
2001
& (2001). Analysis of Vadose Zone Monitoring Systems — Computer Simulationn of Water Flux: E-Area Trenches, DRI Report No. 41172
1998
, , , & (1998). Investigation of the Origin of Springs in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 51, DRI Report No. 41161
1996
, , , , & (1996). Temporal Variability of Major Ion and Volatile Organic Compound Concentration in Arid Region Wells, 63 p.. U.S. EPA: Washington, D.C., DRI Publication No. 41143
1994
, , & (1994). Evaluation of Sampling and Field-Filtration Methods for the Analysis of Trace Metals in Groundwater, DRI Report No. 41137
, , & (1994). Final Documentation Washoe Valley Groundwater Model, 39, DRI Report No. 41138
1992
& (1992). Potential Sources of Error in Ground-Water Sampling at Hazardous Waste Sites, 28 p.. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory: Las Vegas, NV, EPA/540/S=92/019 (DRI Report No. 41141)
1990
, , & (1990). Field Comparison of Ground-Water Sampling Devices for Hazardous Waste Sites: An Evaluation Using Volatile Organic Compounds, 112, DRI Report No. 41130
Conference Proceedings
2019
, , , & (2019). An Application of Distributed Temperature Sensing to Characterize Flow in ER-20-4 During Pumping. 2019 UGTA Technical Information Exchange: Las Vegas, NV, August 29, 2019
, , , , , , & (2019). Integrated Use of Data and Numerical Models for Site Conceptual Model Development In Complex Hydrogeologic Systems. 2019 NGWA Conference on Fractured Rock and Groundwater: Burlington, VT, September 23, 2019-September 24, 2019
, , & (2019). Automatic Calibration and Sensitivity Analysis of Complex Groundwater Models: A Case Study for Pahrump Valley, Nevada. MODFLOW and More 2019: Groundwater Modeling and Beyond: Colorado School of Mines, Golden Colorado, June 2, 2019-June 5, 2019
, , , , & (2019). Machine Learning Prediction of Groundwater-Induced Land Subsidence: A Case Study for the Pahrump Valley in Nevada.. 2019 AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, California, December 9, 2019-December 13, 2019
, , , & (2019). Using SAR Interferogram to Detect Spatiotemporal Land Deformation in Pahrump Valley, Nevada. Devils Hole Workshop: Furnace Creek, California, May 1, 2019-May 3, 2019
, , , , & (2019). Updated Modeling Assessment of Pahrump Valley, NV. Devils Hole Workshop: Furnace Vreek, California, May 1, 1999-May 3, 1999
2018
& (2018). Springs and their sources at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Lower Colorado River Science Symposium: Las Vegas, Nevada, March 8, 2018
& (2018). Responses of Low-Elevation Springs to Climate Conditions: Examples from Southern Nevada. Devils Hole Workshop: Beatty, Nevada, May 2, 2018-May 4, 2018
, , , & (2018). Data-driven 3-D DFN model development for simulating fracture flow in Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site. 2018 Devils Hole Workshop: Beatty, NV, May 2, 2018-May 4, 2018
, , , & (2018). An application of distributed temperature sensing to characterize flow in a well complex during pumping, Vol. 60(No. 6). Geological Society of America – Abstracts with Programs: Indianapolis, November 4, 2018-November 7, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2018AM-317210
2017
, , , & (2017). Modeling Assessment of Pahrump Valley, NV. 2017 Devils Hole Workshop: May 3-5 2017, Beatty, Nevada
, , , & (2017). Three-dimensional DFN Model Development and Calibration: A Case Study for Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site. AGU Fall Meeting: New Orleans, LA, December 11, 2017-December 15, 2017
2016
, , , & (2016). Transport Behavior in Fractured Rock Under Conceptual and Parametric Uncertainty. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA, December 12, 2016-December 16, 2016
& (2016). Parameter Uncertainty Analysis Using Monte Carlo Simulations for a Regional-scale Groundwater Model. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, December 12, 2016-December 16, 2016
, , & (2016). Evaluation of Sampling Technologies for Small-Diameter Wells and Piezometers at the Nevada National Security Site. UGTA TIE Workshop: Las Vegas, NV, October 13, 2016
, , , , , , , , , & (2016). Assessment of the Migration Potential of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids in Northeastern Nevada. American Water Resources Association: Anchorage, AK, April 25, 2016-April 27, 2016
2015
, , & (2015). Development of a Modeling Tool to Support Management of Groundwater Resources in Pahrump Valley, Nevada. Devils Hole Workshop: Ash Meadows, Nevada, May 6, 2015-May 8, 2015
2014
, , , , , , & (2014). Radionuclide Containment Properties of Fractured and Faulted Volcanic Tuff Units at the T-Tunnel Complex, Rainier Mesa, Nevada National Security Site. Waste Management 2014
, , , , & (2014). Capturing anomalous dynamics of conservative and reactive contaminant transport in fractured media from centimeter scales to kilometer scales. DOE UGTA TIE Workshop, July 16, 2014
, , & (2014). Evaluation of Groundwater Purging and Sampling in Small-Diameter Wells and Piezometers at the Nevada National Security Site. DOE UGTA TIE Workshop, July 16, 2014
, , , , , , & (2014). Western Pahute Mesa Discrete Fracture Network Modeling and Upscaling. DOE UGTA TIE Workshop, July 16, 2014
, , , & (2014). Non-Fickian Transport in Fractured Media. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA
2013
, , , , & (2013). Development and Calibration of Dual-Permeability Models in Complex Hydrogeologic Settings: An Example from the T-Tunnel Complex, Rainier Mesa, Nevada National Security Site. MODFLOW and MORE 2013: Translating Science into Practice: Golden, CO
, , & (2013). Use of a Regional Model to Support Site-Scale Groundwater Flow Modeling at Pahute Mesa, Nevada. Devil’s Hole Workshop: Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, May 1, 2013-May 3, 2013
2012
, , & (2012). Evaluation of Uncertainties in Regional Groundwater Flow at Pahute Mesa, Nevada. Devil’s Hole Workshop 2012: Death Valley, California
2011
, , , , & (2011). Development of a framework for analysis of water accounting in lower Colorado River aquifers. MODFLOW and More 2011: Integrated Hydrologic Modeling: Golden, Colorado
, , , , , , & (2011). Predictions of long-term radionuclide transort at Rainier Mesa, Nevada National Security Site. 2011 AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA
2010
, , , , , & (2010). Effect of porosity correlations on sensitivity of contaminant travel time. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
2009
, , , & (2009). Role of Groundwater Monitoring for Closure of Underground Nuclear Tests on the Nevada Test Site. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco
2008
, , , , , & (2008). Preliminary Model of a Coupled Groundwater-Surface Water System, Mason Valley, Nevada. MODFLOW and More: Ground Water and Public Policy: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO USA
, , , , & (2008). Assessing recharge and hydrostratigraphic model uncertainty in the Climax Mine area of the Nevada Test Site. MODFLOW and MORE 2008: Ground Water and Public Policy: Golden, CO
, , , , , & (2008). Uncertainty and Sensitivity of Contaminant Travel Times from Nevada the Test Site to Yucca Mountain. 2008 Devils Hole Workshop: Death Valley, CA
, , , , , & (2008). Contaminant Travel Times from the Nevada Test Site to Yucca Mountain: Sensitivity to Porosity. AGU 2008 Fall Meeting: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
, , & (2008). Comparison of local and nonlocal transport theories: A Lagrangian description. Eos Tans. AGU: San Francisco, CA
2007
, , , & (2007). Using Uncertainty to Guide Characterization, Closure, and Long-term Management of an Underground Nuclear Test Site. International Symposium on Technology and Society: Risk, Uncertainty, Vulnerability: Las Vegas, Nevada. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISTAS.2007.4362211
, , , & (2007). Using Uncertainty to Guide Characterization, Closure, and Long-term Management of an Underground Nuclear Test Site, 1-2: June 1-2, 2007, Las Vegas, NV
, , , & (2007). Use of Numerical Groundwater Modeling to Evaluate Uncertainty in Conceptual Models of Recharge and Hydrostratigraphy: June 1-2, 2007, Las Vegas, NV
, , , , , & (2007). Characterization of preferential pathways at the T-Tunnel Complex, Rainier Mesa, Nevada. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting: San Francisco
2006
, , , , , , , , & (2006). Designing alternative landfill covers using parametric uncertainty analysisChapter : . In , Unsaturated Soils 2006: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Unsaturated Soils, Geotechnical Special Publication, No. 147, 682-693. ASCE: Reston, VA, April 2, 2006-April 6, 2006
, , , , & (2006). Groundwater pathways from regions upgradient of potential Yucca Mountain repository, 623-629: Las Vegas, Nevada
, , , , , , , , & (2006). Designing Alternative Landfill Covers Using Parametric Uncertainty Analysis: Carefree, Arizona, USA
, , , & (2006). On Evaluation of Recharge Model Model Uncertainty, a Priori and a Posteriori: Las Vegas, Nevada
, , , , , , & (2006). Evaluation of Groundwater Pathways and Travel Times From the Nevada Test Site to the Potential Yucca Mountain Repository: San Francisco, CA
, , , & (2006). Assessing Recharge and Geological Model Uncertainty at the Climax Stock of the Death Valley Regional Flow System: San Francisco, California
, , , , & (2006). Incorporation of model and parameter uncertainty in predicting radionuclide fluxes from the Climax Granite Intrusive: San Francisco, California
, , , , , , & (2006). Evaluation of Groundwater Pathways and Travel Times from the Nevada Test Site to the Potential Yucca Mountain Repository: San Francisco, California
2005
, , , , , , , & (2005). Establishing baseline environmental conditions for the proposed Yucca mountain repository, Nevada, U.S.A.: Glasgow, Scotland
, , , & (2005). Assessing recharge model uncertainty: Case study using the Death Valley Regional Flow System Model: San Francisco, CA
& (2005). Assessment of Uncertainty in Groundwater Recharge Models: Reno
2004
, , , & (2004). Sensitivity analysis as a design tool for alternative final landfill covers: Denver, Colorado
, , , & (2004). Estimating Prior Model Probabilities Using an Entropy Principle: San Francisco
2003
, , , , , & (2003). Long-term stewardship and risk management for inactive nuclear test sites in the United States: Oxford, England
2002
, , , & (2002). Groundwater flow and transport modeling: Three approaches for three different environments, 223-242: Kuwait