1. Ronald B. Zelt, P.HWQ.
Journeying from Michigan to Nebraska in 1976, Ron attended college at Concordia,
Seward, where he received the B.S. in Education, and later earned the M.A. in Geography
from Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1988, with an emphasis in cartography. During 1987
Ron began his federal science career with student trainee positions with USGS and CIA,
where he acquired and applied skills in the emerging fields of GIS and digital
cartography. In 2002 Ron earned the M.S. in Watershed Science from Colorado State
University, where his studies emphasis was fluvial geomorphology. His thesis research
concerned large woody debris in wildfire-impacted mountain streams.
Presently in his 29th year of federal service, Ron is an Associate Director of the USGS
Nebraska Water Science Center, with responsibilities for Nebraska projects in areas of
fluvial geomorphology/sediment and water-quality studies. In recent years he has
supported other federal agencies on details to USEPA for the Enbridge oil-spill response
in the Kalamazoo River, Mich., and to the Dept. of Justice for topical expert reviews of
materials concerning metals-contaminated streambed sediment in Ozarks streams.
Throughout his 8 years with USGS-Water’s Kansas District and a 6-year assignment with
the USGS-Water’s Wyoming District, Ron worked chiefly within the National Water-
Quality Assessment Program. He presently serves as a member of the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board.