Contact

Chris Jones

IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 52242

Email: christopher-s-jones@uiowa.edu

Christopher S. Jones, PhD

_____________________________________________________________________

Research Interests

Contaminant hydrology, nutrient and sediment transport, agriculture and water quality, water monitoring.

Education

PhD, Analytical Chemistry, 1989, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana

BA, Chemistry and Biology, 1983, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa

Professional Experience

Research Engineer and Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Iowa, IIHR, June 2015–present

  • Manage statewide real-time continuous water monitoring network
  • Class instruction
  • Original research

Environmental Scientist, Iowa Soybean Association, Ankeny, Iowa, 2011–15

  • Project management
  • Technical advisor
  • Investigative research
  • Fishers and Farmers Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee
  • Coordination of Testing Laboratory
  • Affiliate Faculty, Dept. of Geology, Iowa State University

Laboratory Supervisor, Des Moines Water Works, Des Moines, Iowa, 2003–11

  • Supervisor of chemistry and microbiology laboratories
  • Iowa DNR Nutrient Science Advisory Committee
  • Iowa DNR Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Technical Advisory Group
  • Raccoon River Watershed Masterplan Technical Advisory Committee
  • Iowa DNR-Certified Class II Water Treatment Operator
  • Affiliate Faculty, Dept. of Geology, Iowa State University

Technical Director, SL-Serco, St. Anthony Minn., 1999–2003

  • Consulting for water and wastewater utilities
  • Technical writing
  • Creation of public information documents for municipal government
  • Safety consulting and training

Laboratory Manager, Serco Laboratories, Roseville, Minn., 1988–99

  • Supervision of testing laboratory
  • Quality Control Officer
  • Methods development

Awards and Service

  • Iowa Nutrient Center, $418,000, Workplan for Iowa Nutrient Research, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa. FY 2020. Contact PI.
  • Environmental Protection Agency, $1,064,926. Connecting Rural and Peri-urban Farmers to Demonstrate and Disseminate Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Practices. 2019. Co-Investigator.
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Cooperative Agreements 2019. $771,050. A Flood-First Approach to Water-Quality Improvement in an Iowa Watershed. Co-Investigator.
  • Environmental Protection Agency. $192,720. National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program. 2018. Co-Investigator.
  • Schildberg Construction Co., $15,000, Saturated buffer monitoring, Adair County, Iowa. FY 2018. Contact PI.
  • National Science Foundation, $88,714, Validation and Utilization of a New Tool for Citizen-Led Water Quality Monitoring in Agricultural Watersheds. Contact PI.
  • Iowa Nutrient Center, $367,000, Workplan for Iowa Nutrient Research, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa. FY 2018. Contact PI.
  • Iowa Nutrient Center, $467,000, Workplan for Iowa Nutrient Research, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa. FY 2017. Contact PI.
  • Iowa Nutrient Center, $225,000, Nitrate and Phosphorous Sensors for Iowa Streams, FY 2017. Contact PI.
  • Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 2017. Deployment and Management of Turbidity Sensors in Tributaries of the Mississippi River. $52,724.
  • Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 2017. Deployment and Management of Turbidity Sensors in Tributaries of the Missouri River. $52,724.
  • Iowa Nutrient Center, $450,000, Nitrate Sensors for Iowa Streams, FY 2016. Contact PI.
  • Develop New Water Quality Index, $19,000. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 2016. Contact PI.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors. $757,597. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Howard County Board of Supervisors. $505,065. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Johnson County Board of Supervisors. $505,065. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Mills County Board of Supervisors. $757,597. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Fremont County Board of Supervisors. $252,532. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Iowa Economic Development Authority. $6,471,876. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Benton County Board of Supervisors. $1,262,662. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors. $505,065. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa Watershed Approach, 2016. Iowa County Board of Supervisors. $757,596. Co-Investigator.
  • Iowa State University, 2016. Hydrometeorological effects on water quantity and quality. $253,496. Co-Investigator.
  • Investigation and Remediation of Brushy Creek, Watershed Improvement Review Board, $220,000, 2009-11. Contact PI.
  • Investigation of Nitrate and E. coli bacteria in the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, Iowa DNR, 2006-2008, $175,000.
  • Biological Denitrification of Raccoon River Water, USEPA, 2006, $85,286. Contact PI.
  • Leadership Award, Fishers and Farmers Fish Habitat Partnership, 2015.
  • Best Research Paper Award for Impact and Quality, 2014, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
  • Award for Excellence on Johnston, IA Green Meadows Project, 2011, Iowa Stormwater Association.
  • Iowa DNR Certified Water Treatment Plant Operator.
  • Award for “Excellence in Reviewing”, 2018. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution.
  • Best Paper for Impact and Quality in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2009-2014.
  • Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Environmental Quality; Journal of Hydrologic Engineering; Wetlands; Journal of Environmental Chemistry Letters; Science of the Total Environment; Water, Air and Soil Pollution; Journal of Environmental Management, WIREs Water, Microchemical Journal, Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, HydroResearch, Environmental Management.

Journal Publications

2022

  • Zhang, J., Lu, C., Crumpton, W., Jones, C., Tian, H., Villarini, G., Schilling, K., Green, D. 2022. Heavy precipitation impacts on nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico. Earth’s Future, 10(4). DOI: 10.1029/2021EF002141
  • Ayers, J.R., Villarini, G., Schilling, K., Jones, C., Brookfield, A., Zipper, S.C. and Farmer, W.H., 2022. The Role of Climate in Monthly Baseflow Changes across the Continental United States. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 27(5), p.04022006.

2021

  • Brunet, C.E., Gemrich, R.C., Biedermann, S., Jacobson, P.J., Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., Graham, A.M., 2021. Nutrient Capture in an Iowa Farm Pond: Insights from High-Frequency Observations. Journal of Environmental Management. 299:113647.
  • Liang, X., Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., and Zhang, Y-K., 2021. Temporal scaling of long-term co-occurring agricultural contaminants and the implications for conservation planning.  Environmental Research Letters. 16:094015.
  • Ayers, J.R., Villarini, G., Schilling, K. and Jones, C., 2021. Projected changes in monthly baseflow across the U.S. Midwest. International Journal of Climatology.
  • Ayers, J.R., Villarini, G., Schilling, K. and Jones, C., 2021. Development of statistical models for estimating daily nitrate load in Iowa. Science of the Total Environment. 782: 146643 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146643.
  • Ayers, J.R., Villarini, G., Schilling, K. and Jones, C., 2021. On the statistical attribution of changes in monthly baseflow across the US Midwest. Journal of Hydrology, 592:125551.

2020

  • Jones, C.S., Li, T., Sukalski, A., Thompson, D., Cwiertny, D.M. 2020. Use of Real-time sensors for compliance monitoring of nitrate in finished drinking water. Water Science and Technology. 82(12): 2725-2736.
  • Schilling, K.E., Streeter, M.T., Vogelgesang, J., Jones, C.S., Seeman A. 2020. Subsurface nutrient export from a cropped field to an agricultural stream: implications for targeting edge-of-field practices. Agricultural Water Management. 241, 106339.
  • Meulemans, M.J., Jones, C.S., Schilling, K.E., Young, N.C., Weber, L.J. 2020. Assessment of spatial nitrate patterns in an eastern Iowa watershed using boat-deployed sensors. Water, 12, 146.
  • Schilling, K.E., Streeter, M.T., Seeman, A., Jones, C.S., Wolter, C.F. 2020. Total phosphorus export from Iowa agricultural watersheds: quantifying the scope and scale of a regional condition. Journal of Hydrology, 581, 124397.
  • Schilling, K.E., Jacobson, P.J., St. Clair, M., Jones, C.S. 2020. Dissolved Phosphorus concentrations in Iowa shallow groundwater. Journal of Environmental Quality. DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20073.

2019

  • Jones, C., Gassman, P.W., Schilling, K.E. 2019. The urgent need to address nutrient imbalance problems in Iowa’s high-density livestock regions. Agricultural Policy Review. Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, Iowa State University. https://www.card.iastate.edu/ag_policy_review/pdf/fall-2019.pdf.
  • Jones, C.S. and Schilling, K.E. Iowa statewide stream nitrate loading: 2017-2018 Update. 2019. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science. 126 (1-4): 6-12.
  • Schilling, K.E. and Jones, C.S. Hydrograph separation of subsurface tile discharge. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2019. 191:231.
  • Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., Clark, R.J., Libra, R.D., Liang, X., Zhang, Y-K. 2019. Contrasting NO3-N Concentration Patterns at Two Iowa Karst Springs: Insights on Aquifer N Storage and Delivery. Hydrogeology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01935-y.
  • Schilling, K.E., Gassman, P., Arenas, A.A., Jones, C.S., Arnold, J., 2019. Quantifying the contribution of tile drainage to basin-scale water yield using analytical methods and a numerical model. Science of the Total Environment, 657: 297-309.
  • Jones, C.S., Schilling, K.E., Seeman, A. 2019. Relating carbon and nitrogen transport from constructed farm drainage. Agricultural Water Management, 213: 12-23.

2018

  • Jones C.S., Drake, C.W., Hruby, C.E., Schilling, K.E., Wolter, C.F. 2018. Concentration of Livestock Driving Stream Nitrate. Ambio. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-018-1137-5.
  • Ayers, J.R., Villarini, G., Jones, C.S., Schilling, K.E. 2018. Changes in monthly baseflow across the U.S. Midwest. Hydrologic Processes. doi:10.1002/hyp.13359.
  • Schilling, K.E., Kult, K., Seeman, A., Wilke, K. Jones, C.S. 2018. Nitrate-N Load Reduction Measured in a Central Iowa Restored Oxbow. Ecological Engineering, 124: 19-22.
  • Jones, C.S., Schilling, K.E., Simpson, I.M., Wolter C.F. 2018. Iowa stream nitrate, discharge and precipitation: 30 year perspective. Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1074-x.
  • Jones, C.S., Nielsen, J.K., Schilling, K.E., Weber, L.J. 2018. Iowa stream nitrate and the Gulf of Mexico. PLOS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195930. (OPEN ACCESS).
  • Drake, C.W., Jones, C.S., Schilling, K.E., Arenas Amado, A., Weber, L.J. 2018. Estimating nitrate retention in a large constructed wetland using high-frequency, continuous monitoring and hydrologic modeling. Ecological Engineering, 117: 69-83.
  • Schilling, K. E., Jacobson, P. J., Streeter, M. T., Jones, C. S., 2018. Groundwater Hydrology and Quality in Drained Wetlands of the Des Moines Lobe in Iowa. Wetlands, 1-13.
  • Schilling, K.E., Haines, B.J., Jones, C.S., St. Clair, M. 2018. Effectiveness of a newly-reconstructed floodplain oxbow to reduce NO3-N loads from a spring flood. Journal of Environmental Management, 215:385-393.
  • Jones, C.S., Kim, S-W., Wilton, T., Schilling, K.E., Davis, C.A. 2018. Strategically-placed real-time water quality sensors quantify stream nitrate processing. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190:226.
  • Jones, C.S., Davis, C.A., Drake, C.W., Schilling, K.E., Debionne, S., Gilles, D., Demir, I., Weber, L. Iowa Statewide Stream Nitrate Load Calculated Using In-Situ Sensor Network. 2018. Journal of the American Water Resources Association . https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12618.

2017

  • Schilling, K.E., Kim, S-W., Jones, C.S., Wolter, C.F. 2017. Orthophosphorous Contributions to Total Phosphorous Concentrations and Loads in Midwestern Agricultural Watersheds. Journal of Environmental Quality, 46:819-827.
  • Arenas, A.A., Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., Thomas, N., Weber, L.J. 2017. Estimation of tile drainage contribution to streamflow and nutrient loads at the watershed scale based on continuously monitored data. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189:426.
  • Schilling, K.E., Kim, S-W., Jones, C.S. 2017. Use of Water Quality Surrogates to Estimate Total Phosphorus Concentrations in Iowa Rivers. Journal of Hydrology, Regional Studies, 12:111-121.
  • Schilling, K.E., Jones, C.S., Wolter, C.F., Zhang, Y-K., Liang, X., Seeman, A., Isenhart, T., Schnoebelen, D., Skopec, M. 2017. Variability of Nitrate-N load estimation results will make quantifying load reduction strategies difficult in Iowa. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 72: 315-323.
  • Jones, C.S., B. Wang, K.E. Schilling, and K-s. Chan. 2017. Nitrate transport and supply limitations quantified using high-frequency stream monitoring and turning point analysis. Journal of Hydrology, 549: 581-591.
  • Jones, C.S., Kim, S-W., Schilling, K.E. 2017. Use of continuous monitoring to assess stream nitrate flux and transformation patterns. Environ Monit Assess, 189:35.

2016

  • Villarini, G., Jones, C.S. and Schilling, K.E., 2016. Soybean Area and Baseflow Driving Nitrate in Iowa’s Raccoon River. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45: 1949-1959.
  • Villarini G., Schilling K.E., Jones C.S., 2016. Assessing the relation of USDA conservation expenditures to suspended sediment reductions in an Iowa watershed. Journal of environmental management.  180:375-83.
  • Jones, C.S., A. Seeman, P. Kyveryga, K.E. Schilling, A. Kiel, K-S. Chan, C. Wolter, 2016. Crop rotation and Raccoon River nitrate. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 71: 206-219.
  • Jones, C.S. and K. Kult, 2016. Use alkalinity monitoring to optimize bioreactor performance. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45: 855-865.

  • Liang, X., Schilling, K., Zhang, Y.K. and Jones, C., 2016. Co-Kriging Estimation of Nitrate-Nitrogen Loads in an Agricultural River. Water Resources Management, 30, 1771-1784.

  • Hansen, E., K-S. Chan, C.S. Jones, K.E. Schilling, 2016. Assessing the relative importance of nitrogen-retention processes in a large reservoir using time-series modeling. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics, 21: 152-169.

2015

  • Jones, C.S., K. Kult, S.A. Laubach. 2015. Restored oxbows reduce nutrient runoff and improve fish habitat. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation  70: 49-52.

2014

  • Eikenberry, C.D., M.L. Soupir, K.E. Schilling, C.S. Jones, and A.S. Seeman. 2014. Nitrate-nitrogen export: Magnitude and patterns from drainage districts to downstream river basins. Journal of Environmental Quality 43, 2024-2033.

2013

  • Schilling, K.E., C.S. Jones, A. Seeman. How Paired is Paired? 2013. Comparing Nitrate Concentrations in Three Iowa Drainage Districts. Journal of Environmental Quality  42, 1412-1421.
  • Jones, C.S. and K.E. Schilling. Carbon Export from the Raccoon River, Iowa: Patterns, Processes and Opportunities, 2013. Journal of Environmental Quality 42: 155-163. https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/42/1/155. (OPEN ACCESS).

1987-2012

  • Schilling, K.E. C.S. Jones, A. Seeman, E. Bader, J. Filipiak, 2012. Nitrate-nitrogen patterns in engineered catchments in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Ecological Engineering, 42:1-9.
  • Jones, C.S. and K.E. Schilling. 2011. From Agricultural Intensification to Conservation: Sediment Transport in the Raccoon River, Iowa, 1916 to 2009, Journal of Environmental Quality, 40: 1911-23.

  • Van Leeuwen, J., White, D. J., Baker, R. J., Jones, C. , 2011.. Reuse of water treatment residuals from lime softening, Part 1: Applications for the reuse of lime sludge from water softening. Land Contamination & Reclamation, 18, 4.

  • Hudnell, H.K., C.S. Jones, B. Labisi, V. Lucero, D.R. Hill, and J. Eilers. Freshwater harmful algal bloom (FHAB) suppression with solar powered circulation (SPC), 2010. Harmful Algae, 9: 208-217.
  • *Hatfield, J.L., D. McMullen, C.S. Jones, 2009. Nitrate-N Patterns in the Raccoon River Basin Related to Agricultural Practices, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 64: 190-199.
  • Schilling, K.E., Y-K. Zhang, D.R. Hill, C.S. Jones, C.F. Wolter, 2009. Temporal variations of Escherichia coli concentrations in a large Midwestern river. Journal of Hydrology, 365: 79-85.
  • Jones, C.S., G. Brand, D.R. Hill, 2007. Use a Multi-Faceted Approach to Manage High Source Water Nitrate, Opflow, American Water Works Association, June, 2007.
  • Jones, C.S. and E.P. Grimsrud, 1987. Response of the nitrogen mode of the thermionic ionization detector to substituted nitrobenzenes. Journal of Chromatography, 387: 171-186.
  • Jones, C.S. and E.P. Grimsrud, 1987. Mass spectrometric measurements of the negative ions formed in the thermionic ionization detector with nitrogen carrier gas. Journal of Chromatography, 409: 139-146.

*Selected as Best Paper for Impact and Quality in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2009-2014.

Accepted Abstracts for Conference Proceedings

  • Zhang, J., Lu, C., Crumpton, W.G., Jones, C.S., Tian, H., Villarini, G., Schilling, K.E. and Green, D.I., 2020, December. Predicting the impacts of intensifying heavy precipitation on nitrogen loading to the Gulf of Mexico during the 21st Century. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 2020, pp. H072-04).
  • Jones, C.S., Cwiertny, D., Thompson, D., Li, T., Sulkalski, A. Use of Real-time Sensors to Reduce Drinking Water Nitrate Exposures in Rural Public Water Supply Systems. Midwest Rural Agriculture Safety and Health Meeting, November, 2020, Iowa City, Iowa.
  • Jones, C.S., Muelemans, M., Schilling, Young, N., Schilling, K.E., Weber, L.J. Boat Deployment of Real-Time Water Quality Sensors to Characterize Iowa Stream Nitrate. Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting, July, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Ayers, G. Villarini, K.E. Schilling, C.S. Jones. On the influence of climate and land use change on monthly baseflow across the US Midwest. American Geophysical Union, December 11, 2019.
  • S. Jones, K.E. Schilling, M. Meulemans. Using in situ Water Quality Sensors on Stream Banks and Boats to Characterize U.S. Cornbelt Stream Conditions and Farm Practice Effectiveness. American Geophysical Union, December 12, 2019.
  • E. Schilling, C.S. Jones, P.W. Gassman, A.A. Amado. Using a multi-method approach to quantify the spatial extent and hydrologic and water quality effects of subsurface tile drainage at local and regional scales. American Geophysical Union, December 13, 2019.
  • S. Jones. Livestock concentration and Western Iowa Stream Nitrate. Iowa Water Conference. March 12, 2019, Ames, Iowa.
  • A. Davis and C.S. Jones. Iowa’s Statewide Water Quality Sensor Network: Quantifying Iowa’s N Exports 2016-2017. Geological Society of America, North Central Section Annual Meeting, April 16, 2018, Ames, Iowa.
  • S. Jones and K.E. Schilling. Optimization of Oxbow Restoration Benefits for Both the Farmer and the Conservationist. Iowa Water Conference, March 21, 2018, Ames, IA.
  • S. Jones and K.E. Schilling. Optimization of Oxbow Restoration Benefits for Both the Farmer and the Conservationist. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, January 30, 2018, Milwaukee, WI.
  • J. Kult, C.S. Jones and K.E. Schilling. Integrating Reconstructed Oxbows in Watershed Planning to Achieve Habitat and Water Quality Goals. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, January 30, 2018, Milwaukee, WI.
  • E. Schilling, C.S. Jones, B. Haines, K.J. Kult, K. Wilke. Nitrate-nitrogen Reductions Measured in Newly Reconstructed Iowa Oxbows on and off the Des Moines Lobe: Different Hydrology, Similar Benefits. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, January 30, 2018, Milwaukee, WI.
  • Drake, C. Jones, K. Schilling, A. Arenas Amado, L. Weber. Paper 1700207. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Annual International Meeting, July 16-19, 2017. Spokane, WA.
  • S. Jones, C.A. Davis. Transport and supply limitations for nitrate loss in tiled systems. International Drainage Symposium, Minneapolis, MN. 2016.
  • Arenas, A., Schilling, K., Jones, C., Thomas, N., and Weber L. Estimation of tile drainage contribution to streamflow and nutrient loads at the watershed scales based on continuously monitored data. International Drainage Symposium, Minneapolis, MN. 2016.
  • S. Jones, C. Davis, and S-W. Kim. Use of real-time and continuous water quality monitoring in Iowa streams to inform conservation strategy in an agricultural landscape. 2015. In American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco 14-18 December, abstract 74169.
  • Seeman, A., C.S. Jones, P. Kyveryga, and A. Kiel. Environmental performance with agronomic management: Raccoon River watershed case study. Proceedings of the 27th Integrated Crop Management Conference. Iowa State University, 2015 Ames, IA.
  • S. Jones. Crop rotation and Raccoon River nitrate. Paper 152316123. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Annual International Meeting, July 28, 2015. New Orleans, LA.
  • Soupir, M.L., N.L. Hoover, T. Moorman, C.S. Jones, and K. Kult. Evaluation of woodchip bioreactors for improved water quality. Paper 152190051. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Annual International Meeting, July 28, 2015. New Orleans, LA.
  • S. Jones. Trends in corn area versus riverine nitrate in Iowa’s Raccoon River watershed. 69th Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Conference. July 28, 2014. Chicago, IL.
  • S. Jones and K.E. Schilling. Riverine carbon export from Iowa’s tile-drained Des Moines lobe. Paper 163-6. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting. October 22, 2012. Cincinnati, OH.
  • Kult, K. and C.S. Jones. Woodchip bioreactors for N-source reduction in a highly managed agricultural landscape. 2011. In American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco 5-9 September, abstract B11C-0503.
  • Jones C.S. and K.E. Schilling, Turbidity and sediment export in an agricultural watershed, 1916-2009. Proceedings of the International Water Association, Diffuse Pollution Symposium, 2010, Beaupre, Quebec.

Book

  • Anaerobic Biotechnology for Bioenergy Production: Principles and Applications. Technical Editor. Wiley-VCH Publishing, 2008.