Tory Christie

My primary area of research is water quality. I've spent most of my career as a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, examining the water quality in our National Parks. Two of my favorite parks are Pipestone National Monument in southwestern Minnesota and Voyageurs National Park on the remote USA-Canada border. 

Because of my background in geology, I was first drawn to studies of reservoir sediment. But soon, I became interested in the landscapes surrounding these reservoirs. Farm, forest, prairie, and suburban lawns provide varying amounts of nutrients and chemicals to the water. Nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, can cause excessive algae growth. Synthetic chemicals can have many different effects on ecosystem and water supplies.

Although I have left my position with the U.S. Geological Survey, I continue to work with colleagues at both USGS and the National Park Service on issues related to water quality in parks. At Voyageurs, we are completing a study of the variation in algae over time. The main purpose is to understand when algae is most toxic.

Pipestone National Monument is a sacred place for many Native Americans. The pipestone quarries supply a rare, soft, red pipestone that is used to make pipes for prayer and ceremony. Participants in the annual Sundance wade near Winnewissa Falls as part of the ceremony. We studied the water quality in the quarries, stream, and the waterfall, so visitors can understand risk of contamination.

For more information on all my USGS and NPS research, click here. If you are a creative or a scientist that wants to know how to manage projects, subscribe to my Project Management Lab Substack.