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Kenneth H. Reckhow

Professor Emeritus of Water Resources
Environmental Sciences and Policy
Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708-0328
A 317A Lev Sci Res Ctr, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Kenneth H. Reckhow is a professor at Duke University with faculty appointments in the School of the Environment and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. From 1996 to 2004 he served, on a part-time basis, as Director of the University of North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute. He is a past president of the National Institutes for Water Resources, past President of the North American Lake Management Society, and past Chair of the North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission. Dr. Reckhow served as Chair of National Academy of Sciences Panel on the USEPA Total Maximum Daily Load Program (2001), as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on USGS National Water Quality Assessment (2000-01), and as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Restoration of the Everglades Ecosystem (2003-05). He is currently Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on the Evaluation of Chesapeake Bay Progress Implementation for Nutrient Reduction to Improve Water Quality (2009-2011). He has published two books and over 100 papers, principally on statistical and probabilistic water quality modeling, uncertainty and decision/risk analysis, and pollutant loading assessment. In addition, Dr. Reckhow has taught several short courses on water quality modeling and monitoring design, and he has written eight technical guidance manuals on water quality modeling. Dr. Reckhow’s recent and current research focuses on Bayesian network (influence diagram) modeling of environmental contaminants in aquatic ecosystems; his recent and current teaching covers water quality assessment/modeling and decision/risk analysis. He is now serving, or has previously served, on the editorial boards of Risk Analysis, Water Resources Research, Water Resources Bulletin, Lake and Reservoir Management, Journal of Environmental Statistics, and Urban Ecosystems. He received a B.S. in engineering physics from Cornell University in 1971 and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in environmental systems analysis in 1977.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor Emeritus of Water Resources · 2010 - Present Environmental Sciences and Policy, Nicholas School of the Environment
Affiliate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2014 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published August 20, 2015
NC Needs More Attainable Water Quality Standards
Published August 20, 2015
Dr. Kenneth Reckhow: The need in N.C. for more attainable water quality standards
Published August 12, 2015
Morrisville mayor, experts oppose plan to reduce stream buffers

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Recent Publications


Calibrating and validating bacterial water quality models: a Bayesian approach.

Journal Article Water research · June 2009 Water resource management decisions often depend on mechanistic or empirical models to predict water quality conditions under future pollutant loading scenarios. These decisions, such as whether or not to restrict public access to a water resource area, ma ... Full text Cite

A Multilevel Model of the Impace of Farm-Level BMPs on Phosphorus Runoff

Journal Article Journal of the American Water Resources Association · 2009 Cite
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Recent Grants


Using Bayesian Networks & Satellite Imagery to Implement Transparant Decision-making and Adaptive Management

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2000 - 2009

Collaborative Research: Planning for a Cleaner Neuse River Basin in North Carolina

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2004 - 2008

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 1977 Ph.D.
Harvard University · 1972 M.S.
Cornell University · 1971 B.S.