James Hamlett Ph.D.

Credo

"To know what you prefer instead of saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer is to have kept your soul alive."   Robert Louis Stevenson

I spend my time trying to keep my soul alive — living and learning and experiencing the myriad treasures that the world brings forth. The most bountiful of those treasures are found with Nature, with the agricultural and natural resources that make our Earth productive and, for the most part, suitable for our species to thrive. My entire life has centered on agriculture and to the pursuit of activities related to the outdoors. While I find that I must spend what seems to be an inordinate amount of time at a desk, I do seek "escapes" back to my roots and to the calm and peace of Nature's places.

Courses Offered

• A S M 309 (E R M 309) Measurement & Monitoring of Hydrologic Systems (3) Introduction to measurement and monitoring equipment/techniques commonly used in analyses and design of hydrologic systems. (Offered Fall Semester)
• B E 307 Principles of Soil and Water Engineering (3). Utilization and engineering of soil-water resources; including rainfall-runoff, soil-water movement, erosion/sediment transport and flow processes. (Offered Spring Semester)
• B E 487 Watershed Modeling for Water Quality Design (3) Application of common watershed models used to investigate design alternatives for flow and quality effects. (Offered Spring Semester)
• ABE 500 Research Methods (3). Introduction to research philosophies, methodologies, issues and policies; measures of research quality; research report writing; research ethics. (Offered Fall Semester)
• ABE 517 Surface Transport of Agricultural Pollutants (3). Understanding and modeling the surface transport processes of agricultural pollutants; particularly erosion, sediment transport, and movement of sediment-attached constituents. (Offered Alternate Spring Semesters)

Research Interest Areas

Urban Stormwater Management Practices and Modeling:

This activity explores stormwater runoff quantity and quality in the urban sector through both monitoring and modeling activities. Efforts have been directed toward data collection in several local watersheds on the Penn State Campus and within State College to assess the magnitude and frequency of stormwater runoff (quantity and quality). The SWMM model is being calibrated with measured data, with the goal being to use the model to evaluate alternative low impact development (LID) options in helping to mitigate stormwater losses. Practices explored include bioretention areas, green roofs, constructed wetland treatment, and infiltration fields. Using simulation modeling linked with optimization routines, we have also investigated the optimal placement of various practices within a local watershed.

Simulation of the Impacts of Alternative Control Practices and Programs on Watershed Responses:

Through the use of public-domain models, we explore the impacts of alternative control practices and strategies implemented at farm and watershed scales used to minimize the transport of potential pollutants from land areas to streams. Models are used to evaluate “what-if” scenarios for more optimal placement of BMPs within a watershed context so as to minimize costs while attaining desired levels of control.  Many simulation models (such as AnnAGNPS, HEC-HMS, SWMM, AVGWLF, WEPP, IFSM, SWAT) have been used and tested for their applicability to Pennsylvania conditions. This research is used to better design practices/systems that can be used to help minimize water quality impacts due to typical agricultural and urban practices.

Effect of Conservation/Management Practices on Hydrologic Processes and Pollutant Transport:

This research area focuses on conducting comparative assessments of the effects of agricultural and urban best management practices/systems on runoff, erosion, and nonpoint pollutant transport. We undertake model, lab, and field investigations of the transport of water, soil particles, and nutrient/chemical constituents through the soil profile, and test the effects of agricultural/urban practices on surface and subsurface water quality.  Ultimately we hope to identify the more desirable placement and types of best management practices to minimize pollution potential while maintaining agricultural production and allowing for urban land development. Understandings from these studies will help to determine practice suitability and effectiveness as applied to past, existing, and proposed water resource programs.

Fulbright Experience In Bulgaria

In 1998–1999 I had the great opportunity to take a sabbatical and spend 10 months in Bulgaria as a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Visiting Professor. My time was spent in Sofia teaching at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy (in the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering) and conducting research at the Institute of Water Problems, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. This 10-month sojourn in a post-communist country was filled with new experiences, challenges, rewards and insights. The most-lasting effects of my stay and travels there will undoubtedly be: the dear friends and colleagues from Bulgaria whom I came to know; my American Fulbright friends who shared time, travel, and experiences during our "in-country" period; and the natural and man-made places that have left indelible imprints on my mind. The memories and insights gained will provide me a perspective on life that could not have been gained by life in the states. I am a lucky soul.

Present Graduate Student Colleagues

Josiah Newman, M.S., 2013*. Identifying critical recharge areas in karst topography: Spring Creek case study.

*Anticipated graduation year

Selected Publications

• Ghebremichael, L. T., T. L. Veith, and J. M. Hamlett.  2012.  Modeling framework integrating watershed- and farm-scale models for targeting critical source areas while maintaining farm economic viability. Journal of Environmental Management (submitted)
• Hamlett, J.M., and C.G. Knight.  2010.  Decision Support for River Quality Management: The REKA Model in Bulgaria.  Book chapter in “Decision Support Systems in Agriculture, Food, and the Environment: Trends, Applications, and Advances,”  B. Manos, K. Paparrizos, N. Matsatsinis, and J. Papathanasiou (editors).  pp 1-20.  Published by IGI Global, Hershey, PA.
• Zhang, G., J. M. Hamlett, and T. Saravanapavan. 2010. Representation of Low Impact Development Scenarios in SWMM. In “Dynamic Modeling of Urban Water Systems, Monograph 18” by James, William, Editor in Chief. Pp. 183-197. Compiled and published by CHI Publications: Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
• Blansett, K.L., and J.M. Hamlett. 2010. Challenges of stormwater modeling for urbanized karst watersheds. ASABE Microfiche No. 10-09274. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI. 9 pp.
• Confesor, R.B. Jr., J.M. Hamlett, R.D. Shannon, and R.E. Graves. 2009. Potential pollutants from farm-, food-, and yard-waste composts at differing compost ages. Part II. Potential leaching of nutrients under column experiments. Compost Science and Utilization, 17(1): 6-17.
• Fennessey, L., J.M. Hamlett, and M.A. Ralston. 2009. Low head weirs for enhancing infiltration: Central Pennsylvania Case Study. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 14(8): 862-871. [EWRI-ASCE 2011 Best Technical Note Award]
• Ghebremichael, L.T., T.L. Veith, J.M. Hamlett, and W.J. Gburek. 2008. Precision feeding and forage management effects on phosphorus loss modeled at a watershed scale. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 63(5): 280-291.
• Confesor, R.B. Jr., J.M. Hamlett, R.D. Shannon, and R.E. Graves. 2008. Potential pollutants from farm-, food-, and yard-waste composts at differing compost ages. Part I: Change in chemical properties. Compost Science and Utilization, 16(4): 228-238.
• Confesor, R.B. Jr., J.M. Hamlett, R.D. Shannon, and R.E. Graves. 2007. Movement of nitrogen and phosphorus downslope and beneath a manure and organic waste composting site. Compost Science and Utilization, 15(2): 119-126.
• Ghebremichael, L.T., P. E. Cerosaletti, T. L. Veith, C.A. Rotz , J. M. Hamlett, and W.J. Gburek. 2007. Economic and phosphorus-related effects of precision feeding and forage management at a farm-scale. Journal of Dairy Science, 90(8): 3700-3715.
• Knight, C.G., B.M. Evans, J.M. Hamlett, D.W. Lehning, M.P. Staneva, J. Carmichael, T.N. Hristov, D. Dimitrov, V.D. Ioncheva, I.I. Nikolov, and H. Chang. 2007. REKA: A Catchment Management Tool for Improving Water Quality. In Managing Water Resources in a Changing Physical and Social Environment, Peter Robinson, Tony Jones, and Ming-ko Woo (editors), pp. 129-138; Rome, Italy. Home of Geography, International Geographical Union. (Book chapter.)
• Srivastava, P., J.M. Hamlett, and P.D. Robillard. 2003. Watershed optimization of agricultural best management practices: Continuous simulation versus design storms. Journal of AWRA, 39(5):1043-1054.
• Evans, B.M., D.W. Lehning, K.J. Corradini, G.W. Petersen, E. Nizeyimana, J.M. Hamlett, P.D. Robillard, and R.L. Day. 2002. A comprehensive GIS-based modeling approach for predicting nutrient loads in watersheds. Journal of Spatial Hydrology, 2(2):1-18 (on-line at www.spatialhydrology.com.).
• Srivastava, P., J.M. Hamlett, P.D. Robillard, and R.L. Day. 2002. Watershed optimization of best management practices using AnnAGNPS and a genetic algorithm. Water Resources Research, 38(3):1-14.
• Srinivasan, M.S., W.J. Gburek, and J.M. Hamlett. 2002. Dynamics of stormflow generation - A field study in east-central Pennsylvania. Hydrological Processes, 16(3): 649-665.
• Fennessey, L.A.J., A. Miller, and J.M. Hamlett. 2001. Accuracy and precision of NRCS models for small watersheds. Journal of American Water Resources Association, 37(4):899-912.
• Fennessey, L.A.J., J.M. Hamlett, G. Aron, and D. Lasota. 2001. Changes in runoff due to stormwater management pond regulations. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 6(4):317-327.
• Srivastava, P., R.L. Day, P.D. Robillard, and J.M. Hamlett. 2001. AnnGIS: Integration of GIS and a continuous simulation model for non-point pollution assessment. Transactions of GIS, 5(3):221-234.
• Lazarov, A., I. Kolchakov, J.M. Hamlett, V. Ioncheva, and V. Stefanova. 2000. Assessment of agricultural soil erosion sources of nitrogen and phosphorus in Yantra River Basin, Bulgaria. Journal of Balkan Ecology, 3(4):25-28.
• Owino, T.O., J.M. Hamlett, and E.J. Holcomb. 2000. In-situ determination of electrical conductivity of potting media using time domain reflectometry. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Analysis, 31(15&16):2685-2705.
• Srinivasan. M.S., M.A. Wittman, J.M. Hamlett, and W.J. Gburek. 2000. Surface and subsurface sensors to record variable runoff generation areas. Transactions of the ASAE, 43(3):651-660.