Professor
Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Biography
Dr. Fredrick's expertise is in groundwater hydrology and groundwater modeling. He has research interests in hydrology, especially stream and groundwater interaction. His doctoral research focused on determining effective data requirements for evaluating regional aquifers using the analytic element method, as well as developing a systematic approach for building conceptual groundwater models.
In PennWest California's geology program, students have the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world problems, including impacts to local and regional watersheds and natural resource extraction. Students also travel to exciting places of geological interest such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
Courses
- Introduction to Geology
- Hydrology
- Groundwater Hydrology
- Geomorphology
- Geology Field Courses
Publications
Papers
- K.C. Fredrick, M.W. Becker, L.S. Matott, A. Daw, K. Bandilla, and D. Flewelling, Development of a numberical groundwater flow model using SRTM elevations, Hydrogeology Journal, 15(1), 171-182, February 2007.
- Alan J. Rabideau, James R. Craig, Warit Silavisesrith, Kyle Fredrick, Douglas Flewelling, Igor Jankovic, Matthew W. Becker, Karl Bandilla, and L. Shawn Matott, Analytic modeling of super-regional groundwater flow: Concepts and tools for automated model configuration, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering: 12, 83-96, 2007.
- M.W. Becker, T. Georgian, H. Ambrose, J. Siniscalchi, and K. Fredrick, Estimating flow and flux of ground-water discharge using water temperature and velocity, Journal of Hydrology, 296 (1-4) , 221-233, Aug. 20,2004.
- K.C. Fredrick, M.W. Becker, D.M. Flewelling, W. Silavisesrith, and E.R. Hart, Enhancement of aquifer vulnerability of indexing using the analytic-element method, Environmental Geology, 45 (8), 1054-1061, June 2004.
Reports
- Dakota County Env. Management, Hastings Area Nitrate Study Final Report, March 2003.
Presentations and Abstracts
- K.C. Fredrick and T.D. Wickham, Resuscitating a Challenged Program: One Geologist's Approach, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, Ore., Oct. 18-21, 2009.
- J. Winter and K.C. Fredrick, Current Performance of an Aerobic Passive Wetlands Treating Acid Mine Drainage Flow From Underground Mine Seals at Moraine State Park, Butler County, Pennsylvania, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 15-19, 2008.
- K.C. Fredrick, Effects of Element Simplification on a Ground Water Flow Solution, 2007 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 10-14, 2007.
- J.R. Craig, A.J. Rabideau, M.W. Becker, K. Bandilla, D.M. Flewelling, K.C. Fredrick, I. Jankovic, L.S. Matott, and W. Silavisreith, Development of a Regional-Scale Groundwater Modeling System for Research, Education, and Outreach, 2005 AEESP Research and Education Conference, Potsdam, N.Y., July 24-27, 2005
- K.C. Fredrick, L.S. Matott, A.J. Rabideau, and M.W. Becker, High-accuracy Lake Level Measurements as Calibration Observations in Regional Ground-water Modeling, 2004 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 13-17, 2004.
- L.S. Matott, K.C. Fredrick, A.J. Rabideau, and M.W. Becker, Calibration of the Geometry of Hydraulic Conductivity Zones in Groundwater Flow Models, 2004 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 13-17, 2004.
- K.C. Fredrick, Enhancement of aquifer vulnerability of indexing using the analytic-element method, AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 12-16, 2003.
Research Interests
Dr. Fredrick's main research focus is on groundwater and surface water interactions. He is interested in how groundwater effects stream flow and how the communication between the two impacts the quality and quantity of each. Currently he is evaluating local watersheds to identify and understand the impacts of historical, existing and emerging contaminants. The goal is to improve regional water quality through education and novel approaches to small-scale remediation projects.
Student Research Projects
Aside from serving on several University-wide and departmental committees, Dr. Fredrick conducts service-oriented projects with organizations in the region. He has worked with the Boy Scouts of America, the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences and Science Olympiad. The Pike Run Watershed Research Program (with Drs. Mueller and Min Li) is designed to develop and grow the Pike Run Watershed Authority to protect this local resource for the residents of Pike Run Township and California Borough. He is also affiliated with CalUECO, a learning community established to improve students' understanding of the natural world and to encourage outdoor experiences in an ever more "indoor" culture.
- B.S.: Geology, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
- Ph.D.: Geology/Hydrogeology, University at Buffalo