The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is pleased to announce Dr. Momcilo Markus as the head of the Water Survey’s Watershed Science Section. Markus has been at the Water Survey for over 20 years and has four decades of experience in the fields of hydrology and hydroclimatology. Markus is replacing Laura Keefer who held the role for nine years.

 “We value his extensive expertise and look forward to his leadership in the Watershed Science Section,” said Kevin OBrien, Director of the ISWS.

Markus specializes in hydrological forecasting and artificial neural networks. His work on the effects of climate change and urbanization on water resources, statistical evaluation of streamflow and water quality networks, stochastic modeling for load estimation, data mining, and hydrologic flood frequency analyses has contributed to the development of the National Weather Service River Forecast System.

His recent contributions include the superseding report Precipitation Frequency Study of Illinois, Bulletin 70, with Bulletin 75 in 2020, which provides critical information to government agencies on major infrastructure projects across Illinois, such as highways, the Illinois Tollway, and renovations to O’Hare airport, as well as municipalities and regulatory agencies that require all hydrological analysis and frameworks to be built according to the newest precipitation standards.

He has authored numerous journal papers, technical reports, and book chapters and currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of American Water Resources Association and has been an associate editor and guest editor for several journals, including special issues in Water and Sustainability journals.

Markus is a two-time Faculty Fellow for the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois for his work on data mining and land-surface modeling in evaluating the effects of climate change on flooding in the Chicago area.

Markus served as a research associate professor, in the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering, at U of I, where he taught and mentored students and served on graduate committees both at U of I and abroad. Markus also collaborated with national and international research institutions through the Fulbright Specialist and other programs.