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Mark Seelos, PhD

Mark Seelos is a water resources professional specializing reservoir and groundwater systems. He currently serves as Water Resources Manager for the South Tahoe Public Utility District, where his work includes water supply planning, capital project delivery, groundwater management, and regulatory compliance.

He holds a BS in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with an emphasis in Environmental Geology, and a PhD in Environmental Systems from the University of California, Merced. His doctoral research examined mercury cycling, nutrient dynamics, and management strategies for impaired reservoir systems.

Mark’s work combines technical expertise with practical water management, bringing together environmental science, hydrogeology, and engineering to help organizations make informed decisions.

Throughout his career, Mark has worked with utilities, regulators, consultants, and researchers to develop solutions for challenging water resource issues. His projects have included reservoir management, sediment and nutrient studies, groundwater sustainability, water supply planning and implementation, and environmental permitting and compliance.

He is passionate about using science, data, and practical experience to help organizations better understand their water resources and make informed decisions about the future.

Publications

  • Weiss-Penzias, P., et al., including Seelos, M. (2025). Atmospheric mercury uptake to foliage using in situ and transplanted lichens at the New Almaden Mining District, California, United States. Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry.
  • Defeo, et al., including Seelos, M. (2025). Evaluation of sorbent application methods for mercury control in the profundal zone of a reservoir in the historic New Almaden Mining District, California. ACS ES&T Water.
  • Thirkill, R. H., Ramón, C. L., Oldroyd, H. J., Seelos, M., Rueda, F. J., and Forrest, A. L. (2024). Navigating Greenhouse Gas Emission Unknowns: A Hydroacoustic Examination of Mediterranean Climate Reservoirs. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 129, e2024JG008080. DOI: 10.1029/2024JG008080.
  • Seelos, M., Beutel, M., McCord, S., Kim, S., and Vigil, K. (2022). Plankton population dynamics and methylmercury bioaccumulation in the pelagic food web of mine-impacted surface water reservoirs. Hydrobiologia.
  • Seelos, M., Rivas Meraz, E., Beutel, M., Traina, S. J., Fuhrmann, B., Burmistrova, J., Vlassopoulos, D., and O’Day, P. A. (2021). Evaluation of manganese oxide amendments for mercury remediation in contaminated aquatic sediments. ACS Environmental Science & Technology Engineering, 1, 1688–1697.
  • Fuhrmann, B., Beutel, M., O’Day, P., Tran, C., Funk, A., Brower, S., Pasek, J., and Seelos, M. (2021). Effects of mercury, organic carbon, and microbial inhibition on methylmercury cycling at the profundal sediment-water interface of a sulfate-rich hypereutrophic reservoir. Environmental Pollution, 268.
  • Seelos, M., Beutel, M., Austin, C. M., Wilkinson, E., and Leal, C. (2021). Effects of hypolimnetic oxygenation on fish tissue mercury in reservoirs near the New Almaden mining district, California, USA. Environmental Pollution, 268, 115759.
  • Duvil, R., Beutel, M., Fuhrmann, B., and Seelos, M. (2018). Effect of oxygen, nitrate and aluminum addition on methylmercury efflux from mine-impacted reservoir sediment. Water Research, 144.

Manuscripts in Review

  • Beutel, M. W., Rodal-Morales, N., Singer, M., Seelos, M., and Amegbletor, L. Suppression of sediment phosphorus release by Phoslock®, aluminum chlorohydrate, and alum during extended sediment–water incubation with organic matter addition.

Selected Presentations

  • Seelos, M. (2022). Evaluation of Manganese Oxide Amendments for Mercury Remediation in Contaminated Aquatic Sediments. International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Virtual.
  • Seelos, M. (2022). Effects of Hypolimnetic Oxygenation on Fish Tissue Mercury in Mine-Impacted Reservoirs. International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Virtual.
  • Seelos, M. (2022). Under Budget: Quantifying Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Pursuit of Carbon Neutrality. California Society for Freshwater Science Meeting. Sacramento, CA.
  • Seelos, M. (2020). Slow Progress with Quicksilver. Keynote Address, California Lake Management Society Annual Conference. Virtual.
  • Seelos, M. (2020). Hypolimnetic Oxygenation to Control Mercury Bioaccumulation in Lakes: Two Case Studies. California Aquatic Bioassessment Workgroup, State Water Resources Control Board. Virtual.
  • Seelos, M. (2017). Effectiveness of Hypolimnetic Oxygenation in Eutrophic Reservoirs Impacted by Large-Scale Mercury Mining. International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Providence, Rhode Island.