2019 Water Legend

Joanna Thamke

Joanna moved to Helena in 1988 and began working with the USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center as a hydrogeologist. She has risen through the ranks and is now Section Chief. The diversity of her projects includes various aspects of water quality and quantity as they relate to energy development, mining, public water supply, and agriculture. Her current work focuses on water quality, water availability, water use, and energy in the Williston and Powder River Basins. Her work in the Williston and Powder River basins has yielded a wealth of groundwater information and has increased our understanding of this critical resource in the region.

Joanna “sets the gold standard” for conduct, work ethic and professional excellence. She is a consummate professional that is sought out by coworkers as well as professionals outside USGS because of her unparalleled professional opinion on water-resource quality and quantity issues in Montana. In addition to the excellence in scientific contributions Joanna strives for, what is arguably more remarkable about her is the value she places on people. Joanna is regarded as a mentor and role model. She has served as a mentor for most of the present water-science center hydrologic team. She has an open-door policy which gives her a reputation for dropping whatever she is doing and focusing on the individual coming to her for guidance.

Joanna has raised two beautiful daughters, Clara and Irene with her Husband and Partner Ed Thamke, and enjoys the wonderful Helena trail system with her dogs, Jack and Jill. In her spare time Joanna enjoys travel and volunteering in her local community. She has been a board member of World Montana since 2015, President of Helena Public Montessori Parents, Inc, and the Helena Rotary Club’s Youth Exchange Counselor and International Committee member.

Joanna is a true legend in all aspects of her life.