Fort Collins Science Center
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Research: Understanding Biophysical Relationships—Anthropogenic Changes and Management Actions

Field technicians extract a core sample at the Loch Vale study site in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. USGS photo.
Field technicians extract a core sample at the Loch Vale study site in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. USGS photo.

Effective river management depends on understanding the relations between variables—both the expected responses to alternative management actions and the management actions required to produce a desired objective. Describing and quantifying these relations improve the foundation on which river management decisions are made.

An important long-term focus of riverine science at FORT is on connections between physical and biological factors, processes, and effects. In recent work, FORT scientists have increased the range of anthropogenic changes and management actions assessed relative to ecosystem response (e.g., atmospheric deposition, introduction and control of non-native species such as saltcedar, dam removal, changes in channel form and sediment supply). These are a few examples:

Andersen, D.C. and S.M. Nelson. 2006. Flood patterns and weather determine Populus leaf litter breakdown and nitrogen dynamics on a cold desert floodplain. Journal of Arid Environments 64:626-650.

Auble, G.T., C.L. Holmquist-Johnson, J.T. Mogen, L.R. Kaeding, and Z.H. Bowen. 2009. Relation between streamflow of Swiftcurrent Creek, Montana, and the geometry of passage for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5100. U.S. Geological Survey. 17 p.

Auble, G.T., and M.L. Scott. 1998. Fluvial disturbance patches and cottonwood recruitment along the upper Missouri River, Montana. Wetlands 18(4): 546-556.

Auble, G.T., P.B. Shafroth, M.L. Scott, and J.E. Roelle. 2007. Early vegetation development on an exposed reservoir: Implications for dam removal. Environmental Management 39(6): 806-818.

Baron, J.S., H.M. Rueth, A.M. Wolfe, K.R. Nydick, E.J. Allstott, J.T. Minear, and B. Moraska. 2000. Ecosystem responses to nitrogen deposition in the Colorado Front Range. Ecosystems 3(4): 352-368.

Bartholow, J.M., S.G. Campbell, and M. Flug. 2004. Predicting the thermal effects of dam removal on the Klamath River. Environmental Management 34(6): 856-874.

Bovee, K.D., T.J. Waddle, C. Talbert, J.R. Hatten, and T.R. Batt. 2008. Development and application of a decision support system for water management investigations in the Upper Yakima River, Washington. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1251. 289 p.

Bowen, Z.H., K.D. Bovee, and T.J. Waddle. 2003. Effects of channel modification on fish habitat in the Upper Yellowstone River: Final Report to the USACE, Omaha. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center USGS Open-File Report 03-476. 30 p.

Elser, J.J., M. Kyle, L. Steger, K.R. Nydick, and J.S. Baron. 2009. Nutrient availability and phytoplankton nutrient limitation across a gradient of atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Ecology 90(11): 3062-3073.

Elser, J.J., T. Anderson, J.S. Baron, A.K. Bergstorm, Mats Jansson, M. Kyle, K.R. Nydick, L. Steger, and D.O. Hessen. 2009. Shifts in lake N:P stoichiometry and nutrient limitation driven by atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Science 326(5954): 835-837.

Flug, M., and S.G. Campbell. 2005. Drought allocations using the Systems Impact Assessment Model: Klamath River. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management 131(2): 110-115.

Friedman, J.M., G.T. Auble, P.B. Shafroth, M.L. Scott, M.F. Merigliano, M.D. Freehling, and E.R. Griffin. 2005. Dominance of non-native riparian trees in western USA. Biological Invasions 7:747-751.

Hanson, L., S.C. Williamson, T.J. Waddle, C. Talbert, and J.E. Heasley. 2008. Smart River GIS for improved decision making. USGS Web resource.

Hartman, M.D., J.S. Baron, D.W. Clow, I.F. Creed, C.T. Driscoll, H.A. Ewing, B.D. Haines, J. Knoepp, K. Lajtha, D.S. Ojima, W.J. Parton, J. Renfro, R.B. Robinson, H. Van Miegroet, K.C. Weathers, and M.W. Williams. 2009. DayCent-Chem simulations of ecological and biogeochemical processes of eight mountain ecosystems in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5150. 174 p.

Kashian, D.R, R.E. Zuellig, K.A. Mitchell, and W.H. Clements. 2007. The cost of tolerance: Sensitivity of stream benthic communities to UV-B and metals. Ecological Applications 17(2): 365-375.

Katz, G.L., and P.B. Shafroth. 2003. Biology, ecology and management of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Russian olive) in western North America. Wetlands 23(4): 763-777.

Mueller, G. 2003. The role of stocking in the reestablishment and augmentation of native fish in the lower Colorado River mainstem (1998-2002). U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–288. 42 p.

Shafroth, P.B., J.R. Cleverly, T.L. Dudley, J.P. Taylor, C. van Riper III, E.P. Weeks, and J.N. Stuart. 2005. Control of Tamarix in the western United States: Implications for water salvage, wildlife use, and riparian restoration. Environmental Management 35(3): 231-246.

Shafroth, P.B., J.M. Friedman, G.T. Auble, M.L. Scott, and J.H. Braatne. 2002. Potential responses of riparian vegetation to dam removal. BioScience 52(8): 703-712.

Stromberg, J.C., S.J. Lite, R. Marler, C. Paradzick, P.B. Shafroth, D. Shorrock, J.M. White, and M.S. White. 2007. Altered stream-flow regimes and invasive plant species: The Tamarix case. Global Ecology and Biogeography 16(3): 381-393.

Staff

Andersen, Doug (riparian vegetation, streamflow)

Auble, Gregor (riparian vegetation, streamflow)

Baron, Jill (water quality, pollutants, limnology, ecosystem modeling)

Bovee, Ken (RETIRED; water management)

Campbell, Sharon (modeling/DSS, limnology)

Haegele, Jeanette (Carpenter) (endangered fish, fish habitat, invasive species)

Friedman, Jonathan (riparian vegetation, floodplains)

Hanson, Leanne (aquatic ecology, modeling/DSS)

Holmquist-Johnson, Chris (modeling/DSS, hydraulic structures)

Roelle, Butch (riparian vegetation, avian conservation)

Schmidt, Travis (ecotoxicology, climate change, landscape controls on water quality)

Scott, Mike (riparian vegetation, dam removal, riparian monitoring protocols, avian conservation)

Shafroth, Pat (riparian vegetation, dam removal, streamflow)

Waddle, Terry (hydrology, rivers, water management)

Zuellig, Robert (aquatic insects, aquatic communities, water quality)

Current Studies

 Click HERE for all current riverine studies at FORT

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