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Publications

Below is a list of available Colorado Water Science Center publications and published products.

Filter Total Items: 795

Characterizing water-quality response after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire using a novel application of the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season method Characterizing water-quality response after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire using a novel application of the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season method

The frequency and severity of wildfire activity in the western United States emphasises the utility of hydrologic models to predict water-quality response. This study presents a novel application of the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge and Season (WRTDS) method to assess potential changes in water quality in two watersheds draining the North Fork Big Thompson River and Buckhorn...
Authors
Manya Helene Ruckhaus, David W. Clow, Robert M. Hirsch, Tanner William Chapin

"Snow to Flow" postcard "Snow to Flow" postcard

The U.S. Geological Survey has ongoing snowpack monitoring initiatives to help improve water availability estimates and predictions of streamflow.
Authors
Andrea L. Creighton

Mobile radar provides insights into hydrologic responses in burn areas Mobile radar provides insights into hydrologic responses in burn areas

BackgroundWildfires often occur in mountainous terrain, regions that pose substantial challenges to operational meteorological and hydrologic observing networks.AimsA mobile, post-fire hydrometeorological observatory comprising remote-sensing and in situ instrumentation was developed and deployed in a burnt area to provide unique insights into rainfall-induced post-fire hazards...
Authors
Jonathan J. Gourley, Yagmur Derin, Pierre-Emmanuel Kirstetter, John Fulton, Laura A. Hempel, Braden White

Fine-resolution satellite remote sensing improves spatially distributed snow modeling to near real time Fine-resolution satellite remote sensing improves spatially distributed snow modeling to near real time

Given the highly variable distribution of seasonal snowpacks in complex mountainous environments, the accurate snow modeling of basin-wide snow water equivalent (SWE) requires a spatially distributed approach at a sufficiently fine grid resolution (
Authors
Graham A. Sexstone, Garrett Alexander Akie, David J. Selkowitz, Theodore B. Barnhart, David M. Rey, Claudia León-Salazar, Emily Carbone, Lindsay A. Bearup

Groundwater dominates snowmelt runoff and controls streamflow efficiency in the western United States Groundwater dominates snowmelt runoff and controls streamflow efficiency in the western United States

Climate change in seasonally snow-covered mountain catchments is reducing water supply and decreasing streamflow predictability. Here, we use tritium age dating to show that contrary to the common assumption that snowmelt quickly contributes to runoff, streamflow during snowmelt in western US catchments is dominated by older groundwater. The average age of streamwater during snowmelt...
Authors
Paul D. Brooks, D. Kip Solomon, Stephanie Kampf, Sara Warix, Carleton R. Bern, David Barnard, Holly R. Barnard, Gregory T. Carling, Rosemary Carroll, Jon Chorover, Adrian Harpold, Kathleen Lohse, Fabiola Meza, Jennifer McIntosh, Bethany Neilson, Megan Sears, Margaret Wolf

U.S. Geological Survey 2024 Rocky Mountain Region Science Exchange—Showcasing cutting-edge science to adapt to extreme weather events and stakeholder needs U.S. Geological Survey 2024 Rocky Mountain Region Science Exchange—Showcasing cutting-edge science to adapt to extreme weather events and stakeholder needs

IntroductionThe Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River Basin in the Western United States are complex, interconnected systems that sustain a large variety of species, including tens of millions of humans. These regions face risks from drought, wildfires, invasive plant and animal species, and habitat reduction. Working with many stakeholders, scientists can help to characterize these...
Authors
William J. Andrews, Timothy N. Titus, Lauren Ellissa Eng, Kristine L. Zellman, Patrick J. Anderson, Jeremy C Havens

Data gap analysis for estimation of agricultural return flows in the Upper Gunnison River Basin, Colorado Data gap analysis for estimation of agricultural return flows in the Upper Gunnison River Basin, Colorado

The Gunnison River and many tributaries in the Upper Gunnison River Basin provide water to irrigate agricultural crops. The application of irrigation water can recharge some aquifers locally by water percolating below the root zone and eventually flowing back to the stream or river through the subsurface. Diverting surface water for irrigation reduces streamflow during the irrigation...
Authors
Rachel G. Gidley, Quinn M. Miller, Wayne R. Belcher

Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing of hydrologic processes—Diverse deployments and new applications by the U.S. Geological Survey Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing of hydrologic processes—Diverse deployments and new applications by the U.S. Geological Survey

Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing instruments harness the temperature-dependent properties of glass to measure temperature continuously along optical fibers by using precise pulses of laser light. In the mid-2000s, this technology was refined for environmental monitoring purposes such as snowpack-air exchange, groundwater/surface-water exchange, and lake-water stratification...
Authors
Martin A. Briggs, David M. Rey, Chad C. Opatz, Neil C. Terry, Connor P. Newman, Lance R. Gruhn, Carole D. Johnson

Latitudinal gradients of snow contamination in the Rocky Mountains associated with anthropogenic sources Latitudinal gradients of snow contamination in the Rocky Mountains associated with anthropogenic sources

Seasonal snow is an important source of drinking water and recreation, and for agriculture in the Rocky Mountain region. Monitoring snow-water quality can inform on the effects to the albedo and energy balance of the snowpack, and the sources of natural and anthropogenic aerosol and gases. This study analyzed metals in the seasonal snowpack from water year (WY) 2018 for 49 sites. Calcium...
Authors
Monica Arienzo, Kelly Gleason, Graham A. Sexstone, Mae Sexauer Gustin, Melissa Schwan, Nicole Choma, Sarrah Dunham-Cheatham, Joseph R. McConnell, Peter Weisberg, Adam Csank

Hydroclimate projections and effects on runoff at National Wildlife Refuges in the semi-arid western U.S. Hydroclimate projections and effects on runoff at National Wildlife Refuges in the semi-arid western U.S.

This study evaluated hydroclimate projections and effects on runoff at National Wildlife Refuges in a semiarid region of the western United States (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6) using mean air temperature (TAVE) and precipitation (PPT) inputs and runoff (RO) output from a national application of a Monthly Water Balance Model (MWBM). An ensemble of statistically downscaled...
Authors
Brian S. Caruso, Lauren Ellissa Eng, Andrew R. Bock, Nicholas Graff Hall

Reservoir thermal energy storage pre-assessment for the United States Reservoir thermal energy storage pre-assessment for the United States

Storing thermal energy underground for later use in electricity production or direct-use heating/cooling is a promising, viable, and economical green energy option. Reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) is one such option, which stores energy in underutilized permeable strata with low ambient groundwater flow rates and more geochemically evolved (e.g. brackish/saline) waters relative...
Authors
Jeff D. Pepin, Erick R. Burns, Ryan Cain Cahalan, Daniel O. Hayba, Jesse E. Dickinson, Leslie L. Duncan, Eve L. Kuniansky

Concentration-discharge relations and transient metal loads reveal spatiotemporal variability in solute-generation mechanisms in a mine-affected watershed Concentration-discharge relations and transient metal loads reveal spatiotemporal variability in solute-generation mechanisms in a mine-affected watershed

Concentration-discharge (CQ) relations are commonly used to understand geochemical and hydrologic controls on the generation of solutes in watersheds. Despite the widespread application of CQ relations, this technique has been infrequently applied to acid mine drainage (AMD) sites, but the CQ framework may allow mechanistic understanding of remedial outcomes such as impoundment of water...
Authors
Connor P. Newman, Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, Robert L. Runkel, Rory M. Cowie
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