Publications
All of our publications are accessible through the USGS Publication Warehouse. Publications by scientists of the Oregon Water Science Center are listed below.
Filter Total Items: 791
Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon
Authors
James S. White, Cassandra D. Smith, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon
Authors
Krista L. Jones, Mackenzie K. Keith, Tessa M. Harden, James S. White, Stan van de Wetering, Jason B. Dunham
Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees Hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees
Remote sensing has emerged as an effective tool for characterizing river systems, and machine learning (ML) techniques could make this approach even more powerful. To explore this possibility, we developed an ML-based workflow for hyperspectral imaging of river bathymetry using an ensemble of regression trees (HIRBERT). This approach involves using paired observations of depth and...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Paul J. Kinzel, Brandon Overstreet, Lee R. Harrison
Framework developed for geomorphic mapping of Fern Ridge Lake, Oregon, 2023 Framework developed for geomorphic mapping of Fern Ridge Lake, Oregon, 2023
The construction and operation of large reservoirs in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon, influences important cultural, biological, and other natural or economic resources in affected river corridors. The present-day landforms and cover within the reservoirs have been shaped by a variety of processes, including the pre-dam valley setting and geomorphic processes related to dam...
Authors
Mackenzie K. Keith, Heather D. Bervid
Clarifying the trophic state concept to advance macroscale freshwater science and management Clarifying the trophic state concept to advance macroscale freshwater science and management
For over a century, ecologists have used the concept of trophic state (TS) to characterize an aquatic ecosystem's biological productivity. However, multiple TS classification schemes, each relying on a variety of measurable parameters as proxies for productivity, have emerged to meet use-specific needs. Frequently, chlorophyll a, phosphorus, and Secchi depth are used to classify TS based...
Authors
Michael Frederick Meyer, Benjamin M. Kraemer, Carolina C. Barbosa, Davi G.F. Cuhna, Walter Dodds, Stephanie E. Hampton, César Ordóñez, Rachel M. Pilla, Amina Pollard, Joshua A. Culpepper, Alexander K. Fremier, Tyler King, Robert Ladwig, Dina M. Leech, Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Isabella Oleksy, Simon N. Topp, Richard Woolway, Ludmila S Brighenti, Kate Colleen Fickas, Brian P. Lanouette, Jianning Ren, Mortimer Werther, Xiao Yang
Clarifying the trophic state concept to advance macroscale freshwater science and management Clarifying the trophic state concept to advance macroscale freshwater science and management
For over a century, ecologists have used the concept of trophic state (TS) to characterize an aquatic ecosystem's biological productivity. However, multiple TS classification schemes, each relying on a variety of measurable parameters as proxies for productivity, have emerged to meet use-specific needs. Frequently, chlorophyll a, phosphorus, and Secchi depth are used to classify TS based...
Authors
Michael Frederick Meyer, Benjamin M. Kraemer, Carolina C. Barbosa, Davi G.F. Cuhna, Walter Dodds, Stephanie E. Hampton, César Ordóñez, Rachel M. Pilla, Amina Pollard, Joshua A. Culpepper, Alexander K. Fremier, Tyler King, Robert Ladwig, Dina M. Leech, Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Isabella Oleksy, Simon N. Topp, R. Iestyn Woolway, Ludmila S. Brighenti, Kate Fickas, Brian P. Lanouette, Jianning Ren, Mortimer Werther, Xiao Yang
High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon
The distribution of river-bed grain sizes plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. River-bed grain size is a key driver of channel form and process, and has first order effects on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish nesting, and biogeochemical processes. Despite this importance, tools to spatially quantify grain-size distributions, particularly submerged grain...
Authors
James S. White, Karen Michelle Bartelt, Brandon Overstreet, Jacob Ryan Kelley
Hydrologic variability and groundwater age of springs in eastern Oregon and northern Nevada, USA Hydrologic variability and groundwater age of springs in eastern Oregon and northern Nevada, USA
The ecological importance of springs in semiarid regions is far greater than their small size and sparse distribution, yet little is known about the hydrologic functioning of these systems. During 2016–22, 261 springs were visited in the volcanic terrane of eastern Oregon and northern Nevada. When conditions were suitable, measurements of discharge, water temperature, and specific...
Authors
Henry M. Johnson
2022 McKinney rain-on-wildfire event, dissolved oxygen sags, and a fish kill on the Klamath River, California 2022 McKinney rain-on-wildfire event, dissolved oxygen sags, and a fish kill on the Klamath River, California
The longitudinal propagation of water-quality and ecological impairments in rivers during and after wildfires remain poorly understood. In Northern California, the 2022 McKinney Fire burned 243 km2 of the Klamath National Forest, with 83% of the burned area classified as moderate to high severity. During the active wildfire, a high-intensity monsoonal rain event triggered sediment-laden...
Authors
Jennifer A. Curtis, Grant Johnson, Josh Cahill, Laurel Genzoli, Clifford Dahm, Liam N. Schenk, John Oberholzer
Autumn as an overlooked opportunity for limnology Autumn as an overlooked opportunity for limnology
Ecological disciplines, from forestry to soil sciences and ornithology, recognize the critical role of autumn in an array of physical and biological processes. Terrestrial studies categorize autumn as the end of the growing season. Autumn weather conditions can disrupt plant-soil interactions, affecting nutrient cycling and soil fertility [1]; determine dormancy and freezing tolerance of...
Authors
Faith R Ferrato, Sapna Sharma, Joshua A. Culpepper, Ceara J Talbot, Michael Frederick Meyer, Stephanie E. Hampton
Evaluation of passive samplers for cyanotoxin detection by immunoassay and chromatographic-mass spectrometry Evaluation of passive samplers for cyanotoxin detection by immunoassay and chromatographic-mass spectrometry
Harmful algal blooms, particularly cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms, threaten aquatic ecosystems, drinking water supplies, and recreational resources. In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, deployed solid phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) samplers in Seneca Lake, Owasco Lake, and Skaneateles Lake to...
Authors
Brett D. Johnston, Michael D.W. Stouder, Rebecca M. Gorney, Joshua J. Rosen, Kurt D. Carpenter, Bofan Wei, Gregory L. Boyer
Managing water for birds—A tool for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon Managing water for birds—A tool for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon
The “Water for Birds Tool” is a spreadsheet-based tool (using Microsoft Excel) designed to help resource managers assess the spatial extent and types of bird habitats in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, southeastern Oregon. The tool quantifies the areas of open water, partial water, and water depths on a monthly timescale during the irrigation season (April–July) from 2021 to 2024...
Authors
Cassandra D. Smith