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Publications

Links to all publications authored by WY-MT Water Science Center Scientists:

Filter Total Items: 338

Hydrogeology and groundwater quality in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming, 2011–20 Hydrogeology and groundwater quality in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming, 2011–20

The Snake River alluvial aquifer underlying the Jackson Hole Airport (JHA) in northwest Wyoming is an important source of water used for domestic, commercial, and irrigation purposes by the airport and nearby residents. The U.S. Geological Survey, in response to previously identified water-quality concerns in the area, monitored and evaluated changes in hydrogeologic characteristics and...
Authors
Peter R. Wright, Timothy T. Bartos

Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) demographics and metal(loid) concentrations in egg contents from the Kootenai River basin, Montana nest box colonies Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) demographics and metal(loid) concentrations in egg contents from the Kootenai River basin, Montana nest box colonies

Selenium (Se) levels in water have been increasing in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River below Libby Dam in Montana due to coal mining in the drainage basin of the Elk River, British Columbia. Aquatic monitoring of Se is ongoing to assess potential effects; however, exposure to terrestrial, aquatic-dependent wildlife has not been investigated. Tree swallows are a targeted receptor for...
Authors
Brian C. Balmer, Joseph P. Skorupa, Katherine B. Adams, Bridger M. Creel, Gregory C. Hoffman, Megan A. Fylling, Stephanie Le, Jacob M. Martin, W. Scott McBride, Jacob T. Williams, Travis S. Schmidt

Peak streamflow trends in Montana and northern Wyoming and their relation to changes in climate, water years 1921–2020 Peak streamflow trends in Montana and northern Wyoming and their relation to changes in climate, water years 1921–2020

Frequency analysis on annual peak streamflow (hereinafter, peak flow) is essential to water-resources management applications, including critical structure design (for example, bridges and culverts) and floodplain mapping. Nonstationarity is a statistical property of a peak-flow series such that the distributional properties (the mean, variance, or skew) change either gradually...
Authors
Steven K. Sando, Nancy A. Barth, Roy Sando, Katherine J. Chase

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

Integrating the bright and dark sides of aquatic resource subsidies – A synthesis Integrating the bright and dark sides of aquatic resource subsidies – A synthesis

Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are linked through the reciprocal exchange of materials and organisms. Aquatic-to-terrestrial subsidies are relatively small in most terrestrial ecosystems, but they can provide high contents of limiting resources that increase consumer fitness and ecosystem production. However, they also may carry significant contaminant loads, particularly in...
Authors
C. Twining, A. Blanco, C. Dutton, M. Kaintz, E.J. Harvey, Carmen Kowarik, Johanna M. Kraus, D. Martin-Creuzburg, T. Parmar, N.R. Razavi, N. Richoux, G. Saboret, C. Sarran, Travis S. Schmidt, J.R. Shipley, A.L. Subalusky

Methods for peak-flow frequency analysis for streamgages in or near Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming Methods for peak-flow frequency analysis for streamgages in or near Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, North Dakota Department of Water Resources, South Dakota Department of Transportation, and the Wyoming Water Development Office, has developed standard methods of peak-flow frequency analysis for studies in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These methods describe...
Authors
Seth A. Siefken, Tara Williams-Sether, Nancy A. Barth, Katherine J. Chase, Mark A. Cedar Face

Hydrologic mechanisms for 2022 Yellowstone River flood and comparisons to recent historic floods Hydrologic mechanisms for 2022 Yellowstone River flood and comparisons to recent historic floods

In June 2022, a historic flood event occurred in the headwaters of the Yellowstone River Basin. The flood resulted in millions of dollars in damages and substantial interruptions to Yellowstone National Park. The 2022 flood event was substantially higher in magnitude than other high-peak flow events over the last 30 years. The high discharge was primarily due to the combination of...
Authors
Jeremy Giovando, Wyatt Reis, Wei Zhang, Nancy A. Barth

Methods to determine streamflow statistics based on data through water year 2021 for selected streamgages in or near Wyoming Methods to determine streamflow statistics based on data through water year 2021 for selected streamgages in or near Wyoming

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Wyoming Water Development Office, developed streamflow statistics for streamgages in and near Wyoming. Statistics were computed for active (through September 30, 2021) and discontinued USGS streamgages with 10 or more years of daily mean streamflow record. Streamflow at each streamgage was assessed for degree of human alteration...
Authors
Daniel W. Armstrong, David A. Lange, Katherine J. Chase

Hysteretic response of suspended-sediment in wildfire affected watersheds of the Pacific Northwest and Southern Rocky Mountains Hysteretic response of suspended-sediment in wildfire affected watersheds of the Pacific Northwest and Southern Rocky Mountains

Wildfires can have a profound impact on hydrosedimentary interactions, or the relationship between sediment and runoff, in forested headwater streams. Quantification of sediment-runoff dynamics at the event scale is integral for understanding source areas and transport of suspended-sediment through a watershed following wildfire. Here we used high-frequency turbidity and stream discharge...
Authors
Gregory D. Clark, Sheila F. Murphy, Katherine Skalak, David W. Clow, Garrett Alexander Akie, Kurt D. Carpenter, Sean E. Payne, Brian A. Ebel

Advancing the science of headwater streamflow for global water protection Advancing the science of headwater streamflow for global water protection

The protection of headwater streams faces increasing challenges, exemplified by limited global recognition of headwater contributions to watershed resiliency and a recent US Supreme Court decision limiting federal safeguards. Despite accounting for ~77% of global river networks, the lack of adequate headwaters protections is caused, in part, by limited information on their extent and...
Authors
Heather E. Golden, Jay Christiensen, Hilary McMillan, Christa A. Kelleher, Charles R. Lane, Admin Husic, Li Li, Adam S. Ward, John C. Hammond, Erin C. Seybold, Kristin Jaeger, Margaret Ann Zimmer, Roy Sando, C. Nathan Jones, Catalina Segura, D. Tyler Mahoney, Adam N. Price, Frederick Chang
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