Amanda S Milde
Amanda Milde is a Biologist at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center largely involved in the Acoustic Telemetry Program tracking native and invasive fish species in the Upper Mississippi River.
Amanda conducts studies on
- understanding impacts of invasive species on native aquatic ecosystems,
- movements and behaviors of invasive carp in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) using acoustic telemetry,
- characterizing environmental conditions that affect the timing and movements of invasive carp in the UMR, and
- evaluating fish passage dynamics through locks and dams to inform development of deterrent technologies.
Professional Experience
2016 to Present - Biologist, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
2014 to 2016 - Pathways Biologist Intern, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
2011 to 2014 - Biological Science Technician, US Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Education and Certifications
M.S. Aquatic Sciences, UW-La Crosse, 2016, Thesis: Influence of river discharge, dissolved nutrients, and Asian carp on suspended particle dynamics in Navigation Pools 19 and 20 of the UMR
B.S. Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, May, 2012
Science and Products
Data release associated with research that describes how major flooding and dam operations in the upper Mississippi River contribute to large upstream migrations of native paddlefish and invasive bigheaded carp
Recent research has attributed major flood events with the upstream spread of invasive carp in the Mississippi River. In two sequential years, the upper Mississippi River experienced a low water year with very minimal flooding in 2022 and a very high water year with extreme and sustained flooding in the spring of 2023. This data release contains hydrologic data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
Data release for an experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps and upstream passage success at a navigation lock
This dataset accompanies the article 'Upstream experience and experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps results in increased upstream passage success at a navigation lock in a large river'. The data come from the experimental capture and tagging of invasive bigheaded carp with acoustic transmitters and physically moving some groups farther downstream. These transmitters emit signals t
Flooding and dam operations facilitate rapid upstream migrations of native and invasive fish species on a regulated large river
Dams commonly restrict fish movements in large rivers but can also help curtail the spread of invasive species, such as invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp). To determine how dams in the upper Mississippi River (UMR) affect large-scale invasive and native fish migrations, we tracked American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and bigheaded carp across > 600 river km (rkm) and 16 navigatio
Authors
Mark W. Fritts, Daniel Gibson-Reinemer, Douglas Appel, Katharine Lieder, Cody Henderson, Amanda S. Milde, Marybeth K. Brey, James T. Lamer, Dominque Turney, Zachary Witzel, Emily Szott, Grace Loppnow, Joel Stiras, Kayla Zankle, Devon Oliver, John Hoxmeier, Andrea K. Fritts
Upstream experience and experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps results in increased upstream passage success at a navigation lock in a large river
Fish movements in regulated rivers can be challenging to study because anthropogenic modifications, such as locks and dams, can influence animal behavior. Upper Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 (LD 19), for example, is an invasive carp movement bottleneck due to an impassable dam. Upstream fish passage at LD19 is restricted to the lock chamber, making it an optimal location to test invasive fish
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Daniel Gibson-Reinemer, Brent Knights, Amanda S. Milde, Jessica C. Stanton, Marybeth K. Brey, Douglas Appel, Aaron R. Cupp, Sarah Tripp, James T. Lamer, Mark W. Fritts
Lock operations influence upstream passages of invasive and native fishes at a Mississippi River high-head dam
Asian carps continue to expand their range in North America, necessitating efforts to limit the spread and establishment of reproducing populations. Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 is a high-head dam that represents a population ‘pinch-point’ as passage through the lock chamber is the only means by which fishes can complete upstream movement. As such, this location could be a pivotal control poi
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Brent C. Knights, Jessica C. Stanton, Amanda S. Milde, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Marybeth K. Brey, Sara J. Tripp, Thomas E. Devine, Wesley Sleeper, James T. Lamer, Kyle J. Mosel
Spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended particle characteristics and composition in Navigation Pool 19 of the Upper Mississippi River
Suspended particles are an essential component of large rivers influencing channel geomorphology, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, and food web resources. The Upper Mississippi River is a large floodplain river that exhibits pronounced spatiotemporal variation in environmental conditions and biota, providing an ideal environment for investigating dynamics of suspended particles in large river
Authors
Amanda S. Milde, William B. Richardson, Eric A. Strauss, James H. Larson, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Brent C. Knights
Science and Products
Data release associated with research that describes how major flooding and dam operations in the upper Mississippi River contribute to large upstream migrations of native paddlefish and invasive bigheaded carp
Recent research has attributed major flood events with the upstream spread of invasive carp in the Mississippi River. In two sequential years, the upper Mississippi River experienced a low water year with very minimal flooding in 2022 and a very high water year with extreme and sustained flooding in the spring of 2023. This data release contains hydrologic data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
Data release for an experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps and upstream passage success at a navigation lock
This dataset accompanies the article 'Upstream experience and experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps results in increased upstream passage success at a navigation lock in a large river'. The data come from the experimental capture and tagging of invasive bigheaded carp with acoustic transmitters and physically moving some groups farther downstream. These transmitters emit signals t
Flooding and dam operations facilitate rapid upstream migrations of native and invasive fish species on a regulated large river
Dams commonly restrict fish movements in large rivers but can also help curtail the spread of invasive species, such as invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp). To determine how dams in the upper Mississippi River (UMR) affect large-scale invasive and native fish migrations, we tracked American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and bigheaded carp across > 600 river km (rkm) and 16 navigatio
Authors
Mark W. Fritts, Daniel Gibson-Reinemer, Douglas Appel, Katharine Lieder, Cody Henderson, Amanda S. Milde, Marybeth K. Brey, James T. Lamer, Dominque Turney, Zachary Witzel, Emily Szott, Grace Loppnow, Joel Stiras, Kayla Zankle, Devon Oliver, John Hoxmeier, Andrea K. Fritts
Upstream experience and experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps results in increased upstream passage success at a navigation lock in a large river
Fish movements in regulated rivers can be challenging to study because anthropogenic modifications, such as locks and dams, can influence animal behavior. Upper Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 (LD 19), for example, is an invasive carp movement bottleneck due to an impassable dam. Upstream fish passage at LD19 is restricted to the lock chamber, making it an optimal location to test invasive fish
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Daniel Gibson-Reinemer, Brent Knights, Amanda S. Milde, Jessica C. Stanton, Marybeth K. Brey, Douglas Appel, Aaron R. Cupp, Sarah Tripp, James T. Lamer, Mark W. Fritts
Lock operations influence upstream passages of invasive and native fishes at a Mississippi River high-head dam
Asian carps continue to expand their range in North America, necessitating efforts to limit the spread and establishment of reproducing populations. Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 is a high-head dam that represents a population ‘pinch-point’ as passage through the lock chamber is the only means by which fishes can complete upstream movement. As such, this location could be a pivotal control poi
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, Brent C. Knights, Jessica C. Stanton, Amanda S. Milde, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Marybeth K. Brey, Sara J. Tripp, Thomas E. Devine, Wesley Sleeper, James T. Lamer, Kyle J. Mosel
Spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended particle characteristics and composition in Navigation Pool 19 of the Upper Mississippi River
Suspended particles are an essential component of large rivers influencing channel geomorphology, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, and food web resources. The Upper Mississippi River is a large floodplain river that exhibits pronounced spatiotemporal variation in environmental conditions and biota, providing an ideal environment for investigating dynamics of suspended particles in large river
Authors
Amanda S. Milde, William B. Richardson, Eric A. Strauss, James H. Larson, Jonathan M. Vallazza, Brent C. Knights