Bridget R Deemer, Ph.D.
Broadly, I am interested in how human activities are affecting the way that energy and nutrients cycle through ecosystems. My research aims to better characterize how reservoirs can affect the transport and transformation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and other biologically relevant elements.
My research also explores the potential role of management in affecting ecosystem function. Identifying reservoir management win-wins as well as trade-offs is critical as the quantity and quality of water becomes increasingly variable under a changing climate. Currently, I am working on a project to understand how conditions in Lake Powell (and the associated management of Glen Canyon Dam) are affecting ecosystem metabolism in the Colorado River.
Professional Experience
Oct 2016-present: Research ecologist, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
April 2020-2022: Raelyn Cole Editorial Fellow, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
February-May 2013: Policy Fellow, Army Corps Institute for Water Resources, Alexandria, VA
Education and Certifications
2016 - PhD, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver
• Dissertation: "Patterns and controls on nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas production in reservoir"
2010 - M.S. in Environmental Science, Washington State University
2004 - B.A. in Environmental Studies, Vassar College
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Calcium, magnesium and total dissolved solids data as well as modeled salinity and mass balance estimates for Lake Powell, 1952-2017 Calcium, magnesium and total dissolved solids data as well as modeled salinity and mass balance estimates for Lake Powell, 1952-2017
These data were compiled to quantify the role of Lake Powell in modulating salinity and reducing overall salt flux from the Upper Colorado River Basin downstream. In addition, these data were used to infer summertime calcite precipitation in Lake Powell (the major proposed sink for salt within the system). The Lake Powell Calcium Magnesium data contains summertime surface water calcium...
Filter Total Items: 31
Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 2. Regionalization and homogenization of estimates Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 2. Regionalization and homogenization of estimates
Inland waters are important sources of the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. In the framework of the 2nd phase of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP-2) initiative, we synthesize existing estimates of GHG emissions from streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and homogenize them with regard to...
Authors
Ronny Lauerwald, George H. Allen, Bridget R. Deemer, Shaoda Liu, Taylor Maavara, Peter Raymond, Lewis Alcott, David Bastviken, Adam Hastie, Meredith A. Holgerson, Matthew S. Johnson, Bernhard Lehner, Peirong Lin, Alessandra Marzadri, Lishan Ran, Hanqin Tian, Xiao Yang, Yuanzhi Yao, Pierre Regnier
Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 1. State-of-the-art of global scale assessments Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 1. State-of-the-art of global scale assessments
Inland waters are important sources of the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. In the framework of the 2nd phase of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP-2) initiative, we review the state of the art in estimating inland water GHG budgets at global scale, which has substantially advanced since the...
Authors
Ronny Lauerwald, George H. Allen, Bridget R. Deemer, Shaoda Liu, Taylor Maavara, Peter Raymond, Lewis Alcott, David Bastviken, Adam Hastie, Meredith A. Holgerson, Matthew S. Johnson, Bernhard Lehner, Peirong Lin, Alessandra Marzadri, Lishan Ran, Hanqin Tian, Xiao Yang, Yuanzhi Yao, Pierre Regnier
Declines in prey production during the collapse of a tailwater Rainbow Trout population are associated with changing reservoir conditions Declines in prey production during the collapse of a tailwater Rainbow Trout population are associated with changing reservoir conditions
Objective Understanding how energy moves through food webs and limits productivity at various trophic levels is a central question in aquatic ecology and can provide insight into drivers of fish population dynamics since many fish populations are food limited. In this study, we seek to better understand what factors drove a decline of >85% in the number of Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus...
Authors
Michael D. Yard, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael J. Dodrill, Bridget R. Deemer
Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
(Hartwell) This report is prepared primarily to account for work conducted and products delivered in FY 2022 by GCMRC and to inform the Technical Work Group of science conducted by GCMRC and its cooperators in support of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP). It includes a summary of accomplishments, modifications to work plans, results, and recommendations related to...
Authors
David J. Topping, Paul E. Grams, Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey, Helen C. Fairley, Bridget R. Deemer, Charles B. Yackulic, Theodore Kennedy, Anya Metcalfe, Maria C. Dzul, David Ward, Mariah Aurelia Giardina, Lucas Bair, Thomas M. Gushue, Caitlin M. Andrews, Ronald E. Griffiths, David J. Dean, Keith Kohl, Michael J Moran, Nicholas Voichick, Thomas A. Sabol, Laura A. Tennant, Kimberly Dibble, Michael C. Runge
Appendix 1: Lake Powell water quality monitoring Appendix 1: Lake Powell water quality monitoring
No abstract available.
Authors
Bridget R. Deemer, Nicholas Voichick, Thomas A. Sabol, Caitlin M. Andrews, Bryce Anthony Mihalevich
Over half a century record of limnology data from Lake Powell, desert southwest United States: From reservoir filling to present day (1964–2021) Over half a century record of limnology data from Lake Powell, desert southwest United States: From reservoir filling to present day (1964–2021)
Lake Powell is a large water storage reservoir in the arid southwestern United States. Here, we present a 58-yr limnology dataset that captures water quality parameters from reservoir filling to present day (temperature, salinity, major ions, total suspended solids), as well as a 38-yr record of Secchi depth, and a ~ 30-yr record of nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton assemblages...
Authors
Bridget R. Deemer, Caitlin M. Andrews, Kristin E. Strock, Nicholas Voichick, James Hensleigh, John Beaver, Robert Radtke
Non-USGS Publications**
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, 2019, Summer redox dynamics in a eutrophic reservoir and sensitivity to a summer’s end drawdown event: Ecosystems, v: 22, p. 1618-1632, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00362-0.
Reed, D.C., B.R. Deemer, S. van Grinsven, and J.A. Harrison. 2017. Are elusive anaerobic pathways key methane sinks in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs? Biogeochemistry doi: 10.1007/s10533-017-0356-3
Hayes, N.M, B.R. Deemer, J.R. Corman, N.R. Razavi, and K.E. Strock. 2017. Key differences between lakes and reservoirs modify climate signals: A case for a new conceptual model. Limnology and Oceanography Letters doi: 10.1002/lol2.10036
Harrison, J.A., B.R. Deemer, M.K. Birchfield, and M.T. O’Malley. 2017. Reservoir water level drawdowns accelerate and amplify methane emission. Environmental Science & Technology doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03185
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, S. Li, J. Beaulieu, T. DelSontro, N. Barros, M.A. dos Santos, J.F.Bezerra-Neto, S.M. Powers, and J.A. Vonk. 2016. Greenhouse gas emissions from reservoir water surfaces: A new global synthesis. BioScience doi: 10.1093/biosci/biw117
Deemer, B.R., S.M. Henderson, and J.A. Harrison. 2015. Chemical mixing in the bottom boundary layer of a eutrophic reservoir: the effects of internal seiching on nitrogen dynamics. Limnology and Oceanography 60: 1642-1655.
Deemer, B.R., K.E. Goodwin, T.A. Lee, M.K. Birchfield, K. Dallavis, J. Emerson, D. Freeman, E. Henry, L. Wynn, and J.A. Harrison. 2012. Elevated nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in urbanizing southwest Washington streams. Northwest Science 86: 237-247.
Henderson, S.M., and B.R. Deemer. 2012. Vertical propagation of lakewide internal waves. Geophysical Research Letters 39: doi:10.1029/2011GL050534.
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, and E.W. Whitling. 2011. Microbial dinitrogen and nitrous oxide production in a small eutrophic reservoir: an in situ approach to quantifying hypolimnetic process rates. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 1189-1199.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Calcium, magnesium and total dissolved solids data as well as modeled salinity and mass balance estimates for Lake Powell, 1952-2017 Calcium, magnesium and total dissolved solids data as well as modeled salinity and mass balance estimates for Lake Powell, 1952-2017
These data were compiled to quantify the role of Lake Powell in modulating salinity and reducing overall salt flux from the Upper Colorado River Basin downstream. In addition, these data were used to infer summertime calcite precipitation in Lake Powell (the major proposed sink for salt within the system). The Lake Powell Calcium Magnesium data contains summertime surface water calcium...
Filter Total Items: 31
Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 2. Regionalization and homogenization of estimates Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 2. Regionalization and homogenization of estimates
Inland waters are important sources of the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. In the framework of the 2nd phase of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP-2) initiative, we synthesize existing estimates of GHG emissions from streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and homogenize them with regard to...
Authors
Ronny Lauerwald, George H. Allen, Bridget R. Deemer, Shaoda Liu, Taylor Maavara, Peter Raymond, Lewis Alcott, David Bastviken, Adam Hastie, Meredith A. Holgerson, Matthew S. Johnson, Bernhard Lehner, Peirong Lin, Alessandra Marzadri, Lishan Ran, Hanqin Tian, Xiao Yang, Yuanzhi Yao, Pierre Regnier
Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 1. State-of-the-art of global scale assessments Inland water greenhouse gas budgets for RECCAP2: 1. State-of-the-art of global scale assessments
Inland waters are important sources of the greenhouse gasses (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. In the framework of the 2nd phase of the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes (RECCAP-2) initiative, we review the state of the art in estimating inland water GHG budgets at global scale, which has substantially advanced since the...
Authors
Ronny Lauerwald, George H. Allen, Bridget R. Deemer, Shaoda Liu, Taylor Maavara, Peter Raymond, Lewis Alcott, David Bastviken, Adam Hastie, Meredith A. Holgerson, Matthew S. Johnson, Bernhard Lehner, Peirong Lin, Alessandra Marzadri, Lishan Ran, Hanqin Tian, Xiao Yang, Yuanzhi Yao, Pierre Regnier
Declines in prey production during the collapse of a tailwater Rainbow Trout population are associated with changing reservoir conditions Declines in prey production during the collapse of a tailwater Rainbow Trout population are associated with changing reservoir conditions
Objective Understanding how energy moves through food webs and limits productivity at various trophic levels is a central question in aquatic ecology and can provide insight into drivers of fish population dynamics since many fish populations are food limited. In this study, we seek to better understand what factors drove a decline of >85% in the number of Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus...
Authors
Michael D. Yard, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael J. Dodrill, Bridget R. Deemer
Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
(Hartwell) This report is prepared primarily to account for work conducted and products delivered in FY 2022 by GCMRC and to inform the Technical Work Group of science conducted by GCMRC and its cooperators in support of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP). It includes a summary of accomplishments, modifications to work plans, results, and recommendations related to...
Authors
David J. Topping, Paul E. Grams, Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey, Helen C. Fairley, Bridget R. Deemer, Charles B. Yackulic, Theodore Kennedy, Anya Metcalfe, Maria C. Dzul, David Ward, Mariah Aurelia Giardina, Lucas Bair, Thomas M. Gushue, Caitlin M. Andrews, Ronald E. Griffiths, David J. Dean, Keith Kohl, Michael J Moran, Nicholas Voichick, Thomas A. Sabol, Laura A. Tennant, Kimberly Dibble, Michael C. Runge
Appendix 1: Lake Powell water quality monitoring Appendix 1: Lake Powell water quality monitoring
No abstract available.
Authors
Bridget R. Deemer, Nicholas Voichick, Thomas A. Sabol, Caitlin M. Andrews, Bryce Anthony Mihalevich
Over half a century record of limnology data from Lake Powell, desert southwest United States: From reservoir filling to present day (1964–2021) Over half a century record of limnology data from Lake Powell, desert southwest United States: From reservoir filling to present day (1964–2021)
Lake Powell is a large water storage reservoir in the arid southwestern United States. Here, we present a 58-yr limnology dataset that captures water quality parameters from reservoir filling to present day (temperature, salinity, major ions, total suspended solids), as well as a 38-yr record of Secchi depth, and a ~ 30-yr record of nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton assemblages...
Authors
Bridget R. Deemer, Caitlin M. Andrews, Kristin E. Strock, Nicholas Voichick, James Hensleigh, John Beaver, Robert Radtke
Non-USGS Publications**
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, 2019, Summer redox dynamics in a eutrophic reservoir and sensitivity to a summer’s end drawdown event: Ecosystems, v: 22, p. 1618-1632, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00362-0.
Reed, D.C., B.R. Deemer, S. van Grinsven, and J.A. Harrison. 2017. Are elusive anaerobic pathways key methane sinks in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs? Biogeochemistry doi: 10.1007/s10533-017-0356-3
Hayes, N.M, B.R. Deemer, J.R. Corman, N.R. Razavi, and K.E. Strock. 2017. Key differences between lakes and reservoirs modify climate signals: A case for a new conceptual model. Limnology and Oceanography Letters doi: 10.1002/lol2.10036
Harrison, J.A., B.R. Deemer, M.K. Birchfield, and M.T. O’Malley. 2017. Reservoir water level drawdowns accelerate and amplify methane emission. Environmental Science & Technology doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03185
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, S. Li, J. Beaulieu, T. DelSontro, N. Barros, M.A. dos Santos, J.F.Bezerra-Neto, S.M. Powers, and J.A. Vonk. 2016. Greenhouse gas emissions from reservoir water surfaces: A new global synthesis. BioScience doi: 10.1093/biosci/biw117
Deemer, B.R., S.M. Henderson, and J.A. Harrison. 2015. Chemical mixing in the bottom boundary layer of a eutrophic reservoir: the effects of internal seiching on nitrogen dynamics. Limnology and Oceanography 60: 1642-1655.
Deemer, B.R., K.E. Goodwin, T.A. Lee, M.K. Birchfield, K. Dallavis, J. Emerson, D. Freeman, E. Henry, L. Wynn, and J.A. Harrison. 2012. Elevated nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in urbanizing southwest Washington streams. Northwest Science 86: 237-247.
Henderson, S.M., and B.R. Deemer. 2012. Vertical propagation of lakewide internal waves. Geophysical Research Letters 39: doi:10.1029/2011GL050534.
Deemer, B.R., J.A. Harrison, and E.W. Whitling. 2011. Microbial dinitrogen and nitrous oxide production in a small eutrophic reservoir: an in situ approach to quantifying hypolimnetic process rates. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 1189-1199.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.