Casie Smith is an ecologist at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center who works in Bend, Oregon
Casie has been working for the USGS since 2012 and is part of the Ecology Team at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center. Her current projects include:
-understanding the environmental fate and transport of pesticides applied aerially for vector control
-evaluating effects of agricultural pesticides on native bee populations
-monitoring and mapping HABs in an eastern Oregon reservoir
-assessing effects of beaver activity on water quality and habitat in the Tualatin River Basin
-studying cold-water refugia along the Willamette River during low-flow conditions
-calculating and interpreting nutrient loads for a large, shallow lake in eastern Oregon
-experimenting within mesocosms to reduce water-column turbidity in a shallow lake.
Education and Certifications
B.S. in Environment and Natural Resources- Conservation Biology, Clemson University
M.S. in Environmental Science and Technology- Wetland Ecology, University of Maryland.
Science and Products
Pesticide residues in passive samplers and bee tissue from Conservation Reserve Program fields across an agricultural gradient in eastern Iowa, USA, 2019
Naled and dichlorvos in water and aquatic organisms from a canal and rice fields near Sacramento, California
Phytoplankton Data for Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2018-2020
Stage-Volume-Area Table for Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2021
Estimates of average daily gross primary production and ecosystem respiration in Bronson and Fanno Creeks, OR (August, 2016)
Continuous temperature measurements to assess upstream connection of off-channel features of the middle and upper Willamette River, Oregon, Summer, 2016
Point measurements of temperature and water quality in the main channel and off-channel features of the lower reaches of the Willamette River, Clackamas River, Molalla River, and Johnson Creek, 2017
Water surface elevations recorded by submerged water level loggers in off-channel features of the middle and upper Willamette River, Oregon, Summer, 2016
Water Surface Images of Willow Creek Reservoir in Heppner, Oregon (2015 and 2016)
Spatial Water-Quality Measurements in Willow Creek Reservoir located in Heppner, Oregon, 2015-2016
A Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014)
Beaver dam locations and beaver activity in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon, between 2013 and 2016
Wild bee exposure to pesticides in conservation grasslands increases along an agricultural gradient: A tale of two sample types
Light attenuation and erosion characteristics of fine sediments in a highly turbid, shallow, Great Basin Lake—Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2017–18
Temperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16
Evaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon
Contaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment
Temporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon
Klamath River Basin water-quality data
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
- Data
Filter Total Items: 13
Pesticide residues in passive samplers and bee tissue from Conservation Reserve Program fields across an agricultural gradient in eastern Iowa, USA, 2019
This data release includes sampling location, pesticide concentrations in passive samplers (silicone bands) and bees foraging in Conservation Reserve Program fields. Sampling took place during July and August of 2019. Fields were located on private land managed for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program in eastern central Iowa, U.S.A.Naled and dichlorvos in water and aquatic organisms from a canal and rice fields near Sacramento, California
Ultra-low volumes of naled are applied by aircraft over rice fields and canals to reduce adult mosquito populations near Sacramento, California. Each summer, the pesticide is applied approximately 7-10 times between July and October. Naled and its major degradate (dichlorvos) were quantified in water, biofilm, and invertebrates following aerial applications. In 2020, samples were collected beforePhytoplankton Data for Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2018-2020
Malheur Lake is a shallow, freshwater lake in southeastern Oregon. This data release includes phytoplankton data from three sites located in Malheur Lake collected from 8/8/2018 to 8/11/2020. For each sample collected, the phytoplankton were reported to the lowest taxonomic unit. Phytoplankton biovolume, algal cell concentration, and algal biomass concentration are included. All phytoplankton dataStage-Volume-Area Table for Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2021
Malheur Lake is a vast, shallow lake in eastern Oregon. The lake is within the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and serves as an important stop and breeding ground along the Pacific flyway for migratory ducks and geese. The bottom of the lake is fairly uniform and there are very few topographic features. A small vertical increase in lake stage may result in a large change in area or volume. TheEstimates of average daily gross primary production and ecosystem respiration in Bronson and Fanno Creeks, OR (August, 2016)
This data release contains estimates of mean daily gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) in Bronson and Fanno Creeks, Oregon during August of 2016. These estimates were part of a larger study of the water-quality effects of beaver dams and beaver activity in selected urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin in northwestern Oregon. The mean daily GPP and ER values were estiContinuous temperature measurements to assess upstream connection of off-channel features of the middle and upper Willamette River, Oregon, Summer, 2016
Temperature loggers were placed on the ground (n=4) and hung in the air (n=2) near the upstream connection point of four Willamette River off-channel features (side channels and alcoves) to assess timing and discharge conditions when these four off-channel features were inundated at the upstream end with flow from the main channel. Temperature readings indicate that the upstream end of an off-chanPoint measurements of temperature and water quality in the main channel and off-channel features of the lower reaches of the Willamette River, Clackamas River, Molalla River, and Johnson Creek, 2017
Water quality point measurements were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey along the lower Willamette River near the cities of Lake Oswego and Wilsonville, Oregon, as well as the lowest two kilometers of the Clackamas River, Molalla River, and Johnson Creek. These measurements were collected in the main channel and off-channel features on discreet dates from April through October of 2017. All mWater surface elevations recorded by submerged water level loggers in off-channel features of the middle and upper Willamette River, Oregon, Summer, 2016
Water surface elevations within seven Willamette River off-channel features (OCF; alcoves and side channels) were measured using submerged pressure transducers. Transducers were installed from late May through mid-October, 2016, when discharge of the Willamette River was between approximately 5,500 and 45,000 cubic feet per second at Salem, Oregon (USGS gage 14191000) and 3,500 to 17,500 cubic feeWater Surface Images of Willow Creek Reservoir in Heppner, Oregon (2015 and 2016)
A camera was deployed to monitor cyanobacterial surface blooms occurring in Willow Creek Reservoir in Heppner, Oregon. The camera was positioned above the water and facing downwards to achieve the desired contrast in colors. With the appropriate permissions from USACE, the camera was attached to a railing of the Willow Creek Dam in the northwest corner of the reservoir about 70 feet above the surfSpatial Water-Quality Measurements in Willow Creek Reservoir located in Heppner, Oregon, 2015-2016
High frequency water-quality measurements were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey within Willow Creek Reservoir located in Heppner, Oregon. All measurements were taken at 1.5 feet below the surface with a YSI EXO2 multiparameter sonde. Information collected include location, time, water temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, total chlorophyll, blue-green algae phycocyanin, aA Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014)
This dataset provides baseline concentrations (from 2014) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), other aromatic organic compounds, mercury (Hg), and trace metal concentrations in sediment and biota collected from two sites along an existing rail line used for coal transport in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. For this study, aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and juvenile fish werBeaver dam locations and beaver activity in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon, between 2013 and 2016
USGS met with 13 local groups and organizations around the Portland, Oregon region to collect information regarding the locations of beaver dams in the Tualatin Basin. The local sources had identified beaver dams between 2013 and 2016, and data were compiled by USGS into an ArcGIS shapefile. Often, the local groups did not know the GPS coordinates of beaver dams, but they had identified beaver-aff - Multimedia
- Publications
Wild bee exposure to pesticides in conservation grasslands increases along an agricultural gradient: A tale of two sample types
Conservation efforts have been implemented in agroecosystems to enhance pollinator diversity by creating grassland habitat, but little is known about the exposure of bees to pesticides while foraging in these grassland fields. Pesticide exposure was assessed in 24 conservation grassland fields along an agricultural gradient at two time points (July and August) using silicone band passive samplersLight attenuation and erosion characteristics of fine sediments in a highly turbid, shallow, Great Basin Lake—Malheur Lake, Oregon, 2017–18
Malheur Lake is a large, shallow, turbid lake in southeastern Oregon that fluctuates widely in surface area in response to yearly precipitation and climatic cycles. High suspended-sediment concentrations (SSCs) likely are negatively affecting the survival of aquatic plants by reducing the intensity of solar radiation reaching the plants, thus inhibiting photosynthesis. This study was designed to dTemperature and water-quality diversity and the effects of surface-water connection in off-channel features of the Willamette River, Oregon, 2015–16
Water-quality conditions (including temperature) in the Willamette River and many of its adjacent off-channel features, such as alcoves and side channels, were monitored between river miles 67 (near Salem, Oregon) and 168 (near Eugene, Oregon) during the summers of 2015 and 2016. One or more parameters (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and [or] water depth) were contiEvaluation of restoration alternatives using water-budget tools for the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, northwestern Oregon
The lakebed in Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwestern Oregon was farmed for decades prior to the establishment of the refuge in 2013. Planning for restoration of these lands required extensive data collection and construction of a water budget and tools to design and evaluate potential restoration strategies. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceContaminant concentrations in sediments, aquatic invertebrates, and fish in proximity to rail tracks used for coal transport in the Pacific Northwest: A baseline assessment
Railway transport of coal poses an environmental risk because coal dust contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury (Hg), and other trace metals. In the Pacific Northwest, proposed infrastructure projects could result in an increase in coal transport by train through the Columbia River corridor. Baseline information is needed on current distributions, levels, and spatial patterns ofTemporal and spatial monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms at Willow Creek Reservoir, North-Central Oregon
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms in Willow Creek Reservoir in north-central Oregon in 2015–16. A combination of cameras and water-quality monitoring equipment was used to assess the frequency and duration of blooms and their effects on water quality. A surveillance cKlamath River Basin water-quality data
The Klamath River Basin stretches from the mountains and inland basins of south-central Oregon and northern California to the Pacific Ocean, spanning multiple climatic regions and encompassing a variety of ecosystems. Water quantity and water quality are important topics in the basin, because water is a critical resource for farming and municipal use, power generation, and for the support of wildlNon-USGS Publications**
Smith, C.D., Freed, T.Z., and Leisnham, P.T., 2015, Prior Hydrologic Disturbance Affects Competition between Aedes Mosquitoes via Changes in Leaf Litter: PLoS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128956.
Culin, J., and Smith, C., 2014, Student Survey of Lepidoptera and Odonata in Crowders Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain State Park, and Kings Mountain National Military Park: American Entomologist, v. 60, p. 29-38, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ae/60.1.29.Smith, C., Baldwin, A.H., Sullivan, J., and Leisnham, P.T., 2013, Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 on Competition Between the Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Ae. triseriatus via Changes in Litter Quality and Production: Journal of Medical Entomology, v. 50, p. 521-532, http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/ME12149.**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.
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