Christopher P Konrad
Christopher Konrad is a research hydrologist with U.S. Geological Survey in Tacoma, Washington.
His research integrates data collected from ground-based observations and networks, aircraft, and satellites with quantitative analysis and model development to address key scientific questions for environmental management. Dr. Konrad’s expertise spans many topics in the field of hydrology: streamflow, floods, and drought; hydraulics and fluvial sediment transport; groundwater and surface water interactions; and the effects of water management and land use on river ecosystems. Dr. Konrad served as the River Science Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy and USGS from 2007 to 2011 working on the development and evaluation of ecological flow requirements for rivers. He earned a BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington.
Professional Experience
River Science Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy and USGS, 2007 - 2011
Education and Certifications
MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington
BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University
Science and Products
Classification of California streams using combined deductive and inductive approaches: Setting the foundation for analysis of hydrologic alteration
Integrating seasonal information on nutrients and benthic algal biomass into stream water quality monitoring
Magnitude, frequency, and trends of floods at gaged and ungaged sites in Washington, based on data through water year 2014
Nutrient attenuation in rivers and streams, Puget Sound Basin, Washington
Geospatial assessment of ecological functions and flood-related risks on floodplains along major rivers in the Puget Sound Basin, Washington
Approaches for evaluating the effects of bivalve filter feeding on nutrient dynamics in Puget Sound, Washington
The timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers
Are large-scale flow experiments informing the science and management of freshwater ecosystems?
Geomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington
Reoccupation of floodplains by rivers and its relation to the age structure of floodplain vegetation
Analysis of streamflow-gaging network for monitoring stormwater in small streams in the Puget Sound Basin, Washington
Analysis of low flows and selected methods for estimating low-flow characteristics at partial-record and ungaged stream sites in western Washington
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 51
Classification of California streams using combined deductive and inductive approaches: Setting the foundation for analysis of hydrologic alteration
Regional classification of streams is an early step in the Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration framework. Many stream classifications are based on an inductive approach using hydrologic data from minimally disturbed basins, but this approach may underrepresent streams from heavily disturbed basins or sparsely gaged arid regions. An alternative is a deductive approach, using watershed climatAuthorsMatthew I. Pyne, Daren Carlisle, Christopher P. Konrad, Eric D. SteinIntegrating seasonal information on nutrients and benthic algal biomass into stream water quality monitoring
Benthic chlorophyll a (BChl a) and environmental factors that influence algal biomass were measured monthly from February through October in 22 streams from three agricultural regions of the United States. At-site maximum BChl a ranged from 14 to 406 mg/m2 and generally varied with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN): 8 out of 9 sites with at-site median DIN >0.5 mg/L had maximum BChl a >100 mg/m2.AuthorsChristopher P. Konrad, Mark D. MunnMagnitude, frequency, and trends of floods at gaged and ungaged sites in Washington, based on data through water year 2014
An investigation into the magnitude and frequency of floods in Washington State computed the annual exceedance probability (AEP) statistics for 648 U.S. Geological Survey unregulated streamgages in and near the borders of Washington using the recorded annual peak flows through water year 2014. This is an updated report from a previous report published in 1998 that used annual peak flows through thAuthorsMark C. Mastin, Christopher P. Konrad, Andrea G. Veilleux, Alison E. TeccaNutrient attenuation in rivers and streams, Puget Sound Basin, Washington
Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are important for aquatic ecosystem health. Excessive amounts of nutrients, however, can make aquatic ecosystems harmful for biota because enhanced growth and decay cycles of aquatic algae can reduce dissolved oxygen in the water. In Puget Sound marine waters, low dissolved oxygen concentrations are observed in a number of marine nearshore areas, and nutriAuthorsRich W. Sheibley, Christopher P. Konrad, Robert W. BlackGeospatial assessment of ecological functions and flood-related risks on floodplains along major rivers in the Puget Sound Basin, Washington
Ecological functions and flood-related risks were assessed for floodplains along the 17 major rivers flowing into Puget Sound Basin, Washington. The assessment addresses five ecological functions, five components of flood-related risks at two spatial resolutions—fine and coarse. The fine-resolution assessment compiled spatial attributes of floodplains from existing, publicly available sources andAuthorsChristopher P. KonradApproaches for evaluating the effects of bivalve filter feeding on nutrient dynamics in Puget Sound, Washington
Marine bivalves such as clams, mussels, and oysters are an important component of the food web, which influence nutrient dynamics and water quality in many estuaries. The role of bivalves in nutrient dynamics and, particularly, the contribution of commercial shellfish activities, are not well understood in Puget Sound, Washington. Numerous approaches have been used in other estuaries to quantify tAuthorsChristopher P. KonradThe timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers
A device that measures the timing of streambed scour and the duration of sediment mobilization at specific depths of a streambed was developed using data-logging accelerometers placed within the gravel substrate of the Cedar River, Washington, USA. Each accelerometer recorded its orientation every 20 min and remained stable until the surrounding gravel matrix mobilized as sediment was transportedAuthorsAndrew S. Gendaszek, Christopher S. Magirl, Christiana R. Czuba, Christopher P. KonradAre large-scale flow experiments informing the science and management of freshwater ecosystems?
Greater scientific knowledge, changing societal values, and legislative mandates have emphasized the importance of implementing large-scale flow experiments (FEs) downstream of dams. We provide the first global assessment of FEs to evaluate their success in advancing science and informing management decisions. Systematic review of 113 FEs across 20 countries revealed that clear articulation of expAuthorsJulian D. Olden, Christopher P. Konrad, Theodore S. Melis, Mark J. Kennard, Mary Freeman, Meryl C. Mims, Erin N. Bray, Keith B. Gido, Nina P. Hemphill, David A. Lytle, Laura E. McMullen, Mark Pyron, Christopher T. Robinson, John C. Schmidt, John G. WilliamsGeomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington
Assessing the linkages between high-flow events, geomorphic response, and effects on stream ecology is critical to river management. High flows on the gravel-bedded Cedar River in Washington are important to the geomorphic function of the river; however, high flows can deleteriously affect salmon embryos incubating in streambed gravels. A geomorphic analysis of the Cedar River showed evidence of hAuthorsChristopher S. Magirl, Andrew S. Gendaszek, Christiana R. Czuba, Christopher P. Konrad, Mathieu D. MarineauReoccupation of floodplains by rivers and its relation to the age structure of floodplain vegetation
River channel dynamics over many decades provide a physical control on the age structure of floodplain vegetation as a river occupies and abandons locations. Floodplain reoccupation by a river, in particular, determines the interval of time during which vegetation can establish and mature. A general framework for analyzing floodplain reoccupation and a time series model are developed and applied tAuthorsChristopher P. KonradAnalysis of streamflow-gaging network for monitoring stormwater in small streams in the Puget Sound Basin, Washington
The streamflow-gaging network in the Puget Sound basin was analyzed for its capacity to monitor stormwater in small streams. The analysis consisted of an inventory of active and inactive gages and an evaluation of the coverage and resolution of the gaging network with an emphasis on lowland areas. The active gaging network covers much of the Puget Lowland largely by gages located at sites on largeAuthorsChristopher P. Konrad, Frank D. VossAnalysis of low flows and selected methods for estimating low-flow characteristics at partial-record and ungaged stream sites in western Washington
A regional low-flow survey of small, perennial streams in western Washington was initiated by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC), NWIFC-member tribes, and Point-No-Point Treaty Council in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey in 2007 and repeated by the tribes during the low-flow seasons of 2008–09. Low-flow measurements at 63 partial-record and miscellaneous streamflow-measurAuthorsChristopher A. Curran, Ken Eng, Christopher P. Konrad - Science
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