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
Seasonal precipitation influences streamflow vulnerability to the 2015 drought in the western United States
An integrated framework for ecological drought across riverscapes of North America
Sediment storage and transport in the Nooksack River basin, northwestern Washington, 2006–15
Downstream‐propagating channel responses to decadal‐scale climate variability in a glaciated river basin
Effects of urban multi-stressors on three stream biotic assemblages
Factors influencing fine sediment on stream beds in the Midwestern United States
Effect of river confinement on depth and spatial extent of bed disturbance affecting salmon redds
Assessing the influence of multiple stressors on stream diatom metrics in the upper Midwest, USA
Characterizing aquatic habitats for long‐term monitoring of a fourth‐order, regulated river in the Pacific Northwest, USA
Flood runoff in relation to water vapor transport by atmospheric rivers over the western United States, 1949–2015
Streambed scour of salmon spawning habitat in a regulated river influenced by management of peak discharge
Hydrologic metrics for status-and-trends monitoring in urban and urbanizing watersheds
Hydrologic Urban Indicators
White River Videography
Cedar River Watershed
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 51
Seasonal precipitation influences streamflow vulnerability to the 2015 drought in the western United States
Streamflow was exceptionally low in the spring and summer of 2015 across much of the western United States because of a regional drought that exploited the sensitivity of both snow- and rain-dominant rivers. Streamflow during 2015 was examined at 324 gauges in the region to assess its response to the amount, form, and seasonal timing of precipitation and the viability of using spatially aggregatedAuthorsChristopher KonradAn integrated framework for ecological drought across riverscapes of North America
Climate change is increasing the severity and extent of extreme droughts events, posing a critical threat to freshwater ecosystems, particularly with increasing human demands for diminishing water supplies. Despite the importance of drought as a significant driver of ecological and evolutionary dynamics, current understanding of drought consequences for freshwater biodiversity is very limited. WAuthorsRyan Kovach, Jason B. Dunham, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Craig Snyder, Erik A. Beever, Gregory T. Pederson, Abigail Lynch, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Christopher P. Konrad, Kristin Jaeger, Alan H. Rea, Adam J. Sepulveda, Patrick M. Lambert, Jason M. Stoker, J. Joseph Giersch, Clint C. MuhlfeldSediment storage and transport in the Nooksack River basin, northwestern Washington, 2006–15
The Nooksack River is a dynamic gravel-bedded river in northwestern Washington, draining off Mount Baker and the North Cascades into Puget Sound. Working in cooperation with the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District, the U.S. Geological Survey studied topographic, hydrologic, and climatic data for the Nooksack River basin to document recent changes in sediment storage, long-term bed elevationAuthorsScott W. Anderson, Christopher P. Konrad, Eric E. Grossman, Christopher A. CurranDownstream‐propagating channel responses to decadal‐scale climate variability in a glaciated river basin
Regional climate is an important control on the rate of coarse sediment mobilization and transport in alpine river systems. Changes in climate are then expected to cause a cascade of geomorphic responses, including adjustments in downstream channel morphology. However, the mechanics and sensitivity of channel response to short‐term climate variability remain poorly documented. In the Nooksack RiveAuthorsScott W. Anderson, Christopher P. KonradEffects of urban multi-stressors on three stream biotic assemblages
During 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment(NAWQA) project assessed stream quality in 75 streams across an urban disturbance gradient within the Piedmont ecoregion of southeastern United States. Our objectives were to identify primary instream stressors affecting algal, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in wadeable streams. Biotic communities were surveyedAuthorsIan R. Waite, Mark D. Munn, Patrick W. Moran, Christopher P. Konrad, Lisa H. Nowell, Michael R. Meador, Peter C. Van Metre, Daren CarlisleFactors influencing fine sediment on stream beds in the Midwestern United States
Fine sediment (particles <2 mm in diameter) in stream beds has wide-ranging effects on hydraulics, geomorphology, and ecology and is a primary focus for stream quality management in many regions. We identify reach- and basin-scale factors associated with fine sediment in the beds of 83 stream reaches in the Midwestern United States using recursive partitioning of sand-bed and gravel-bed streams anAuthorsChristopher P. Konrad, Allen C. GellisEffect of river confinement on depth and spatial extent of bed disturbance affecting salmon redds
Human impacts on rivers threaten the natural function of riverine ecosystems. This paper assesses how channel confinement affects the scour depth and spatial extent of bed disturbance and discusses the implications of these results for salmon-redd disturbance in gravel-bedded rivers. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic models of relatively confined and unconfined reaches of the Cedar River in WashingtonAuthorsChristiana R. Czuba, Jonathan A. Czuba, Christopher S. Magirl, Andrew S. Gendaszek, Christopher P. KonradAssessing the influence of multiple stressors on stream diatom metrics in the upper Midwest, USA
Water resource managers face increasing challenges in identifying what physical and chemical stressors are responsible for the alteration of biological conditions in streams. The objective of this study was to assess the comparative influence of multiple stressors on benthic diatoms at 98 sites that spanned a range of stressors in an agriculturally dominated region in the upper Midwest, USA. The pAuthorsMark D. Munn, Ian R. Waite, Christopher P. KonradCharacterizing aquatic habitats for long‐term monitoring of a fourth‐order, regulated river in the Pacific Northwest, USA
A pragmatic approach to the long‐term monitoring of rivers leverages available information with targeted field investigations to address key uncertainties relevant to management decisions. An over‐arching management issue for many rivers is how reservoir operation affects the amount and location of in‐channel sediment and the resulting distribution of aquatic habitats. We integrate remotely acquirAuthorsChristopher P. Konrad, K. Burton, R. Little, Andrew S. Gendaszek, Mark D. Munn, Scott W. AndersonFlood runoff in relation to water vapor transport by atmospheric rivers over the western United States, 1949–2015
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) have a significant role in generating floods across the western United States. We analyze daily streamflow for water years 1949 to 2015 from 5,477 gages in relation to water vapor transport by ARs using a 6 h chronology resolved to 2.5° latitude and longitude. The probability that an AR will generate 50 mm/d of runoff in a river on the Pacific Coast increases from 12% whenAuthorsChristopher P. Konrad, Michael D. DettingerStreambed scour of salmon spawning habitat in a regulated river influenced by management of peak discharge
In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, salmon eggs incubating within streambed gravels are susceptible to scour during floods. The threat to egg-to-fry survival by streambed scour is mitigated, in part, by the adaptation of salmon to bury their eggs below the typical depth of scour. In regulated rivers globally, we suggest that water managers consider the effect of dam operations on scourAuthorsAndrew S. Gendaszek, Karl D. Burton, Christopher S. Magirl, Christopher P. KonradHydrologic metrics for status-and-trends monitoring in urban and urbanizing watersheds
Local governmental agencies are increasingly undertaking potentially costly “status-and-trends” monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of stormwater control measures and land-use planning strategies, or to satisfy regulatory requirements. Little guidance is presently available for such efforts, and so we have explored the application, interpretation, and temporal limitations of well-establishedAuthorsDerek B. Booth, Christopher P. Konrad - Science
Filter Total Items: 15
Hydrologic Urban Indicators
Storm water, the rainfall that runs off urban surfaces such as rooftops, pavement, and lawns, can affect streams in a number of ways. As urban development increases, storm water can run quickly into streams, increasing the volume and peak flows and reducing summer flows. Sediment and other contaminants can also be carried into the streams. The Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE), the state...White River Videography
The quantity and quality of instream habitat is one of many factors affecting aquatic organisms such as anadromous and non-anadromous salmonids. The measurement and assessment of instream habitat has been the focus of many habitat monitoring and restoration projects throughout the State of Washington. On-the-ground habitat monitoring is extremely important for specific variables and specific...Cedar River Watershed
The Cedar River watershed provides two-thirds of the water supply for the greater Seattle metropolitan region, in addition to being home to numerous terrestrial and aquatic organisms such as salmon, some of which are Federally listed as threatened species. The City of Seattle is establishing monitoring plans for the Cedar River watershed to effectively manage the resource. A critical component of... - Data
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