Cliff Hupp
Cliff Hupp is a Scientist Emeritus at the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center.
Dr. Cliff R. Hupp is the Lead Scientist of the Vegetation and Hydrogeomorphology Project of the U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program in Reston, Virginia, where he has been since 1978. Presently, he is the Research Advisor for the Geomorphology and Sediment Transport Group. He has investigated fluvial geomorphology and riparian vegetation ecology in relation to landforms and hydrologic processes for 35 years. Additional research includes studies on forested wetland biogeochemistry, channel evolution, floodplain processes and forms, sedimentation dynamics, and carbon sequestration in riparian ecosystems in the U.S. and Europe.
C.R. Hupp's background is in both plant ecology and fluvial geomorphology, and importantly the transition area(s) between these two fields. Specific areas include: vegetation patterns (species distribution) in the face of hydrogeomorphic form and process, dynamic equilibrium in fluvial (and occasionally hillslope) systems, sediment deposition and erosion in riparian areas (in channel and on floodplains), wetland hydrogeomorphic interactions with plant ecology, channel/riparian zone evolution, eco-hydrogeomorphic impacts from human alteration, organic material (carbon) dynamics in biogeochemical based studies, dendrogeomorphology, large wood dynamics in lowland rivers, vegetation-derived channel/floodplain roughness, and once upon a time-- flood frequency/magnitude analyses. He has published widely in refereed papers of journals, books, and symposia proceedings. Cliff was a student of the late John T. Hack at the George Washington University, where he received his doctorate in 1984 in plant ecology and geomorphology. He received his M.S. degree from George Mason University in plant ecology (1979). Dr. Hupp is the 1993 recipient of the Ecological Society of America, W.C. Cooper Award for outstanding research in physiographic ecology. He received the U.S. Department of Interior Superior Service Award in 2006 and the Senior Research Award of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in 2010. He served as section editor for the ESA journals “Ecology” and “Ecological Monographs” from 1999 until 2009 and is co-editor of the Ecogeomorphology Volume of the Treatise in Geomorphology. This project’s research in the cross-disciplinary field of geomorphic forms and processes and vegetation ecology, particularly (but not limited to) in alluvial areas is recognized within the Division, the USGS, and worldwide as a leader in this field. A paper on riparian vegetation and fluvial geomorphology (Hupp and Osterkamp, 1996) is the third most frequently cited paper published in the journal Geomorphology. Since 1992 this project has greatly increased the number of wetlands studied for sedimentation rates, and has been instrumental in providing guidance to other researchers both inside and outside the USGS who have also dramatically increased this number. This has lead to a worldwide greater appreciatio
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Floodplain geomorphic processes and environmental impacts of human alteration along coastal plain rivers, USA
Spatial and temporal variability in sedimentation rates associated with cutoff channel infill deposits: Ain River, France
Recent sedimentation patterns within the central Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana
Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey science for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and implications for environmental management
Riparian vegetation patterns in relation to fluvial landforms and channel evolution along selected rivers of Tuscany (Central Italy)
Seasonal variation in nutrient retention during inundation of a short-hydroperiod floodplain
Sediment and nutrient accumulation within lowland bottomland ecosystems: An example from the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana
Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulation in floodplains of Atlantic Coastal Plain rivers, USA
The Blackwater NWR inundation model. Rising sea level on a low-lying coast: land use planning for wetlands
The U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay – The role of science in environmental restoration
Role of lake regulation on glacier fed rivers in enhancing salmon productivity: The Cook Inlet watershed south central Alaska, USA
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Floodplain geomorphic processes and environmental impacts of human alteration along coastal plain rivers, USA
Human alterations along stream channels and within catchments have affected fluvial geomorphic processes worldwide. Typically these alterations reduce the ecosystem services that functioning floodplains provide; in this paper we are concerned with the sediment and associated material trapping service. Similarly, these alterations may negatively impact the natural ecology of floodplains through redAuthorsC. R. Hupp, Aaron R. Pierce, G.B. NoeSpatial and temporal variability in sedimentation rates associated with cutoff channel infill deposits: Ain River, France
Floodplain development is associated with lateral accretion along stable channel geometry. Along shifting rivers, the floodplain sedimentation is more complex because of changes in channel position but also cutoff channel presence, which exhibit specific overflow patterns. In this contribution, the spatial and temporal variability of sedimentation rates in cutoff channel infill deposits is relatedAuthorsH. Piégay, C. R. Hupp, A. Citterio, S. Dufour, B. Moulin, D.E. WallingRecent sedimentation patterns within the central Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana
Sediment deposition and storage are important functions of forested bottomlands, yet documentation and interpretation of sedimentation processes in these systems remain incomplete. Our study was located in the central Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana, a distributary of the Mississippi River and contains the largest contiguously forested riparian wetland in North America, which suffers from high sedimeAuthorsC. R. Hupp, C. R. Demas, D.E. Kroes, Richard H. Day, T.W. DoyleSynthesis of U.S. Geological Survey science for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and implications for environmental management
The purpose of this report is to present a synthesis of the USGS Chesapeake Bay science related to the 2001-06 goals and provide implications for environmental management. The report provides USGS findings that address the science needs of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) restoration goals and includes summaries of 1. land-use change; 2. water quality in the watershed, including nutrients, sedimenAuthorsScott W. Ator, Vicki S. Blazer, John W. Brakebill, Donald R. Cahoon, Peter R. Claggett, Thomas M. Cronin, Judith M. Denver, Christine L. Densmore, Allen C. Gellis, Cliff R. Hupp, Jurate M. Landwehr, Michael J. Langland, Christopher A. Ottinger, Milan J. Pavich, Matthew C. Perry, Scott W. Phillips, Stephen D. Preston, Jeff P. Raffensperger, Barnett A. Rattner, Nancy B. Rybicki, Debra A. WillardRiparian vegetation patterns in relation to fluvial landforms and channel evolution along selected rivers of Tuscany (Central Italy)
Riparian vegetation distribution patterns and diversity relative to various fluvial geomorphic channel patterns, landforms, and processes are described and interpreted for selected rivers of Tuscany, Central Italy; with emphasis on channel evolution following human impacts. Field surveys were conducted along thirteen gauged reaches for species presence, fluvial landforms, and the type and amount oAuthorsC. R. Hupp, M. RinaldiSeasonal variation in nutrient retention during inundation of a short-hydroperiod floodplain
Floodplains are generally considered to be important locations for nutrient retention or inorganic-to-organic nutrient conversions in riverine ecosystems. However, little is known about nutrient processing in short-hydroperiod floodplains or seasonal variation in floodplain nutrient retention. Therefore, we quantified the net uptake, release or transformation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and suAuthorsG.B. Noe, C. R. HuppSediment and nutrient accumulation within lowland bottomland ecosystems: An example from the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana
Sediment and nutrient deposition, storage, and transformations are important environmental functions of riverine forested wetland ecosystems, yet documentation and interpretation of sedimentation/nutrient processes remain incomplete. Our studies located in the Coastal Plain of southeastern USA, including the Atchafalaya Basin, La. (a distributary of the Mississippi River) serve as example for detaAuthorsC. R. Hupp, G.B. NoeCarbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulation in floodplains of Atlantic Coastal Plain rivers, USA
Net nutrient accumulation rates were measured in riverine floodplains of the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, USA. The floodplains were located in watersheds with different land use and included two sites on the Chickahominy River (urban), one site on the Mattaponi River (forested), and five sites on the Pocomoke River (agricultural). The Pocomoke River floodplains lie aAuthorsGregory B. Noe, Cliff HuppThe Blackwater NWR inundation model. Rising sea level on a low-lying coast: land use planning for wetlands
The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR), on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay (figure 1), occupies an area less than 1 meter above sea level. The Refuge has been featured prominently in studies of the impact of sea level rise on coastal wetlands. Most notably, the refuge has been sited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a key example of 'wetland loss' attributableAuthorsCurt Larsen, Inga E. Clark, Glenn Guntenspergen, Don Cahoon, Vincent Caruso, Cliff Hupp, Tom YanoskyThe U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay – The role of science in environmental restoration
The Chesapeake Bay is the Nation's largest estuary and historically supported one of the most productive fisheries in the world. In addition to supporting aquatic communities and wildlife, the bay's watershed serves the economic and recreational needs of 15 million people. The fertile soils of the watershed support significant agricultural production. Unfortunately, the commercial, economic, and rAuthorsRoger A. Barlow, John W. Brakebill, John F. Bratton, Vicki S. Blazer, John Karl Bohlke, Owen P. Bricker, Steve M. Colman, Thomas M. Cronin, Cliff R. Hupp, Janet R. Keough, Jurate M. Landwehr, Michael J. Langland, Wayne L. Newell, Matthew Perry, Scott W. Phillips, Steve D. Preston, Nancy B. Rybicki, Nancy S. Simon, Debra A. WillardByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science CenterRole of lake regulation on glacier fed rivers in enhancing salmon productivity: The Cook Inlet watershed south central Alaska, USA
Rivers fed by glaciers constitute a major part of the freshwater runoff into the Cook Inlet basin of south-central Alaska. This basin is very important to the economy of the State of Alaska because it is home to more than half of the population and it supports multi-million dollar commercial, subsistence and sport fisheries. Hence an understanding of how glacial runoff influences biological producAuthorsC. R. Hupp - News