Dan Kroes has been employed as an ecologist by the USGS since 2001 (2001-06 National Research Program, Reston, Va; 2006-14 Louisiana Water Science Center, Baton Rouge, La; 2014-present Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Baton Rouge, La)
He has studied the effects of stream and floodplain geomorphology as it relates to climate, subsidence, sedimentation, channel avulsion, tree-growth, nutrient deposition, flow, and water residence times. His master's research was completed at East Carolina University in 2001 under Mark M. Brinson, studying how floodplain wetlands and streams change in relation to rainfall and temperature. He has studied streams in Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Major topics of research are: The Hydraulic and sedimentary characterization of the Atchafalaya River Basin, Stream Restoration, Floodplain Subsidence, Sediment and water movement over floodplains.
Publications
Bason CW, Kroes DE, Brinson MM. 2017. The effect of beaver ponds on water quality in rural Coastal Plain Streams. Southeastern Naturalist. 16:584-602.
Hupp, C.R., D.E. Kroes, E.R. Schenk, G.B. Noe. 2015. Sediment and carbon sequestration in the lower Atchaflaya Basin, Louisiana. 3rd Joint Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling, April 19-23, 2015 Reno, Nevada, USA. 3rd Joint Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling, April 19-23, 2015, Reno, Nevada, USA; 04/2015
Kroes, D.E., Schenk, E.R., Noe, G.B., Benthem, A.J. 2015. Sediment and nutrient trapping as a result of a temporary Mississippi River floodplain restoration: The Morganza Spillway during the 2011 Mississippi River Flood. Ecological Engineering 82:91-102. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.04.056 [Download File]
Hupp, Cliff R.; Schenk, Edward R.; Kroes, Daniel; Willard, Debra A.; Townsend, Phil A.; Peet, Robert K., 2015. Patterns of floodplain sediment deposition along the regulated lower Roanoke River, North Carolina: annual, decadal, centennial scales. Geomorphology , 15 p. [Download File]
Kroes, D.E. and C.W. Bason. 2015. Sediment-trapping by Beaver Ponds in Streams of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain, USA. Southeastern Naturalist 14:577-595. [Download File]
Scott, Durelle T.; Keim, Richard F.; Edwards, Brandon L.; Jones, C. Nathan; Kroes, Daniel E., 2014. Floodplain biogeochemical processing of floodwaters in the Atchafalaya River Basin during the Mississippi River flood of 2011. J of Geophysical Res. Biogeosciences.
Justus, B. G., S. V. Mize, J. Wallace, and D. Kroes. "Invertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana." River Research and Applications30, no. 1 (2014): 11-28. [Download File]
Kroes, Daniel E., and Thomas F. Kraemer. "Human-induced stream channel abandonment/capture and
Science and Products
Hydrogeomorphic data along transitioning Coastal Plain rivers (Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers): implications for a rising sea level
Data on changing hydrogeomorphic characteristics along river gradients from nontidal through tidal freshwater to oligohaline reaches along the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers, Virginia. Shapefile data include location and elevation profiles of the river valleys along multiple digital cross-sections from lidar digital elevation models, satellite visible imagery, and geographic information system anal
Mean bed elevations of waterbodies on the Atchafalaya River floodplain
Waterbodies that exhibit persistent water and lack trees within the majority of its area are defined as open waterbodies by the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD, USGS, 2011). The data presented here were created to determine the volume of water for open waterbodies on the floodplain of the Atchafalaya River Basin. Open waterbodies and their surficial geometry were identified using a geographic in
Dissolved oxygen concentrations of Flat Lake and East Grand Lake Water Management Units of the Atchafalaya River Basin
Data were retrieved from a long-term data set for analyses of the relationship between residence time of flood waters with dissolved oxygen concentration collected as part of a long-term water quality monitoring program from 1 January 2000 through 31 December 2010 in East Grand Lake/Flat Lake Water Management Unit in the Atchafalaya River Floodway System. Dissolved oxygen data were collected biwee
Assessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network
The study area included the coasts of all five U.S. states along the northern Gulf of Mexico (i.e., Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas). We contacted federal, state, and university-affiliated scientists working with SET-MH data within this area to obtain the geographic coordinates and the installation year for each SET-MH station. Please note that while our inventory is extensive
Hydrologic connectivity and residence time affect the sediment trapping efficiency and dissolved oxygen concentrations of the Atchafalaya River Basin
Little is known about water movement, volume, or residence time (RT), and how those characteristics affect sediment trapping efficiency (TE) and dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) in the United States' largest remaining bottomland hardwood swamp, the Atchafalaya River Basin. To better understand these dynamics, this study used bathymetry, lidar, and stage records to determine volumes in the Basi
Hydrologic modification and channel evolution degrades connectivity on the Atchafalaya River floodplain
The Atchafalaya River Basin is the largest remaining forested wetland in the contiguous United States. Since 1960, dredging and channel erosion in the Basin have resulted in changes to the hydrologic connectivity that have not been quantified. Analyses were conducted to determine the hydraulic and geomorphic factors that have changed since discharge became controlled that may have decreased river/
Channel modification and evolution alter hydraulic connectivity in the Atchafalaya River basin increasing vulnerability to sea-level rise
Channel dredging and erosion in the Atchafalaya River basin have resulted in changes to the hydraulic connectivity of this floodplain swamp that have not been previously quantified. In this study, analyses were conducted to determine hydraulic and geomorphic factors that have changed since channel closure in 1962. Results indicated changes occurred in the Atchafalaya main channel cross-section bet
Sediment trapping and carbon sequestration in floodplains of the lower Atchafalaya Basin, LA: Allochthonous vs. autochthonous carbon sources
Recent studies suggest that about 2 Pg of organic C is stored on floodplains worldwide. The present study indicates the Atchafalaya River, fifth largest river in the United States in terms of discharge, traps 30 mm/y of sediment on average within its floodplain, which is the highest average non‐episodic rate of fluvial deposition on the U.S. Coastal Plain. We installed sediment sampling stations a
The effect of beaver ponds on water quality in rural coastal plain streams
We compared water-quality effects of 13 beaver ponds on adjacent free-flowing control reaches in the Coastal Plain of rural North Carolina. We measured concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and suspended sediment (SS) upstream and downstream of paired ponds and control reaches. Nitrate and SS concentrations decreased, ammonium concentrations increased, and SRP con
Assessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: Gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network
Coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise are greatly influenced by biogeomorphic processes that affect wetland surface elevation. Small changes in elevation relative to sea level can lead to comparatively large changes in ecosystem structure, function, and stability. The surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) approach is being used globally to quantify the relative contributions of pro
Sediment and nutrient trapping as a result of a temporary Mississippi River floodplain restoration: The Morganza Spillway during the 2011 Mississippi River Flood
The 2011 Mississippi River Flood resulted in the opening of the Morganza Spillway for the second time since its construction in 1954 releasing 7.6 km3 of water through agricultural and forested lands in the Morganza Floodway and into the Atchafalaya River Basin. This volume, released over 54 days, represented 5.5% of the Mississippi River (M.R.) discharge and 14% of the total discharge through the
Patterns of floodplain sediment deposition along the regulated lower Roanoke River, North Carolina: annual, decadal, centennial scales
The lower Roanoke River on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina is not embayed and maintains a floodplain that is among the largest on the mid-Atlantic Coast. This floodplain has been impacted by substantial aggradation in response to upstream colonial and post-colonial agriculture between the mid-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. Additionally, since the mid-twentieth century stream flow has
Floodplain biogeochemical processing of floodwaters in the Atchafalaya River Basin during the Mississippi River flood of 2011
The 2011 flood in the Lower Mississippi resulted in the second highest recorded river flow diverted into the Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB). The higher water levels during the flood peak resulted in high hydrologic connectivity between the Atchafalaya River and floodplain, with up to 50% of the Atchafalaya River water moving off channel. Water quality samples were collected throughout the ARB over
Invertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in lowland streams are naturally lower than those in upland streams; however, in some regions where monitoring data are lacking, DO criteria originally established for upland streams have been applied to lowland streams. This study investigated the DO concentrations at which fish and invertebrate assemblages at 35 sites located on lowland streams in southwester
Bank erosion, mass wasting, water clarity, bathymetry and a sediment budget along the dam-regulated Lower Roanoke River, North Carolina
Dam construction and its impact on downstream fluvial processes may substantially alter ambient bank stability, floodplain inundation patterns, and channel morphology. Most of the world's largest rivers have been dammed, which has prompted management efforts to mitigate dam effects. Three high dams (completed between 1953 and 1963) occur along the Piedmont portion of the Roanoke River, North Carol
Non-USGS Publications**
Kroes, D.E. July 4, 2017. Automatic Surface Elevation Table (Auto SET). Patent No. US 9,696,197.
**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
Hydrogeomorphic data along transitioning Coastal Plain rivers (Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers): implications for a rising sea level
Data on changing hydrogeomorphic characteristics along river gradients from nontidal through tidal freshwater to oligohaline reaches along the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers, Virginia. Shapefile data include location and elevation profiles of the river valleys along multiple digital cross-sections from lidar digital elevation models, satellite visible imagery, and geographic information system analMean bed elevations of waterbodies on the Atchafalaya River floodplain
Waterbodies that exhibit persistent water and lack trees within the majority of its area are defined as open waterbodies by the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD, USGS, 2011). The data presented here were created to determine the volume of water for open waterbodies on the floodplain of the Atchafalaya River Basin. Open waterbodies and their surficial geometry were identified using a geographic inDissolved oxygen concentrations of Flat Lake and East Grand Lake Water Management Units of the Atchafalaya River Basin
Data were retrieved from a long-term data set for analyses of the relationship between residence time of flood waters with dissolved oxygen concentration collected as part of a long-term water quality monitoring program from 1 January 2000 through 31 December 2010 in East Grand Lake/Flat Lake Water Management Unit in the Atchafalaya River Floodway System. Dissolved oxygen data were collected biweeAssessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network
The study area included the coasts of all five U.S. states along the northern Gulf of Mexico (i.e., Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas). We contacted federal, state, and university-affiliated scientists working with SET-MH data within this area to obtain the geographic coordinates and the installation year for each SET-MH station. Please note that while our inventory is extensive - Multimedia
- Publications
Hydrologic connectivity and residence time affect the sediment trapping efficiency and dissolved oxygen concentrations of the Atchafalaya River Basin
Little is known about water movement, volume, or residence time (RT), and how those characteristics affect sediment trapping efficiency (TE) and dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) in the United States' largest remaining bottomland hardwood swamp, the Atchafalaya River Basin. To better understand these dynamics, this study used bathymetry, lidar, and stage records to determine volumes in the BasiHydrologic modification and channel evolution degrades connectivity on the Atchafalaya River floodplain
The Atchafalaya River Basin is the largest remaining forested wetland in the contiguous United States. Since 1960, dredging and channel erosion in the Basin have resulted in changes to the hydrologic connectivity that have not been quantified. Analyses were conducted to determine the hydraulic and geomorphic factors that have changed since discharge became controlled that may have decreased river/Channel modification and evolution alter hydraulic connectivity in the Atchafalaya River basin increasing vulnerability to sea-level rise
Channel dredging and erosion in the Atchafalaya River basin have resulted in changes to the hydraulic connectivity of this floodplain swamp that have not been previously quantified. In this study, analyses were conducted to determine hydraulic and geomorphic factors that have changed since channel closure in 1962. Results indicated changes occurred in the Atchafalaya main channel cross-section betSediment trapping and carbon sequestration in floodplains of the lower Atchafalaya Basin, LA: Allochthonous vs. autochthonous carbon sources
Recent studies suggest that about 2 Pg of organic C is stored on floodplains worldwide. The present study indicates the Atchafalaya River, fifth largest river in the United States in terms of discharge, traps 30 mm/y of sediment on average within its floodplain, which is the highest average non‐episodic rate of fluvial deposition on the U.S. Coastal Plain. We installed sediment sampling stations aThe effect of beaver ponds on water quality in rural coastal plain streams
We compared water-quality effects of 13 beaver ponds on adjacent free-flowing control reaches in the Coastal Plain of rural North Carolina. We measured concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and suspended sediment (SS) upstream and downstream of paired ponds and control reaches. Nitrate and SS concentrations decreased, ammonium concentrations increased, and SRP conAssessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: Gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network
Coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise are greatly influenced by biogeomorphic processes that affect wetland surface elevation. Small changes in elevation relative to sea level can lead to comparatively large changes in ecosystem structure, function, and stability. The surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) approach is being used globally to quantify the relative contributions of proSediment and nutrient trapping as a result of a temporary Mississippi River floodplain restoration: The Morganza Spillway during the 2011 Mississippi River Flood
The 2011 Mississippi River Flood resulted in the opening of the Morganza Spillway for the second time since its construction in 1954 releasing 7.6 km3 of water through agricultural and forested lands in the Morganza Floodway and into the Atchafalaya River Basin. This volume, released over 54 days, represented 5.5% of the Mississippi River (M.R.) discharge and 14% of the total discharge through thePatterns of floodplain sediment deposition along the regulated lower Roanoke River, North Carolina: annual, decadal, centennial scales
The lower Roanoke River on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina is not embayed and maintains a floodplain that is among the largest on the mid-Atlantic Coast. This floodplain has been impacted by substantial aggradation in response to upstream colonial and post-colonial agriculture between the mid-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. Additionally, since the mid-twentieth century stream flow hasFloodplain biogeochemical processing of floodwaters in the Atchafalaya River Basin during the Mississippi River flood of 2011
The 2011 flood in the Lower Mississippi resulted in the second highest recorded river flow diverted into the Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB). The higher water levels during the flood peak resulted in high hydrologic connectivity between the Atchafalaya River and floodplain, with up to 50% of the Atchafalaya River water moving off channel. Water quality samples were collected throughout the ARB overInvertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in lowland streams are naturally lower than those in upland streams; however, in some regions where monitoring data are lacking, DO criteria originally established for upland streams have been applied to lowland streams. This study investigated the DO concentrations at which fish and invertebrate assemblages at 35 sites located on lowland streams in southwesterBank erosion, mass wasting, water clarity, bathymetry and a sediment budget along the dam-regulated Lower Roanoke River, North Carolina
Dam construction and its impact on downstream fluvial processes may substantially alter ambient bank stability, floodplain inundation patterns, and channel morphology. Most of the world's largest rivers have been dammed, which has prompted management efforts to mitigate dam effects. Three high dams (completed between 1953 and 1963) occur along the Piedmont portion of the Roanoke River, North CarolNon-USGS Publications**
Kroes, D.E. July 4, 2017. Automatic Surface Elevation Table (Auto SET). Patent No. US 9,696,197.**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.