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Daniel Wieferich

As a scientist in Core Science Systems, Daniel Wieferich helps develop, manage, and analyze national scale biogeographic data.  Daniel has worked with Science Analytics and Synthesis Program since 2014.

Daniel has a B.S. and M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, with a specialization in Spatial Information Processing.  Daniel also holds a Computer Programmer/Analyst Certificate from Lansing Community College.   His graduate work focused on population dynamics and distribution of an invasive forest insect (Beech Scale) in Michigan.  In 2009, Daniel started working for the Aquatic Landscape Ecology Lab in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University.  Here he played a leading role of geospatial data management and analyses for regional and national assessments of fish habitat through collaborative efforts with the National Fish Habitat Partnership, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Midwest states.

As a member of the Science Analytics and Synthesis Program Daniel continues an active role in the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) serving as a co-lead of the National Science and Data Committee and a USGS point of contact for NFHP data management and display efforts.  Daniel is also an active mmeber of the USGS Community of Data Integration.

Science and Products

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2 wet hands holding a speckled fish above water

Aquatic Gap Analysis Vision

The Aquatic Gap Analysis Project (AGAP) works to synthesize existing data and generate new data products to answer complex questions about aquatic species, their habitats and their conservation needs at multiple scales. AGAP is working to build a national data framework that makes data management and sharing efficient.
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Gap Analysis Project
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Aquatic Gap Analysis Vision

The Aquatic Gap Analysis Project (AGAP) works to synthesize existing data and generate new data products to answer complex questions about aquatic species, their habitats and their conservation needs at multiple scales. AGAP is working to build a national data framework that makes data management and sharing efficient.
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USGS science for a changing world logo

Knowledge Extraction Algorithms (KEA): Turning Literature Into Data

Identifying, extracting, and mobilizing information from current and historical literature is a time-consuming part of organizing and collating synthetic data productions. This project explored the use of algorithm-based methods to identify and extract occurrence information from the GeoDeepDive (GDD) literature database to support upkeep of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) data. The GeoDee
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Community for Data Integration (CDI)
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Knowledge Extraction Algorithms (KEA): Turning Literature Into Data

Identifying, extracting, and mobilizing information from current and historical literature is a time-consuming part of organizing and collating synthetic data productions. This project explored the use of algorithm-based methods to identify and extract occurrence information from the GeoDeepDive (GDD) literature database to support upkeep of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) data. The GeoDee
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USGS science for a changing world logo

National Stream Summarization: Standardizing Stream-Landscape Summaries

As research and management of natural resources shift from local to regional and national scales, the need for information about aquatic systems to be summarized to multiple scales is becoming more apparent. Recently, four federally funded national stream assessment efforts (USGS Aquatic GAP, USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] StreamCat, and
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Community for Data Integration (CDI)
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National Stream Summarization: Standardizing Stream-Landscape Summaries

As research and management of natural resources shift from local to regional and national scales, the need for information about aquatic systems to be summarized to multiple scales is becoming more apparent. Recently, four federally funded national stream assessment efforts (USGS Aquatic GAP, USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] StreamCat, and
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USGS science for a changing world logo

National Dam Removal Database: A living database for information on dying dams

The United States has over 2 million dams on rivers and streams (Graf, 1999), and more than 84,000 of the larger dams are documented in the congressionally mandated National Inventory of Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2015). The average age of these National Inventory of Dams is 52 years; by the year 2030, over 80 percent will be at least 50 years old (American Society of Civil Engineers, 201
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Community for Data Integration (CDI)
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National Dam Removal Database: A living database for information on dying dams

The United States has over 2 million dams on rivers and streams (Graf, 1999), and more than 84,000 of the larger dams are documented in the congressionally mandated National Inventory of Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2015). The average age of these National Inventory of Dams is 52 years; by the year 2030, over 80 percent will be at least 50 years old (American Society of Civil Engineers, 201
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Waterfalls and Rapids in the Conterminous United States Linked to the National Hydrography Datasets V2.0

This GeoJSON dataset contains information about 10780 waterfall and 1080 rapid locations (referred to as falls throughout the metadata) and characteristics (e.g. type and height) for the conterminous United States. This dataset centralizes known information about falls while providing basic quality control (i.e. resolving duplicate records and spatial accuracy checks) and linkages to stream networ
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

USGS Dam Removal Science Database v4.0

This database is the result of an extensive literature search aimed at identifying documents relevant to the emerging field of dam removal science. In total the database contains 214 citations that contain empirical monitoring information associated with 181 different dam removals across the United States and abroad. Data includes publications through 2016 and supplemented with the U.S. Army Corps
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Western Fisheries Research Center

Locations of mines and mining activity in the contiguous United States 2013

This dataset includes locations and associated information about mines and mining activity in the contiguous United States. The database was developed by combining publicly available national datasets of mineral mines, uranium mines, and minor and major coal mine activities. This database was developed in 2013, but temporal range of mine data varied dependent on source. Uranium mine information ca
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Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Hawaii Waterfalls Linked to the National Hydrography Dataset

This dataset contains information about waterfall locations and estimated waterfall heights on five of the main Hawaiian Islands including Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii. Initial spatial information was gathered from the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the Hawaii Statewide GIS Program, and the World Waterfall Database. Where image quality per
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

FishVis, predicted occurrence and vulnerability for 13 fish species for current (1961 - 1990) and future (2046 - 2100) climate conditions in Great Lakes streams.

Climate change is expected to alter the distributions and community composition of stream fishes in the Great Lakes region in the 21st century, in part as a result of altered hydrological systems (stream temperature, streamflow, and habitat). Resource managers need information and tools to understand where fish species and stream habitats are expected to change under future conditions. Fish sample
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Using fish community and population indicators to assess the biological condition of streams and rivers of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA

The development of indicators to assess relative freshwater condition is critical for management and conservation. Predictive modeling can enhance the utility of indicators by providing estimates of condition for unsurveyed locations. Such approaches grant understanding of where “good” and “poor” conditions occur and provide insight into landscape contexts supporting such conditions. However, as a
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Water Resources, Ecosystems, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report

The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2007 as a collaborative interagency partnership to develop and implement science-based conservation actions. During the past 11 years, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implement a long-term (more than 10 years) science-bas
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Core Research Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Nebraska Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Core Research Center

Community for data integration 2018 funded project report

The U.S. Geological Survey Community for Data Integration annually funds small projects focusing on data integration for interdisciplinary research, innovative data management, and demonstration of new technologies. This report provides a summary of the 10 projects funded in fiscal year 2018, outlining their goals, activities, and accomplishments.
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Community for Data Integration (CDI)

Protected areas lacking for many common fluvial fishes of the conterminous USA

AimTo assess the effectiveness of protected areas in two catchment scales (local and network) in conserving regionally common fluvial fishes using modelled species distributions.LocationConterminous United States.MethodsA total of 150 species were selected that were geographically widespread, abundant, non‐habitat specialists and native within nine large ecoregions. Species distribution models wer
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report

This is the ninth annual report highlighting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science and decision-support activities conducted for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI). The activities address specific management needs identified by WLCI partner agencies. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, there were 26 active USGS WLCI science-based projects. Of these 26 projects, one project was new for FY20
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Water Resources, Ecosystems, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Energy & Wildlife, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Landscape context and the biophysical response of rivers to dam removal in the United States

Dams have been a fundamental part of the U.S. national agenda over the past two hundred years. Recently, however, dam removal has emerged as a strategy for addressing aging, obsolete infrastructure and more than 1,100 dams have been removed since the 1970s. However, only 130 of these removals had any ecological or geomorphic assessments, and fewer than half of those included before- and after-remo
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Ecosystems, Water Resources, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis

Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report

The Community for Data Integration (CDI) represents a dynamic community of practice focused on advancing science data and information management and integration capabilities across the U.S. Geological Survey and the CDI community. This annual report describes the various presentations, activities, and outcomes of the CDI monthly forums, working groups, virtual training series, and other CDI-sponso
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Community for Data Integration (CDI)

Informing watershed connectivity barrier prioritization decisions: A synthesis

Water resources and transportation infrastructure such as dams and culverts provide countless socio-economic benefits; however, this infrastructure can also disconnect the movement of organisms, sediment, and water through river ecosystems. Trade-offs associated with these competing costs and benefits occur globally, with applications in barrier addition (e.g. dam and road construction), reenginee
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

Community for Data Integration 2015 annual report

The Community for Data Integration (CDI) continued to experience success in fiscal year 2015. The CDI community members have been sharing, learning, and collaborating through monthly forums, workshops, working groups, and funded projects. In fiscal year 2015, CDI coordinated 10 monthly forums with 16 different speakers from the U.S. Geological Survey and external partners; funded 11 collaborative
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Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Community for Data Integration (CDI), Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

FishVis, A regional decision support tool for identifying vulnerabilities of riverine habitat and fishes to climate change in the Great Lakes Region

Climate change is expected to alter the distributions and community composition of stream fishes in the Great Lakes region in the 21st century, in part as a result of altered hydrological systems (stream temperature, streamflow, and habitat). Resource managers need information and tools to understand where fish species and stream habitats are expected to change under future conditions. Fish sample
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Water Resources, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Through a fish's eye: The status of fish habitats in the United States 2015

This report updates and revises the 2010 “ Status of Fish Habitats in the United States” that summarized initial results of a comprehensive national assessment of aquatic habitats at an unprecedented scale and level of detail. This 2015 report provides even greater detail and improves our knowledge of the condition of fish habitat in the United States. The 2010 inland streams assessment characteri
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Ecosystems, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), National Water Quality Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Dam Removal Information Portal (DRIP)—A map-based resource linking scientific studies and associated geospatial information about dam removals

The removal of dams has recently increased over historical levels due to aging infrastructure, changing societal needs, and modern safety standards rendering some dams obsolete. Where possibilities for river restoration, or improved safety, exceed the benefits of retaining a dam, removal is more often being considered as a viable option. Yet, as this is a relatively new development in the history
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Community for Data Integration (CDI), John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Western Fisheries Research Center

Dam Removal Information Portal Dashboard Python Dash Software

The Dam Removal Information Portal (DRIP) contains information about the geographic locations of dam removals and any associated scientific studies evaluating outcomes to physical, biological, and water quality parameters. This application uses Python DASH to help distribute and visualize information from the Dam Removal Information Portal API (DRIP API).
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

xstrm

Python package to assist with stream network summarization. This package is intended to support efforts for any stream network having general topology (i.e. to/from nodes). Specifically this package was built to support fisheries based analyses using multiple versions of the National Hydrography Database Plus (NHDPlus) representing streams within the United States along with HydroBasins which repr
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)

PubLink

Understanding how data are used across the scientific community provides many benefits to data authors, including building a better awareness and comprehension of 1) a dataset's scientific impact, 2) use cases to direct future versions, and 3) related efforts. Effectively tracking when and how data are used in the literature through time can be challenging. This is in part due to a lack of consis
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Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS)
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New Open-Source Projects Using NHDPlus

Two new open-source projects, Xstrm and FCPGtools, have been released that provide functionality based on versions of the NHDPlus. Both projects...

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