Daren M Carlisle, Ph.D.
Dr. Daren Carlisle manages the Ecological Flows Program for the Water Resources Mission Area.
Science and Products
Drought Prediction Science
Drought is a prolonged and widespread deficit in available water supplies that creates multiple stressors across ecosystems and communities. The U.S. Geological Survey Water Mission Area conducts drought research and modeling to improve drought prediction capabilities. The research focus is on understanding the hydrological, ecological, and economic ramifications of drought. The modeling focus...
Streamflow Alteration
Humans, just like aquatic organisms, need water. Flood control, urban infrastructure, irrigation of agriculture, and myriad other ways we manage water affect the natural flow of streams and rivers. How do the ways we manage land and water affect the natural patterns of streamflow that ecosystems depend on?
Stream Ecology
Who lives in your stream? Rivers and streams, even small ones, are teeming with a vast number of species, including fish, aquatic invertebrates, and algae. Stream ecology is the study of those aquatic species, the way they interrelate, and their interactions with all aspects of these flowing water systems.
Effects of flow alteration on ecological health of streams across the Atlantic Highlands Ecoregion
Problem: The Clean Water Act (PL 92-500) requires that the health of the Nation’s rivers and streams be assessed on a regular basis, and in the Northeast such assessments often use information from aquatic biological communities that live in the stream. Biomonitoring programs implemented by individual states evaluate biological data to assess stream health on the premise that certain...
Filter Total Items: 17
GAGES 3: Environmental Setting of USGS Stream Gage Locations in the Conterminous U.S. GAGES 3: Environmental Setting of USGS Stream Gage Locations in the Conterminous U.S.
The US Geological Survey has collected daily streamflow data at more than 20,000 locations within the conterminous United States (CONUS). Although these data are publicly available, there is little to no information about the environmental setting under which the data were collected. Specifically, users of the data have no readily available means to determine whether the observed...
Data from Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration in modelling stream condition Data from Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration in modelling stream condition
The dataset contains long-term and short-term summaries of streamflow alteration and measures of biological condition (fish multi-metric index). Streamflow alteration metrics include the magnitude, duration, frequency, and seasonality of high and low flow streamflow. Biological condition was estimated from the National Rivers and Streams Assessment and National Water Quality Assessment...
Regional-scale Model Predictions of the Relation Between Biological Integrity and Streamflow Modification Regional-scale Model Predictions of the Relation Between Biological Integrity and Streamflow Modification
The US Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a study (Carlisle and others 2017) with a national-scale dataset composed of ecological data from the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Project and the US Environmental Protection Agency, matched to USGS streamgaging sites. In a follow-up study (Carlisle and others 2019), additional data from three regional assessments conducted by USGS were...
Predicted Streamflow Modification in Contiguous United States Streams Predicted Streamflow Modification in Contiguous United States Streams
Empirical models described in previous publications were developed and applied to estimate the probability of streamflow modification for every stream segment in the conterminous United States from 1980-2015. This metadata record documents 6 comma separated tables populated with predictions of streamflow modification (please see the Supplemental Element for citations or please refer to...
Data Release for: A Web-Based Tool for Assessing the Condition of Benthic Diatom Assemblages in Streams and Rivers of the Conterminous United States Data Release for: A Web-Based Tool for Assessing the Condition of Benthic Diatom Assemblages in Streams and Rivers of the Conterminous United States
Benthic diatom assemblages are known to be indicative of water quality but have yet to be widely adopted in biological assessments in the United States due to several limitations. Our goal was to address some of these limitations by developing regional multi-metric indices (MMIs) that are robust to inter-laboratory taxonomic inconsistency, adjusted for natural covariates, and sensitive...
Functional Flow Metrics for Select Reference Sites in California: Data Release for Modeling Functional Flow Metrics for Select Reference Sites in California: Data Release for Modeling
The hydrologic modeling approach used to predict functional flows relies on daily streamflow data from gages operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in California. This dataset contains, for each of 219 gages, a collection of metrics computed on each water year for the period of record to and including Water Year 2016.
Filter Total Items: 58
Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams
Individual size distributions (ISDs) are prominent in ecological research and may support resource managers with ecosystem-scale objectives. We use a database of individual size measurements for US stream fishes to test for direct and indirect effects of traits, flow regimes, and land use on the interspecific ISD exponent. Path analysis indicates that traits have strong, direct effects...
Authors
Taylor Woods, Daniel J. McGarvey, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Daren M. Carlisle, Ken Eng, Darin A. Kopp, Kelly O. Maloney
Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations
Background Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations may be at risk from wildfire and post-fire debris flows hazards. Aim To predict burn severity and potential post-fire debris flow hazard classifications to CRCT conservation populations before wildfires occur. Methods We used remote sensing, spatial analyses, and machine learning...
Authors
Adam Gerhard Wells, Charles Yackulic, Jaime Kostelnik, Andrew R. Bock, Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle, James Roberts, Kevin B. Rogers, Seth M. Munson
Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration information in modeling stream biological condition Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration information in modeling stream biological condition
In stream systems, disentangling relationships between biology and flow and subsequent prediction of these relationships to unsampled streams is a common objective of large-scale ecological modeling. Often, streamflow metrics are derived from aggregating continuous streamflow records available at a subset of stream gages into long-term flow regime descriptors. Despite demonstrated value
Authors
Taylor Woods, Ken Eng, Daren M. Carlisle, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Karen R. Ryberg, Kelly O. Maloney
Indicators of the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems Indicators of the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater ecosystems, including lakes, streams, and wetlands, are responsive to climate change and other natural and anthropogenic stresses. These ecosystems are frequently hydrologically and ecologically connected with one another and their surrounding landscapes, thereby integrating changes throughout their watersheds. The responses of any given freshwater ecosystem to climate change...
Authors
Kevin C. Rose, Britta Bierwagen, Scott D. Bridgham, Daren M. Carlisle, Charles P. Hawkins, N. LeRoy Poff, Jordan Read, Jason Rohr, Jasmine E. Saros, Craig E. Williamson
Biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems Biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems
The aim of biological assessments (or bioassessments) is to provide decision makers and managers the scientific information and tools needed to protect and restore aquatic life. Biological assessments typically include several critical elements, including development of ecological indicators, indices of ecological status, benchmarks by which to gauge impairment, ways to identify the...
Authors
Charles P. Hawkins, Daren M. Carlisle
Ecological consequences of neonicotinoid mixtures in streams Ecological consequences of neonicotinoid mixtures in streams
Neonicotinoid mixtures are common in streams worldwide, but corresponding ecological responses are poorly understood. We combined experimental and observational studies to narrow this knowledge gap. The mesocosm experiment determined that concentrations of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and clothianidin (range of exposures, 0 to 11.9 μg/liter) above the hazard concentration for 5% of...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, Janet L. Miller, Barbara Mahler, Peter C. Van Metre, Lisa H. Nowell, Mark W. Sandstrom, Daren M. Carlisle, Patrick W. Moran, Paul M. Bradley
Science and Products
Drought Prediction Science
Drought is a prolonged and widespread deficit in available water supplies that creates multiple stressors across ecosystems and communities. The U.S. Geological Survey Water Mission Area conducts drought research and modeling to improve drought prediction capabilities. The research focus is on understanding the hydrological, ecological, and economic ramifications of drought. The modeling focus...
Streamflow Alteration
Humans, just like aquatic organisms, need water. Flood control, urban infrastructure, irrigation of agriculture, and myriad other ways we manage water affect the natural flow of streams and rivers. How do the ways we manage land and water affect the natural patterns of streamflow that ecosystems depend on?
Stream Ecology
Who lives in your stream? Rivers and streams, even small ones, are teeming with a vast number of species, including fish, aquatic invertebrates, and algae. Stream ecology is the study of those aquatic species, the way they interrelate, and their interactions with all aspects of these flowing water systems.
Effects of flow alteration on ecological health of streams across the Atlantic Highlands Ecoregion
Problem: The Clean Water Act (PL 92-500) requires that the health of the Nation’s rivers and streams be assessed on a regular basis, and in the Northeast such assessments often use information from aquatic biological communities that live in the stream. Biomonitoring programs implemented by individual states evaluate biological data to assess stream health on the premise that certain...
Filter Total Items: 17
GAGES 3: Environmental Setting of USGS Stream Gage Locations in the Conterminous U.S. GAGES 3: Environmental Setting of USGS Stream Gage Locations in the Conterminous U.S.
The US Geological Survey has collected daily streamflow data at more than 20,000 locations within the conterminous United States (CONUS). Although these data are publicly available, there is little to no information about the environmental setting under which the data were collected. Specifically, users of the data have no readily available means to determine whether the observed...
Data from Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration in modelling stream condition Data from Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration in modelling stream condition
The dataset contains long-term and short-term summaries of streamflow alteration and measures of biological condition (fish multi-metric index). Streamflow alteration metrics include the magnitude, duration, frequency, and seasonality of high and low flow streamflow. Biological condition was estimated from the National Rivers and Streams Assessment and National Water Quality Assessment...
Regional-scale Model Predictions of the Relation Between Biological Integrity and Streamflow Modification Regional-scale Model Predictions of the Relation Between Biological Integrity and Streamflow Modification
The US Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a study (Carlisle and others 2017) with a national-scale dataset composed of ecological data from the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Project and the US Environmental Protection Agency, matched to USGS streamgaging sites. In a follow-up study (Carlisle and others 2019), additional data from three regional assessments conducted by USGS were...
Predicted Streamflow Modification in Contiguous United States Streams Predicted Streamflow Modification in Contiguous United States Streams
Empirical models described in previous publications were developed and applied to estimate the probability of streamflow modification for every stream segment in the conterminous United States from 1980-2015. This metadata record documents 6 comma separated tables populated with predictions of streamflow modification (please see the Supplemental Element for citations or please refer to...
Data Release for: A Web-Based Tool for Assessing the Condition of Benthic Diatom Assemblages in Streams and Rivers of the Conterminous United States Data Release for: A Web-Based Tool for Assessing the Condition of Benthic Diatom Assemblages in Streams and Rivers of the Conterminous United States
Benthic diatom assemblages are known to be indicative of water quality but have yet to be widely adopted in biological assessments in the United States due to several limitations. Our goal was to address some of these limitations by developing regional multi-metric indices (MMIs) that are robust to inter-laboratory taxonomic inconsistency, adjusted for natural covariates, and sensitive...
Functional Flow Metrics for Select Reference Sites in California: Data Release for Modeling Functional Flow Metrics for Select Reference Sites in California: Data Release for Modeling
The hydrologic modeling approach used to predict functional flows relies on daily streamflow data from gages operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in California. This dataset contains, for each of 219 gages, a collection of metrics computed on each water year for the period of record to and including Water Year 2016.
Filter Total Items: 58
Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams
Individual size distributions (ISDs) are prominent in ecological research and may support resource managers with ecosystem-scale objectives. We use a database of individual size measurements for US stream fishes to test for direct and indirect effects of traits, flow regimes, and land use on the interspecific ISD exponent. Path analysis indicates that traits have strong, direct effects...
Authors
Taylor Woods, Daniel J. McGarvey, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Daren M. Carlisle, Ken Eng, Darin A. Kopp, Kelly O. Maloney
Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations
Background Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations may be at risk from wildfire and post-fire debris flows hazards. Aim To predict burn severity and potential post-fire debris flow hazard classifications to CRCT conservation populations before wildfires occur. Methods We used remote sensing, spatial analyses, and machine learning...
Authors
Adam Gerhard Wells, Charles Yackulic, Jaime Kostelnik, Andrew R. Bock, Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle, James Roberts, Kevin B. Rogers, Seth M. Munson
Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration information in modeling stream biological condition Assessing the added value of antecedent streamflow alteration information in modeling stream biological condition
In stream systems, disentangling relationships between biology and flow and subsequent prediction of these relationships to unsampled streams is a common objective of large-scale ecological modeling. Often, streamflow metrics are derived from aggregating continuous streamflow records available at a subset of stream gages into long-term flow regime descriptors. Despite demonstrated value
Authors
Taylor Woods, Ken Eng, Daren M. Carlisle, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Karen R. Ryberg, Kelly O. Maloney
Indicators of the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems Indicators of the effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater ecosystems, including lakes, streams, and wetlands, are responsive to climate change and other natural and anthropogenic stresses. These ecosystems are frequently hydrologically and ecologically connected with one another and their surrounding landscapes, thereby integrating changes throughout their watersheds. The responses of any given freshwater ecosystem to climate change...
Authors
Kevin C. Rose, Britta Bierwagen, Scott D. Bridgham, Daren M. Carlisle, Charles P. Hawkins, N. LeRoy Poff, Jordan Read, Jason Rohr, Jasmine E. Saros, Craig E. Williamson
Biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems Biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems
The aim of biological assessments (or bioassessments) is to provide decision makers and managers the scientific information and tools needed to protect and restore aquatic life. Biological assessments typically include several critical elements, including development of ecological indicators, indices of ecological status, benchmarks by which to gauge impairment, ways to identify the...
Authors
Charles P. Hawkins, Daren M. Carlisle
Ecological consequences of neonicotinoid mixtures in streams Ecological consequences of neonicotinoid mixtures in streams
Neonicotinoid mixtures are common in streams worldwide, but corresponding ecological responses are poorly understood. We combined experimental and observational studies to narrow this knowledge gap. The mesocosm experiment determined that concentrations of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and clothianidin (range of exposures, 0 to 11.9 μg/liter) above the hazard concentration for 5% of...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, Janet L. Miller, Barbara Mahler, Peter C. Van Metre, Lisa H. Nowell, Mark W. Sandstrom, Daren M. Carlisle, Patrick W. Moran, Paul M. Bradley