James Coles is an Aquatic Ecologist in the New England Water Science Center.
James has been with the New England Water Science Center since 2007. His prior academic work focused on identifying environmental factors that contributed to high growth rates of cyanobacteria and its seasonal dominance over diatoms in freshwater systems. More recently he has investigated the effects of watershed development and associated stressors on the condition of stream ecosystems. Since 2014 he has been the coordinator for the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessments in New England; these studies include a comprehensive investigation of how stream ecosystems are affected by modified flow regimes, and how watershed development results in multiple stressors that affect water quality and the biotic communities of streams in New England.
Professional Experience
USGS/EPA Liaison - EPA Region I (New England), Boston MA (2002-2007)
Ecologist - Nat'l Water Quality Assessment Program, USGS MA/RI District (1992-2002)
Project Manager - Analysis and Technology, Inc., Arlington VA (1983 - 1989)
Water Quality Specialist - Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond VA (1977- 1980)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Environmental Science and Public Policy, 1992, George Mason University
M.S., Aquatic Ecology, 1982, George Mason University
B.A., Environmental Biology, 1977, University of Virginia
Science and Products
Effects of flow alteration on ecological health of streams across the Atlantic Highlands Ecoregion
Microplastics data collected from streams in the northeastern United States, 2017-2018
Design and methods of the California stream quality assessment (CSQA), 2017
Evaluating associations between environmental variables and Escherichia coli levels for predictive modeling at Pawtuckaway Beach in Nottingham, New Hampshire, from 2015 to 2017
Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Design and methods of the U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Stream Quality Assessment (NESQA), 2016
The Midwest Stream Quality Assessment—Influences of human activities on streams
Urban development and stream ecosystem health—Science capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey
The Northeast Stream Quality Assessment
Aquatic assessment of the Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund site, Corinth, Vermont
Effects of urban development on stream ecosystems in nine metropolitan study areas across the United States
Urban development results in stressors that degrade stream ecosystems
Variability in stream chemistry in relation to urban development and biological condition in seven metropolitan areas of the United States, 1999-2004
Aquatic assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site, Vershire, Vermont
Science and Products
- Science
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 sensitive s - Data
Microplastics data collected from streams in the northeastern United States, 2017-2018
This dataset describes the quantity and morphology of microplastics in water, surficial sediment, sediment core, fish, and shellfish samples from Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Nevada/Arizona). Water and surficial sediment samples were collected once at 9 locations. A sediment core (33 cm long) was extracted from Las Vegas Bay to assess changes in microplastic deposition over time. Striped ba - Publications
Filter Total Items: 20
Design and methods of the California stream quality assessment (CSQA), 2017
During 2017, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Project, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted the California Stream Quality Assessment to investigate the quality of streams in the Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains ecoregion, United States. The goal of the California Stream Quality Assessment study was to assess the health of wadeable streams in the region by characteEvaluating associations between environmental variables and Escherichia coli levels for predictive modeling at Pawtuckaway Beach in Nottingham, New Hampshire, from 2015 to 2017
From 2015 through 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services studied occurrences of high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria at the Pawtuckaway State Park Beach in Nottingham, New Hampshire. Historic data collected by the New Hampshire Department of EnvironmentalChemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Streams in the northeastern U.S. receive mercury (Hg) in varying proportions from atmospheric deposition and legacy point sources, making it difficult to attribute shifts in fish concentrations directly back to changes in Hg source management. Mercury stable isotope tracers were utilized to relate sources of Hg to co-located fish and bed sediments from 23 streams across a forested to urban-industrDesign and methods of the U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Stream Quality Assessment (NESQA), 2016
During 2016, as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Project (NAWQA), the U.S. Geological Survey conducted the Northeast Stream Quality Assessment (NESQA) to investigate stream quality in the northeastern United States. The goal of the NESQA was to assess the health of wadeable streams in the region by characterizing multiple water-quality factors that are stressors to aquatic life and byThe Midwest Stream Quality Assessment—Influences of human activities on streams
Healthy streams and the fish and other organisms that live in them contribute to our quality of life. Extensive modification of the landscape in the Midwestern United States, however, has profoundly affected the condition of streams. Row crops and pavement have replaced grasslands and woodlands, streams have been straightened, and wetlands and fields have been drained. Runoff from agricultural andUrban development and stream ecosystem health—Science capabilities of the U.S. Geological Survey
Urban development creates multiple stressors that can degrade stream ecosystems by changing stream hydrology, water quality, and physical habitat. Contaminants, habitat destruction, and increasing streamflow variability resulting from urban development have been associated with the disruption of biological communities, particularly the loss of sensitive aquatic biota. Understanding how algal, inveThe Northeast Stream Quality Assessment
In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) is assessing stream quality in the northeastern United States. The goal of the Northeast Stream Quality Assessment (NESQA) is to assess the quality of streams in the region by characterizing multiple water-quality factors that are stressors to aquatic life and evaluating the relation between these stressors and biAquatic assessment of the Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund site, Corinth, Vermont
The Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund site in Corinth, Orange County, Vermont, includes the Eureka, Union, and Smith mines along with areas of downstream aquatic ecosystem impairment. The site was placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) National Priorities List in 2004. The mines, which operated from about 1847 to 1919, contain underground workings, foundations from historical strEffects of urban development on stream ecosystems in nine metropolitan study areas across the United States
Urban development is an important agent of environmental change in the United States. The urban footprint on the American landscape has expanded during a century and a half of almost continuous development. Eighty percent of Americans now live in metropolitan areas, and the advantages and challenges of living in these developed areas—convenience, congestion, employment, pollution—are part of the dUrban development results in stressors that degrade stream ecosystems
In 2003, eighty-three percent of Americans lived in metropolitan areas, and considerable population increases are predicted within the next 50 years. Nowhere are the environmental changes associated with urban development more evident than in urban streams. Contaminants, habitat destruction, and increasing streamflow flashiness resulting from urban development have been associated with the disruptVariability in stream chemistry in relation to urban development and biological condition in seven metropolitan areas of the United States, 1999-2004
Beginning in 1999, the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment Program investigated the effects of urban development on stream ecosystems in nine metropolitan study areas across the United States. In seven of these study areas, stream-chemistry samples were collected every other month for 1 year at 6 to 10 sites. Within a study area, the sites collectively represented a gradient oAquatic assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site, Vershire, Vermont
The Ely Mine, which operated from 1821 to 1905, and its area of downstream impact constitute the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site. The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 2001. The mine comprises underground workings, foundations from historical structures, several waste-rock piles, roast beds associated with the smelting operation, and slag piles resulting from the smelting. The mine