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James White

James White is a hydrologist at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center.

Science and Products

Scenic river view. Clear water and moss covered boulders. Tree lined bank in the fog on a cloudy day.

Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

The U.S. Geological Survey is listening to rivers to understand how flows transport bedload sediment, which is fundamental to ecosystem structure and health.
By
Oregon Water Science Center
Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

The U.S. Geological Survey is listening to rivers to understand how flows transport bedload sediment, which is fundamental to ecosystem structure and health.
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 14

One- and two-dimensional hydraulic models for the Siletz River, Oregon One- and two-dimensional hydraulic models for the Siletz River, Oregon

Hydraulic models of the Siletz River, Oregon, were developed using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydraulic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS; version 6.5). A one-dimensional (1D) steady-flow model was developed from Moonshine Park to the City of Siletz, Oregon (river kilometer [Rkm] 87.2 to 68.5). Results from the 1D model provided insights into longitudinal patterns...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Estimated Median Riverbed Grain Size (D50) throughout the Willamette River Basin, Oregon Estimated Median Riverbed Grain Size (D50) throughout the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Riverbed grain-size is an important indicator of geomorphic and ecological processes and conditions, as it provides a key building block for channel form and benthic aquatic habitats. Understanding the distribution of riverbed sediment throughout a basin can help inform a variety of river and ecosystem management questions. This dataset provides estimates of median riverbed grain-sizes...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Stream Network Capacity to Support Beaver Dams, Tualatin River Basin, Northwest Oregon Stream Network Capacity to Support Beaver Dams, Tualatin River Basin, Northwest Oregon

Beaver dams can help streams connect to their floodplains. These floodplain connections can expand the range of available aquatic habitats and aid in the restoration of stream and floodplain processes. North American beavers (Castor canadensis) occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats; however, their ability to build dams, the agent of stream and floodplain change, is constrained in...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Hydraulic models of two beaver affected reaches in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon Hydraulic models of two beaver affected reaches in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon

Beaver dams affect stream hydraulics by temporarily impounding water in stream channels. Beaver dams and their associated impoundments can potentially influence streamflow hydrographs and stream hydraulics in multiple ways including altering the magnitude and duration of high flows, temporary storage of storm water, and the range and spatial distribution of water depths and velocities in...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Submerged Grain Size Maps in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon Submerged Grain Size Maps in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon

The size and distribution of riverbed grain size plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. This study (White and others, 2025) quantifies submerged riverbed grain size at high resolution (1 square meter) across 260 kilometers of geomorphically diverse river corridors in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon, by pairing bathymetric lidar point-clouds collected in 2023 with...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Passive acoustic data collected using stationary hydrophones on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon Passive acoustic data collected using stationary hydrophones on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Underwater passive acoustic monitoring was conducted at multiple sites on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon. Hydrophones were used to record the sound associated with coarse river-bed sediment (bedload) movement. Bedload supply and transport are key factors determining channel morphology in gravel-bed rivers and can affect reach-scale conditions such as aggradation and...
By
Oregon Water Science Center
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.
Survey on the North Santiam River
Survey on the North Santiam River
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.

Survey on the North Santiam River

Survey on the North Santiam River

Researcher collecting depth, velocity, water surface elevation, and 360 degree imagery on the North Santiam River.

By
Oregon Water Science Center
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.

Survey on the North Santiam River

Survey on the North Santiam River

Researcher collecting depth, velocity, water surface elevation, and 360 degree imagery on the North Santiam River.

By
Oregon Water Science Center
Filter Total Items: 14

Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Significant Findings Beaver dams can help streams connect to their floodplains. These floodplain connections can expand the range of available aquatic habitats and aid in the restoration of stream and floodplain function and processes. American beavers (Castor canadensis) occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats; however, their ability to build dams, the agent of stream and floodplain...
Authors
James S. White, Cassandra D. Smith, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Beaver dams and their effects on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Beaver dams and their effects on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Introduction In response to growing interest in beaver-assisted restoration in the Tualatin River Basin of northwestern Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with Clean Water Services, collected data from 2016–17 and completed a series of studies to: (1) inventory known locations of beaver dams and activity in the Tualatin River Basin, (2) estimate the number of...
Authors
Krista L. Jones, Cassandra D. Smith, James S. White, Stewart A. Rounds, Micelis C. Doyle, Erin K. Leahy
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Effects of beaver dams and ponds on hydrologic and hydraulic responses of storm flows in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Effects of beaver dams and ponds on hydrologic and hydraulic responses of storm flows in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Significant Findings American beaver (Castor canadensis) dams fundamentally alter stream hydraulics and hydrology by temporarily impounding water in stream channels. Water managers are interested in how this impoundment translates to changes in hydrograph dynamics, particularly regarding the magnitude and duration of high flows, the temporary storage of storm water, and the range and...
Authors
James S. White, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon

Significant Findings Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) are native, anadromous fish species in the Siletz River Basin, western Oregon, that face many threats to their survival in freshwater and the ocean. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon seek to mitigate freshwater threats to Chinook salmon and Pacific lamprey, where...
Authors
Krista L. Jones, Mackenzie K. Keith, Tessa M. Harden, James S. White, Stan van de Wetering, Jason B. Dunham
By
Oregon Water Science Center

High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon

The distribution of river-bed grain sizes plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. River-bed grain size is a key driver of channel form and process, and has first order effects on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish nesting, and biogeochemical processes. Despite this importance, tools to spatially quantify grain-size distributions, particularly submerged grain...
Authors
James White, Karen Michelle Bartelt, Brandon Overstreet, Jacob Ryan Kelley
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Evaluating the potential to quantify salmon habitat via UAS-based particle image velocimetry Evaluating the potential to quantify salmon habitat via UAS-based particle image velocimetry

Continuous, high-resolution data for characterizing freshwater habitat conditions can support successful management of endangered salmonids. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) make acquiring such fine-scale data along river channels more feasible, but workflows for quantifying reach-scale salmon habitats are lacking. We evaluated the potential for UAS-based mapping of hydraulic habitats...
Authors
Lee R. Harrison, Carl J. Legleiter, Brandon Overstreet, James White
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oregon Water Science Center
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Spring 2018)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Spring 2018)

In Spring Term, 2018, the USGS lunchtime seminar is a joint seminar series with the Portland State University School of the Environment (SOE) and...

Read Article
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter 2018)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter 2018)

Our lunchtime seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm PT. The science lectures are held at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center at 2130 SW 5th...

Read Article
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Fall 2017)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Fall 2017)

Our lunchtime seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm PT. The science lectures are held at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center at 2130 SW 5th...

Read Article

Science and Products

Scenic river view. Clear water and moss covered boulders. Tree lined bank in the fog on a cloudy day.

Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

The U.S. Geological Survey is listening to rivers to understand how flows transport bedload sediment, which is fundamental to ecosystem structure and health.
By
Oregon Water Science Center
Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

Monitoring sediment transport and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Willamette River basin

The U.S. Geological Survey is listening to rivers to understand how flows transport bedload sediment, which is fundamental to ecosystem structure and health.
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 14

One- and two-dimensional hydraulic models for the Siletz River, Oregon One- and two-dimensional hydraulic models for the Siletz River, Oregon

Hydraulic models of the Siletz River, Oregon, were developed using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydraulic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS; version 6.5). A one-dimensional (1D) steady-flow model was developed from Moonshine Park to the City of Siletz, Oregon (river kilometer [Rkm] 87.2 to 68.5). Results from the 1D model provided insights into longitudinal patterns...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Estimated Median Riverbed Grain Size (D50) throughout the Willamette River Basin, Oregon Estimated Median Riverbed Grain Size (D50) throughout the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Riverbed grain-size is an important indicator of geomorphic and ecological processes and conditions, as it provides a key building block for channel form and benthic aquatic habitats. Understanding the distribution of riverbed sediment throughout a basin can help inform a variety of river and ecosystem management questions. This dataset provides estimates of median riverbed grain-sizes...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Stream Network Capacity to Support Beaver Dams, Tualatin River Basin, Northwest Oregon Stream Network Capacity to Support Beaver Dams, Tualatin River Basin, Northwest Oregon

Beaver dams can help streams connect to their floodplains. These floodplain connections can expand the range of available aquatic habitats and aid in the restoration of stream and floodplain processes. North American beavers (Castor canadensis) occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats; however, their ability to build dams, the agent of stream and floodplain change, is constrained in...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Hydraulic models of two beaver affected reaches in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon Hydraulic models of two beaver affected reaches in the Tualatin Basin, Oregon

Beaver dams affect stream hydraulics by temporarily impounding water in stream channels. Beaver dams and their associated impoundments can potentially influence streamflow hydrographs and stream hydraulics in multiple ways including altering the magnitude and duration of high flows, temporary storage of storm water, and the range and spatial distribution of water depths and velocities in...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Submerged Grain Size Maps in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon Submerged Grain Size Maps in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon

The size and distribution of riverbed grain size plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. This study (White and others, 2025) quantifies submerged riverbed grain size at high resolution (1 square meter) across 260 kilometers of geomorphically diverse river corridors in the Santiam River Basin, Oregon, by pairing bathymetric lidar point-clouds collected in 2023 with...
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Passive acoustic data collected using stationary hydrophones on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon Passive acoustic data collected using stationary hydrophones on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Underwater passive acoustic monitoring was conducted at multiple sites on rivers in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon. Hydrophones were used to record the sound associated with coarse river-bed sediment (bedload) movement. Bedload supply and transport are key factors determining channel morphology in gravel-bed rivers and can affect reach-scale conditions such as aggradation and...
By
Oregon Water Science Center
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.
Survey on the North Santiam River
Survey on the North Santiam River
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.

Survey on the North Santiam River

Survey on the North Santiam River

Researcher collecting depth, velocity, water surface elevation, and 360 degree imagery on the North Santiam River.

By
Oregon Water Science Center
USGS hydrologist paddles an inflatable catamaran on the river while collecting data. Treelined bank in the distance.

Survey on the North Santiam River

Survey on the North Santiam River

Researcher collecting depth, velocity, water surface elevation, and 360 degree imagery on the North Santiam River.

By
Oregon Water Science Center
Filter Total Items: 14

Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Stream network capacity to support beaver dams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Significant Findings Beaver dams can help streams connect to their floodplains. These floodplain connections can expand the range of available aquatic habitats and aid in the restoration of stream and floodplain function and processes. American beavers (Castor canadensis) occupy a wide variety of aquatic habitats; however, their ability to build dams, the agent of stream and floodplain...
Authors
James S. White, Cassandra D. Smith, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Beaver dams and their effects on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Beaver dams and their effects on urban streams in the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Introduction In response to growing interest in beaver-assisted restoration in the Tualatin River Basin of northwestern Oregon, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with Clean Water Services, collected data from 2016–17 and completed a series of studies to: (1) inventory known locations of beaver dams and activity in the Tualatin River Basin, (2) estimate the number of...
Authors
Krista L. Jones, Cassandra D. Smith, James S. White, Stewart A. Rounds, Micelis C. Doyle, Erin K. Leahy
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Effects of beaver dams and ponds on hydrologic and hydraulic responses of storm flows in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon Effects of beaver dams and ponds on hydrologic and hydraulic responses of storm flows in urban streams of the Tualatin River Basin, northwestern Oregon

Significant Findings American beaver (Castor canadensis) dams fundamentally alter stream hydraulics and hydrology by temporarily impounding water in stream channels. Water managers are interested in how this impoundment translates to changes in hydrograph dynamics, particularly regarding the magnitude and duration of high flows, the temporary storage of storm water, and the range and...
Authors
James S. White, Krista L. Jones, Stewart A. Rounds
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon Assessment of channel morphology, hydraulics, and bedload transport along the Siletz River, western Oregon

Significant Findings Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) are native, anadromous fish species in the Siletz River Basin, western Oregon, that face many threats to their survival in freshwater and the ocean. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon seek to mitigate freshwater threats to Chinook salmon and Pacific lamprey, where...
Authors
Krista L. Jones, Mackenzie K. Keith, Tessa M. Harden, James S. White, Stan van de Wetering, Jason B. Dunham
By
Oregon Water Science Center

High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon High resolution mapping of submerged sediment size and suitable salmon spawning habitat using topo-bathymetric Lidar in the Santiam Basin, Oregon

The distribution of river-bed grain sizes plays a foundational role in river morphology and ecology. River-bed grain size is a key driver of channel form and process, and has first order effects on aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish nesting, and biogeochemical processes. Despite this importance, tools to spatially quantify grain-size distributions, particularly submerged grain...
Authors
James White, Karen Michelle Bartelt, Brandon Overstreet, Jacob Ryan Kelley
By
Oregon Water Science Center

Evaluating the potential to quantify salmon habitat via UAS-based particle image velocimetry Evaluating the potential to quantify salmon habitat via UAS-based particle image velocimetry

Continuous, high-resolution data for characterizing freshwater habitat conditions can support successful management of endangered salmonids. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) make acquiring such fine-scale data along river channels more feasible, but workflows for quantifying reach-scale salmon habitats are lacking. We evaluated the potential for UAS-based mapping of hydraulic habitats...
Authors
Lee R. Harrison, Carl J. Legleiter, Brandon Overstreet, James White
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oregon Water Science Center
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Spring 2018)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Spring 2018)

In Spring Term, 2018, the USGS lunchtime seminar is a joint seminar series with the Portland State University School of the Environment (SOE) and...

Read Article
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter 2018)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Winter 2018)

Our lunchtime seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm PT. The science lectures are held at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center at 2130 SW 5th...

Read Article
Lunchtime Seminar Series (Fall 2017)

Lunchtime Seminar Series (Fall 2017)

Our lunchtime seminars are held Tuesdays from 12pm to 1 pm PT. The science lectures are held at the USGS Oregon Water Science Center at 2130 SW 5th...

Read Article
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