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Jana S Stewart

Jana Stewart is a Geographer with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.

She has an M.S. in Environmental Monitoring and Remote Sensing from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, an M.S. in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Over the years, she has worked on a variety of projects for the National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program including the Western Lake Michigan and Upper Illinois River Basin NAWQAs, Data Synthesis team, and BioData User Group. She has also served as the National NAWQA Archival Coordinator. She has been Principal Investigator for regional modeling and decision support projects that integrate scientific data and empirical models with geographic information systems (GIS) and web-based technologies in the Great Lakes and Northeast US regions including the NorEaST Stream Temperature Web Portal, 2) FishVis Decision Support Mapper, and 3) Great Lakes Aquatic Gap project. Jana is an avid outdooor enthusiast and loves gardening, and kayaking, skiing, and cycling with friends across the country. 

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Research interests include linking geographic information systems and regional databases to develop predictive models that can be used to evaluate the influences of natural and anthropogenic environmental factors and climate change on stream water quality, physical habitat, and aquatic biota; assess disturbance, and to identify gaps in the conservation of aquatic species and their habitats. Other interests include developing regional databases to integrate data across multiple agencies and developing decision support mapping tools and to deliver results for use by resource managers for conservation planning and decision making.

 

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Environmental Monitoring, Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994

  • M.S. Agricultural Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1985

  • B.S. Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1978

Science and Products

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Figure showing phosphorus delivered from throughout the MRB3 basin

SPARROW modeling: Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Red River Basins

SPARROW models for the Great Lakes, Ohio River, Upper Mississippi River, and Red River Basins predict long-term mean annual loads, yields, concentrations, and source contributions of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment throughout the Midwest.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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SPARROW modeling: Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Red River Basins

SPARROW models for the Great Lakes, Ohio River, Upper Mississippi River, and Red River Basins predict long-term mean annual loads, yields, concentrations, and source contributions of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment throughout the Midwest.
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Figure showing nutrient yields delivered from throughout the MARB to the Gulf of Mexico

SPARROW nutrient modeling: Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB)

SPARROW models for the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin(MARB) predict long-term average loads, concentrations, yields, and source contributions of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment to the Gulf of Mexico.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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SPARROW nutrient modeling: Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB)

SPARROW models for the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin(MARB) predict long-term average loads, concentrations, yields, and source contributions of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended sediment to the Gulf of Mexico.
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Figure showing the Mid-Continental SPARROW model study area, with monitoring sites identified.

SPARROW nutrient modeling: Binational (US/Canada) models

SPARROW phosphorus and nitrogen models are being developed for the entire Great Lakes Basin and the Upper Midwest part of the U.S., and the Red and Assiniboine River Basin, as part of a Binational project between the USGS and the International Joint Commission (IJC) and National Research Council (NRC) of Canada.
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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SPARROW nutrient modeling: Binational (US/Canada) models

SPARROW phosphorus and nitrogen models are being developed for the entire Great Lakes Basin and the Upper Midwest part of the U.S., and the Red and Assiniboine River Basin, as part of a Binational project between the USGS and the International Joint Commission (IJC) and National Research Council (NRC) of Canada.
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Image showing a schematic of the SPARROW model components

SPARROW modeling: Estimating nutrient, sediment, and dissolved solids transport

SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) models estimate the amount of a contaminant transported from inland watersheds to larger water bodies by linking monitoring data with information on watershed characteristics and contaminant sources. Interactive, online SPARROW mapping tools allow for easy access to explore relations between human activities, natural processes, and...
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Water Resources, National Water Quality Program, Upper Midwest Water Science Center
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SPARROW modeling: Estimating nutrient, sediment, and dissolved solids transport

SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes) models estimate the amount of a contaminant transported from inland watersheds to larger water bodies by linking monitoring data with information on watershed characteristics and contaminant sources. Interactive, online SPARROW mapping tools allow for easy access to explore relations between human activities, natural processes, and...
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Maury River, Virginia

FishTail: A Tool to Inform Conservation of Stream Fish Habitats in the Northeast

Human impacts occurring throughout the DOI Northeast Climate Science Center, including urbanization, agriculture, and dams, have multiple effects on streams in the region which support economically valuable stream fishes. Changes in climate are expected to lead to additional impacts in stream habitats and fish assemblages in multiple ways, including changing stream water temperatures. To manage st
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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FishTail: A Tool to Inform Conservation of Stream Fish Habitats in the Northeast

Human impacts occurring throughout the DOI Northeast Climate Science Center, including urbanization, agriculture, and dams, have multiple effects on streams in the region which support economically valuable stream fishes. Changes in climate are expected to lead to additional impacts in stream habitats and fish assemblages in multiple ways, including changing stream water temperatures. To manage st
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View of Mount Ascutney, Connecticut River, and Cornish-Windsor Bridge

NorEaST: A Tool to Understand the Responses of Fish to Changes in Stream Temperature

Climate change is expected to alter stream temperature and flow regimes over the coming decades, and in turn influence distributions of aquatic species in those freshwater ecosystems. To better anticipate these changes, there is a need to compile both short- and long-term stream temperature data for managers to gain an understanding of baseline conditions, historic trends, and future projections.
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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NorEaST: A Tool to Understand the Responses of Fish to Changes in Stream Temperature

Climate change is expected to alter stream temperature and flow regimes over the coming decades, and in turn influence distributions of aquatic species in those freshwater ecosystems. To better anticipate these changes, there is a need to compile both short- and long-term stream temperature data for managers to gain an understanding of baseline conditions, historic trends, and future projections.
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Dataset used for estimating catchment-level nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use from commercial fertilizer sales data for the Conterminous U.S., 2012

This dataset includes all of the variables that were used in predictive models to estimate nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use from commercial fertilizer sales data at the catchment/county level for the Conterminous U.S. for the year 2012. The dataset includes model input at the catchment/county level. A companion USGS Scientific Investigations Report describes the methods and subsequent result
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National Water Quality Program

Aquatic community and environmental data for 14 rivers and streams in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Planning Area, 2004-13

In 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish to assess the condition of the aquatic communities and water quality in 14 wadable streams near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012 to assess temporal variation. Selected environmental (physical and chemical) data in t
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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

FishTail, Indices and Supporting Data Characterizing the Current and Future Risk to Fish Habitat Degradation in the Northeast Climate Science Center Region

Human impacts occurring throughout the Northeast and Midwest United States, including urbanization, agriculture, and dams, have multiple effects on the regions streams which support economically valuable stream fishes. Changes in climate are expected to lead to additional impacts in stream habitats and fish assemblages in multiple ways, including changing stream water temperatures. To manage str
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers

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
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Physical and chemical stressors on algal, invertebrate, and fish communities in 14 Milwaukee area streams, 2004–2013

In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began sampling 14 wadable streams in urban or urbanizing watersheds near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The overall goal of the study is to assess the health of the aquatic communities in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District planning area to inform current and future watershed management. In addition to collection of biological data on aquatic communities,
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Ecological status of aquatic communities in selected streams in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District planning area of Wisconsin, 2004–13

A total of 14 wadable streams in urban or urbanizing watersheds near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were sampled in 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013 to assess the ecological status of aquatic communities (biota), including benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish. To assess temporal variation, additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012. Relative abundances of each ty
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Catchment-level estimates of nitrogen and phosphorus agricultural use from commercial fertilizer sales for the conterminous United States, 2012

Nutrient inputs from commercial agricultural fertilizer, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, are important factors contributing to the degradation of surface-water quality and the alteration of aquatic ecosystems. Despite this importance, information about the application of fertilizer to agricultural land is not available in a consistent manner across the United States at a scale useful for reg
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Upper Midwest Water Science 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

StreamThermal: A software package for calculating thermal metrics from stream temperature data

Improving quality and better availability of continuous stream temperature data allows natural resource managers, particularly in fisheries, to understand associations between different characteristics of stream thermal regimes and stream fishes. However, there is no convenient tool to efficiently characterize multiple metrics reflecting stream thermal regimes with the increasing amount of data.
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Water Resources, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

A model for evaluating stream temperature response to climate change in Wisconsin

Expected climatic changes in air temperature and precipitation patterns across the State of Wisconsin may alter future stream temperature and flow regimes. As a consequence of flow and temperature changes, the composition and distribution of fish species assemblages are expected to change. In an effort to gain a better understanding of how climatic changes may affect stream temperature, an approac
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Development of a spatially universal framework for classifying stream assemblages with application to conservation planning for Great Lakes lotic fish communities

Classifications are typically specific to particular issues or areas, leading to patchworks of subjectively defined spatial units. Stream conservation is hindered by the lack of a universal habitat classification system and would benefit from an independent hydrology-guided spatial framework of units encompassing all aquatic habitats at multiple spatial scales within large regions. We present a sy
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Ecosystems, Great Lakes Science Center

Predicted effects of future climate warming on thermal habitat suitability for Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) in rivers in Wisconsin, USA

The Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens, Rafinesque, 1817) may be threatened by future climate warming. The purpose of this study was to identify river reaches in Wisconsin, USA, where they might be vulnerable to warming water temperatures. In Wisconsin, A. fulvescens is known from 2291 km of large-river habitat that has been fragmented into 48 discrete river-lake networks isolated by impassable d
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Effects of dams in river networks on fish assemblages in non-impoundment sections of rivers in Michigan and Wisconsin, USA

Regional assessment of cumulative impacts of dams on riverine fish assemblages provides resource managers essential information for dam operation, potential dam removal, river health assessment and overall ecosystem management. Such an assessment is challenging because characteristics of fish assemblages are not only affected by dams, but also influenced by natural variation and human-induced modi
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Predicted effects of climate warming on the distribution of 50 stream fishes in Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Summer air and stream water temperatures are expected to rise in the state of Wisconsin, U.S.A., over the next 50 years. To assess potential climate warming effects on stream fishes, predictive models were developed for 50 common fish species using classification-tree analysis of 69 environmental variables in a geographic information system. Model accuracy was 56·0–93·5% in validation tests. Model
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems along an agriculture-to-urban land-use gradient, Milwaukee to Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2003-2004

In 2003 and 2004, 30 streams near Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, were part of a national study by the U.S. Geological Survey to assess urbanization effects on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics along an agriculture-to-urban land-use gradient. A geographic information system was used to characterize natural landscape features that define the environmental setting and the degree
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

A model for evaluating stream temperature response to climate change scenarios in Wisconsin

Global climate change is expected to alter temperature and flow regimes for streams in Wisconsin over the coming decades. Stream temperature will be influenced not only by the predicted increases in average air temperature, but also by changes in baseflow due to changes in precipitation patterns and amounts. In order to evaluate future stream temperature and flow regimes in Wisconsin, we have inte
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Water Resources, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

FishVis Mapper

The FishVis Mapper is the product of an Upper Midwest and Great Lakes LCC project, “A Regional Decision Support Tool for Identifying Vulnerabilities of Riverine Habitat and Fishes to Climate Change” that developed an approach for predicting fish species occurrence under current climate conditions and project how fish species occurrence may change under future climate conditions.

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Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Science and Products