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Jeffrey Duda

I am a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Fisheries Research Center, stationed in Seattle, Washington.

Research Interests:

My research assignment is to develop and execute a research program focused upon priorities of the USGS Ecosystems mission area, in particular those projects that address complex natural resource issues related to land use, habitat restoration, and species recovery. I have had the pleasure to work in diverse ecosystems and ecoregions throughout the United States, on lands and waters contained in both National Parks and military installations. I have also worked across a range of biological scales, from single species to entire communities.

Over the past decade, I have focused much attention on studying the ecological outcomes of dam removal, especially the historic project on the Elwha River. This involved removal of two long-standing dams, with a major goal of restoring the ecosystem and the native anadromous fish populations that once thrived in the river. Working with a multidisciplinary team within the USGS, as well as strong collaborations with partners like NPS, NOAA, FWS, and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, we have developed a portfolio of long-term data sets on physical and biological attributes of the Elwha River before and after dam removal.

Recently I was a member of a dam removal science working group at the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis. We worked to understand patterns of dam removal science, and to synthesize what is known scientifically about this emerging field. This led to development of the USGS Dam Removal Information Portal, an interactive online tool for visualizing and storing scientific studies associated with dam removals nationwide.

Professional Experience

  • 2004 to Present – Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA

  • 1998-2004 – Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA

  • 1993-1995 – Biological Technician, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. 1998. Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

  • B.S. 1993. Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

Affiliations and Memberships

  • 2015 to Present – Scientific Advisory Board, Mactaquac Aquatic Ecosystem Study

  • 2012 to Present – Science Liaison, Board of Directors, Nature Bridge at Olympic National Park

  • 1998 to Present – Ecological Society of America

  • 2008 to Present – Northwest Scientific Association

  • 2010 to Present – American Fisheries Society

Honors and Awards

  • 2014 – NOAA Restoration Center, Excellence in Restoration Award

  • 2013 – Northwest Scientific Association, Honorary Lifetime Membership Award

  • 2011 – U.S. Department of the Interior, Superior Service Award

Science and Products

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Elwha River flowing through former Aldwell reservoir

USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project

The Elwha River Restoration Project has reconnected the water, salmon, and sediment of a pristine river and coast of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Coordinated by the National Park Service, restoration of the Elwha River included the removal of two large dams that had blocked salmon and sediment passage for almost 100 years. The largest dam removal in U.S. history began in September 2011 and...
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Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Fisheries Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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USGS science supporting the Elwha River Restoration Project

The Elwha River Restoration Project has reconnected the water, salmon, and sediment of a pristine river and coast of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Coordinated by the National Park Service, restoration of the Elwha River included the removal of two large dams that had blocked salmon and sediment passage for almost 100 years. The largest dam removal in U.S. history began in September 2011 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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USGS science for a changing world logo

Dam removal: synthesis of ecological and physical responses

Dam decommissioning is rapidly emerging as an important river restoration strategy in the U.S., with several major removals recently completed or in progress. But few studies have evaluated the far-reaching consequences of these significant environmental perturbations, especially those resulting from removals of large (>10-15 m tall) structures during the last decade. In particular, interactions b
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John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
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Dam removal: synthesis of ecological and physical responses

Dam decommissioning is rapidly emerging as an important river restoration strategy in the U.S., with several major removals recently completed or in progress. But few studies have evaluated the far-reaching consequences of these significant environmental perturbations, especially those resulting from removals of large (>10-15 m tall) structures during the last decade. In particular, interactions b
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Riverscape snorkeling surveys of salmonid distribution and abundance before (2007, 2008) and after (2018, 2019) dam removal on the Elwha River, Washington

We used snorkel surveys in the Elwha River, conducted in consecutive years before (2007, 2008) and after (2018, 2019) dam removal to assess changes in fish distribution and density. In total, we counted 54,616 Chinook Salmon, Bull Trout, Steelhead, and trout (Rainbow Trout and Coastal Cutthroat Trout combined) in 22 common reaches spanning 65 river kilometers. The occupancy of juvenile Chinook Sal
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Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an Effective Tool to Track Recolonizing Migratory Fish Following Large-Scale Dam Removal, field data

We collected environmental DNA (eDNA) data from the Elwha River, home to the world?s largest dam removal project, to track the spatial and temporal patterns of species responses following dam removal. In total, we collected data for 11 different fish taxa, sampled at 25 sites ranging across 56 river kilometers in a wilderness river for 4 years following dam removal. We show that eDNA can effective
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Ecological parameters in the Elwha River estuary before and during dam removal (ver. 2.0, August 2020)

The Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were removed from the Elwha River in Washington State from 2011 to 2014. We collected data for a variety of metrics in the estuary and on the river delta before (2006-2011) and during (2012-2014) dam removal to assess how increased sediment transport and deposition affected habitats, vegetation, invertebrates, and fish.
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Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

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

2015 environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington

Columns of data representing Chehalis River tributary, sample reach locations, dates of water sampling, quantitative PCR results, and whether lamprey were sampled by electrofishing in each sample reach. ***Please note that the title of this data release used to be "Environmental DNA surveys for lampreys in Chehalis River tributaries, Washington, from 2015 and 2017," but was updated for version 2.
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Data in support of 5-year sediment budget and morphodynamic analysis of Elwha River following dam removals

Two large dams were removed from the Elwha River in Washington, starting in 2011 and ending in 2014. The Elwha and the Glines Canyon dams were located approximately 7 km and 20 km upstream, respectively, from the Elwha River's mouth on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The dams trapped over 20 million cubic meters of sediment. Dam removal changed the river's sediment budget and water flow, which affecte
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Concentrations of environmental DNA (eDNA) during sockeye salmon spawning in 2016, Hansen Creek, Alaska, USA

This dataset contains environmental DNA (eDNA) concentrations and spawning adult abundances for sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Hansen Creek, a small tributary in the Wood River watershed, southeast Alaska, USA. We took temporally- and spatially-replicated eDNA samples during the spawning period (mid-July through August), along with fish counts (live, naturally dead, and killed), dissolved
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Distribution and seasonal differences in Pacific Lamprey and Lampetra spp eDNA across 18 Puget Sound watersheds, 2014 and 2015

These data contain all the raw results needed to support the conclusions for the final product. These data are water sampling locations (latitude and longitude), date of water sampling, quantitative PCR values for each water sample, and stream flow at USGS stream gauging stations on sampling day.
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Data collected in 2008-2014 to assess nearshore subtidal community response to increased sediment load during removal of the Elwha River dams, Washington State, USA

Data are time series of substrate grain size, remotely sensed water column turbidity, and measures of abundance (e.g., density, percent cover) of the nearshore subtidal (3-17 m depth) benthic community (vegetation, invertebrates, and fish) collected before (2008-2011) and during dam removal (2012-2014).
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center
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Reconnecting the Elwha River: Spatial patterns of fish response to dam removal

The removal of two large dams on the Elwha River was completed in 2014 with a goal of restoring anadromous salmonid populations. Using observations from ongoing field studies, we compiled a timeline of migratory fish passage upstream of each dam. We also used spatially continuous snorkeling surveys in consecutive years before (2007, 2008) and after (2018, 2019) dam removal during summer baseflow t
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Dam removal and river restoration

The removal of dams from rivers has become a common and widespread practice in the United States and Europe. Although often initiated by factors like economics and safety, ecosystem restoration is often a desired benefit and outcome of dam removal. We describe the physical and ecological effects that the placement and removal of dams have on rivers. We then focus on the drivers of dam removal, pre
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Riverscape approaches in practice: Perspectives and applications

Landscape perspectives in riverine ecology have been undertaken increasingly in the last 30 years, leading aquatic ecologists to develop a diverse set of approaches for conceptualizing, mapping and understanding ‘riverscapes’. Spatiotemporally explicit perspectives of rivers and their biota nested within the socio-ecological landscape now provide guiding principles and approaches in inland fisheri
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Vegetation of the Elwha River Estuary - Chapter 8

The Elwha River estuary supports one of the most diverse coastal wetland complexes yet described in the Salish Sea region, in terms of vegetation types and plant species richness. Using a combination of aerial imagery and vegetation plot sampling, we identified 6 primary vegetation types and 121 plant species in a 39.7 ha area. Most of the estuary is dominated by woody vegetation types, with mixed
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Ecosystems, Fort Collins Science Center

Shifting food web structure during dam removal—Disturbance and recovery during a major restoration action

We measured food availability and diet composition of juvenile salmonids over multiple years and seasons before and during the world’s largest dam removal on the Elwha River, Washington State. We conducted these measurements over three sediment-impacted sections (the estuary and two sections of the river downstream of each dam) and compared these to data collected from mainstem tributaries not dir
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Environmental DNA is an effective tool to track recolonizing migratory fish following large‐scale dam removal

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a potentially powerful tool for use in conservation and resource management, including for tracking the recolonization dynamics of fish populations. We used eDNA to assess the effectiveness of dam removal to restore fish passage on the Elwha River in Washington State (USA). Using a suite of 11 species‐specific eDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, we
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Use of environmental DNA to detect the invasive aquatic plants Myriophyllum spicatum and Egeria densa in lakes

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis offers a promising tool for rapid and early detection of aquatic plant invasive species, but currently suffers from substantial unknowns that limit its widespread use in monitoring programs. We conducted the first study to test the factors related to eDNA-based detectability of 2 invasive aquatic plants, Egeria densa and Myriophyllum spicatum, over extended period
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Morphodynamic evolution following sediment release from the world’s largest dam removal

Sediment pulses can cause widespread, complex changes to rivers and coastal regions. Quantifying landscape response to sediment-supply changes is a long-standing problem in geomorphology, but the unanticipated nature of most sediment pulses rarely allows for detailed measurement of associated landscape processes and evolution. The intentional removal of two large dams on the Elwha River (Washingto
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Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Water Resources, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Fisheries Program, Arizona Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Evaluation of environmental DNA surveys for identifying occupancy and spatial distribution of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) and Lampetra spp. in a Washington coast watershed

Surveys of environmental DNA (eDNA) have become an important and multifaceted tool for monitoring and identifying distributions and occupancy of aquatic species. This tool is attractive because it is powerful, easy to apply, and provides an alternative to traditional field survey methods. However, validating eDNA survey methods against traditional field survey methods is warranted prior to their a
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Complexities, context, and new information about the Elwha River

Recently, Hand et al. (2018) discussed the socio- ecological complexities surround-ing natural resource policy, science, and management in the Columbia River Basin, using a case study of dam removal on the Elwha River in Washington State (WebFigure 1a). We feel compelled to provide additional historical context and correct some of the information provided by Hand et al. about the Elwha. The his-to
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Western Fisheries Research Center

Conceptualizing ecological responses to dam removal: If you remove it, what's to come?

One of the desired outcomes of dam decommissioning and removal is the recovery of aquatic and riparian ecosystems. To investigate this common objective, we synthesized information from empirical studies and ecological theory into conceptual models that depict key physical and biological links driving ecological responses to removing dams. We define models for three distinct spatial domains: upstre
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Ecosystems, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Fisheries Program, Arizona Water Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Oregon Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Natural resource condition assessment: Olympic National Park

The Natural Resource Assessment Program aims to document condition and trends of selected park resources while identifying emerging issues and information needs. This information is intended to serve as a platform for natural resource managers to use in developing future resource stewardship priorities and planning.Olympic National Park (OLYM) on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula protects remarkable
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center

Pre-USGS Publications

Duda, J.J., and A.J. Krzysik. 1998. Radiotelemetry study of a desert tortoise population: Sand Hill Training Area, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories Technical Report 98/39. 75 p.
Duda, J.J. 1998. Home range, burrow use, and activity patterns of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the south-central Mojave Desert. M.S. Thesis. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 60 p.

Dam Removal Information Portal (DRIP)

The Dam Removal Information Portal (DRIP) is a web application where partners, scientists, and practitioners can find information on dam removals and associated scientific studies. It is a visualization tool, including a map and interactive charts, of a dam-removal literature review designed and developed by a working group at the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis (Bellmore

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Core Science Systems, Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), 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)
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USGS partnership with Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe featured in new fact sheet on Elwha River dam removals

The USGS has published a new Fact Sheet, “Science Partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe: Understanding the...

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International Recognition for Historic Elwha River Restoration

NEW DELHI, INDIA – The collaborative work of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to restore the Elwha River of...

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Dam Removal Study Reveals River Resiliency

SEATTLE, Wash. — More than 1,000 dams have been removed across the United States because of safety concerns, sediment buildup, inefficiency or having...
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Science and Products