Jeff is an ecologist at the South Atlantic Water Science Center. Much of his work has focused on the interactions of hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology. Recent research includes quantifying groundwater use by riparian forests, investigating flash drought impacts on forested ecosystems in the Southeast U.S., and using machine learning models to predict inundation dynamics in isolated wetlands.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geosciences, Georgia State University
M.S., Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
B.S., Chemistry, Kennesaw State University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Effects of stormwater runoff from selected bridge decks on conditions of water, sediment, and biological quality in receiving waters in South Carolina, 2013 to 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, investigated the effects of stormwater runoff from bridge decks on stream water quality conditions in South Carolina. The investigation assessed 5 bridges in 3 physiographic provinces in South Carolina (Piedmont, Upper Coastal Plain, and Lower Coast Plain) that had a range of bridge, traffic, and hydro
Effects of box culverts on stream habitat, channel morphology, and fish and macroinvertebrate communities at selected sites in South Carolina, 2016–18
Much attention has been placed on the role that under-roadway culverts may have in inhibiting upstream fish movement because of altered hydrology and unsuitable conditions for accessing or swimming through the culvert. Other culvert effects related to habitat alterations or disturbance to macroinvertebrate communities have received relatively little attention. Entities responsible for culverts or
Monitoring wadeable stream habitat conditions in Southeast Coast Network parks: Protocol narrative
The Southeast Coast Network (SECN) has initiated a monitoring effort to assess habitat conditions in wadeable streams at national parks, recreation areas, battlefields, and monuments in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. This monitoring effort includes Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Congaree National Park, Horseshoe Bend National Milit
Standard operating procedure 1.2.16 wadeable stream reach-scale field data collection—version 1.0
The following standard operation procedure (SOP) outlines the procedure for collecting physical habitat data from previously selected and benchmarked wadeable streams. The purpose of this SOP is to ensure that data are collected using methods that are consistent between reaches and years. Using the methods described in this SOP will also ensure that the data will be comparable to data collected by
Standard Operating Procedure 1.2.14 Wadeable Stream Reach Selection and Location of Sampling Points—Version 1.0
The following standard operating procedure (SOP) outlines the procedure for selecting stream reaches to be used in Monitoring Wadeable Stream Habitat Conditions in Southeast Coast Network Parks: Protocol Narrative (McDonald et al. 2018a). The techniques and procedures outlined in this SOP are based on methods used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2013), the U.S. Department of Agric
Setting up and configuring a total station: Version 1.0: Southeast coast network standard operating procedure 1.2.17
The following standard operating procedure (SOP) outlines the process for setting up and configuring a total station to collect accurate x, y, and z coordinate data. Total stations allow accurate spatial data to be collected and tied to a permanent benchmark. These data can be used to detect small geomorphic changes between site surveys. Many different types of total stations and surveying gear ar
Widespread occurrence and potential for biodegradation of bioactive contaminants in Congaree National Park, USA
Organic contaminants with designed molecular bioactivity, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, originate from human and agricultural sources, occur frequently in surface waters, and threaten the structure and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Congaree National Park in South Carolina (USA) is a vulnerable park unit due to its location downstream of multiple urban and agricultural c
Species interactions and the effects of climate variability on a wetland amphibian metacommunity
Disentangling the role that multiple interacting factors have on species responses to shifting climate poses a significant challenge. However, our ability to do so is of utmost importance to predict the effects of climate change on species distributions. We examined how populations of three species of wetland-breeding amphibians, which varied in life history requirements, responded to a six-year p
Life history plasticity does not confer resilience to environmental change in the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)
Plasticity in life history strategies can be advantageous for species that occupy spatially or temporally variable environments. We examined how phenotypic plasticity influences responses of the mole salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum, to disturbance events at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR), FL, USA from 2009 to 2014. We observed periods of extensive drought early in the study, in co
Spatial and temporal assessment of back-barrier erosion on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, 2011–2013
Much research has been conducted to better understand erosion and accretion processes for the seaward zones of coastal barrier islands; however, at Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, the greater management concern is the effect that erosion is having on the resources of the island’s western shoreline, or the back barrier. Catastrophic slumping and regular rates of erosion greater than 1
Linking river management to species conservation using dynamic landscape scale models
Efforts to conserve stream and river biota could benefit from tools that allow managers to evaluate landscape-scale changes in species distributions in response to water management decisions. We present a framework and methods for integrating hydrology, geographic context and metapopulation processes to simulate effects of changes in streamflow on fish occupancy dynamics across a landscape of inte
Monitoring water-quality and geomorphology in the French Broad River during I-26 construction
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assess the water-quality and geomorphologic impacts resulting from the I-26 construction projects in western North Carolina. Streamflow, precipitation, and water-quality monitoring data, coupled with periodic assessments of geomorphology, will support the NCDOT construction-site...
Actual evapotranspiration, flash droughts, water deficits, reduced vegetative growth, and wildfires: the effects of seasonally water-limited conditions in a changing climate
The Southeastern U.S. experiences recurring hydrologic droughts, which can reduce water availability for human consumption and ecosystem services, leading to plant stress and reduced plant growth. This project examines relationships between drought and the water cycle in the Southeast with data from the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) near Atlanta, Georgia and other Southeastern sites...
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) - Southeast Region Water Quality
The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) began in 2000 with the goal of determining the status and trends of amphibian populations throughout the U.S. The program was designed to provide information useful in determining causes of declines or other changes in population distributions. Personnel in the South Atlantic Water Science Center are...
Small Watershed Studies at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed, Georgia
The Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) is a 41-hectare forested watershed in the southern Piedmont physiographic province near Atlanta, Georgia. The watershed contains a naturally regenerated second-growth forest on abandoned agricultural land, typical of the Piedmont. Research at PMRW is focused on how streamflow is generated, and in particular, on how water and solutes move from...
Concentration of chemical constituents in lake sediments from selected coring locations on Lake Lanier, Georgia, May 2018
The data herein were collected in support of a larger study in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on the potential impacts of on-site waste water treatment (septic systems) on Lake Lanier water quality. Until recently, a missing component in this assessment was the inclusion of historical sediment and associated nutrient accumulation data from the lake to place results in a broader context. To this end, th
Water table depth, soil moisture, and meteorological data from Panola Mountain Research Watershed, 2017 - 2020
These data represent time-series of water table depth from nine monitoring wells, soil moisture from three depths at a single monitoring location, and meteorological data from a weather station at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) in Rockdale County Georgia. Water-level data were logged at a 5 minute interval. In total, the data span from April 2017 to April 2020 but some wells did not
Stream habitat and geomorphic characteristics above and below culverts at selected sites in South Carolina (2017)
This dataset contains six individual tabular data files. These tabular data files contain measurements of aquatic habitat features and stream channel geomorphology from 20 sites in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain physiographic regions of South Carolina. Specifically, the dataset titled "bedform_slope" contains enumeration of occurrence of bedforms, or macro-habitat features, and streambed and
Water level data from select wetlands at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge:2010 - 2015
Small, seasonal pools and temporary ponds (<4.0 ha) are the most numerous and biologically diverse wetlands in many natural landscapes. Thus, accurate determination of their numbers and spatial characteristics is beneficial for conservation, management, and persistence of biodiversity associated with these freshwater systems. We examined the utility of a topographic position index (
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 13
Effects of stormwater runoff from selected bridge decks on conditions of water, sediment, and biological quality in receiving waters in South Carolina, 2013 to 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, investigated the effects of stormwater runoff from bridge decks on stream water quality conditions in South Carolina. The investigation assessed 5 bridges in 3 physiographic provinces in South Carolina (Piedmont, Upper Coastal Plain, and Lower Coast Plain) that had a range of bridge, traffic, and hydroEffects of box culverts on stream habitat, channel morphology, and fish and macroinvertebrate communities at selected sites in South Carolina, 2016–18
Much attention has been placed on the role that under-roadway culverts may have in inhibiting upstream fish movement because of altered hydrology and unsuitable conditions for accessing or swimming through the culvert. Other culvert effects related to habitat alterations or disturbance to macroinvertebrate communities have received relatively little attention. Entities responsible for culverts orMonitoring wadeable stream habitat conditions in Southeast Coast Network parks: Protocol narrative
The Southeast Coast Network (SECN) has initiated a monitoring effort to assess habitat conditions in wadeable streams at national parks, recreation areas, battlefields, and monuments in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. This monitoring effort includes Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Congaree National Park, Horseshoe Bend National MilitStandard operating procedure 1.2.16 wadeable stream reach-scale field data collection—version 1.0
The following standard operation procedure (SOP) outlines the procedure for collecting physical habitat data from previously selected and benchmarked wadeable streams. The purpose of this SOP is to ensure that data are collected using methods that are consistent between reaches and years. Using the methods described in this SOP will also ensure that the data will be comparable to data collected byStandard Operating Procedure 1.2.14 Wadeable Stream Reach Selection and Location of Sampling Points—Version 1.0
The following standard operating procedure (SOP) outlines the procedure for selecting stream reaches to be used in Monitoring Wadeable Stream Habitat Conditions in Southeast Coast Network Parks: Protocol Narrative (McDonald et al. 2018a). The techniques and procedures outlined in this SOP are based on methods used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2013), the U.S. Department of AgricSetting up and configuring a total station: Version 1.0: Southeast coast network standard operating procedure 1.2.17
The following standard operating procedure (SOP) outlines the process for setting up and configuring a total station to collect accurate x, y, and z coordinate data. Total stations allow accurate spatial data to be collected and tied to a permanent benchmark. These data can be used to detect small geomorphic changes between site surveys. Many different types of total stations and surveying gear arWidespread occurrence and potential for biodegradation of bioactive contaminants in Congaree National Park, USA
Organic contaminants with designed molecular bioactivity, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, originate from human and agricultural sources, occur frequently in surface waters, and threaten the structure and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Congaree National Park in South Carolina (USA) is a vulnerable park unit due to its location downstream of multiple urban and agricultural cSpecies interactions and the effects of climate variability on a wetland amphibian metacommunity
Disentangling the role that multiple interacting factors have on species responses to shifting climate poses a significant challenge. However, our ability to do so is of utmost importance to predict the effects of climate change on species distributions. We examined how populations of three species of wetland-breeding amphibians, which varied in life history requirements, responded to a six-year pLife history plasticity does not confer resilience to environmental change in the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)
Plasticity in life history strategies can be advantageous for species that occupy spatially or temporally variable environments. We examined how phenotypic plasticity influences responses of the mole salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum, to disturbance events at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR), FL, USA from 2009 to 2014. We observed periods of extensive drought early in the study, in coSpatial and temporal assessment of back-barrier erosion on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, 2011–2013
Much research has been conducted to better understand erosion and accretion processes for the seaward zones of coastal barrier islands; however, at Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, the greater management concern is the effect that erosion is having on the resources of the island’s western shoreline, or the back barrier. Catastrophic slumping and regular rates of erosion greater than 1Linking river management to species conservation using dynamic landscape scale models
Efforts to conserve stream and river biota could benefit from tools that allow managers to evaluate landscape-scale changes in species distributions in response to water management decisions. We present a framework and methods for integrating hydrology, geographic context and metapopulation processes to simulate effects of changes in streamflow on fish occupancy dynamics across a landscape of inte - Science
Monitoring water-quality and geomorphology in the French Broad River during I-26 construction
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assess the water-quality and geomorphologic impacts resulting from the I-26 construction projects in western North Carolina. Streamflow, precipitation, and water-quality monitoring data, coupled with periodic assessments of geomorphology, will support the NCDOT construction-site...Actual evapotranspiration, flash droughts, water deficits, reduced vegetative growth, and wildfires: the effects of seasonally water-limited conditions in a changing climate
The Southeastern U.S. experiences recurring hydrologic droughts, which can reduce water availability for human consumption and ecosystem services, leading to plant stress and reduced plant growth. This project examines relationships between drought and the water cycle in the Southeast with data from the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) near Atlanta, Georgia and other Southeastern sites...Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) - Southeast Region Water Quality
The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) began in 2000 with the goal of determining the status and trends of amphibian populations throughout the U.S. The program was designed to provide information useful in determining causes of declines or other changes in population distributions. Personnel in the South Atlantic Water Science Center are...Small Watershed Studies at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed, Georgia
The Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) is a 41-hectare forested watershed in the southern Piedmont physiographic province near Atlanta, Georgia. The watershed contains a naturally regenerated second-growth forest on abandoned agricultural land, typical of the Piedmont. Research at PMRW is focused on how streamflow is generated, and in particular, on how water and solutes move from... - Data
Concentration of chemical constituents in lake sediments from selected coring locations on Lake Lanier, Georgia, May 2018
The data herein were collected in support of a larger study in Gwinnett County, Georgia, on the potential impacts of on-site waste water treatment (septic systems) on Lake Lanier water quality. Until recently, a missing component in this assessment was the inclusion of historical sediment and associated nutrient accumulation data from the lake to place results in a broader context. To this end, thWater table depth, soil moisture, and meteorological data from Panola Mountain Research Watershed, 2017 - 2020
These data represent time-series of water table depth from nine monitoring wells, soil moisture from three depths at a single monitoring location, and meteorological data from a weather station at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) in Rockdale County Georgia. Water-level data were logged at a 5 minute interval. In total, the data span from April 2017 to April 2020 but some wells did notStream habitat and geomorphic characteristics above and below culverts at selected sites in South Carolina (2017)
This dataset contains six individual tabular data files. These tabular data files contain measurements of aquatic habitat features and stream channel geomorphology from 20 sites in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain physiographic regions of South Carolina. Specifically, the dataset titled "bedform_slope" contains enumeration of occurrence of bedforms, or macro-habitat features, and streambed andWater level data from select wetlands at Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge:2010 - 2015
Small, seasonal pools and temporary ponds (<4.0 ha) are the most numerous and biologically diverse wetlands in many natural landscapes. Thus, accurate determination of their numbers and spatial characteristics is beneficial for conservation, management, and persistence of biodiversity associated with these freshwater systems. We examined the utility of a topographic position index (