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Jenn Fair, PhD

Jenn Hoyle Fair is a Research Hydrologist in the New England Water Science Center.

Jenn Hoyle Fair is a catchment scientist and Research Hydrologist with a background in watershed management planning, hydrology and hydraulics of river restoration, and measurement and modeling of catchment nutrient and carbon fluxes. Fair is currently on reassignment to the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) Leetown Science Center to work on the EcoDrought project. Currently stationed at the USGS S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Fair is part of an interdisciplinary team of fish ecologists, fish biologists, and hydrologists working to better understand how extremes in stream flow, particularly droughts, control  presence/absence and abundance of Eastern Brook Trout in headwater streams. In addition to the EcoDrought project, Fair is involved in ongoing projects at the New England Water Science Center to update low flow statistics for New England streams and construct online tools to aid in design of stream crossing infrastructure. 

For her doctorate research at the Yale School of the Environment she focused on the hydrologic controls on dissolved organic carbon flux in the USGS Sleepers River Research Watershed in northeastern Vermont, USA. Fair has experience with design, installation, and maintenance of a network of in situ water quality sensors (including fDOM), correction and management of large timeseries of water quality and hydrology data, and programming of rainfall-runoff and solute transport models. Prior to graduate school Fair worked as a water resource engineer focused on drinking water supply protection.

 

 

Science and Products

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USGS gage 01135150, Pope Brook near North Danville, Vermont

Sleepers River Research Watershed

The Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont has been the site of active hydrologic research since 1959, when the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a research program in the watershed. The Sleepers River site is now operated by the USGS, in cooperation with several other Federal agencies and universities.
By
New England Water Science Center
link

Sleepers River Research Watershed

The Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont has been the site of active hydrologic research since 1959, when the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a research program in the watershed. The Sleepers River site is now operated by the USGS, in cooperation with several other Federal agencies and universities.
Learn More
link
Redheaded woodpecker

About the Ecosystems Mission Area

The USGS is sought out by thousands of partners and stakeholders across the United States for our expertise in earth and biological science that supports public resources in wild and urban spaces, and all landscapes in-between. 

link

About the Ecosystems Mission Area

The USGS is sought out by thousands of partners and stakeholders across the United States for our expertise in earth and biological science that supports public resources in wild and urban spaces, and all landscapes in-between. 

Learn More
link
Drought conditions at a marina in Onslow County, NC

Drought and Ecological Flows

As part of the USGS Fisheries program, ecological flows, or the relationships between quality, quantity, and timing of water flows and ecological response of aquatic biota and ecosystems; and related ecosystem services are being investigated.
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program
link

Drought and Ecological Flows

As part of the USGS Fisheries program, ecological flows, or the relationships between quality, quantity, and timing of water flows and ecological response of aquatic biota and ecosystems; and related ecosystem services are being investigated.
Learn More
link
Conte grounds

Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory

S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory (CAFRL), Turners Falls, Massachusetts, showing Fish Passage Flume Complex in foreground
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory

S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory (CAFRL), Turners Falls, Massachusetts, showing Fish Passage Flume Complex in foreground
Learn More

Evaluating streamwater dissolved organic carbon dynamics in context of variable flowpath contributions with a tracer-based mixing model

This study focuses on characterizing the contributions of key terrestrial pathways that deliver dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to streams during hydrological events and on elucidating factors governing variation in water and DOC fluxes from these pathways. We made high-frequency measurements of discharge, specific conductance (SC), and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) during 221 events
By
Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Source switching maintains dissolved organic matter chemostasis across discharge levels in a large temperate river network

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) helps regulate aquatic ecosystem structure and function. In small streams, DOM concentrations are controlled by transport of terrestrial materials to waterways, and are thus highly variable. As rivers become larger, the River Continuum Concept hypothesizes that internal primary production is an increasingly important DOM source, but direct evidence is limited. Recent
By
Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Enhancement of primary production during drought in a temperate watershed is greater in larger rivers than headwater streams

Drought is common in rivers, yet how this disturbance regulates metabolic activity across network scales is largely unknown. Drought often lowers gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) in small headwaters but by contrast can enhance GPP and cause algal blooms in downstream estuaries. We estimated ecosystem metabolism across a nested network of 13 reaches from headwaters to t
By
Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

Pre-USGS Publications

Romulo, C.L., Posner, S., Cousins, S. et al. Global state and potential scope of investments in watershed services for large cities. Nat Commun 9, 4375 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06538-x
Huber-Stearns, H. R., D. E. Bennett, S. Posner, R. C. Richards, J. B. H. Fair, S. J. M. Cousins, and C. L. Romulo. 2017. Social-ecological enabling conditions for payments for ecosystem services. Ecology and Society 22(1):18.
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08979-220118

Measuring stream flow

In this explorable interactive tool you will investigate a series of charts and sliders to explore how water level, water velocity, number of measurement points and stream channel shape influence stream flow. Great for use in the classroom, especially for student curious about coding.

By
New England Water Science Center

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    USGS gage 01135150, Pope Brook near North Danville, Vermont

    Sleepers River Research Watershed

    The Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont has been the site of active hydrologic research since 1959, when the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a research program in the watershed. The Sleepers River site is now operated by the USGS, in cooperation with several other Federal agencies and universities.
    By
    New England Water Science Center
    link

    Sleepers River Research Watershed

    The Sleepers River Research Watershed in Danville, Vermont has been the site of active hydrologic research since 1959, when the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established a research program in the watershed. The Sleepers River site is now operated by the USGS, in cooperation with several other Federal agencies and universities.
    Learn More
    link
    Redheaded woodpecker

    About the Ecosystems Mission Area

    The USGS is sought out by thousands of partners and stakeholders across the United States for our expertise in earth and biological science that supports public resources in wild and urban spaces, and all landscapes in-between. 

    link

    About the Ecosystems Mission Area

    The USGS is sought out by thousands of partners and stakeholders across the United States for our expertise in earth and biological science that supports public resources in wild and urban spaces, and all landscapes in-between. 

    Learn More
    link
    Drought conditions at a marina in Onslow County, NC

    Drought and Ecological Flows

    As part of the USGS Fisheries program, ecological flows, or the relationships between quality, quantity, and timing of water flows and ecological response of aquatic biota and ecosystems; and related ecosystem services are being investigated.
    By
    Ecosystems, Fisheries Program
    link

    Drought and Ecological Flows

    As part of the USGS Fisheries program, ecological flows, or the relationships between quality, quantity, and timing of water flows and ecological response of aquatic biota and ecosystems; and related ecosystem services are being investigated.
    Learn More
    link
    Conte grounds

    Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory

    S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory (CAFRL), Turners Falls, Massachusetts, showing Fish Passage Flume Complex in foreground
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory

    S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory (CAFRL), Turners Falls, Massachusetts, showing Fish Passage Flume Complex in foreground
    Learn More
  • Publications

    Evaluating streamwater dissolved organic carbon dynamics in context of variable flowpath contributions with a tracer-based mixing model

    This study focuses on characterizing the contributions of key terrestrial pathways that deliver dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to streams during hydrological events and on elucidating factors governing variation in water and DOC fluxes from these pathways. We made high-frequency measurements of discharge, specific conductance (SC), and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) during 221 events
    By
    Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

    Source switching maintains dissolved organic matter chemostasis across discharge levels in a large temperate river network

    Dissolved organic matter (DOM) helps regulate aquatic ecosystem structure and function. In small streams, DOM concentrations are controlled by transport of terrestrial materials to waterways, and are thus highly variable. As rivers become larger, the River Continuum Concept hypothesizes that internal primary production is an increasingly important DOM source, but direct evidence is limited. Recent
    By
    Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

    Enhancement of primary production during drought in a temperate watershed is greater in larger rivers than headwater streams

    Drought is common in rivers, yet how this disturbance regulates metabolic activity across network scales is largely unknown. Drought often lowers gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) in small headwaters but by contrast can enhance GPP and cause algal blooms in downstream estuaries. We estimated ecosystem metabolism across a nested network of 13 reaches from headwaters to t
    By
    Water Resources, New England Water Science Center

    Pre-USGS Publications

    Romulo, C.L., Posner, S., Cousins, S. et al. Global state and potential scope of investments in watershed services for large cities. Nat Commun 9, 4375 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06538-x
    Huber-Stearns, H. R., D. E. Bennett, S. Posner, R. C. Richards, J. B. H. Fair, S. J. M. Cousins, and C. L. Romulo. 2017. Social-ecological enabling conditions for payments for ecosystem services. Ecology and Society 22(1):18.
    https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08979-220118
  • Web Tools

    Measuring stream flow

    In this explorable interactive tool you will investigate a series of charts and sliders to explore how water level, water velocity, number of measurement points and stream channel shape influence stream flow. Great for use in the classroom, especially for student curious about coding.

    By
    New England Water Science Center