Jonathan Friedman, PhD
Jonathan Friedman is a Hydrologist at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Since joining the Fort Collins Science Center in 1993, Jonathan has devoted his career to studying interactions among riparian vegetation, river flow and channel change. Present research topics include use of riparian tree rings to reconstruct past river flow, quantification of federal reserved water rights, and determination of the effect of riparian vegetation on bank stability.
Professional Experience
1993-present, Research Hydrologist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
1990-1993, Hydrologist, USGS Water Resources Division, Lakewood, CO
1988-1990, Community College Instructor, Bellevue Community College, Olympic College and Front Range Community College, Washington and Colorado.
1988 Assistant Natural Area Scientist, Washington Natural Heritage Program, Olympia, Washington
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1993
M.S. Oceanography and Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1987
B.S. Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
Ecological Society of America
American Geophysical Union
Science and Products
Distribution of invasive and native riparian woody plants across the western USA in relation to climate, river flow, floodplain geometry and patterns of introduction
Processes limiting depth of arroyo incision: Examples from the Rio Puerco, New Mexico
Processes of arroyo filling in northern New Mexico, USA
Hybridization of an invasive shrub affects tolerance and resistance to defoliation by a biological control agent
Effects of woody vegetation on overbank sand transport during a large flood, Rio Puerco, New Mexico
Dendroclimatic potential of plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera) from the Northern Great Plains, USA
Effects of riparian vegetation on topographic change during a large flood event, Rio Puerco, New Mexico, USA
Long-term change along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park (1889-2011)
Tree-ring records of variation in flow and channel geometry
Woody riparian vegetation near selected streamgages in the western United States
The influence of chilling requirement on the southern distribution limit of exotic Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in western North America
Genetic and environmental influences on cold hardiness of native and introduced riparian trees
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 88
Distribution of invasive and native riparian woody plants across the western USA in relation to climate, river flow, floodplain geometry and patterns of introduction
Management of riparian plant invasions across the landscape requires understanding the combined influence of climate, hydrology, geologic constraints and patterns of introduction. We measured abundance of nine riparian woody taxa at 456 stream gages across the western USA. We constructed conditional inference recursive binary partitioning models to discriminate the influence of eleven environmentaAuthorsRyan McShane, Daniel Auerbach, Jonathan M. Friedman, Gregor T. Auble, Patrick B. Shafroth, Michael Merigliano, Michael L. Scott, N. Leroy PoffProcesses limiting depth of arroyo incision: Examples from the Rio Puerco, New Mexico
We examined channel flow and suspended sediment transport processes within the lower Rio Puerco arroyo, located in semi-arid north-central New Mexico, in an attempt to answer the question: Why did arroyo incision stop by about 1936? Channel flow model results show that in the narrow, incised channel of 1936, the boundary shear stress during a large flood was highest over the lower banks and bank tAuthorsEleanor R. Griffin, Jonathan M. FriedmanProcesses of arroyo filling in northern New Mexico, USA
We documented arroyo evolution at the tree, trench, and arroyo scales along the lower Rio Puerco and Chaco Wash in northern New Mexico, USA. We excavated 29 buried living woody plants and used burial signatures in their annual rings to date stratigraphy in four trenches across the arroyos. Then, we reconstructed the history of arroyo evolution by combining trench data with arroyo-scale informationAuthorsJonathan M. Friedman, Kirk R. Vincent, Eleanor R. Griffin, Michael L. Scott, Patrick B. Shafroth, Gregor T. AubleHybridization of an invasive shrub affects tolerance and resistance to defoliation by a biological control agent
Evolution has contributed to the successful invasion of exotic plant species in their introduced ranges, but how evolution affects particular control strategies is still under evaluation. For instance, classical biological control, a common strategy involving the utilization of highly specific natural enemies to control exotic pests, may be negatively affected by host hybridization because of shifAuthorsWyatt I. Williams, Jonathan M. Friedman, John F. Gaskin, Andrew P. NortonEffects of woody vegetation on overbank sand transport during a large flood, Rio Puerco, New Mexico
Distributions of woody vegetation on floodplain surfaces affect flood-flow erosion and deposition processes. A large flood along the lower Rio Puerco, New Mexico, in August 2006 caused extensive erosion in a reach that had been sprayed with herbicide in September 2003 for the purpose of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) control. Large volumes of sediment, including a substantial fraction of sand, were deliAuthorsEleanor R. Griffin, Mariela C. Perignon, Jonathan M. Friedman, Gregory E. TuckerDendroclimatic potential of plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera) from the Northern Great Plains, USA
A new 368-year tree-ring chronology (A.D. 1643–2010) has been developed in western North Dakota using plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera) growing on the relatively undisturbed floodplain of the Little Missouri River in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We document many slow-growing living trees between 150–370 years old that contradict the common understandingAuthorsJesse Edmonson, Jonathan Friedman, David Meko, Ramzi Touchan, Julian Scott, Alan EdmonsonEffects of riparian vegetation on topographic change during a large flood event, Rio Puerco, New Mexico, USA
The spatial distribution of riparian vegetation can strongly influence the geomorphic evolution of dryland rivers during large floods. We present the results of an airborne lidar differencing study that quantifies the topographic change that occurred along a 12 km reach of the Lower Rio Puerco, New Mexico, during an extreme event in 2006. Extensive erosion of the channel banks took place immediateAuthorsM. C. Perignon, G.E. Tucker, Eleanor R. Griffin, Jonathan M. FriedmanLong-term change along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park (1889-2011)
The Colorado River and its riverine resources have undergone profound changes since completion of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, as every river runner with any history in Grand Canyon will attest. Long-term monitoring data are difficult to obtain for high-value resource areas (Webb et al. 2009), particularly in remote parts of national parks, yet these data are important to determining appropriate actioAuthorsR. H. Webb, J. Belnap, M. L. Scott, J. M. Friedman, T. C. EsqueTree-ring records of variation in flow and channel geometry
We review the use of tree rings to date flood disturbance, channel change, and sediment deposition, with an emphasis on rivers in semi-arid landscapes in the western United States. As watershed area decreases and aridity increases, large floods have a more pronounced and sustained effect on channel width and location, resulting in forest area-age distributions that are farther from a steady-stateAuthorsM.F. Merigliano, J. M. Friedman, M. L. ScottWoody riparian vegetation near selected streamgages in the western United States
Areal cover and occupancy of woody riparian species near 456 streamgages in the western United States were obtained from site visits during the growing seasons of 1996-2002. We made concomitant estimates of grazing intensity, channel stabilization and incision, gradient, sediment particle size, and nearby planting of Russian olive. The purpose of this publication is to describe the data set and maAuthorsGregor T. Auble, Jonathan M. Friedman, Patrick B. Shafroth, Michael F. Merigliano, Michael L. ScottThe influence of chilling requirement on the southern distribution limit of exotic Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in western North America
Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), a Eurasian tree now abundant along rivers in western North America, has an apparent southern distribution limit running through southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. We used field observations to precisely define this limit in relation to temperature variables. We then investigated whether lack of cold temperatures south of the limit may preAuthorsKimberly R. Guilbault, C. S. Brown, J. M. Friedman, P.B. ShafrothGenetic and environmental influences on cold hardiness of native and introduced riparian trees
To explore latitudinal genetic variation in cold hardiness and leaf phenology, we planted a common garden of paired collections of native and introduced riparian trees sampled along a latitudinal gradient. The garden in Fort Collins, Colorado (latitude 40.6°N), included 681 native plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera) and introduced saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima, T. chinensis, aAuthorsJonathan M. Friedman, James E. Roelle, Brian S. CadeNon-USGS Publications**
Friedman, J.M., M.L. Scott, and W.M. Lewis, Jr. 1995. Restoration of riparian forest using irrigation, artificial disturbance, and natural seedfall. Environmental Management. 19(4): 547-5.Auble, G.T., J.M. Friedman, and M.L. Scott. 1996. Test of a hydroperiod relation to predict changes in riparian vegetation. From big rivers to small streams. Kansas City, Missouri: Society of Wetland Scientists. p. 25-26.Friedman, J.M., G.T. Auble, and M.L. Scott. 1995. Geomorphic requirements for establishment and maintenance of cottonwood forest. Proceedings of the 46th annual meeting of the Great Plains Agricultural Council Forestry Committee. Great Plains Agricultural Council Publication No. 149. Manhattan, KS: Great Plains Agricultural Council. p. 80-88.
Friedman, J.M., M.L. Scott, G.T. Auble, and L.S. Ischinger. 1995. Plains cottonwood regenerates from natural seedfall on disturbed, irrigated sites. NBS Information Bulletin. Washington, DC: National Biological Service. 3 p.Auble, G.T., J.M. Friedman, and M.L. Scott. 1995. Regeneration processes and conservation of riparian forests in the Great Plains. Proceedings of the biodiversity conservation strategies for the Great Plains symposium. Austin, TX: The Nature Conservancy. p. 36-37.Auble, G.T., J.M. Friedman, M.L. Scott, and L.S. Ischinger. 1994. Geomorphic processes determine instream flow effects on cottonwood regeneration. NBS Information Bulletin 83. Washington, DC: U.S. Geological Survey. 1-3 p.Auble, G.T., M.L. Scott, J.M. Friedman, and L.S. Ischinger. 1994. Modeling effects of flow alteration on riparian vegetation. Research Information Bulletin 65. Washington, DC: National Biological Survey. 3 p.Shafroth, P.B., J.M. Friedman, and L.S. Ischinger. 1994. River salinity has little influence on establishment of cottonwood and saltcedar. Research Information Bulletin 94-95. NBS Information Bulletin.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government