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
Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report
A 184-year record of river meander migration from tree rings, aerial imagery, and cross sections
Management of plains cottonwood at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Decreased runoff response to precipitation, Little Missouri River Basin, northern Great Plains, USA
Flow reconstructions in the Upper Missouri River Basin using riparian tree rings
Resource management and operations in central North Dakota: Climate change scenario planning workshop summary November 12-13, 2015, Bismarck, ND
Using NDVI to measure precipitation in semi-arid landscapes
Debris flow occurrence and sediment persistence, Upper Colorado River Valley, CO
Contributions of moderately low flows and large floods to geomorphic change in the Rio Puerco Arroyo, New Mexico
Local environmental context conditions the impact of Russian olive in a heterogeneous riparian ecosystem
Use of 2H and 18O stable isotopes to investigate water sources for different ages of Populus euphratica along the lower Heihe River
Alternative standardization approaches to improving streamflow reconstructions with ring-width indices of 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
Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report
Public SummaryWe worked with managers in two focal areas to plan for the uncertain future by integrating quantitative climate change scenarios and simulation modeling into scenario planning exercises.In our central North Dakota focal area, centered on Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, managers are concerned about how changes in flood severity and growing conditions for native andAuthorsAmy J. Symstad, Brian W. Miller, Jonathan M. Friedman, Nicholas A. Fisichelli, Andrea J. Ray, Erika Rowland, Gregor W. SchuurmanA 184-year record of river meander migration from tree rings, aerial imagery, and cross sections
Channel migration is the primary mechanism of floodplain turnover in meandering rivers and is essential to the persistence of riparian ecosystems. Channel migration is driven by river flows, but short-term records cannot disentangle the effects of land use, flow diversion, past floods, and climate change. We used three data sets to quantify nearly two centuries of channel migration on the Powder RAuthorsDerek M. Schook, Sara L. Rathburn, Jonathan M. Friedman, J. Marshall WolfManagement of plains cottonwood at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Establishment of cottonwood trees is driven by flood-induced channel migration, which provides the new surfaces necessary for successful germination and survival. Along the Little Missouri River the largest floods typically result from snowmelt in March or April. Seed release occurs in early summer, and seedlings usually germinate in moist, open locations on point bars at relatively low elevationsAuthorsJonathan M. Friedman, Eleanor R. GriffinDecreased runoff response to precipitation, Little Missouri River Basin, northern Great Plains, USA
High variability in precipitation and streamflow in the semiarid northern Great Plains causes large uncertainty in water availability. This uncertainty is compounded by potential effects of future climate change. We examined historical variability in annual and growing season precipitation, temperature, and streamflow within the Little Missouri River Basin and identified differences in the runoffAuthorsEleanor R. Griffin, Jonathan M. FriedmanFlow reconstructions in the Upper Missouri River Basin using riparian tree rings
River flow reconstructions are typically developed using tree rings from montane conifers that cannot reflect flow regulation or hydrologic inputs from the lower portions of a watershed. Incorporating lowland riparian trees may improve the accuracy of flow reconstructions when these trees are physically linked to the alluvial water table. We used riparian plains cottonwoods (Populus deltoides ssp.AuthorsDerek M. Schook, Jonathan M. Friedman, Sara L. RathburnResource management and operations in central North Dakota: Climate change scenario planning workshop summary November 12-13, 2015, Bismarck, ND
The Scaling Climate Change Adaptation in the Northern Great Plains through Regional Climate Summaries and Local Qualitative-Quantitative Scenario Planning Workshops project synthesizes climate data into 3-5 distinct but plausible climate summaries for the northern Great Plains region; crafts quantitative summaries of these climate futures for two focal areas; and applies these local summaries by dAuthorsNicholas A. Fisichelli, Gregor Schuurman, Amy J. Symstad, Andrea Ray, Jonathan M. Friedman, Brian Miller, Erika RowlandUsing NDVI to measure precipitation in semi-arid landscapes
Measuring precipitation in semi-arid landscapes is important for understanding the processes related to rainfall and run-off; however, measuring precipitation accurately can often be challenging especially within remote regions where precipitation instruments are scarce. Typically, rain-gauges are sparsely distributed and research comparing rain-gauge and RADAR precipitation estimates reveal thatAuthorsAmy N. Birtwhistle, Melinda Laituri, Brian Bledsoe, Jonathan M. FriedmanDebris flow occurrence and sediment persistence, Upper Colorado River Valley, CO
Debris flow magnitudes and frequencies are compared across the Upper Colorado River valley to assess influences on debris flow occurrence and to evaluate valley geometry effects on sediment persistence. Dendrochronology, field mapping, and aerial photographic analysis are used to evaluate whether a 19th century earthen, water-conveyance ditch has altered the regime of debris flow occurrence in theAuthorsKyle J Grimsley, Sara L. Rathburn, Jonathan M. Friedman, Joseph F. ManganoContributions of moderately low flows and large floods to geomorphic change in the Rio Puerco Arroyo, New Mexico
Abstract—From the mid-1800s to around 1930, monsoonal floods incised an arroyo roughly 100 m wide and 10 m deep along the lower Rio Puerco, NM, from the confluence with the Rio San Jose downstream to the mouth at the Rio Grande, causing sedimentation and flooding downstream. Since the 1930s, the channel has greatly narrowed, a densely vegetated floodplain has developed, the arroyo has partly filleAuthorsEleanor R. Griffin, Jonathan M. FriedmanLocal environmental context conditions the impact of Russian olive in a heterogeneous riparian ecosystem
Local abiotic and biotic conditions can alter the strength of exotic species impacts. To better understand the effects of exotic species on invaded ecosystems and to prioritize management efforts, it is important that exotic species impacts are put in local environmental context. We studied how differences in plant community composition, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and available soiAuthorsGraham M. Tuttle, Gabrielle L. Katz, Jonathan M. Friedman, Andrew P. NortonUse of 2H and 18O stable isotopes to investigate water sources for different ages of Populus euphratica along the lower Heihe River
Investigation of the water sources used by trees of different ages is essential to formulate a conservation strategy for the riparian tree, P. euphratica. This study addressed the contributions of different potential water sources to P. euphratica based on levels of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes (δ18O, δ2H) in the xylem of different aged P. euphratica, as well as in soil water and groundwateAuthorsShubao Liu, Yaning Chen, Yapeng Chen, Jonathan M. Friedman, Gonghuan Fan, Jarre Heng A. HatiAlternative standardization approaches to improving streamflow reconstructions with ring-width indices of riparian trees
Old, multi-aged populations of riparian trees provide an opportunity to improve reconstructions of streamflow. Here, ring widths of 394 plains cottonwood (Populus deltoids, ssp. monilifera) trees in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, are used to reconstruct streamflow along the Little Missouri River (LMR), North Dakota, US. Different versions of the cottonwood chronoAuthorsDavid M. Meko, Jonathan M. Friedman, Ramzi Touchan, Jesse R. Edmondson, Eleanor R. Griffin, Julian A. ScottNon-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