Dr. Laura M. Norman is a Supervisory Research Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she has worked since 1998. Her research combines remotely-sensed imagery and other geospatial data in complex hydrological, hydraulic, and LULC models to predict the source, fate, and transport of non-point source pollutants, consider potential growth scenarios, and document impacts of change.
Aridland Water Harvesting Study
Rock detention structures have been used globally for thousands of years to improve the ecohydrology in dryland regions. This project documents their impacts in the US-Mexico border related to ecological restoration and climate resilience, with findings that provide nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, drought, and erosion.
Tribal Land Vegetation Watershed Modeling
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is interested to determine cultural and natural values at risk of degradation resulting from changes in climate and land use. Remote sensing analysis of vegetation over time helps describe the relationship to change and how land management can help restore the landscape to pre-reservation conditions.
Recent Recorded Webinars and News:
- A Jaguar's Field of Dreams
- International Watershed Coping with Climate Hazards
- Partnering with the San Carlos Apache Tribe
- Dr. Laura Norman receives prestigious 2020 Excellence in Leadership Award
- Dr. Laura Norman Awarded Medal for 2021 Excellence by the American Water Resour…
- Sky Island Restoration Collaboration (SIRC) at SERNews and new Documentary
- Visit Laura’s ORCID page for hyperlinked/detailed list of Publication “Works”
Laura couples methods and models across scientific disciplines to allow for a synthesis of results that simulate and communicate risk, impacts of land-use and climate change, and proposed interventions. She has conducted international research for decades, with focus on transboundary watersheds of the US-Mexico border and Tribal lands, where environmental and socioeconomic stressors disproportionately affect human health, well-being, and quality of life. Most recently her research is being used to help establish best management practices in arid lands; characterize trade-offs between ecological, economic, and social values for land use decision support; and the establishment of a binational monitoring and tracking strategy for mitigation of flood risk. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles on a wide-range of topics including cross-border policy, regional planning, climate resilience, environmental justice, restoration design, ecosystem services, hydrologic modeling, and watershed management.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
- Ecological Restoration of Abandoned Mine Lands, 2022 – present.
- Aridland Water Harvesting Study, 2013 - present.
- Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling, 2018 - present.
- Santa Cruz Watershed Ecosystem Portfolio Model (SCWEPM), 2010 - 2013.
- Western Region- Border Environmental Health Initiative (BEHI), 2008 - 2012.
- Predicting Environmental Consequences of Urban Development on the US-Mexico Border, 2004 – 2010.
- Geospatial Analysis of the Lower Colorado River, 2004 - 2007
STUDENT MENTOR:
- Affiliated/Joint Faculty, Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Programs, School of Natural Resources & the Environment, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona (1998-Present).
- Lab Instructor & Teaching Assistant, GIS for Natural Resources (RNR 417/517). University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (08/00-12/04).
- NASA Space Grant Mentor (2010-2011).
- USGS Mendenhall Fellow (Post-Doc) mentor (FY12-13).
- NSF Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP) adviser (FY16 - present).
- Paul D. Coverdell Fellow (M.S.) mentor (FY19 - present).
- Fulbright Garcia-Robles (Ph.D.) mentor (FY22-23)
- Graduate Advisor to students (M.S. and Ph.D.).
Professional Experience
2014 – Current: Supervisory Research Physical Scientist, USGS Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC)
2009 – 2014: Research Physical Scientist, USGS WGSC
2005 – 2009: Physical Scientist (TERM/PERM), USGS WGSC
2000 - 2005: Physical Scientist, USGS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), USGS Minerals Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center (GMEGSC)
1998 - 2000: Research Assistant, Geospatial Analyst, USGS Minerals Program (Contracted), USGS Minerals Program, GMEGSC
1999 – 2004: Research Assistant/ GIS Lab Instructor, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Watershed Resources, Minor in Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, University of Arizona, 2005
Cert. in Computer Programming, Visual Basic, Pima Community College, 2001
M.S. Watershed Management, Advanced Resource Technology Option, University of Arizona, 2000
B.S. Forestry, Minor in Cultural Anthropology, Oregon State University, 1994
Affiliations and Memberships*
Academic Affiliate, Adjunct status (Designated Campus Colleague), University of Arizona (1998-Present).
Arizona Floodplain Management Association - 2021+
American Water Resources Association (AWRA) - 2020 +
Society for Ecological Restoration - 2014 +
Western Social Science Association - 2009
National Ground Water Association - 2009
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing– 2009
Honors and Awards
Selected as Climate Embassy Science Fellow by U.S. Department of State, to reduce vulnerability and increase local capacity, to respond to flooding and drought at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (2021).
Awarded William C. Ackermann Medal for Excellence in Water Management by American Water Resources Association (AWRA) for eminence in design and exemplary water management practices (2021).
Awarded USGS Excellence in Leadership Award for protecting threatened water resources of the US-Mexico Borderlands and developing and fostering collaborative relationships and partnerships (2020)
Nominated Senior Fellow, Borderlands Restoration Network to help restoration economy, ecosystems, and border communities through shared learning (2019 - present).
Elected President, Society for Ecological Restoration, Southwest Chapter (SER-SW) to facilitate communication of land managers, researchers, and restorationists in SW USA (2014-2017).
Elected as Region Director, Southwest US Region of American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) (2010-2012).
Selected for USGS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP; 2000- 2005).
Research Assistantship at University of Arizona, in GIS development, design, and application of cartographic and spatial analysis for agriculture, natural resources, and rural development (1999-2000).
Science and Products
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
Cienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
Rancho Ancón – Water Cycle Augmentation
Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present
Soil Compaction and Erosion
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
Ciénega San Bernardino - Wetland Restoration
Patagonia - Gully Restoration
Nogales, Sonora - Flood Control
Chiricahua Mountains - Reduction of Channel Gradients
Babocomari - Managed Aquifer Recharge
Aridland Water Harvesting Study
Wildfire Probability Mapping Based on Regional Soil Moisture Models
Science and Products
- Science
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.Cienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
At the Cienega Ranch, near Willcox, Arizona, in the foothills of the Dos Cabeza Mountains, a rancher is working to restore and conserve high- quality native grasslands and critical wildlife habitat, while keeping the land as a working cattle ranch. Our objectives were to estimate the hydrological effect of water harvesting on grassland restoration and quantify how grassland conservation efforts...Rancho Ancón – Water Cycle Augmentation
The USGS is working with partners to understand the impacts of installing structures made from rock, sandbags and wood in channels at a dryland ranch in southern Baja California. Hydrogeological instrumentation, recording observations, modeling hydrogeological scenarios, and an interdisciplinary scientific study of the watershed interactions between water, ecological systems, and human activities...Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present
Riparian systems are critical to the human and ecological communities that interact with them. For the members of San Carlos Apache Tribe, this is particularly true, as riparian systems provide immense cultural and natural values such as ceremonial grounds and recreation areas. However, the riparian areas within the San Carlos Apache Reservation are at risk of degradation due to climate change andSoil Compaction and Erosion
Extensive off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on desert lands can directly and indirectly lead to human health problems and impact soil, vegetation, and wildlife habitat. Soil pulverization and loosening caused by OHVs contribute to dust hazards, and to respiratory illnesses and diseases (e.g., valley fever) in adjacent, downwind communities. Repeated soil compaction by OHVs can also degrade natural...Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.Ciénega San Bernardino - Wetland Restoration
Desert marshes and wetlands, or “ciénegas”, are extremely biodiverse habitats imperiled by anthropogenic demands for water and changing climates. Given their widespread loss and increased recognition as important wildlife habitat, remarkably little is known about restoration techniques.Patagonia - Gully Restoration
The Deep Dirt Farm Institute (DDFI), founded and directed by Kate Tirion, comprises 34 acres with deep agricultural soils, bisected by an ephemeral stream/wildlife corridor. The farm lies within a folded topography of hills, small sheltered valleys & broad meadow. A deep gully has diverted flows and needs repair.Nogales, Sonora - Flood Control
Flooding in Ambos Nogales often exceeds the capacity of the channel and adjacent land areas, endangering people and property. Goals of rock detention structures (RDS) are to diminish impacts of flooding and sedimentation on wastewater infrastructure thereby reducing the incidence of sanitary sewer overflows. We are studying the Nogales Wash to prevent future flood disasters and RDS are being...Chiricahua Mountains - Reduction of Channel Gradients
Drainages in the Chiricahua Mountains are impacted by large rain events that cause gullying effects in the headwaters, overflow at road crossings, flooding of campgrounds, and overwhelming sediment loads at outlets (Chiricahua National Monument). Monsoon rains following recent fires cause severe flooding in most drainages and debris flows in many others. Watershed restoration has been a major goal...Babocomari - Managed Aquifer Recharge
We are working to investigate the most cost-efficient way to recharge the Sierra Vista sub-basin aquifer using rainwater harvesting in the tributaries of the San Pedro River using low-technology methods. Research is being conducted on the Babacomari Ranch, property of the Brophy family. The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) is supporting our research with partners, Borderlands Restoration (BR)...Aridland Water Harvesting Study
Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this...Wildfire Probability Mapping Based on Regional Soil Moisture Models
Wildfires scorched 10 million acres across the United States in 2015, and for the first time on record, wildfire suppression costs topped $2 billion. Wildfire danger modeling is an important tool for understanding when and where wildfires will occur, and recent work by our team in the South Central United States has shown wildfire danger models may be improved by incorporating soil moisture inform - Data
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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