Laura M Norman, Ph.D.
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:
- Watershed Health and Management in SW Fire-prone Aridlands
- Presenting Benefits of Rock Detention Structures
- A Jaguar's Field of Dreams
- 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
Wildfire Probability Mapping Based on Regional Soil Moisture Models
Vegetation Survey of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona and Surrounding Area (September to November 2017).
Data Release for Analysis of Vegetation Recovery Surrounding a Restored Wetland using the Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Developing climate resilience in aridlands using rock detention structures as green infrastructure
Editorial: Combining the science and practice of restoration ecology-Case studies of a grassroots binational restoration collaborative in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion (2014- 2019)
Remote sensing analysis to quantify change in woodland canopy cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona (1935 vs. 2017)
Preliminary assessment of carbon and nitrogen sequestration potential of wildfire-derived sediments stored by erosion control structures in forest ecosystems, southwest USA
Impacts of grade control structure installations on hydrology and sediment transport as an adaptive management strategy
Ecosystem services of riparian restoration: A review of rock detention structures in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
Mapping perceived social values to support a respondent-defined restoration economy: Case study in southeastern Arizona, USA
A mosaic of land tenure and ownership creates challenges and opportunities for transboundary conservation in the US-Mexico borderlands
Spatial and temporal distribution of bacterial indicators and microbial-source tracking within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, southern Arizona and northern Mexico, 2015–2016
Tumacácori National Historical Park (TUMA) in southern Arizona protects the culturally important Mission San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a part of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. The quality of the water flowing through depends solely on upstream watershed activities, and among the water-quality issues concerning TUMA is the microbiological pathogens
Modelling development of riparian ranchlands using ecosystem services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona
Modeling riparian restoration impacts on the hydrologic cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA
Remote sensing analysis of vegetation at the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona and surrounding area
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.Filter Total Items: 13Wildfire 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
Filter Total Items: 14
Vegetation Survey of the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona and Surrounding Area (September to November 2017).
This zip file contains spatial, descriptive and digital camera image data for a vegetation field dataset collected on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and surrounding area in Arizona, and used for analysis in the associated publication. Data consists of vector point data, vegetation community type, field observations, and digital camera images that correspond with the images in the associated dirData Release for Analysis of Vegetation Recovery Surrounding a Restored Wetland using the Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
This dataset contains data used in the associated publication in the International Journal of Remote Sensing. The geodatabase contains four feature classes: AOI, MajorZone, MinorZone, and Green2007. Publication can be found at https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2018.1437297. Publication abstract: Watershed restoration efforts seek to rejuvenate vegetation, biological diversity, and land productivit - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 74
Developing climate resilience in aridlands using rock detention structures as green infrastructure
The potential of ecological restoration and green infrastructure has been long suggested in the literature as adaptation strategies for a changing climate, with an emphasis on revegetation and, more recently, carbon sequestration and stormwater management. Tree planting and “natural” stormwater detention structures such as bioswales, stormwater detention basins, and sediment traps are popular apprAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Benjamin L. Ruddell, Deborah Tosline, Michael Fell, Blair P. Greimann, Jay CederbergEditorial: Combining the science and practice of restoration ecology-Case studies of a grassroots binational restoration collaborative in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion (2014- 2019)
The Sky Island Restoration Collaborative (SIRC) is a growing partnership between government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners in southeast Arizona, the United States, and northern Sonora, Mexico. Starting in 2014 as an experiment to cultivate restoration efforts by connecting people across vocations and nations, SIRC has evolved over 5 years into a flourishing landscape-resAuthorsLaura M. Norman, H. Ronald Pulliam, Michele Girard, Steven M. Buckley, Louise W. Misztal, David Seibert, Carianne Campbell, James B. Callegary, Deborah J. Tosline, Natalie R. Wilson, David Hodges, Jeff Conn, A. Valer Austin-ClarkRemote sensing analysis to quantify change in woodland canopy cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona (1935 vs. 2017)
Since the late 1800s, pinyon–juniper woodland across the western U.S. has increased in density and areal extent and encroached into former grassland areas. The San Carlos Apache Tribe wants to gain qualitative and quantitative information on the historical conditions of their tribal woodlands to use as a baseline for restoration efforts. At the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in east-central ArizonAuthorsBarry R. Middleton, Laura M. NormanPreliminary assessment of carbon and nitrogen sequestration potential of wildfire-derived sediments stored by erosion control structures in forest ecosystems, southwest USA
The role of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) in the global carbon cycle is still incompletely characterized. Much work has been done to characterize PyC on landforms and in soils where it originates or in “terminal” reservoirs such as marine sediments. Less is known about intermediate reservoirs such as streams and rivers, and few studies have characterized hillslope and in-stream erosion control structuresAuthorsJames B. Callegary, Laura M. Norman, Christopher J. Eastoe, Joel B. Sankey, Ann YoubergImpacts of grade control structure installations on hydrology and sediment transport as an adaptive management strategy
The goal of this research was to examine the impacts of Grade Control Structure (GCS) installations at the Heard Scout Pueblo (HSP) study site in the City of Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The study site is around a high-use trail system and is comprised of eroded and incised channels that conduct high flows and associated sediments into a residential neighborhood downstream, a noted stormwater control prAuthorsDeborah Tosline, Laura M. Norman, Blair P. Greimann, Jay Cederberg, Victor Huang, Benjamin L. RuddellEcosystem services of riparian restoration: A review of rock detention structures in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
In northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, limited water supplies and fragile landscapes jeopardize world-renowned biological diversity. Simple rock detention structures have been used to manage agricultural water for over a thousand years and are now being installed to restore ecohydrological functionality but with little scientific evidence of their success. The impacts, design,AuthorsLaura M. NormanMapping perceived social values to support a respondent-defined restoration economy: Case study in southeastern Arizona, USA
Investment in conservation and ecological restoration depends on various socioeconomic factors and the social license for these activities. Our study demonstrates a method for targeting management of ecosystem services based on social values, identified by respondents through a collection of social survey data. We applied the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) geographic information sysAuthorsRoy Petrakis, Laura M. Norman, Oliver Lysaght, Benson C. Sherrouse, Darius J. Semmens, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Richard PritzlaffA mosaic of land tenure and ownership creates challenges and opportunities for transboundary conservation in the US-Mexico borderlands
In the Madrean Sky Islands of western North America, a mixture of public and private land ownership and tenure creates a complex situation for collaborative efforts in conservation. In this case study, we describe the current ownership and management structures in the US-Mexico borderlands where social, political, and economic conditions create extreme pressures on the environment and challenges fAuthorsMiguel L. Villarreal, Sandra L. Haire, Juan Carlos Bravo, Laura M. NormanSpatial and temporal distribution of bacterial indicators and microbial-source tracking within Tumacácori National Historical Park and the upper Santa Cruz River, southern Arizona and northern Mexico, 2015–2016
Tumacácori National Historical Park (TUMA) in southern Arizona protects the culturally important Mission San José de Tumacácori, while also managing a part of the ecologically diverse riparian corridor of the Santa Cruz River. The quality of the water flowing through depends solely on upstream watershed activities, and among the water-quality issues concerning TUMA is the microbiological pathogens
AuthorsNicholas V. Paretti, Christopher M. Kephart, Thomas J. Porter, Edyth Hermosillo, Jay R. Cederberg, Justine P. Mayo, Bruce Gungle, Alissa L. Coes, Rachel S. Tucci, Laura M. NormanModelling development of riparian ranchlands using ecosystem services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona
This paper describes how subdivision and development of rangelands within a remote and celebrated semiarid watershed near the US-Mexico border might affect multiple ecohydrological services provided, such as recharge of the aquifer, water and sediment yield, water quality, flow rates and downstream cultural and natural resources. Specifically, we apply an uncalibrated watershed model and land-chanAuthorsLaura Norman, Miguel Villarreal, Rewati Niraula, Mark Haberstich, Natalie WilsonModeling riparian restoration impacts on the hydrologic cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA
This paper describes coupling field experiments with surface and groundwater modeling to investigate rangelands of SE Arizona, USA using erosion-control structures to augment shallow and deep aquifer recharge. We collected field data to describe the physical and hydrological properties before and after gabions (caged riprap) were installed in an ephemeral channel. The modular finite-difference floAuthorsLaura M. Norman, James B. Callegary, Laurel Lacher, Natalie R. Wilson, Chloé Fandel, Brandon T. Forbes, Tyson SwetnamRemote sensing analysis of vegetation at the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona and surrounding area
Mapping of vegetation types is of great importance to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and their management of forestry and fire fuels. Various remote sensing techniques were applied to classify multitemporal Landsat 8 satellite data, vegetation index, and digital elevation model data. A multitiered unsupervised classification generated over 900 classes that were then recoded to one of the 16 generalizAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Barry R. Middleton, Natalie R. Wilson - News
*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