Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
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:
- Guest Lecture with DOI National BAER Team Leaders (2/28/24)
- Natural infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS)” overview lecture at the Unive…
- Webinar on nature-based solutions for flood mitigation [Natural Infrastructure …
- Dr. Norman receives 2020 Excellence in Leadership Award
- Dr. Norman Awarded Medal for 2021 Excellence by the American Water Resources As…
- 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:
- 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
Ancient infrastructure offers sustainable agricultural solutions to dryland farming
Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: Informing Tribal restoration priorities
Editorial: Advanced physico-chemical technologies for water detoxification and disinfection
Five year analyses of vegetation response to restoration using rock detention structures in southeastern Arizona, United States
Spatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation
Natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) can establish regenerative wetland sinks that reverse desertification and strengthen climate resilience
Commentary: Dryland watershed restoration with rock detention structures: A nature-based solution to mitigate drought, erosion, flooding, and atmospheric carbon
Wildfire probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns can inform mitigation of post-fire hydrologic hazards
Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions
Integrating urban planning and water management through green infrastructure in the United States-Mexico border
A shared vision for enhancing ecological resilience in the U.S. - Mexico borderlands: The Sky Island Restoration Collaborative
Hierarchical clustering for paired watershed experiments: Case study in southeastern Arizona, U.S.A.
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
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 (Phase 2)
Cienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
Research in the Los Planes Watershed – 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 (Phase 1)
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
Data Release of Final Report to Bureau of Reclamation: Case Study Using KINEROS Model to Assess Potential Hydrologic and Geomorphic Impacts of Installing Gabions in a Developing Subwatershed near Buckeye, Arizona, USA
Database of Riparian Floodplain Boundaries for the San Carlos and Gila Rivers on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935 - 2021)
Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)
Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona
Annual (1986-2020) land-use/land cover maps of the Santa Cruz Watershed and Tucson metropolitan area, Arizona
Spatial Database of Known and Potential Cienegas in the Greater Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
Burn probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns in the Madrean Sky Islands, Arizona
Hydrologic Data Collected at Leaky Weirs, Cienega Ranch, Willcox, AZ (March 2019 - October 2020)
Database of Cienega Locations in Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico
Watershed Pairing of Sub-Basins within Smith Canyon Watershed using a Hierarchical Clustering Approach
Short Term Vegetation Response Study at Watershed Restoration Structures in Southeastern Arizona, 2015 - 2019
Perceived Social Value of the Sonoita Creek Watershed using the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) Tool, Arizona, U.S.A.
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Science and Products
Ancient infrastructure offers sustainable agricultural solutions to dryland farming
Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: Informing Tribal restoration priorities
Editorial: Advanced physico-chemical technologies for water detoxification and disinfection
Five year analyses of vegetation response to restoration using rock detention structures in southeastern Arizona, United States
Spatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation
Natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) can establish regenerative wetland sinks that reverse desertification and strengthen climate resilience
Commentary: Dryland watershed restoration with rock detention structures: A nature-based solution to mitigate drought, erosion, flooding, and atmospheric carbon
Wildfire probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns can inform mitigation of post-fire hydrologic hazards
Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions
Integrating urban planning and water management through green infrastructure in the United States-Mexico border
A shared vision for enhancing ecological resilience in the U.S. - Mexico borderlands: The Sky Island Restoration Collaborative
Hierarchical clustering for paired watershed experiments: Case study in southeastern Arizona, U.S.A.
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
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 (Phase 2)
Cienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
Research in the Los Planes Watershed – 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 (Phase 1)
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
Data Release of Final Report to Bureau of Reclamation: Case Study Using KINEROS Model to Assess Potential Hydrologic and Geomorphic Impacts of Installing Gabions in a Developing Subwatershed near Buckeye, Arizona, USA
Database of Riparian Floodplain Boundaries for the San Carlos and Gila Rivers on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935 - 2021)
Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)
Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona
Annual (1986-2020) land-use/land cover maps of the Santa Cruz Watershed and Tucson metropolitan area, Arizona
Spatial Database of Known and Potential Cienegas in the Greater Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
Burn probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns in the Madrean Sky Islands, Arizona
Hydrologic Data Collected at Leaky Weirs, Cienega Ranch, Willcox, AZ (March 2019 - October 2020)
Database of Cienega Locations in Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico
Watershed Pairing of Sub-Basins within Smith Canyon Watershed using a Hierarchical Clustering Approach
Short Term Vegetation Response Study at Watershed Restoration Structures in Southeastern Arizona, 2015 - 2019
Perceived Social Value of the Sonoita Creek Watershed using the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) Tool, Arizona, U.S.A.
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
*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