Matthew Miller

Matt Miller is a Research Hydrologist with the Utah Water Science Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.  His current research focuses on developing new approaches for interpreting large data sets to quantify the relationships between water quality, hydrology, land use, and climate at watershed and regional spatial scales.  Matt also studies how natural and anthropogenic activities influence aquatic biota.  Current projects include quantifying the baseflow component of streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin, factors affecting seasonal variability in watershed-scale nitrogen loss in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and using continuously collected water quality data to better understand temporal variation in biologic productivity.   

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder (2008)

M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder (2004)

B.S., Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison (2000)

PUBLICATIONS

GOOGLE SCHOLAR PROFILE

Burns, D.A., B.A. Pellerin, B.A., M.P. Miller, P.D. Capel, A.J. Tesoriero, J.M. Duncan (2019) Monitoring the riverine pulse: Applying high-frequency nitrate data to advance integrative understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes. WIREs Water, 6, e1348, doi:10.1002/wat2.1348. [Link]

Nauman, T.W., C.P. Ely, M.P. Miller, M.C. Duniway (2019) Salinity yield modeling of the Upper Colorado River Basin using 30-meter resolution soil maps and random forests. Water Resour. Res., 55, 4954-4973, doi:10.1029/2018/WR024054. [Link]

Georgek, J.L., D.K. Solomon, V.M. Heilweil, M.P. Miller (2018) Using tracer-derived groundwater transit times to assess storage within a high-elevation watershed of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Hydrogeol. J., 26, 467-480, doi:10.1007/s10040-017-1655-4. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. Carlisle, D.M. Wolock, and M. Wieczorek (2018) A database of natural monthly streamflow estimates from 1950 to 2015 for the conterminous United States. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 54, 1258-1269, doi:10.1111/1752-1688.12685. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. Carlisle, D.M. Wolock, and M. Wieczorek (2018) Natural monthly flow estimates for the conterminous United States, 1950-2015. USGS Data Release, doi:10.5066/F7CC0ZMG. [Link]

Neilson, B.T., H. Tennant, T. Stout, M.P. Miller, R.S. Gabor, M.Y. Jameel, M.R. Millington, A. Gelderloos, G.J. Bowen, P.D. Brooks (2018) Stream-centric methods for determining groundwater contributions in karst mountain watersheds. Water Resour. Res., 54, 6708-6724, doi:10.1029/2018WR022664. [Link]

Tillman, F.D., D.W. Anning, J.A Heilman, S.G. Buto, and M.P. Miller (2018) Managing salinity in Upper Colorado River Basin streams: Selecting catchments for sediment control efforts using watershed characteristics and random forests models. Water, 10, 676, doi:10.3390/w10060676. [Link]

Iavorivska, L., E.W. Boyer, J.W. Grimm, M.P. Miller, D.R. DeWalle, K.J. Davis, M.W. Kaye (2017) Variability of dissolved organic carbon in precipitation during storms at the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory. Hydrological Processes, 31, 2935-2950, doi:10.1002/hyp.11235. [Link]

Miller, M.P., S.G. Buto, P.M. Lambert, C.A. Rumsey (2017) Enhanced and updated spatially referenced statistical assessment of dissolved-solids load sources and transport in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5009, 23 p., doi:10.3133/sir20175009. [Link]

Miller, M.P., A.J. Tesoriero, K. Hood, S. Terziotti, D.M. Wolock (2017) Estimating discharge and nonpoint source nitrate loading to streams from three end-member pathways using high-frequency water quality data. Water Resour. Res., 53, 10,201-10,216, doi:10.1002/2017WR021654. [Link]

Rumsey, C.A., M.P. Miller, G.E. Schwarz, R.M. Hirsch, D.D. Susong (2017) The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to the Upper Colorado River Basin. Hydrological Processes, 31, 4705-4718, doi:10.1002/hyp.11390. [Link]

Tesoriero, A.J., J.A. Gronberg, P.F. Juckem, M.P. Miller, B.P. Austin (2017) Predicting redox-sensitive contaminant concentrations in groundwater using random forest classification. Water Resour. Res., 53, 7316-7331, doi:10.1002/2016WR020197. [Link]

Burns, D.A., M.P. Miller, B.A. Pellerin, P.D. Capel (2016) Patterns of diel variation in nitrate concentrations in the Potomac River. Freshwater Science, 35, 1117-1132, doi:10.1086/688777. [Link]

Iavorivska, L., E.W. Boyer, E.W., M. P. Miller, M.G. Brown, T. Vasilopoulos, J.D. Fuentes, C.J. Duffy (2016) Atmospheric inputs of organic matter to a forested watershed: Variations from storm to storm over the seasons. Atmospheric Environment, 147, 284-295, doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.10.002. [Link]

Miller, M.P., E.W. Boyer, D.M. McKnight, M.G. Brown, R.S. Gabor, C.T. Hunsaker, L. Iavorivska, S. Inamdar, D.W. Johnson, L.A. Kaplan, H. Lin, W.H. McDowell, J.N. Perdrial (2016) Variation of organic matter quantity and quality in streams at critical zone observatory watersheds. Water Resources Research, 52, 8202-8216, doi:10.1002/2016WR018970. [Link]

Miller, M.P., S.G. Buto, D.D. Susong, C.A. Rumsey (2016) The importance of base flow in sustaining surface water flow in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Water Resources Research, 52, 3547-3562, doi: 10.1002/2015WR017963. [Link]

Miller, M.P., A.J. Tesoriero, P.D. Capel, B.A. Pellerin, K.E. Hyer, D.A. Burns (2016) Quantifying watershed-scale groundwater loading and in-stream fate of nitrate using high-frequency water quality data. Water Resources Research, 52, 330-347, doi:10.1002/2015WR017753. [Link]

Preston, D.L., N. Caine, D.M. McKnight, M.W. Williams, K. Hell, M.P. Miller, S.J. Hart, P.T.J. Johnson (2016) Climate regulates alpine lake ice cover phenology and aquatic ecosystem structure. Geophysical Research Letters, 43, 5353-5360, doi:10.1002/2016GL069036. [Link]

Bruce, B.W., D.W. Clow, M. A. Maupin, M.P. Miller, G.B. Senay, G.A. Sexstone, D.D. Susong (2015) U.S. Geological Survey National Water Census: Colorado River Basin Geographic Focus Area Study. USGS Fact Sheet 2015-3080, 4 p., doi:10.3133/fs20153080. [Link]

Miller, M.P., H.M. Johnson, D.D. Susong, D.M. Wolock (2015) A new approach for continuous estimation of baseflow using discrete water quality data: Method description and comparison with baseflow estimates from two existing approaches. Journal of Hydrology, 522, 203-210, doi:10.1016/j.hydrol.2014.12.039. [Link]

Rumsey, C.A., M.P. Miller, D.D. Susong, F.D.  Tillman, D.W. Anning (2015) Regional scale estimates of baseflow and factors influencing baseflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 4, 91-107, doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.04.008. [Link]

Beisner,K.R., N.V. Paretti, A.M.D. Brasher, C.C. Fuller, M.P. Miller (2014) Assessment of metal and trace element contamination in water, sediment, plants, macroinvertebrates, and fish in Tavasci Marsh, Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5069, 73 p. [Link]

Bowman, W.D., D.R. Nemergut, D.M. McKnight, M.P. Miller, M.W. Williams (2014) A slide down a slippery slope-alpine ecosystem responses to nitrogen deposition. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 8, 727-738, doi:10.1080/17550874.2014.984786. [Link]

Gabor, R., A. Baker, D.M. McKnight, M.P. Miller (2014) Fluorescence indices and their interpretation. In Coble, P.G, Lead, J., Baker, A., Reynolds, D.M, and Spencer, R.G.M., eds., Aquatic Organic Matter Fluorescence Cambridge University Press. [Link]

Miller, M.P., P.M. Lambert, and T.B. Hardy (2014)  Discharge, water quality, and native fish abundance in the Virgin River, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, in support of Pah Tempe Springs discharge remediation efforts. USGS Open File Report 2014-1104, 16 p. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.D. Susong, C.L. Shope, V.M. Heilweil, and B.J. Stolp (2014) Continuous estimation of baseflow in snowmelt-dominated streams and rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin: A chemical hydrograph separation approach. Water Resources Research, 50, 6986-6999, doi:10.1002/2013WR014939. [Link]

Miller, M.P., A.M.D. Brasher, and J. G. Kennen (2013) Multi-regional synthesis of temporal trends in biotic assemblages in streams and rivers of the continental United States. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5046, 20 p. [Link]

Carter, H.T., E.T. Tipping, J-F. Koprivnjak, M.P. Miller, B. Cookson, J. Hamilton-Taylor (2012) Freshwater DOM quality and quantity from a two-component model of UV absorbance. Water Research, 46, 4532-4542. [Link]

Miller, M.P. (2012) The influence of reservoirs, climate, land use and hydrologic conditions on loads and chemical quality of dissolved organic carbon in the Colorado River. Water Resources Research, 48, W00M02, doi:10.1029/2012WR012312. [Link]

Miller, M.P., J.G. Kennen, J.A. Mabe, S.V. Mize (2012) Temporal trends in algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish assemblages draining basins of varying land use in streams and rivers of the south-central United States, 1993-2007. Hydrobiologia, 684, 15-33. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight (2012) Limnology of the Green Lakes Valley: Phytoplankton ecology and dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry at a Long Term Ecological Research Site. Plant Ecology and Diversity, doi:10.1080/17550874.2012.738255. [Link]

Wiele, S.M., A.M.D. Brasher, M.P. Miller, J.T. May, K.D. Carpenter (2012) Biotic, water-quality, and hydrologic metrics calculated for the analysis of temporal trends in National Water Quality Assessment Program data in the western United States, USGS Open-File Report, 1212-1203, 11p. and data tables. [Link]

Brabets, T.P., R.T. Ourso, M.P. Miller, A.M.D. Brasher (2011) Water quality, physical habitat, and biology of the Chokosna, Gilahina, Lakina Rivers and the Long Lake Watershed, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, 2007-2008. USGS Scientific Investigations Report, 2011-5185, 56 p. [Link]

Brasher, A.M.D., T. Jones, A. Farahi, M.P. Miller, K. Kozar (2011) Pacific Islands Stream Monitoring Protocol: Fish, Shrimp, Snails, and Habitat Characterization. Natural Resources Technical Report, NPS/PACN/NRR-2011/468, 357pp. [Link]

Miller, M.P., A.M.D. Brasher (2011) Differences in macroinvertebrate community structure in streams and rivers with different hydrologic regimes in the semi-arid Colorado Plateau. River Systems, 19, 225-238. [Link]

Brasher, A.M.D., C.M. Albano, R.N. Close, Q.H. Cannon, and M.P. Miller (2010) Macroinvertebrate communities and habitat characteristics in the northern and southern Colorado Plateau networks: Natural Resources Technical Report, NPS/NCPN/NRTR-2010/320, 107pp. [Link]

Cory, R.M., M.P. Miller, D.M. McKnight, J. Guerard, P. Miller (2010) Effect of instrument-specific response on the analysis of fulvic acid fluorescence spectra. Limnology and Oceanography Methods, 8, 67-78. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight (2010) Comparison of seasonal changes in fluorescent dissolved organic matter among aquatic lake and stream sites in the Green Lakes Valley. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 115, GOOF12, doi:10.1029/2009JG000985. [Link]

Miller, M.P., B.E. Simone, D.M. McKnight, R.M. Cory, M.W. Williams, E.W. Boyer (2010) New light on a dark subject: Comment. Aquatic Sciences, 72: 269-275. [Link]

Mladenov, N., Y. Zheng, M.P. Miller, D.R. Nemergut, T. Legg, B. Simone, C. Hageman, M. M. Rahman, K. M. Ahmed, D.M. McKnight (2010) Dissolved organic matter sources and consequences for iron and arsenic mobilization in Bangladesh aquifers. Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 123-128. [Link]

Fellman, J.B., M.P. Miller, R.M. Cory, D.V. D’Amore, D. White (2009) Characterizing dissolved organic matter using PARAFAC modeling of fluorescence spectroscopy: A comparison of two models. Environmental Science and Technology, 43, 6228-6234. [Link]

Flanagan, C.M., D.M. McKnight, D. Liptzin, M.W. Williams, M.P. Miller (2009) Response of the phytoplankton community in an alpine lake to drought conditions: Colorado Rocky Mountain Front Range, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 41(2), 191-203. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight, S.C. Chapra (2009) Production of microbially derived fulvic acid from photolysis of quinone-containing extracellular products of phytoplankton. Aquatic Sciences, 71, 170-178. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight, S.C. Chapra, M.W. Williams (2009) A model of degradation and production of three pools of dissolved organic matter in an alpine lake. Limnology and Oceanography, 54(6), 2213-2227. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight, J. Cullis, A. Greene, K. Vietti, D. Liptzin (2009) Factors controlling streambed coverage of Didymosphenia geminata in two regulated streams in the Colorado Front Range. Hydrobiologia, 630, 207-218. [Link]

Tipping, E., H.T. Corbishley, J.F. Koprivnjak, D.J. Lapworth, M.P. Miller, C.D. Vincent, J. Hamilton Taylor (2009) Quantification of natural DOM from UV absorption at two wavelengths. Environmental Chemistry, 6, 472-476. [Link]

Gardner, E.M, D.M. McKnight, W.M. Lewis, M.P. Miller (2008) Effects of nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton in an alpine lake, Colorado, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 40(1), 55-64. [Link]

Miller, M.P., D.M. McKnight, R. M. Cory, M. Williams, R. L. Runkel (2006) Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado Front Range. Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 5943-5949. [Link]