Matthew Miller
Biography
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
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]
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]
Science and Products
Managing salinity in Upper Colorado River Basin streams: Selecting catchments for sediment control efforts using watershed characteristics and random forests models
Elevated concentrations of dissolved-solids (salinity) including calcium, sodium, sulfate, and chloride, among others, in the Colorado River cause substantial problems for its water users. Previous efforts to reduce dissolved solids in upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) streams often focused on reducing suspended-sediment transport to streams, but...
Tillman, Fred; Anning, David W.; Heilman, Julian A.; Buto, Susan G.; Miller, Matthew P. Predicting redox-sensitive contaminant concentrations in groundwater using random forest classification
Machine learning techniques were applied to a large (n > 10,000) compliance monitoring database to predict the occurrence of several redox-active constituents in groundwater across a large watershed. Specifically, random forest classification was used to determine the probabilities of detecting elevated concentrations of nitrate, iron, and...
Tesoriero, Anthony J.; Gronberg, Jo Ann M.; Juckem, Paul F.; Miller, Matthew P.; Austin, Brian P. Variability of dissolved organic carbon in precipitation during storms at the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory
Organic compounds are removed from the atmosphere and deposited to the earth's surface via precipitation. In this study, we quantified variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in precipitation during storm events at the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory, a forested watershed in central Pennsylvania (USA). Precipitation samples were...
Iavorivska , Lidiia; Boyer, Elizabeth W.; Grimm, Jeffrey W.; Miller, Matthew P.; DeWalle, David R.; Davis, Kenneth J.; Kaye, Margot W.
Enhanced and updated spatially referenced statistical assessment of dissolved-solids load sources and transport in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin
Approximately 6.4 million tons of dissolved solids are discharged from the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) to the Lower Colorado River Basin each year. This results in substantial economic damages, and tens of millions of dollars are spent annually on salinity control projects designed to reduce salinity loads in surface waters of the UCRB....
Miller, Matthew P.; Buto, Susan G.; Lambert, Patrick M.; Rumsey, Christine A. Patterns of diel variation in nitrate concentrations in the Potomac River
The Potomac River is a large source of N to Chesapeake Bay, where reducing nutrient loads is a focus of efforts to improve trophic status. Better understanding of NO3– loss, reflected in part by diel variation in NO3– concentrations, may refine model predictions of N loads to the Bay. We analyzed 2 y of high-frequency NO3– sensor data in the...
Burns, Douglas A.; Miller, Matthew P.; Pellerin, Brian; Capel, Paul D. Atmospheric inputs of organic matter to a forested watershed: Variations from storm to storm over the seasons
The objectives of this study were to determine the quantity and chemical composition of precipitation inputs of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to a forested watershed; and to characterize the associated temporal variability. We sampled most precipitation that occurred from May 2012 through August 2013 at the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical...
Iavorivska , Lidiia; Boyer, Elizabeth W.; Miller, Matthew P.; Brown, Michael G.; Vasilopoulos , Terrie; Fuentes, Jose D.; Duffy, Christopher J. Variation of organic matter quantity and quality in streams at Critical Zone Observatory watersheds
The quantity and chemical composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters influence ecosystem processes and anthropogenic use of freshwater. However, despite the importance of understanding spatial and temporal patterns in DOM, measures of DOM quality are not routinely included as part of large-scale ecosystem monitoring programs...
Miller, Matthew P.; Boyer, Elizabeth W.; McKnight, Diane M.; Brown, Michael G.; Gabor, Rachel S.; Hunsaker, Carolyn T.; Iavorivska , Lidiia; Inamdar, Shreeram; Kaplan, Louis A.; Johnson, Dale W.; Lin, Henry; McDowell, William H.; Perdrial, Julia N. Climate regulates alpine lake ice cover phenology and aquatic ecosystem structure
High-elevation aquatic ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, yet relatively few records are available to characterize shifts in ecosystem structure or their underlying mechanisms. Using a long-term dataset on seven alpine lakes (3126 to 3620 m) in Colorado, USA, we show that ice-off dates have shifted seven days earlier over...
Preston, Daniel L.; Caine, Nel; McKnight, Diane M.; Williams, Mark W.; Hell, Katherina; Miller, Matthew P.; Hart, Sarah J.; Johnson, Pieter T.J. The importance of base flow in sustaining surface water flow in the Upper Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River has been identified as the most overallocated river in the world. Considering predicted future imbalances between water supply and demand and the growing recognition that base flow (a proxy for groundwater discharge to streams) is critical for sustaining flow in streams and rivers, there is a need to develop methods to better...
Miller, Matthew P.; Buto, Susan G.; Susong, David D.; Rumsey, Christine Quantifying watershed-scale groundwater loading and in-stream fate of nitrate using high-frequency water quality data
We describe a new approach that couples hydrograph separation with high-frequency nitrate data to quantify time-variable groundwater and runoff loading of nitrate to streams, and the net in-stream fate of nitrate at the watershed-scale. The approach was applied at three sites spanning gradients in watershed size and land use in the Chesapeake Bay...
Miller, Matthew P.; Tesoriero, Anthony J.; Capel, Paul D.; Pellerin, Brian A.; Hyer, Kenneth E.; Burns, Douglas A.
U.S. Geological Survey National Water Census: Colorado River Basin Geographic Focus Area Study
Introduction The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) concept of a national census (or accounting) of water resources has evolved over the last several decades as the Nation has experienced increasing concern over water availability for multiple competing uses. The implementation of a USGS National Water Census was described in the USGS 2007...
Bruce, Breton W.; Clow, David W.; Maupin, Molly A.; Miller, Matthew P.; Senay, Gabriel B.; Sexstone, Graham A.; Susong, David D. Regional scale estimates of baseflow and factors influencing baseflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Study region The study region encompasses the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), which provides water for 40 million people and is a vital part of the water supply in the western U.S. Study focus Groundwater and surface water can be considered a single water resource and thus it is important to understand groundwater contributions to streamflow,...
Rumsey, Christine; Miller, Matthew P.; Susong, David D.; Tillman, Fred D.; Anning, David W.