Matthew Miller
Matt Miller is a Research Hydrologist with the Earth Systems Modeling Branch of the Integrated Modeling and Prediction Division in Boulder, Colorado.
His current research focuses on developing integrated approaches for assessing water availability, including novel approaches for interpreting large data sets to quantify the relationships between water quality, hydrology, land use, and climate at watershed, regional, and national scales. A major theme of Matt’s research is improving process-level understanding of groundwater-surface water interaction and incorporating this understanding into water budget and water quality models. Matt is currently the Project Manager for an Integrated Water Availability Assessment (IWAAs) project in the Upper Colorado River Basin. This project aims to provide insight into how past, present, and future snow conditions – including amount, timing, melt, and transitions from snow- to rain-dominated systems – impact water supply (quantity and quality) and the ability to meet demand.
Education and Certifications
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)
Science and Products
Monitoring the Riverine Pulse: Applying high-frequency nitrate data to advance integrative understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes
The role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin
A database of natural monthly streamflow estimates from 1950 to 2015 for the conterminous United States
Stream‐centric methods for determining groundwater contributions in karst mountain watersheds
Managing salinity in Upper Colorado River Basin streams: Selecting catchments for sediment control efforts using watershed characteristics and random forests models
Estimating discharge and nonpoint source nitrate loading to streams from three end‐member pathways using high‐frequency water quality data
Predicting redox-sensitive contaminant concentrations in groundwater using random forest classification
Variability of dissolved organic carbon in precipitation during storms at the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory
Enhanced and updated spatially referenced statistical assessment of dissolved-solids load sources and transport in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin
Patterns of diel variation in nitrate concentrations in the Potomac River
Atmospheric inputs of organic matter to a forested watershed: Variations from storm to storm over the seasons
Variation of organic matter quantity and quality in streams at Critical Zone Observatory watersheds
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 42
Monitoring the Riverine Pulse: Applying high-frequency nitrate data to advance integrative understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes
Widespread deployment of sensors that measure river nitrate (NO3-) concentrations has led to many recent publications in water resources journals including review papers focused on data quality assurance, improved load calculations, and better nutrient management. The principal objective of this paper is to review and synthesize studies of high-frequency NO3- data that have aimed to improve undersAuthorsDouglas A. Burns, Brian A. Pellerin, Matthew P. Miller, Paul Capel, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Jonathan M. DuncanThe role of baseflow in dissolved solids delivery to streams in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Salinity has a major effect on water users in the Colorado River Basin, estimated to cause almost $300 million per year in economic damages. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program implements and manages projects to reduce salinity loads, investing millions of dollars per year in irrigation upgrades, canal projects, and other mitigation strategies. To inform and improve mitigation effortAuthorsChristine Rumsey, Matthew P. Miller, Gregory E. Schwarz, Robert M. Hirsch, David D. SusongA database of natural monthly streamflow estimates from 1950 to 2015 for the conterminous United States
Quantifying and understanding the natural streamflow regime, defined as expected streamflow that would occur in the absence of anthropogenic modification to the hydrologic system, is critically important for the development of management strategies aimed at protecting aquatic ecosystems. Water balance models have been applied frequently to estimate natural flows, but are limited in the number of pAuthorsMatthew P. Miller, Daren Carlisle, David M. Wolock, Michael WieczorekStream‐centric methods for determining groundwater contributions in karst mountain watersheds
Climate change influences on mountain hydrology are uncertain, but likely to be mediated through changes in subsurface hydrologic residence times and flowpaths. The heterogeneity of karst aquifers add complexity in assessing the resiliency of these water sources to perturbation, suggesting a clear need to quantify contributions from and losses to these aquifers. Here we develop a stream centric meAuthorsBethany Neilson, Hyrum Tennant, Michelle Barnes, Trinity Stout, Matthew P. Miller, Rachel S. Gabor, Yusef Jameel, Mallory Millington, Andrew Gelderloos, Gabriel J. Bowen, Paul D. BrooksManaging 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 few studies have investigated the relationship betwAuthorsFred D. Tillman, David W. Anning, Julian A. Heilman, Susan G. Buto, Matthew P. MillerEstimating discharge and nonpoint source nitrate loading to streams from three end‐member pathways using high‐frequency water quality data
The myriad hydrologic and biogeochemical processes taking place in watersheds occurring across space and time are integrated and reflected in the quantity and quality of water in streams and rivers. Collection of high‐frequency water quality data with sensors in surface waters provides new opportunities to disentangle these processes and quantify sources and transport of water and solutes in the cAuthorsMatthew P. Miller, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Krista Hood, Silvia Terziotti, David M. WolockPredicting 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 arsenic in the Fox, Wolf, Peshtigo, and surrounding watersAuthorsAnthony J. Tesoriero, Jo Ann M. Gronberg, Paul F. Juckem, Matthew P. Miller, Brian P. AustinVariability 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 collected consecutively throughout the storm during 13 eveAuthorsLidiia Iavorivska, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Jeffrey W. Grimm, Matthew P. Miller, David R. DeWalle, Kenneth J. Davis, Margot W. KayeEnhanced 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. Dissolved solids in surface water and groundwater haveAuthorsMatthew P. Miller, Susan G. Buto, Patrick M. Lambert, Christine A. RumseyPatterns 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 Potomac to quantify seasonal variation in the magnitudeAuthorsDouglas A. Burns, Matthew P. Miller, Brian Pellerin, Paul D. CapelAtmospheric 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 Zone Observatory (Pennsylvania, USA). Sub-event precipitaAuthorsLidiia Iavorivska, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Matthew P. Miller, Michael G. Brown, Terrie Vasilopoulos, Jose D. Fuentes, Christopher J. DuffyVariation 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 and variations in analytical procedures can introducAuthorsMatthew P. Miller, Elizabeth W. Boyer, Diane M. McKnight, Michael G. Brown, Rachel S. Gabor, Carolyn T. Hunsaker, Lidiia Iavorivska, Shreeram Inamdar, Louis A. Kaplan, Dale W. Johnson, Henry Lin, William H. McDowell, Julia N. PerdrialNon-USGS Publications**
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, 5943-5949Gardner, 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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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