Meryl Storb
Biography
While completing my B.S. at the University of Montana I worked as a research assistant for a groundwater modeling project related to the Milltown Dam Removal. I also worked as Environmental Health Technician for the Missoula City County Department of Water Quality working on monitoring and communicating impacts of the Milltown dam removal to residents.
After completing my B.S. I worked as a hydrogeologist for a series of environmental consulting firms in Missoula. In 2014 I moved to Bozeman to pursue a Ph.D. related to hydrology at Montana State University. My dissertation research is focused on understanding impacts from climate change and development on alpine stream ecosystems.
B.S. in Environmental Geology from the University of Montana, 2008
In progress: Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science – working in the Watershed Hydrology Lab at Montana State University
Science and Products
Flaxville Aquifer
The Flaxville aquifer is present in the northern and central parts of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and consists of sand and gravel that forms extensive plateaus and topographic benches used for dryland farming. Because many residents rely on groundwater as their primary water supply on the Reservation, the Flaxville and underlying aquifers are important sources of groundwater. The goal...
Characterization of water-resource threats and needs for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges in the Legacy Mountain-Prairie Region, 2020
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), began a study in 2019 to complete the compilation and quality assurance of water-resource threats and needs data for the 117 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the FWS Legacy Mountain-Prairie Region (LMPR) and to characterize the water-resource threats and...
Bauch, Nancy J.; Kohn, Michael S.; Caruso, Brian S.Balancing the need for seed against invasive species risks in prairie habitat restorations
Adequate diversity and abundance of native seed for large-scale grassland restorations often require commercially produced seed from distant sources. However, as sourcing distance increases, the likelihood of inadvertent introduction of multiple novel, non-native weed species as seed contaminants also increases. We created a model to determine an...
Larson, Jennifer L; Larson, Diane L.; Venette, RobertEffects of midazolam on corticosterone and blood gases in spectacled eiders prior to transmitter implantation
Stress and physical exertion may affect the physiology and behavior of wildlife during and after capture, and consequently, survival following release. Such effects may reduce the quality and quantity of the data obtained from captured wildlife. We captured spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri), a species listed as threatened under the United...
Spriggs, Maria; Rizzolo, Daniel; Martin, Kate; Myers, Gwen E.; Sexson, Matthew G.Executive summary and annotated bibliography of selected references from “Microbial and viral indicators of pathogens and human health risks from recreational exposure to waters impaired by fecal contamination” with related project ideas for Gwinnett County, Georgia
This document was prepared in cooperation with Gwinnett County, Georgia, to supplement the journal article “Microbial and Viral Indicators of Pathogens and Human Health Risks from Recreational Exposure to Waters Impaired by Fecal Contamination” (published in Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment). The document includes an executive...
McKee, Anna M.; Cruz, Marcella A.Earthquakes indicated magma viscosity during Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption
Magma viscosity strongly controls the style (for example, explosive versus effusive) of a volcanic eruption and thus its hazard potential, but can only be measured during or after an eruption. The identification of precursors indicative of magma viscosity would enable forecasting of the eruption style and the scale of associated hazards1. The...
Roman, Diana; Soldati, Arianna; Dingwell, Donald Bruce; Houghton, Bruce F.; Shiro, BrianA new addition to the embalmed fauna of ancient Egypt: Güldenstaedt’s White-toothed Shrew, Crocidura gueldenstaedtii (Pallas, 1811) (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)
The Falcon Necropolis at Quesna in the Nile Delta of Egypt is considered to have been founded by the priest Djedhor, the Saviour, of Athribis (Tell Atrib in modern Benha) at the beginning of the Ptolemaic Period. Recent excavations here have revealed abundant avian remains from mummies dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Horus Khenty-Khety....
Woodman, Neal; Ikram, Salima; Rowland, JoanneUsing enclosed Y-mazes to assess chemosensory behavior in reptiles
Reptiles utilize a variety of environmental cues to inform and drive animal behavior such as chemical scent trails produced by food or conspecifics. Decrypting the scent-trailing behavior of vertebrates, particularly invasive species, enables the discovery of cues that induce exploratory behavior and can aid in the development of valuable basic...
Parker, M. Rockwell; Currylow, Andrea Faye; Tillman, Eric A.; Robinson, Charlotte J.; Josimovich, Jillian Maureen; Bukovich, Isabella M.G.; Nazarian, Lauren A.; Nafus, Melia G.; Kluever, Bryan M.; Yackel Adams, Amy A.Weather affects post‐fire recovery of sagebrush‐steppe communities and model transferability among sites
Altered climate, including weather extremes, can cause major shifts in vegetative recovery after disturbances. Predictive models that can identify the separate and combined temporal effects of disturbance and weather on plant communities and that are transferable among sites are needed to guide vulnerability assessments and management...
Applestein, Cara; Caughlin, Trevor; Germino, MatthewIdentifying resting locations of a small elusive forest carnivore using a two-stage model accounting for GPS measurement error and hidden behavioral states
Studies of animal movement using location data are often faced with two challenges. First, time series of animal locations are likely to arise from multiple behavioral states (e.g., directed movement, resting) that cannot be observed directly. Second, location data can be affected by measurement error, including failed location fixes....
Hance, Dalton; Moriarty, Katie M.; Hollen, Bruce A.; Perry, RussellWater resources of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. In 2014, about 46.99 million gallons...
Lindaman, Maxwell A.; White, Vincent E.Water resources of Iberville Parish, Louisiana
Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. In 2014, about 589.87 million...
Lindaman, Maxwell A.; White, Vincent E.3D Elevation Program—Federal best practices
The goal of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is to complete nationwide data acquisition in 8 years, by 2023, to provide the first-ever national baseline of consistent high-resolution three-dimensional data—including bare earth elevations and three-dimensional point clouds—collected in a timeframe of less than a decade. Successful implementation of...
Lukas, Vicki; Baez, Vanessa