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Noah Knowles

Noah Knowles is a Research Hydrologist with the USGS Water Resources Mission Area. 

Science and Products

CASCaDE2 flowchart showing the system of linked models being used to evaluate scenarios of climate and infrastructure change.

CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

The Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers provides drinking water supplies to two-thirds of Californians, and is a fragile ecosystem home to threatened and endangered species. The CASCaDE project builds on several decades of USGS science to address the goals of achieving water supply reliability and restoring the ecosystems in the Bay-Delta system.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

The Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers provides drinking water supplies to two-thirds of Californians, and is a fragile ecosystem home to threatened and endangered species. The CASCaDE project builds on several decades of USGS science to address the goals of achieving water supply reliability and restoring the ecosystems in the Bay-Delta system.
Learn More

Model and Data Resources Supporting Water-Quality Modeling of Hydrologic Systems Model and Data Resources Supporting Water-Quality Modeling of Hydrologic Systems

This dataset provides detailed information on availability of model resources (including models and datasets) that support the modeling of six key water-quality constituents (or constituent categories) across the hydrologic system. In addition, resources associated with nine “cross-cutting” topics for modeling water quality are included, with “cross-cutting” defined herein as having...
By
New England Water Science Center

Data used in projected air and water temperatures for selected regions of the upper San Francisco Estuary and Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change 2020-2099 Data used in projected air and water temperatures for selected regions of the upper San Francisco Estuary and Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change 2020-2099

Understanding the effects of climate change is a substantial challenge in estuarine systems because the mixing of freshwater and ocean water adds complexity to climate change projections. Such climate change projections have been conducted in the San Francisco Estuary as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's CASCaDE Project. In this project, we assessed downscaled air temperature data...
By
California Water Science Center

Data used in projected flow analysis in Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change Data used in projected flow analysis in Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change

Yolo Bypass is an ecological feature of the Bay-Delta ecosystem in California that provides floodplain habitat for spawning and rearing of Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) and rearing of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) when inundated. We used outputs from 10 climate change models for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for greenhouse gas
By
California Water Science Center

Data and Associated Code for Projections of Unimpaired Flows, Storage, and Managed Flows for Climate Change Scenarios in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed, California Data and Associated Code for Projections of Unimpaired Flows, Storage, and Managed Flows for Climate Change Scenarios in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed, California

This data release includes data containing projections of unimpaired hydrology, reservoir storage, and downstream managed flows in the Sacramento River/San Joaquin River watershed under scenarios of future climate change generated for the CASCaDE2 project (Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem, phase 2). Code used to produce the data is also included...
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Filter Total Items: 31

Gaps in water quality modeling of hydrologic systems Gaps in water quality modeling of hydrologic systems

This review assesses gaps in water quality modeling, emphasizing opportunities to improve next-generation models that are essential for managing water quality and are integral to meeting goals of scientific and management agencies. In particular, this paper identifies gaps in water quality modeling capabilities that, if addressed, could support assessments, projections, and evaluations...
Authors
Lisa Lucas, Craig J. Brown, Dale M. Robertson, Nancy T. Baker, Zachary Johnson, Christopher Green, Jong Cho, Melinda L. Erickson, Allen C. Gellis, Jeramy Roland Jasmann, Noah Knowles, Andreas Prein, Paul E. Stackelberg
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Drought in the Delta: Socio-ecological impacts, responses, and tools Drought in the Delta: Socio-ecological impacts, responses, and tools

Droughts are frequent events in the western United States, and can disrupt water supply and degrade water quality, challenging water management in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta). This chapter for the State of Bay–Delta Science report describes what drought means for the Delta, how drought is managed in the Delta, and how drought management has changed over time. Projections of...
Authors
Rosemary Hartman, Noah Knowles, Amanda Fencl, Julia Ekstrom
By
Water Resources Mission Area

State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H

Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara L. Root, Matthew D. Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Curtis Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce D. Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Estimating the benefits of floodplain restoration to juvenile Chinook salmon in the upper San Francisco Estuary, United States, under future climate scenarios Estimating the benefits of floodplain restoration to juvenile Chinook salmon in the upper San Francisco Estuary, United States, under future climate scenarios

Many river systems within the Central Valley of California have been disconnected from their floodplains, hypothesized to be partially responsible for declining Chinook salmon populations (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The primary floodplain of the system, Yolo By-Pass (known regionally as “Yolo Bypass”), offered an opportunity to examine whether improved connectivity between the floodplain...
Authors
Brock M. Huntsman, Marissa L. Wulff, Noah Knowles, Ted Sommer, Frederick V. Feyrer, Larry R. Brown
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Climate change scenarios for air and water temperatures in the upper San Francisco Estuary: Implications for thermal regimes and Delta Smelt Climate change scenarios for air and water temperatures in the upper San Francisco Estuary: Implications for thermal regimes and Delta Smelt

Climate projections and their effects in the San Francisco Estuary have been evaluated as part of the US Geological Survey’s CASCaDE2 project. Understanding the ecological effects of climate change can help manage and maintain the ecological health and productivity of the San Francisco Estuary. In this study, we assessed downscaled air temperature data from 10 global climate models (GCMs...
Authors
Brock Huntsman, Larry R. Brown, Marissa L. Wulff, Noah Knowles, R. Wayne Wagner, Frederick V. Feyrer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

The future of sediment transport and streamflow under a changing climate and the implications for long-term resilience of the San Francisco Bay-Delta The future of sediment transport and streamflow under a changing climate and the implications for long-term resilience of the San Francisco Bay-Delta

Sedimentation and turbidity have effects on habitat suitability in the San Francisco Bay‐Delta (Bay‐Delta), concerning key species in the bay as well as the ability of the delta marshes to keep pace with sea level rise. A daily rainfall runoff and transport model of the Sacramento River Basin of northern California was developed to simulate streamflow and suspended sediment transport to...
Authors
Michelle A. Stern, Lorraine E. Flint, Alan L Flint, Noah Knowles, Scott Wright
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Science and Products

CASCaDE2 flowchart showing the system of linked models being used to evaluate scenarios of climate and infrastructure change.

CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

The Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers provides drinking water supplies to two-thirds of Californians, and is a fragile ecosystem home to threatened and endangered species. The CASCaDE project builds on several decades of USGS science to address the goals of achieving water supply reliability and restoring the ecosystems in the Bay-Delta system.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

CASCaDE: Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem

The Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers provides drinking water supplies to two-thirds of Californians, and is a fragile ecosystem home to threatened and endangered species. The CASCaDE project builds on several decades of USGS science to address the goals of achieving water supply reliability and restoring the ecosystems in the Bay-Delta system.
Learn More

Model and Data Resources Supporting Water-Quality Modeling of Hydrologic Systems Model and Data Resources Supporting Water-Quality Modeling of Hydrologic Systems

This dataset provides detailed information on availability of model resources (including models and datasets) that support the modeling of six key water-quality constituents (or constituent categories) across the hydrologic system. In addition, resources associated with nine “cross-cutting” topics for modeling water quality are included, with “cross-cutting” defined herein as having...
By
New England Water Science Center

Data used in projected air and water temperatures for selected regions of the upper San Francisco Estuary and Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change 2020-2099 Data used in projected air and water temperatures for selected regions of the upper San Francisco Estuary and Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change 2020-2099

Understanding the effects of climate change is a substantial challenge in estuarine systems because the mixing of freshwater and ocean water adds complexity to climate change projections. Such climate change projections have been conducted in the San Francisco Estuary as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's CASCaDE Project. In this project, we assessed downscaled air temperature data...
By
California Water Science Center

Data used in projected flow analysis in Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change Data used in projected flow analysis in Yolo Bypass under 20 scenarios of climate change

Yolo Bypass is an ecological feature of the Bay-Delta ecosystem in California that provides floodplain habitat for spawning and rearing of Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) and rearing of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) when inundated. We used outputs from 10 climate change models for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for greenhouse gas
By
California Water Science Center

Data and Associated Code for Projections of Unimpaired Flows, Storage, and Managed Flows for Climate Change Scenarios in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed, California Data and Associated Code for Projections of Unimpaired Flows, Storage, and Managed Flows for Climate Change Scenarios in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed, California

This data release includes data containing projections of unimpaired hydrology, reservoir storage, and downstream managed flows in the Sacramento River/San Joaquin River watershed under scenarios of future climate change generated for the CASCaDE2 project (Computational Assessments of Scenarios of Change for the Delta Ecosystem, phase 2). Code used to produce the data is also included...
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Filter Total Items: 31

Gaps in water quality modeling of hydrologic systems Gaps in water quality modeling of hydrologic systems

This review assesses gaps in water quality modeling, emphasizing opportunities to improve next-generation models that are essential for managing water quality and are integral to meeting goals of scientific and management agencies. In particular, this paper identifies gaps in water quality modeling capabilities that, if addressed, could support assessments, projections, and evaluations...
Authors
Lisa Lucas, Craig J. Brown, Dale M. Robertson, Nancy T. Baker, Zachary Johnson, Christopher Green, Jong Cho, Melinda L. Erickson, Allen C. Gellis, Jeramy Roland Jasmann, Noah Knowles, Andreas Prein, Paul E. Stackelberg
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Drought in the Delta: Socio-ecological impacts, responses, and tools Drought in the Delta: Socio-ecological impacts, responses, and tools

Droughts are frequent events in the western United States, and can disrupt water supply and degrade water quality, challenging water management in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Delta). This chapter for the State of Bay–Delta Science report describes what drought means for the Delta, how drought is managed in the Delta, and how drought management has changed over time. Projections of...
Authors
Rosemary Hartman, Noah Knowles, Amanda Fencl, Julia Ekstrom
By
Water Resources Mission Area

State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H

Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara L. Root, Matthew D. Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Curtis Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce D. Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Estimating the benefits of floodplain restoration to juvenile Chinook salmon in the upper San Francisco Estuary, United States, under future climate scenarios Estimating the benefits of floodplain restoration to juvenile Chinook salmon in the upper San Francisco Estuary, United States, under future climate scenarios

Many river systems within the Central Valley of California have been disconnected from their floodplains, hypothesized to be partially responsible for declining Chinook salmon populations (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The primary floodplain of the system, Yolo By-Pass (known regionally as “Yolo Bypass”), offered an opportunity to examine whether improved connectivity between the floodplain...
Authors
Brock M. Huntsman, Marissa L. Wulff, Noah Knowles, Ted Sommer, Frederick V. Feyrer, Larry R. Brown
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

Climate change scenarios for air and water temperatures in the upper San Francisco Estuary: Implications for thermal regimes and Delta Smelt Climate change scenarios for air and water temperatures in the upper San Francisco Estuary: Implications for thermal regimes and Delta Smelt

Climate projections and their effects in the San Francisco Estuary have been evaluated as part of the US Geological Survey’s CASCaDE2 project. Understanding the ecological effects of climate change can help manage and maintain the ecological health and productivity of the San Francisco Estuary. In this study, we assessed downscaled air temperature data from 10 global climate models (GCMs...
Authors
Brock Huntsman, Larry R. Brown, Marissa L. Wulff, Noah Knowles, R. Wayne Wagner, Frederick V. Feyrer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

The future of sediment transport and streamflow under a changing climate and the implications for long-term resilience of the San Francisco Bay-Delta The future of sediment transport and streamflow under a changing climate and the implications for long-term resilience of the San Francisco Bay-Delta

Sedimentation and turbidity have effects on habitat suitability in the San Francisco Bay‐Delta (Bay‐Delta), concerning key species in the bay as well as the ability of the delta marshes to keep pace with sea level rise. A daily rainfall runoff and transport model of the Sacramento River Basin of northern California was developed to simulate streamflow and suspended sediment transport to...
Authors
Michelle A. Stern, Lorraine E. Flint, Alan L Flint, Noah Knowles, Scott Wright
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center
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