Patrick Shafroth, PhD
Patrick B. Shafroth is a Scientist Emeritus at the Arizona Water Science Center.
Since 1991, Dr. Shafroth has conducted research on river and riparian systems, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions of western U.S. He and his colleagues from the USGS and other institutions have focused their work on understanding relationships between surface and ground-water hydrology, fluvial processes, and the dynamics of native and introduced riparian vegetation. This research has often had strong application to resource management (particularly DOI sister agencies), by providing solid, objective scientific information to inform riparian management and restoration. Specific applications have included studies of large-scale flow experiments, dam removal, effects of invasive species control, system responses to various restoration actions, vegetation responses to drought, and system responses to high intensity wildfires.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Arizona State University, 1999
M.S. in Forest Ecology, Colorado State University, 1993
B.A. in Environmental Studies and Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1989
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 131
Landscape context and the biophysical response of rivers to dam removal in the United States Landscape context and the biophysical response of rivers to dam removal in the United States
Dams have been a fundamental part of the U.S. national agenda over the past two hundred years. Recently, however, dam removal has emerged as a strategy for addressing aging, obsolete infrastructure and more than 1,100 dams have been removed since the 1970s. However, only 130 of these removals had any ecological or geomorphic assessments, and fewer than half of those included before- and...
Authors
Melissa M. Foley, Francis J. Magilligan, Christian E. Torgersen, Jon J. Major, Chauncey W. Anderson, Patrick J. Connolly, Daniel J. Wieferich, Patrick B. Shafroth, James E. Evans, Dana M. Infante, Laura Craig
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Oregon Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Coastal habitat and biological community response to dam removal on the Elwha River Coastal habitat and biological community response to dam removal on the Elwha River
Habitat diversity and heterogeneity play a fundamental role in structuring ecological communities. Dam emplacement and removal can fundamentally alter habitat characteristics, which in turn can affect associated biological communities. Beginning in the early 1900s, the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in Washington, USA, withheld an estimated 30 million tonnes of sediment from river, coastal...
Authors
Melissa M. Foley, Jonathan A. Warrick, Andrew C. Ritchie, Andrew W. Stevens, Patrick B. Shafroth, Jeffrey J. Duda, Matthew M. Beirne, Rebecca Paradis, Guy R. Gelfenbaum, Randall McCoy, Erin S. Cubley
Changes in community-level riparian plant traits over inundation gradients, Colorado River, Grand Canyon Changes in community-level riparian plant traits over inundation gradients, Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Comparisons of community-level functional traits across environmental gradients have potential for identifying links among plant characteristics, adaptations to stress and disturbance, and community assembly. We investigated community-level variation in specific leaf area (SLA), plant mature height, seed mass, stem specific gravity (SSG), relative cover of C4 species, and total plant...
Authors
Miles McCoy-Sulentic, Thomas Kolb, David Merritt, Emily C. Palmquist, Barbara E. Ralston, Daniel Sarr, Patrick B. Shafroth
Functional traits and ecological affinities of riparian plants along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon Functional traits and ecological affinities of riparian plants along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Trait-based approaches to vegetation analyses are becoming more prevalent in studies of riparian vegetation dynamics, including responses to flow regulation, groundwater pumping, and climate change. These analyses require species trait data compiled from the literature and floras or original field measurements. Gathering such data makes trait-based research time intensive at best and...
Authors
Emily C. Palmquist, Barbara E. Ralston, Sarr. Daniel, David Merritt, Patrick B Shafroth, Julian Scott
Identifying western yellow-billed cuckoo breeding habitat with a dual modelling approach Identifying western yellow-billed cuckoo breeding habitat with a dual modelling approach
The western population of the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) was recently listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Yellow-billed cuckoo conservation efforts require the identification of features and area requirements associated with high quality, riparian forest habitat at spatial scales that range from nest microhabitat to landscape, as well as lower...
Authors
Matthew J. Johnson, James R. Hatten, Jennifer A. Holmes, Patrick B. Shafroth
Effectiveness of environmental flows for riparian restoration in arid regions: A tale of four rivers Effectiveness of environmental flows for riparian restoration in arid regions: A tale of four rivers
Environmental flows have become important restoration tools on regulated rivers. However, environmental flows are often constrained by other demands within the river system and thus typically are comprised of smaller water volumes than the natural flows they are meant to replace, which can limit their functional efficacy. We review environmental flow programs aimed at restoring riparian...
Authors
Edward P. Glenn, Pamela L. Nagler, Patrick B. Shafroth, Christopher Jarchow
Riparian soil development linked to forest succession above and below dams along the Elwha River, Washington, USA Riparian soil development linked to forest succession above and below dams along the Elwha River, Washington, USA
Riparian forest soils can be highly dynamic, due to frequent fluvial disturbance, erosion, and sediment deposition, but effects of dams on riparian soils are poorly understood. We examined soils along toposequences within three river segments located upstream, between, and downstream of two dams on the Elwha River to evaluate relationships between riparian soil development and forest age
Authors
Laura G Perry, Patrick B. Shafroth, Steven S. Perakis
Effects of dams and geomorphic context on riparian forests of the Elwha River, Washington Effects of dams and geomorphic context on riparian forests of the Elwha River, Washington
Understanding how dams affect the shifting habitat mosaic of river bottomlands is key for protecting the many ecological functions and related goods and services that riparian forests provide and for informing approaches to riparian ecosystem restoration. We examined the downstream effects of two large dams on patterns of forest composition, structure, and dynamics within different...
Authors
Patrick B. Shafroth, Laura G Perry, Chanoane A Rose, Jeffrey H Braatne
Geomorphic change and sediment transport during a small artificial flood in a transformed post-dam delta: The Colorado River delta, United States and Mexico Geomorphic change and sediment transport during a small artificial flood in a transformed post-dam delta: The Colorado River delta, United States and Mexico
The Colorado River delta is a dramatically transformed landscape. Major changes to river hydrology and morpho-dynamics began following completion of Hoover Dam in 1936. Today, the Colorado River has an intermittent and/or ephemeral channel in much of its former delta. Initial incision of the river channel in the upstream ∼50 km of the delta occurred in the early 1940s in response to...
Authors
Erich R. Mueller, John C. Schmidt, David J. Topping, Patrick B. Shafroth, Jesus Eliana Rodriguez-Burgueno, Jorge Ramírez-Hernández, Paul E. Grams
Synthesis of common management concerns associated with dam removal Synthesis of common management concerns associated with dam removal
Managers make decisions regarding if and how to remove dams in spite of uncertainty surrounding physical and ecological responses, and stakeholders often raise concerns about certain negative effects, regardless of whether or not these concerns are warranted at a particular site. We used a dam-removal science database supplemented with other information sources to explore seven...
Authors
Desiree D. Tullos, Mathias J. Collins, J. Ryan Bellmore, Jennifer A. Bountry, Patrick J. Connolly, Patrick B. Shafroth, Andrew C. Wilcox
Managing water and riparian habitats on the Bill Williams River with scientific benefit for other desert river systems Managing water and riparian habitats on the Bill Williams River with scientific benefit for other desert river systems
This report details modeling to: 1) codify flow-ecology relationships for riparian species of the Bill Williams River as operational guidance for water managers, 2) test the guidance under different climate scenarios, and 3) revise the operational guidance as needed to address the effects of climate change. Model applications detailed herein include the River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)...
Authors
John Hickey, Woodrow Fields, Andrew Hautzinger, Steven Sesnie, Patrick B. Shafroth, Dick Gilbert
Riparian groundwater and baseflow studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin Riparian groundwater and baseflow studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Executive summary As part of an ongoing effort to understand baseflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and implications for stream-dependent ecosystems, we conducted a brief review of literature related to groundwater and baseflow in the UCRB. We included primary literature, federal and state resources, databases and gray literature studies on groundwater, baseflow, and springs...
Authors
Lindsay Reynolds, Patrick B. Shafroth
Non-USGS Publications**
Shafroth, P.B., J.C. Stromberg, D.T. Patten, A.E. Springer, and J.M. Wright. 1996. Ground-water recharge and riparian habitat enhancement from water discharged from New Waddell Dam into the Agua Fria River: Phase I--Planning and feasibility. Final Report to Arizona Dept. of Water Resources - Phoenix Active Management Area. Phoenix, AZ78+ap p.
Shafroth, P.B., J.M. Friedman, and L.S. Ischinger. 1994. River salinity has little influence on establishment of cottonwood and saltcedar. Research Information Bulletin 94-95. NBS Information Bulletin.
**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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Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 131
Landscape context and the biophysical response of rivers to dam removal in the United States Landscape context and the biophysical response of rivers to dam removal in the United States
Dams have been a fundamental part of the U.S. national agenda over the past two hundred years. Recently, however, dam removal has emerged as a strategy for addressing aging, obsolete infrastructure and more than 1,100 dams have been removed since the 1970s. However, only 130 of these removals had any ecological or geomorphic assessments, and fewer than half of those included before- and...
Authors
Melissa M. Foley, Francis J. Magilligan, Christian E. Torgersen, Jon J. Major, Chauncey W. Anderson, Patrick J. Connolly, Daniel J. Wieferich, Patrick B. Shafroth, James E. Evans, Dana M. Infante, Laura Craig
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Oregon Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Coastal habitat and biological community response to dam removal on the Elwha River Coastal habitat and biological community response to dam removal on the Elwha River
Habitat diversity and heterogeneity play a fundamental role in structuring ecological communities. Dam emplacement and removal can fundamentally alter habitat characteristics, which in turn can affect associated biological communities. Beginning in the early 1900s, the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in Washington, USA, withheld an estimated 30 million tonnes of sediment from river, coastal...
Authors
Melissa M. Foley, Jonathan A. Warrick, Andrew C. Ritchie, Andrew W. Stevens, Patrick B. Shafroth, Jeffrey J. Duda, Matthew M. Beirne, Rebecca Paradis, Guy R. Gelfenbaum, Randall McCoy, Erin S. Cubley
Changes in community-level riparian plant traits over inundation gradients, Colorado River, Grand Canyon Changes in community-level riparian plant traits over inundation gradients, Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Comparisons of community-level functional traits across environmental gradients have potential for identifying links among plant characteristics, adaptations to stress and disturbance, and community assembly. We investigated community-level variation in specific leaf area (SLA), plant mature height, seed mass, stem specific gravity (SSG), relative cover of C4 species, and total plant...
Authors
Miles McCoy-Sulentic, Thomas Kolb, David Merritt, Emily C. Palmquist, Barbara E. Ralston, Daniel Sarr, Patrick B. Shafroth
Functional traits and ecological affinities of riparian plants along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon Functional traits and ecological affinities of riparian plants along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Trait-based approaches to vegetation analyses are becoming more prevalent in studies of riparian vegetation dynamics, including responses to flow regulation, groundwater pumping, and climate change. These analyses require species trait data compiled from the literature and floras or original field measurements. Gathering such data makes trait-based research time intensive at best and...
Authors
Emily C. Palmquist, Barbara E. Ralston, Sarr. Daniel, David Merritt, Patrick B Shafroth, Julian Scott
Identifying western yellow-billed cuckoo breeding habitat with a dual modelling approach Identifying western yellow-billed cuckoo breeding habitat with a dual modelling approach
The western population of the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) was recently listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Yellow-billed cuckoo conservation efforts require the identification of features and area requirements associated with high quality, riparian forest habitat at spatial scales that range from nest microhabitat to landscape, as well as lower...
Authors
Matthew J. Johnson, James R. Hatten, Jennifer A. Holmes, Patrick B. Shafroth
Effectiveness of environmental flows for riparian restoration in arid regions: A tale of four rivers Effectiveness of environmental flows for riparian restoration in arid regions: A tale of four rivers
Environmental flows have become important restoration tools on regulated rivers. However, environmental flows are often constrained by other demands within the river system and thus typically are comprised of smaller water volumes than the natural flows they are meant to replace, which can limit their functional efficacy. We review environmental flow programs aimed at restoring riparian...
Authors
Edward P. Glenn, Pamela L. Nagler, Patrick B. Shafroth, Christopher Jarchow
Riparian soil development linked to forest succession above and below dams along the Elwha River, Washington, USA Riparian soil development linked to forest succession above and below dams along the Elwha River, Washington, USA
Riparian forest soils can be highly dynamic, due to frequent fluvial disturbance, erosion, and sediment deposition, but effects of dams on riparian soils are poorly understood. We examined soils along toposequences within three river segments located upstream, between, and downstream of two dams on the Elwha River to evaluate relationships between riparian soil development and forest age
Authors
Laura G Perry, Patrick B. Shafroth, Steven S. Perakis
Effects of dams and geomorphic context on riparian forests of the Elwha River, Washington Effects of dams and geomorphic context on riparian forests of the Elwha River, Washington
Understanding how dams affect the shifting habitat mosaic of river bottomlands is key for protecting the many ecological functions and related goods and services that riparian forests provide and for informing approaches to riparian ecosystem restoration. We examined the downstream effects of two large dams on patterns of forest composition, structure, and dynamics within different...
Authors
Patrick B. Shafroth, Laura G Perry, Chanoane A Rose, Jeffrey H Braatne
Geomorphic change and sediment transport during a small artificial flood in a transformed post-dam delta: The Colorado River delta, United States and Mexico Geomorphic change and sediment transport during a small artificial flood in a transformed post-dam delta: The Colorado River delta, United States and Mexico
The Colorado River delta is a dramatically transformed landscape. Major changes to river hydrology and morpho-dynamics began following completion of Hoover Dam in 1936. Today, the Colorado River has an intermittent and/or ephemeral channel in much of its former delta. Initial incision of the river channel in the upstream ∼50 km of the delta occurred in the early 1940s in response to...
Authors
Erich R. Mueller, John C. Schmidt, David J. Topping, Patrick B. Shafroth, Jesus Eliana Rodriguez-Burgueno, Jorge Ramírez-Hernández, Paul E. Grams
Synthesis of common management concerns associated with dam removal Synthesis of common management concerns associated with dam removal
Managers make decisions regarding if and how to remove dams in spite of uncertainty surrounding physical and ecological responses, and stakeholders often raise concerns about certain negative effects, regardless of whether or not these concerns are warranted at a particular site. We used a dam-removal science database supplemented with other information sources to explore seven...
Authors
Desiree D. Tullos, Mathias J. Collins, J. Ryan Bellmore, Jennifer A. Bountry, Patrick J. Connolly, Patrick B. Shafroth, Andrew C. Wilcox
Managing water and riparian habitats on the Bill Williams River with scientific benefit for other desert river systems Managing water and riparian habitats on the Bill Williams River with scientific benefit for other desert river systems
This report details modeling to: 1) codify flow-ecology relationships for riparian species of the Bill Williams River as operational guidance for water managers, 2) test the guidance under different climate scenarios, and 3) revise the operational guidance as needed to address the effects of climate change. Model applications detailed herein include the River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)...
Authors
John Hickey, Woodrow Fields, Andrew Hautzinger, Steven Sesnie, Patrick B. Shafroth, Dick Gilbert
Riparian groundwater and baseflow studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin Riparian groundwater and baseflow studies in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Executive summary As part of an ongoing effort to understand baseflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and implications for stream-dependent ecosystems, we conducted a brief review of literature related to groundwater and baseflow in the UCRB. We included primary literature, federal and state resources, databases and gray literature studies on groundwater, baseflow, and springs...
Authors
Lindsay Reynolds, Patrick B. Shafroth
Non-USGS Publications**
Shafroth, P.B., J.C. Stromberg, D.T. Patten, A.E. Springer, and J.M. Wright. 1996. Ground-water recharge and riparian habitat enhancement from water discharged from New Waddell Dam into the Agua Fria River: Phase I--Planning and feasibility. Final Report to Arizona Dept. of Water Resources - Phoenix Active Management Area. Phoenix, AZ78+ap p.
Shafroth, P.B., J.M. Friedman, and L.S. Ischinger. 1994. River salinity has little influence on establishment of cottonwood and saltcedar. Research Information Bulletin 94-95. NBS Information Bulletin.
**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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