Remote Camera, 30-mile Camp (River MIe 30.7)
Paul Grams, Ph.D.
Paul Grams is a geomorphologist at the Southwest Biological Science Center's field station, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. He manages a set of projects collectively called the River Geomorphology and Geomorphic Change project. These include a range of studies that describe, quantify, and predict geomorphic change, mostly on large rivers in the western United States.
Additional Links
Paul Grams received a BA in Geology from Middlebury College (1991), an M.S. in Geology from Utah State University (1997), and a Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University (2006). For an undergraduate thesis, Paul examined the effects of Hells Canyon Dam on the hydrology and downstream physical resources of the Snake River in Idaho.
Since that time, he has studied the interaction between human-induced changes in hydrology and channel form on many segments of the Green River in Utah and Colorado, small streams in northern Utah and southern Idaho, and the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.
Paul’s current research interests are in fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, the downstream effects of dams and diversions, and the connections between physical processes and ecological systems on large rivers. Paul is currently a research hydrologist at the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and manages several projects related to geomorphology, sediment budgets, and the effects of controlled floods on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and in other parts of the Colorado River Basin.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D, Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University - 2006
M.S., Geology from Utah State University -1997
B.A., Geology from Middlebury College -1991
Science and Products
A New App to Report Flash Floods and Debris Flows in Grand Canyon
River Geomorphology, Sediment Storage, Sandbar and Campsite Monitoring in Grand Canyon
High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River
Is timing really everything? Evaluating Resource Response to Spring Disturbance Flows
Mapping Land-Use, Hazard Vulnerability and Habitat Suitability Using Deep Neural Networks
Evaluation of UAS photogrammetry and comparison to ground and aerial surveys for monitoring geomorphic condition of fine sediment deposits along the Colorado River
Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2014, river miles 61 to 88 — Data Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2014, river miles 61 to 88 — Data
Surveyed Campsite Areas along Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, 1999 - 2024 Surveyed Campsite Areas along Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, 1999 - 2024
Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management model code and input data for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management model code and input data for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona
Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation data for the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation data for the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah
Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model
Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2011, river miles 61 to 88 — Data Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2011, river miles 61 to 88 — Data
Geomorphic attributes of campsites adjacent to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ Geomorphic attributes of campsites adjacent to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ
Geomorphic basemap for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona - May 2009 Geomorphic basemap for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona - May 2009
Predicting sediment responses to different management scenarios for Lake Powell releases Predicting sediment responses to different management scenarios for Lake Powell releases
Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona: tables of model results and accuracy assessment Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona: tables of model results and accuracy assessment
Aerial images, digital elevation models, channel width maps, and river metrics along the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (1940 - 2018) Aerial images, digital elevation models, channel width maps, and river metrics along the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (1940 - 2018)
Digital elevation models and water surface profiles for the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah Digital elevation models and water surface profiles for the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah
Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation analyses of the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation analyses of the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah
Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management in the Colorado River Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management in the Colorado River
Grand Canyon River Alert System—Implementing an emergency alert system for wilderness recreation Grand Canyon River Alert System—Implementing an emergency alert system for wilderness recreation
Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Implementation of controlled floods for sediment management on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon under aridification Implementation of controlled floods for sediment management on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon under aridification
eZ flow metrics: Using z-scores to estimate deviations from natural flow in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam eZ flow metrics: Using z-scores to estimate deviations from natural flow in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam
Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources
Risk to campsites from debris flows and flash floods project update Risk to campsites from debris flows and flash floods project update
U.S. Geological Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center: Proceedings of the fiscal year 2023 annual reporting meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program U.S. Geological Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center: Proceedings of the fiscal year 2023 annual reporting meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
Waterfalls in reservoirs: Tracking the development of nickpoints in the sediments of declining reservoirs Waterfalls in reservoirs: Tracking the development of nickpoints in the sediments of declining reservoirs
Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Proceedings of the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Reporting Meeting to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
Mapping 2-D bedload rates throughout a sand-bed river reach from high-resolution acoustical surveys of migrating bedforms Mapping 2-D bedload rates throughout a sand-bed river reach from high-resolution acoustical surveys of migrating bedforms
Science and Products
A New App to Report Flash Floods and Debris Flows in Grand Canyon
River Geomorphology, Sediment Storage, Sandbar and Campsite Monitoring in Grand Canyon
High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River
Is timing really everything? Evaluating Resource Response to Spring Disturbance Flows
Mapping Land-Use, Hazard Vulnerability and Habitat Suitability Using Deep Neural Networks
Evaluation of UAS photogrammetry and comparison to ground and aerial surveys for monitoring geomorphic condition of fine sediment deposits along the Colorado River
Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2014, river miles 61 to 88 — Data Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2014, river miles 61 to 88 — Data
Surveyed Campsite Areas along Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, 1999 - 2024 Surveyed Campsite Areas along Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, 1999 - 2024
Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management model code and input data for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona Reservoir operational strategies for sustainable sand management model code and input data for Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona
Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation data for the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah Channel and floodplain cross-section and bed-elevation data for the Green River in Echo, Island, and Rainbow Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah
Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model Bathymetric Survey of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona in 2024 - Digital Elevation Model
Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2011, river miles 61 to 88 — Data Channel Mapping of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2011, river miles 61 to 88 — Data
Geomorphic attributes of campsites adjacent to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ Geomorphic attributes of campsites adjacent to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, AZ
Geomorphic basemap for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona - May 2009 Geomorphic basemap for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona - May 2009
Predicting sediment responses to different management scenarios for Lake Powell releases Predicting sediment responses to different management scenarios for Lake Powell releases
Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona: tables of model results and accuracy assessment Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona: tables of model results and accuracy assessment
Aerial images, digital elevation models, channel width maps, and river metrics along the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (1940 - 2018) Aerial images, digital elevation models, channel width maps, and river metrics along the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (1940 - 2018)
Digital elevation models and water surface profiles for the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah Digital elevation models and water surface profiles for the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah
Remote Camera, 30-mile Camp (River MIe 30.7)