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Peter Griffiths

Peter Griffiths serves as the Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director for Operations for the USGS Rocky Mountain Region.

Professional Experience

  • U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO, 2015 to present. Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Rocky Mountain Region.

  • U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO, 2009 to 2015. Assistant Chief, Central Branch of the National Research Program, Water Mission Area.

  • U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ, 2005 to 2009. Research Hydrologist, National Research Program.

Education and Certifications

  • M.S., 1995, University of Arizona, Geosciences (Minor in Hydrology)

  • B.A., 1987, Yale University, Archeological Studies

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 34

The use of the multi-dimensional surface-water modeling system (MD-SWMS) in calculating discharge and sediment transport in remote ephemeral streams

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter G. Griffiths, David J. Topping, Richard R. McDonald, Thomas A. Sabol
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center

Analyzing debris flows with the statistically calibrated empirical model LAHARZ in southeastern Arizona, USA

Hazard-zone delineation for extreme events is essential for floodplain management near mountain fronts in arid and semiarid regions. On 31 July 2006, unprecedented debris flows occurred in the Santa Catalina Mountains of southeastern Arizona following extreme multiday precipitation (recurrence interval > 1000 years for 4-day precipitation). Most mobilized sediment contributing to debris flows was
Authors
Christopher S. Magirl, Peter G. Griffiths, Robert H. Webb
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Washington Water Science Center

Plants and ventifacts delineate late Holocene wind vectors in the Coachella Valley, USA

Strong westerly winds that emanate from San Gorgonio Pass, the lowest point between Palm Springs and Los Angeles, California, dominate aeolian transport in the Coachella Valley of the western Sonoran Desert. These winds deposit sand in coppice dunes that are critical habitat for several species, including the state and federally listed threatened species Uma inornata, a lizard. Although wind direc
Authors
Peter G. Griffiths, R. H. Webb, M. Fisher, Allan Muth
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Spatial distribution and frequency of precipitation during an extreme event: July 2006 mesoscale convective complexes and floods in southeastern Arizona

An extreme, multiday rainfall event over southeastern Arizona during 27–31 July 2006 caused record flooding and a historically unprecedented number of slope failures and debris flows in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. An unusual synoptic weather pattern induced repeated nocturnal mesoscale convective systems over southeastern Arizona for five continuous days, generating multiday rain
Authors
Peter G. Griffiths, Christopher S. Magirl, Robert H. Webb, Erik Pytlak, Peter A. Troch, Steve W. Lyon
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Washington Water Science Center

Slopes fail, debris flows in extremis

No abstract available.
Authors
Robert Webb, Christopher S. Magirl, Peter G. Griffiths, Ann M. Youberg, Philip A Pearthree

Debris flows and floods in southeastern Arizona from extreme precipitation in July 2006 — Magnitude, frequency, and sediment delivery

From July 31 to August 1, 2006, an unusual set of atmospheric conditions aligned to produce record floods and an unprecedented number of slope failures and debris flows in southeastern Arizona. During the week leading up to the event, an upper-level low-pressure system centered over New Mexico generated widespread and locally heavy rainfall in southeastern Arizona, culminating in a series of stron
Authors
Robert H. Webb, Christopher S. Magirl, Peter G. Griffiths, Diane E. Boyer
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Arizona Water Science Center

Holocene debris flows on the Colorado Plateau: The influence of clay mineralogy and chemistry

Holocene debris flows do not occur uniformly on the Colorado Plateau province of North America. Debris flows occur in specific areas of the plateau, resulting in general from the combination of steep topography, intense convective precipitation, abundant poorly sorted material not stabilized by vegetation, and the exposure of certain fine-grained bedrock units in cliffs or in colluvium beneath tho
Authors
R. H. Webb, Peter G. Griffiths, L. P. Rudd

Modeling Water-Surface Elevations and Virtual Shorelines for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona

Using widely-available software intended for modeling rivers, a new one-dimensional hydraulic model was developed for the Colorado River through Grand Canyon from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek. Solving one-dimensional equations of energy and continuity, the model predicts stage for a known steady-state discharge at specific locations, or cross sections, along the river corridor. This model uses 2,68
Authors
Christopher S. Magirl, Michael J. Breedlove, Robert H. Webb, Peter G. Griffiths

Channel response to low-elevation desert fire: The King Valley Fire of 2005

In late September to early October 2005, a fire swept north from the Yuma Proving Grounds and into the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), traveling mainly along desert wash systems and low-relief alluvial fans. This fire burned 9,975 ha, moving through xeroriparian systems in washes as well as low-elevation desert ecosystems in King Valley, a major area of designated wilderness in the southern p
Authors
Robert H. Webb, Peter G. Griffiths, Cynthia S.A. Wallace, Diane E. Boyer

Debris flows and record floods from extreme mesoscale convective thunderstorms over the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona

Ample geologic evidence indicates early Holocene and Pleistocene debris flows from the south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona, but few records document historical events. On July 31, 2006, an unusual set of atmospheric conditions aligned to produce record floods and an unprecedented number of debris flows in the Santa Catalinas. During the week prior to the event, an u
Authors
Christopher S. Magirl, Craig Shoemaker, Robert H. Webb, Mike Schaffner, Peter G. Griffiths, Erik Pytlak

Impact of recent extreme Arizona storms

Heavy rainfall on 27–31 July 2006 led to record flooding and triggered an historically unprecedented number of debris flows in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Ariz. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) documented record floods along four watercourses in the Tucson basin, and at least 250 hillslope failures spawned damaging debris flows in an area where less than 10 small debris flows ha
Authors
C. S. Magirl, R. H. Webb, Peter G. Griffiths, M. Schaffner, C. Shoemaker, E. Pytlak, S. Yatheendradas, S. W. Lyon, Peter A. Troch, S. L. E. Desilets, D.C. Goodrich, C.L. Unkrich, Ann Youberg, P. A. Pearthree
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Washington Water Science Center

ADV point measurements within rapids of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon

Rapids on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon attract over 20,000 white-water enthusiasts a year and are considered one of the premiere collections of rapids in North America. While this collection of rapids is an important recreational resource, relatively little is known of the specific hydraulics of individual rapids. Flow measurements are occasionally made in the low-velocity reaches between ra
Authors
Christopher S. Magirl, Peter G. Griffiths, Robert Webb

EMRF DECISION RECORD AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

EMRF DECISION RECORD AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The decision record and finding of no significant impact from the Environmental Assessment conducted for the Energy and Minerals Research Facility being built on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines.

By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Communications and Publishing, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments

EMRF DECISION RECORD AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

EMRF DECISION RECORD AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The decision record and finding of no significant impact from the Environmental Assessment conducted for the Energy and Minerals Research Facility being built on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines.

By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Communications and Publishing, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments

EMRF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

EMRF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

This is the Environmental Assessment for the USGS Energy and Minerals Research Facility that will be built on the Colorado School of Mines campus.

By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Communications and Publishing, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments

EMRF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

EMRF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

This is the Environmental Assessment for the USGS Energy and Minerals Research Facility that will be built on the Colorado School of Mines campus.

By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Communications and Publishing, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments

Science and Products