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Robert E Zuellig, Ph.D. (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 43

Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations

Background Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations may be at risk from wildfire and post-fire debris flows hazards. Aim To predict burn severity and potential post-fire debris flow hazard classifications to CRCT conservation populations before wildfires occur. Methods We used remote sensing, spatial analyses, and machine learning...
Authors
Adam Gerhard Wells, Charles Yackulic, Jaime Kostelnik, Andrew R. Bock, Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle, James Roberts, Kevin B. Rogers, Seth M. Munson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Central Plains Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Evaluation and review of ecology-focused stream studies to support cooperative monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado Evaluation and review of ecology-focused stream studies to support cooperative monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Springs Utilities and Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise, synthesized previous studies and evaluated recent monitoring data to understand the distribution of fish and invertebrates in the Fountain Creek Basin and documented response to streamflow, water temperature, and water quality. The goal was to identify opportunities for...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Charles F. Wahl, Erin K. Hennessy, Alex Jouney, Paul Foutz
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase gene, and cyanotoxin occurrence among selected large river sites of the conterminous United States, 2017–18 Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase gene, and cyanotoxin occurrence among selected large river sites of the conterminous United States, 2017–18

The U.S. Geological Survey measured cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase genes, and cyanotoxins at 11 river sites throughout the conterminous United States in a multiyear pilot study during 2017–19 through the National Water Quality Assessment Project to better understand the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in large inland and coastal rivers. This report focuses on the first...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Jennifer L. Graham, Erin A. Stelzer, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Central Plains Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable Estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable

The purpose of this report is to describe a possible approach to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at sites with known water-quality trends but no invertebrate data. In this study, data from 1,322 sites were used to describe invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, or specific conductance, and to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers

Water security is a top concern for social well-being and dramatic changes in the availability of freshwater have occurred as a result of human uses and landscape management. Elevated nutrient loading and perturbations to major ion composition have resulted from human activities and have degraded freshwater resources. This study addresses the emerging nature of stream water quality in...
Authors
Edward G. Stets, Lori A. Sprague, Gretchen P. Oelsner, Henry M. Johnson, Jennifer C. Murphy, Karen R. Ryberg, Aldo V. Vecchia, Robert E. Zuellig, James A. Falcone, Melissa L. Riskin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Effects of antecedent streamflow and sample timing on trend assessments of fish, invertebrate, and diatom communities Effects of antecedent streamflow and sample timing on trend assessments of fish, invertebrate, and diatom communities

Detecting trends in biological attributes is central to many stream monitoring programs; however, understanding how natural variability in environmental factors affects trend results is not well understood. We evaluated the influence of antecedent streamflow and sample timing (covariates) on trend estimates for fish, invertebrate, and diatom taxa richness and biological condition from...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Cover image SIR 2017-5162

Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Monument and Fountain Creeks and their respective watersheds, located in the Front Range of Colorado, serve as important drainages for surface runoff, waste-water treatment operations, and as a water supply for downstream agricultural needs. As population growth continues in these watersheds, more and more pressures are being applied to the receiving streams, especially Fountain Creek.
By
Colorado Water Science Center
Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Monument and Fountain Creeks and their respective watersheds, located in the Front Range of Colorado, serve as important drainages for surface runoff, waste-water treatment operations, and as a water supply for downstream agricultural needs. As population growth continues in these watersheds, more and more pressures are being applied to the receiving streams, especially Fountain Creek.
Learn More
View of three USGS Visual Identity items

Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is responsible for monitoring the status of fishes in Colorado and currently seeks to establish a rigorous, efficient monitoring program for fishes that occur in stream habitats from the mountain-plains interface east to the Colorado state line. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, assessed the potential use of combining...
By
Colorado Water Science Center
Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is responsible for monitoring the status of fishes in Colorado and currently seeks to establish a rigorous, efficient monitoring program for fishes that occur in stream habitats from the mountain-plains interface east to the Colorado state line. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, assessed the potential use of combining...
Learn More

Invertebrate community datasets from before and after piscicide application in two high elevation Rocky Mountain streams in Colorado, 2015 through 2020 Invertebrate community datasets from before and after piscicide application in two high elevation Rocky Mountain streams in Colorado, 2015 through 2020

In western United States streams, Oncorhynchus virginalis stomias (Greenback Cutthroat Trout; GBCT) was thought to be extinct; however, a genetically verified population was identified and used for subsequent conservation efforts to reestablish populations. To restore native trout habitat, stream reaches upstream of a dispersal barrier are treated with a piscicide (rotenone) to remove...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Datasets for Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado Datasets for Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado

These data were used to describe temporal trends in fish and invertebrate communities in the Scientific Investigators Report: Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies to Support Cooperative Monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado. This data release consists of invertebrate data collected between 1985 and 2022, fish data collected between 2003 and 2022, and the input and...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Freshwater lake and stream fish data were collected as part of cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. National Park Service which began in 2021. Data was primarily collected from 22 sites within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the types of data collected and sampling methods varied during each visit...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data collected within the greater Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado (ver. 5.0, May 2025) Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data collected within the greater Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado (ver. 5.0, May 2025)

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Enterprise. Other entities have contributed to the project through the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Data were primarily collected from up to 35 sites – 33 sites within the Fountain...
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Datasets for estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable Datasets for estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable

These data were used to describe a possible approach to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at sites across the United States with known water-quality trends but no invertebrate data. This data release consists of invertebrate, water-quality, and covariate data from 1,322 sites and water-quality, covariate, and trend result data from an additional 259 sites with reported water...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992–2017 Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992–2017

In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water quality and ecological conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and...
By
Water Resources Mission Area

North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC) North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC)

Aquatic invertebrates are a key component of freshwater ecosystems, and an understanding of aquatic invertebrate taxonomy is central to freshwater science. The North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC) was created by the USGS Aquatic Experimental Lab (AXL) to provide users with high-quality digital microscopy photographs.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 43

Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations Before the fire: Predicting burn severity and potential post-fire debris-flow hazards to Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations

Background Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (CRCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) conservation populations may be at risk from wildfire and post-fire debris flows hazards. Aim To predict burn severity and potential post-fire debris flow hazard classifications to CRCT conservation populations before wildfires occur. Methods We used remote sensing, spatial analyses, and machine learning...
Authors
Adam Gerhard Wells, Charles Yackulic, Jaime Kostelnik, Andrew R. Bock, Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle, James Roberts, Kevin B. Rogers, Seth M. Munson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Central Plains Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Evaluation and review of ecology-focused stream studies to support cooperative monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado Evaluation and review of ecology-focused stream studies to support cooperative monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Springs Utilities and Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise, synthesized previous studies and evaluated recent monitoring data to understand the distribution of fish and invertebrates in the Fountain Creek Basin and documented response to streamflow, water temperature, and water quality. The goal was to identify opportunities for...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Charles F. Wahl, Erin K. Hennessy, Alex Jouney, Paul Foutz
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase gene, and cyanotoxin occurrence among selected large river sites of the conterminous United States, 2017–18 Cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase gene, and cyanotoxin occurrence among selected large river sites of the conterminous United States, 2017–18

The U.S. Geological Survey measured cyanobacteria, cyanotoxin synthetase genes, and cyanotoxins at 11 river sites throughout the conterminous United States in a multiyear pilot study during 2017–19 through the National Water Quality Assessment Project to better understand the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in large inland and coastal rivers. This report focuses on the first...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Jennifer L. Graham, Erin A. Stelzer, Keith A. Loftin, Barry H. Rosen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Central Plains Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

Estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable Estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable

The purpose of this report is to describe a possible approach to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at sites with known water-quality trends but no invertebrate data. In this study, data from 1,322 sites were used to describe invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, or specific conductance, and to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center

Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers

Water security is a top concern for social well-being and dramatic changes in the availability of freshwater have occurred as a result of human uses and landscape management. Elevated nutrient loading and perturbations to major ion composition have resulted from human activities and have degraded freshwater resources. This study addresses the emerging nature of stream water quality in...
Authors
Edward G. Stets, Lori A. Sprague, Gretchen P. Oelsner, Henry M. Johnson, Jennifer C. Murphy, Karen R. Ryberg, Aldo V. Vecchia, Robert E. Zuellig, James A. Falcone, Melissa L. Riskin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Effects of antecedent streamflow and sample timing on trend assessments of fish, invertebrate, and diatom communities Effects of antecedent streamflow and sample timing on trend assessments of fish, invertebrate, and diatom communities

Detecting trends in biological attributes is central to many stream monitoring programs; however, understanding how natural variability in environmental factors affects trend results is not well understood. We evaluated the influence of antecedent streamflow and sample timing (covariates) on trend estimates for fish, invertebrate, and diatom taxa richness and biological condition from...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Daren M. Carlisle
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Cover image SIR 2017-5162

Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Monument and Fountain Creeks and their respective watersheds, located in the Front Range of Colorado, serve as important drainages for surface runoff, waste-water treatment operations, and as a water supply for downstream agricultural needs. As population growth continues in these watersheds, more and more pressures are being applied to the receiving streams, especially Fountain Creek.
By
Colorado Water Science Center
Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Characterization of Water Quality and Biology in the Fountain Creek Watershed

Monument and Fountain Creeks and their respective watersheds, located in the Front Range of Colorado, serve as important drainages for surface runoff, waste-water treatment operations, and as a water supply for downstream agricultural needs. As population growth continues in these watersheds, more and more pressures are being applied to the receiving streams, especially Fountain Creek.
Learn More
View of three USGS Visual Identity items

Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is responsible for monitoring the status of fishes in Colorado and currently seeks to establish a rigorous, efficient monitoring program for fishes that occur in stream habitats from the mountain-plains interface east to the Colorado state line. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, assessed the potential use of combining...
By
Colorado Water Science Center
Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

Use of multivariate associations among species for detecting changes in native plains fish community structure in Colorado

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is responsible for monitoring the status of fishes in Colorado and currently seeks to establish a rigorous, efficient monitoring program for fishes that occur in stream habitats from the mountain-plains interface east to the Colorado state line. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, assessed the potential use of combining...
Learn More

Invertebrate community datasets from before and after piscicide application in two high elevation Rocky Mountain streams in Colorado, 2015 through 2020 Invertebrate community datasets from before and after piscicide application in two high elevation Rocky Mountain streams in Colorado, 2015 through 2020

In western United States streams, Oncorhynchus virginalis stomias (Greenback Cutthroat Trout; GBCT) was thought to be extinct; however, a genetically verified population was identified and used for subsequent conservation efforts to reestablish populations. To restore native trout habitat, stream reaches upstream of a dispersal barrier are treated with a piscicide (rotenone) to remove...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Datasets for Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado Datasets for Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado

These data were used to describe temporal trends in fish and invertebrate communities in the Scientific Investigators Report: Evaluation and Review of Ecology-Focused Stream Studies to Support Cooperative Monitoring, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado. This data release consists of invertebrate data collected between 1985 and 2022, fish data collected between 2003 and 2022, and the input and...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan Fish assemblage data collected within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Freshwater lake and stream fish data were collected as part of cooperative project between the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. National Park Service which began in 2021. Data was primarily collected from 22 sites within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the types of data collected and sampling methods varied during each visit...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data collected within the greater Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado (ver. 5.0, May 2025) Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data collected within the greater Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado (ver. 5.0, May 2025)

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Enterprise. Other entities have contributed to the project through the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Data were primarily collected from up to 35 sites – 33 sites within the Fountain...
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Datasets for estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable Datasets for estimating invertebrate response to changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and specific conductance at sites where invertebrate data are unavailable

These data were used to describe a possible approach to estimate changes in invertebrate taxa richness at sites across the United States with known water-quality trends but no invertebrate data. This data release consists of invertebrate, water-quality, and covariate data from 1,322 sites and water-quality, covariate, and trend result data from an additional 259 sites with reported water...
By
Colorado Water Science Center

Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992–2017 Ecological community datasets used to evaluate the presence of trends in ecological communities in selected rivers and streams across the United States, 1992–2017

In 1991, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study of more than 50 major river basins across the Nation as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water Quality Program. One of the major goals of the NAWQA project is to determine how water quality and ecological conditions change over time. To support that goal, long-term consistent and...
By
Water Resources Mission Area

North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC) North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC)

Aquatic invertebrates are a key component of freshwater ecosystems, and an understanding of aquatic invertebrate taxonomy is central to freshwater science. The North American Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Digital Reference Collection (NAAMDRC) was created by the USGS Aquatic Experimental Lab (AXL) to provide users with high-quality digital microscopy photographs.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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