Roy Sando
Roy Sando is a remote sensing and GIS specialist working with the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center and is based out of Helena, Montana. He started working with the USGS in 2011 after getting his Master's degree in Geography at Kansas State University (2011). Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor's degree, majoring in both Geography and GIS, at South Dakota State University (2008).
Research interests include understanding and modeling the mechanisms of streamflow permanence, using data mining techniques to develop novel predictors of streamflow permanence and other hydrologic phenomena, using remote sensing techniques to estimate consumptive water use from irrigation, and exploring new ways to visualize geospatial data.
Key projects Roy has worked on include:
PRObability of Streamflow PERmanence (PROSPER)
§ Primary Investigator – Develop predictive models to estimate the annual probability that a particular location along streams in the Pacific Northwest will retain year-round streamflow.
Assessment of water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
§ Task Lead – Worked as part of the modeling team to build and publish a conceptual model for quantifying water use associated with unconventional oil and gas. Additionally, constructed statistical models to predict water use associated with unconventional oil and gas under varying conditions.
Channel-width regression equations
§ Task Lead –Develop statistical equations to predict flood frequencies at ungaged locations using remotely-sensed channel width characteristics.
National Groundwater Availability Studies spatial data archiving
§ Team member –Review spatial datasets associated with groundwater availability studies and prepare them for publication
Spatial analysis of nutrient inputs to Fish Creek watershed, Wyoming
§ Task Lead – Compile and conduct spatial analysis on datasets representing sources of nutrient inputs. Create a grid of nutrient input intensities
Salish-Kootenai College GIS/remote sensing training
§ Primary Investigator – Develop training materials for introductory through advanced GIS courses at the Salish-Kootenai College
Estimating streamflow at ungaged locations using flood frequency regressions
§ Task Lead – Develop regression equations for use in determining streamflow and flood frequency estimates at ungaged locations throughout Montana and surrounding area
Eastern Montana future fisheries modeling
§ Task Lead – Estimate streamflow at ungaged fish sampling sites throughout eastern Montana for current and future climate scenarios
Williston and Powder River (WaPR) Basin groundwater availability
§ GIS specialist for project – Major tasks included a primary role in building and visualizing the 3-dimensional hydrogeologic framework, estimating unit boundaries based on geospatial statistical analyses, and organizing and archiving multiple datasets
Smith River watershed hydrologic budget
§ Task Lead – Use remote sensing techniques to estimate evapotranspiration in the Smith River watershed of central Montana
Predicting Alpine Headwater Stream Intermittency
§ Task Lead – Collect and analyze environmental, geological,
Science and Products
Probability of Streamflow Permanence (PROSPER) Model Output Layers
Streamflow Observation Points in the Pacific Northwest, 1977-2016
Estimated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Input to Fish Creek Watershed, Teton County, Wyoming
Regional patterns in hydrologic response, a new three-component metric for hydrograph analysis and implications for ecohydrology, Northwest Volcanic Aquifer Study Area, USA
Probability of streamflow permanence model (PROSPER): A spatially continuous model of annual streamflow permanence throughout the Pacific Northwest
Streamflow contributions from tribal lands to major river basins of the United States
Conceptual model to assess water use associated with the life cycle of unconventional oil and gas development
A review of surface energy balance models for estimating actual evapotranspiration with remote sensing at high spatiotemporal resolution over large extents
Using remote sensing to characterize and compare evapotranspiration from different irrigation regimes in the Smith River Watershed of central Montana
Salish Kootenai College and U.S. Geological Survey partnership—Enhancing student opportunities and professional development
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
Estimating current and future streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites, central and eastern Montana, with application to evaluating effects of climate change on fish populations
Estimated nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Fish Creek watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15
Methods for estimating streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites in western Montana based on data through water year 2009: Chapter G in Montana StreamStats
Methods for estimating peak-flow frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana based on data through water year 2011: Chapter F in Montana StreamStats
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Science and Products
Probability of Streamflow Permanence (PROSPER) Model Output Layers
Streamflow Observation Points in the Pacific Northwest, 1977-2016
Estimated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Input to Fish Creek Watershed, Teton County, Wyoming
Regional patterns in hydrologic response, a new three-component metric for hydrograph analysis and implications for ecohydrology, Northwest Volcanic Aquifer Study Area, USA
Probability of streamflow permanence model (PROSPER): A spatially continuous model of annual streamflow permanence throughout the Pacific Northwest
Streamflow contributions from tribal lands to major river basins of the United States
Conceptual model to assess water use associated with the life cycle of unconventional oil and gas development
A review of surface energy balance models for estimating actual evapotranspiration with remote sensing at high spatiotemporal resolution over large extents
Using remote sensing to characterize and compare evapotranspiration from different irrigation regimes in the Smith River Watershed of central Montana
Salish Kootenai College and U.S. Geological Survey partnership—Enhancing student opportunities and professional development
Community for Data Integration 2016 annual report
Estimating current and future streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites, central and eastern Montana, with application to evaluating effects of climate change on fish populations
Estimated nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Fish Creek watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15
Methods for estimating streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites in western Montana based on data through water year 2009: Chapter G in Montana StreamStats
Methods for estimating peak-flow frequencies at ungaged sites in Montana based on data through water year 2011: Chapter F in Montana StreamStats
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.