Scott Mize is a Hydrologist for the USGS at the Lower Mississippi-Gulf (LMG) Water Science Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Scott received his BS Geology with a minor in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida and a MS Environmental Science and Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Research interests include: (1) water quality relations to aquatic ecological communities, (2) riverine and coastal ecosystems, and (3) aquatic toxicology. His interests include music, outdoor activities, brewing, cooking, gardening, traveling, and pets.
Professional Experience
Hydrologist/Aquatic Ecologist (2021-Present)
U.S. Geological Survey, 3535 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816.LMG-Coastal Systems Unit Coordinator (2019 - 2021); Hydrologist/Aquatic Ecologist (2000-2019)
U.S. Geological Survey, 3535 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816.Hydrologist (1996 - 2000)
U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
Education and Certifications
MS, Environmental Science and Engineering
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.BS, Geology, Minor: Soil and Water Science
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Science and Products
Juvenile African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) express growth, metamorphosis, mortality, gene expression, and metabolic changes when exposed to thiamethoxam and clothianidin
Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): Common monitoring program attributes and methodologies for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): A framework for using the monitoring program inventory to conduct gap assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP) compilation of existing habitat and water quality monitoring and mapping assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Council Monitoring and Assessment Program (CMAP): Inventory of existing water quality and habitat monitoring, and mapping metadata for Gulf of Mexico Programs
Suspended-sediment concentrations and loads in the lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers decreased by half between 1980 and 2015
Effects of hydrologic modifications on salinity and formation of hypoxia in the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and adjacent waterways, southeastern Louisiana, 2008 to 2012
Invertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana
Water-quality, bed-sediment, and discharge data for the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and adjacent waterways, southeastern Louisiana, August 2008 through December 2009
Temporal trends in algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish assemblages in streams and rivers draining basins of varying land use in the south-central United States, 1993-2007
Sources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico from Streams in the South-Central United States
Water quality and phytoplankton communities in Lake Pontchartrain during and after the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening, April to October 2008, in Louisiana, USA
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.
Detecting Sublethal Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in Mammalian and Avian Cells
Water Quality in Lake Pontchartrain and western Mississippi Sound during openings of Bonnet Carré Spillway
Louisiana Public Awareness, Hydrologic Studies, and Hydrologic Data
High resolution water quality and dissolved carbon data from a coastal Louisiana salt marsh from 2019 to 2022
Water-quality and phytoplankton data for Lake Pontchartrain and the western Mississippi Sound associated with operation of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, 2008-2020
Datasets of Suspended Sediment Concentration and Percent Fines (1973–2021), Sampling Information (1973–2021), and Daily Streamflow (1928–2021) for Sites in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to Support Analyses of Sediment Tran
Wetland elevation and soil characteristics across Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (2020-2021)
Mean seasonal time-step estimates of daily streamflow and daily baseflow, and loads of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids at surface-water stations in the southeastern United States, 2001-14
Benthic Algae and Phytoplankton Community and Toxin Data for Selected Stations in the Mississippi Sound, 2019
Water Quality Profile and Phytoplankton Community Data for Four Central Louisiana Oxbow Lakes, 2013-2015
Annual estimates of suspended-sediment concentration and load to support trend analysis on the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River, 1980-2015
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 20
Juvenile African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) express growth, metamorphosis, mortality, gene expression, and metabolic changes when exposed to thiamethoxam and clothianidin
Neonicotinoids (NEO) represent the main class of insecticides currently in use, with thiamethoxam (THX) and clothianidin (CLO) primarily applied agriculturally. With few comprehensive studies having been performed with non-target amphibians, the aim was to investigate potential biomarker responses along an adverse outcome pathway of NEO exposure, whereby data were collected on multiple biologicalAuthorsJill Jenkins, Katherine R. Hartop, Ghadeer Bukhari, Debra E. Howton, Kelly Smalling, Scott Mize, Michelle Hladik, Darren Johnson, Rassa Dale, Bonnie L. BrownCouncil monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): Common monitoring program attributes and methodologies for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Executive Summary Under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council or Council) is required to report on the progress of funded projects and programs. Systematic monitoring of restoration at the project-specific and programmatic-levels (i.e.AuthorsJulie Bosch, Heidi B Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Ed Johnson, Rheannon Hart, Sarah D Hile, Jacob S Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael Lee, Terrance McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B Meyers, Katie E Miller, Scott Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Kelly Marie Sanks, Gregory Steyer, Kevin Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Hana Rose ThurmanCouncil monitoring and assessment program (CMAP): A framework for using the monitoring program inventory to conduct gap assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region
Executive Summary Under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council or Council) is required to report on the progress of funded projects and programs. Systematic monitoring of restoration at the project-specific and programmatic-levels (wateAuthorsJulie Bosch, Heidi B Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Ed Johnson, Rheannon Hart, Sarah D Hile, Jacob S Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael Lee, Terrance McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B Meyers, Katie E Miller, Scott Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Kelly Marie Sanks, Gregory Steyer, Kevin Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Hana Rose ThurmanCouncil monitoring and assessment program (CMAP) compilation of existing habitat and water quality monitoring and mapping assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region
This report is a deliverable to the RESTORE Council for Task 7: Document the existing baseline habitat and water quality conditions prior to implementation of the restoration projects; these baseline conditions will serve as a basis for measuring change/progress after restoration. It is the second in a series of CMAP reports. The first report describes the process and development of the CMAP monitAuthorsJulie Bosch, Heidi Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Ed Johnson, Rheannon M. Hart, Sarah Davidson Hile, Jacob Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael T. Lee, Terrence A. McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B. Meyers, Scott V. Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard A. Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Gregory D. Steyer, Kevin J. Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Katie WatsonCouncil Monitoring and Assessment Program (CMAP): Inventory of existing water quality and habitat monitoring, and mapping metadata for Gulf of Mexico Programs
Under the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act, the Council develops Funded Priority Lists (FPLs) that describe the projects and programs it will fund. Projects and programs funded through this component must be in furtherance of the goals and objectives of the Council’s Comprehensive Plan and address at least one of the restoration criteria identified in the RESTORE Act. TheAuthorsJulie Bosch, Heidi Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Edward Johnson, Rheannon M. Hart, Sarah Hile, Jacob Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael T. Lee, Terrence A. McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B. Meyers, Scott Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard A. Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Gregory D. Steyer, Kevin J. Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Katie WatsonSuspended-sediment concentrations and loads in the lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers decreased by half between 1980 and 2015
The Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) model was used to derive estimates of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) and suspended-sediment load (SSL), their dependence on discharge, and their trends with confidence intervals, for one site each on the lowermost Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. The WRTDS model reduces uncertainty in SSCs related to variable streamflow conAuthorsScott Mize, Jennifer C. Murphy, Timothy H. Diehl, Dennis K. DemcheckEffects of hydrologic modifications on salinity and formation of hypoxia in the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and adjacent waterways, southeastern Louisiana, 2008 to 2012
The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (MRGO) was constructed between 1958 and 1968 to provide a safer and shorter route between the Gulf of Mexico and the Port of New Orleans for ocean-going vessels. In 2006, the U.S. Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop and implement a plan to deauthorize a portion of the MRGO ship channel from its confluence with the Gulf IntracoastaAuthorsChristopher M. Swarzenski, Scott V. MizeInvertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in lowland streams are naturally lower than those in upland streams; however, in some regions where monitoring data are lacking, DO criteria originally established for upland streams have been applied to lowland streams. This study investigated the DO concentrations at which fish and invertebrate assemblages at 35 sites located on lowland streams in southwesterAuthorsB. G. Justus, Scott V. Mize, Daniel KroesWater-quality, bed-sediment, and discharge data for the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet and adjacent waterways, southeastern Louisiana, August 2008 through December 2009
The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet navigation channel (MRGO) was constructed in the early 1960s to provide a safer and shorter route between the Gulf of Mexico and the Port of New Orleans for deep-draft, ocean-going vessels and to promote the economic development of the Port of New Orleans. In 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed a plan to de-authorize the MRGO. The plan called for a roAuthorsChristopher M. Swarzenski, Scott V. Mize, John K. LovelaceTemporal trends in algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish assemblages in streams and rivers draining basins of varying land use in the south-central United States, 1993-2007
Site-specific temporal trends in algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish assemblages were investigated in 15 streams and rivers draining basins of varying land use in the south-central United States from 1993–2007. A multivariate approach was used to identify sites with statistically significant trends in aquatic assemblages which were then tested for correlations with assemblage metrics and abioticAuthorsMatthew P. Miller, Jonathan Kennen, Jeffrey A. Mabe, Scott V. MizeSources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico from Streams in the South-Central United States
SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models were developed to estimate nutrient inputs [total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP)] to the northwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico from streams in the South‐Central United States (U.S.). This area included drainages of the Lower Mississippi, Arkansas‐White‐Red, and Texas‐Gulf hydrologic regions. The models were standaAuthorsRichard A. Rebich, Natalie A. Houston, Scott V. Mize, Daniel Pearson, Patricia B. Ging, Hornig C. EvanWater quality and phytoplankton communities in Lake Pontchartrain during and after the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening, April to October 2008, in Louisiana, USA
The Bonnet Carré Spillway, located 28 miles northwest of New Orleans, was constructed in the early 1930s as part of an integrated flood-control system for the lower Mississippi River system. From 11 April to 8 May 2008, Mississippi River water was diverted through the spillway into the 629-square-mile Lake Pontchartrain, which is hydraulically connected to the Gulf of Mexico. On 8 April, prior toAuthorsScott V. Mize, Dennis K. DemcheckNon-USGS Publications**
Mize, S.V., Murphy, J.C., Diehl, T.H., and Demcheck, D.L. (2018) Suspended-sediment concentrations and loads in the lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers decreased by half between 1980 and 2015. Journal of Hydrology, 564, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.05.068Jenkins,J.A., B Brown, K.L. Smalling, K.R. Hartop, S.V. Mize, A.J. Dickinson, D.E. Pridgen, B.K. Hopkins, S. Kirschner, M.L Hladik. (2016). Effect of sublethal exposures of adult Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens, and larval African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, to clothianidin and thiamethoxam [abs.], 7th SETAC World Congress/SETAC North America 37th annual meeting, Nov. 6-10, 2016, Orlando, Fla.Abs 607. https://orlando.setac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SETAC-Orlando-Abstract-Book.pdf . IP-076674.Rebich, R.A., Houston, N.A., Mize, S.V., Pearson, D.K., Ging, P.B., and Hornig, C.E. (2011) Sources and delivery of nutrients to the northwestern Gulf of Mexico from streams in the South-Central United States, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 47(5):1061-1086, 26p.Mize, S.V. and Demcheck, D.K. (2009) Water-quality and phytoplankton communities in Lake Pontchartrain during and after the Bonnet Carré Spillway opening, April to October 2008, in Louisiana, USA, Geo-Marine Letters 29, p. 431-440.Mize, S.V., Porter, S.D., Demcheck, D.K. (2008) Influence of fipronil compounds and rice-cultivation land-use intensity on macroinvertebrate communities in streams of southwestern Louisiana, USA, Environmental Pollution 152, p. 491-503.Deacon, J.R., Spahr, N.E., Mize, S.V., and Boulger, R.W. (2001) Using water, bryophytes, and macroinvertebrates to assess trace element concentrations in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Hydrobiologia, Supplement 455, p. 29-39.**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
Detecting Sublethal Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in Mammalian and Avian Cells
USGS Researchers are collaborating to study avian and mammalian cells to detect sublethal toxin effects following exposure to harmful algal blooms.Water Quality in Lake Pontchartrain and western Mississippi Sound during openings of Bonnet Carré Spillway
The Bonnet Carré Spillway, located about 28 miles northwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, was constructed in the early 1930s as part of an integrated flood-control structure for the lower Mississippi River Plain. The spillway is designed to divert water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain, thus relieving pressure on levees downstream. Opening of the spillway occurs when measured...Louisiana Public Awareness, Hydrologic Studies, and Hydrologic Data
Louisiana Public Awareness, Hydrologic Studies, and Hydrologic Data - Data
High resolution water quality and dissolved carbon data from a coastal Louisiana salt marsh from 2019 to 2022
Continuous water quality sensor data were collected at USGS 292939089544400 Wilkinson Bayou cutoff north of Wilkinson Bay, LA gage. Field water-quality measurements were collected using a YSI EXO2 water-quality sonde equipped with a data logger to capture hourly data using sensors for measuring water temperature, specific conductance, salinity, pH, oxidation and reduction potential (ORP), fluorescWater-quality and phytoplankton data for Lake Pontchartrain and the western Mississippi Sound associated with operation of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, 2008-2020
The Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS), located about 28 miles northwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, was constructed in the early 1930s as part of an integrated flood-control system for the lower Mississippi River Plain. The BCS is designed to divert water from the Mississippi River (MSR) into Lake Pontchartrain (LP), which then flows into Lake Borgne and the Mississippi Sound (MS Sound), thus relieving pDatasets of Suspended Sediment Concentration and Percent Fines (1973–2021), Sampling Information (1973–2021), and Daily Streamflow (1928–2021) for Sites in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to Support Analyses of Sediment Tran
Datasets of suspended sediment concentration and percent fines, sampling information, and daily streamflow data were compiled and harmonized for 16 sites to better understand sediment transport and delivery in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. The compiled data were harmonized by removing unnecessary columns, screening data for laboratory or sampling issues, creating consistent entriesWetland elevation and soil characteristics across Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (2020-2021)
The recent completion of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) for New Orleans has effectively blocked surface water exchange between Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (BSNWR) and the surrounding Lake(s) Pontchartrain and Borgne and the Gulf of Mexico to which it was once connected. Monitoring changes in hydrology, water quality, birdMean seasonal time-step estimates of daily streamflow and daily baseflow, and loads of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids at surface-water stations in the southeastern United States, 2001-14
This metadata record describes mean seasonal time-step estimates of daily streamflow and daily baseflow, and total and baseflow estimates of loads of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids at surface-water stations in the southeastern United States for the period 2001-14. Streamflow and load estimates described in this data release were obtained using the Fluxmaster approachBenthic Algae and Phytoplankton Community and Toxin Data for Selected Stations in the Mississippi Sound, 2019
The Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS), located about 28 miles northwest of New Orleans, was constructed by the US Army Corp of Engineers in the early 1930s as part of an integrated flood-control system for the lower Mississippi River (MR). The BCS control structure consists of 350 individual bays that can be opened to divert water from the river to Lake Pontchartrain to relieve pressure on downstream leWater Quality Profile and Phytoplankton Community Data for Four Central Louisiana Oxbow Lakes, 2013-2015
Nutrient and phytoplankton data indicate poor environmental health in four oxbow lakes in central Louisiana suggesting that long-term agriculture practices and increases in shoreline development have accelerated eutrophication. Surface-water quality and phytoplankton indicators of eutrophication were examined at Lake Bruin, Lake St. John, Lake St. Joseph, and False River Lake along an eutrophicatiAnnual estimates of suspended-sediment concentration and load to support trend analysis on the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River, 1980-2015
This data release contains annual estimates of suspended-sediment concentration and load for the Mississippi River, St. Francisville site and the Atchafalaya River, Melville site from 1980-2015. Annual estimates and flow-normalized estimates were generated using the Weighted Regressions on Time, Season and Discharge (WRTDS) model. Input data for the model included suspended-sediment concentrations