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• 1. [Article] Historical Vegetation of Three Salmon-Bearing Watersheds in the Interior Columbia River Basin

  Land use practices can be a contributing factor to environmental degradation and have been the focus of many ecological studies. One aspect that is less addressed is land use history and the effects that ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Historical Vegetation of Three Salmon-Bearing Watersheds in the Interior Columbia River Basin Author: Smith, Tyanna Year: 2014 Land use practices can be a contributing factor to environmental degradation and have been the focus of many ecological studies. One aspect that is less addressed is land use history and the effects that past practices, such as logging and grazing, can have on the current landscape. This paper describes research and the synthesis of material on the environmental history and watershed characteristics for three watersheds located within spawning and rearing areas for Chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde River Basin in Northeast Oregon: upper Grande Ronde River, Catherine Creek, and Minam River. The Grande Ronde Basin is critical spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act. The primary historical data sources for reconstructing 19th century stream and riparian conditions are the General Land Office township survey notes from 1863 - 1901. Data about the habitat conditions of the landscape were extracted from notes of each township survey source regarding vegetation, stream crossings, and other features found on the landscape in tabular and spatial forms. Data were organized to describe common stream and riparian conditions for the historical time period using a geographic information system. Watershed basin, Chinook salmon life history, ecoregion and surveyor were analyzed using multivariate techniques to determine which parameters were strongly connected to historical vegetation. Ecoregion had the strongest correlation with plant communities. For future research, these historical data could be compared to current habitat survey data, such as the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Aquatic Habitat Inventories, to evaluate the degree of change over time of stream and riparian conditions. Title: Historical Vegetation of Three Salmon-Bearing Watersheds in the Interior Columbia River Basin Author: Smith, Tyanna Year: 2014 Land use practices can be a contributing factor to environmental degradation and have been the focus of many ecological studies. One aspect that is less addressed is land use history and the effects that past practices, such as logging and grazing, can have on the current landscape. This paper describes research and the synthesis of material on the environmental history and watershed characteristics for three watersheds located within spawning and rearing areas for Chinook salmon in the Grande Ronde River Basin in Northeast Oregon: upper Grande Ronde River, Catherine Creek, and Minam River. The Grande Ronde Basin is critical spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act. The primary historical data sources for reconstructing 19th century stream and riparian conditions are the General Land Office township survey notes from 1863 - 1901. Data about the habitat conditions of the landscape were extracted from notes of each township survey source regarding vegetation, stream crossings, and other features found on the landscape in tabular and spatial forms. Data were organized to describe common stream and riparian conditions for the historical time period using a geographic information system. Watershed basin, Chinook salmon life history, ecoregion and surveyor were analyzed using multivariate techniques to determine which parameters were strongly connected to historical vegetation. Ecoregion had the strongest correlation with plant communities. For future research, these historical data could be compared to current habitat survey data, such as the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Aquatic Habitat Inventories, to evaluate the degree of change over time of stream and riparian conditions. Close

• 2. [Article] Ethnomalacology and Paleoecology of the Round Butte Archaeological Sites, Deschutes River Basin, Oregon

  28 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ethnomalacology and Paleoecology of the Round Butte Archaeological Sites, Deschutes River Basin, Oregon Author: Roscoe, Ernest J. Year: 2016, 1967 28 pages Title: Ethnomalacology and Paleoecology of the Round Butte Archaeological Sites, Deschutes River Basin, Oregon Author: Roscoe, Ernest J. Year: 2016, 1967 28 pages Close

• 3. [Article] Patterns for Rain: Exploring a Stormwater First Pattern Language for Campus Development

  124 pages. Examining committee chair: Rob Ribe

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Patterns for Rain: Exploring a Stormwater First Pattern Language for Campus Development Author: Shepard, Rebecca Year: 2016 124 pages. Examining committee chair: Rob Ribe Title: Patterns for Rain: Exploring a Stormwater First Pattern Language for Campus Development Author: Shepard, Rebecca Year: 2016 124 pages. Examining committee chair: Rob Ribe Close

• 4. [Article] The Influence of Floodplain Restoration on Flow and Sediment Dynamics in an Urban River

  A study of floodplain sedimentation on a recently restored floodplain is presented. This study uses a two-dimensional hydro-morphodynamic model for predicting flow and suspended-sediment dynamics in the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Influence of Floodplain Restoration on Flow and Sediment Dynamics in an Urban River Author: Ahilan, Sangaralingam, Guan, Mingfu, Sleigh, Andrew, Wright, Nigel G., Chang, Heejun Year: 2016 A study of floodplain sedimentation on a recently restored floodplain is presented. This study uses a two-dimensional hydro-morphodynamic model for predicting flow and suspended-sediment dynamics in the downstream of Johnson Creek, the East Lents reach, where the bank of the river has been reconfigured to reconnect to a restored floodplain on a 0.26 km2 (26-ha) site. The simulation scenarios include 10-, 50-, 100- and 500-year event-based deposition modelling of flood events and long-term modelling using the 64 historical flood events between 1941 and 2014. Simulation results showed that the restored floodplain significantly attenuates the upstream flood peak by up to 25% at the downstream. Results also indicated that approximately 20%–30% of sediment from the upstream is deposited on the East Lents floodplain. Furthermore, deposited sediment over the simulated period (1941–2014) is approximately 0.1% of the basin's flood storage capacity; however, the reduction in the storage does not offset the overall flood resilience impact of the flood basin. The sediment conservation at the East Lents flood basin as predicted by the model reduces the annual sediment loading of the Johnson Creek by 1% at the confluence with Willamette River, providing both improved water quality and flood resilience further downstream. Title: The Influence of Floodplain Restoration on Flow and Sediment Dynamics in an Urban River Author: Ahilan, Sangaralingam, Guan, Mingfu, Sleigh, Andrew, Wright, Nigel G., Chang, Heejun Year: 2016 A study of floodplain sedimentation on a recently restored floodplain is presented. This study uses a two-dimensional hydro-morphodynamic model for predicting flow and suspended-sediment dynamics in the downstream of Johnson Creek, the East Lents reach, where the bank of the river has been reconfigured to reconnect to a restored floodplain on a 0.26 km2 (26-ha) site. The simulation scenarios include 10-, 50-, 100- and 500-year event-based deposition modelling of flood events and long-term modelling using the 64 historical flood events between 1941 and 2014. Simulation results showed that the restored floodplain significantly attenuates the upstream flood peak by up to 25% at the downstream. Results also indicated that approximately 20%–30% of sediment from the upstream is deposited on the East Lents floodplain. Furthermore, deposited sediment over the simulated period (1941–2014) is approximately 0.1% of the basin's flood storage capacity; however, the reduction in the storage does not offset the overall flood resilience impact of the flood basin. The sediment conservation at the East Lents flood basin as predicted by the model reduces the annual sediment loading of the Johnson Creek by 1% at the confluence with Willamette River, providing both improved water quality and flood resilience further downstream. Close

• 5. [Article] Interview with Rick Bastasch

  Rick Bastasch was interviewed by Michael Rupp and Jim Knight on May 10, 2017. A lifelong Oregonian, Rick Bastasch is the author of "The Oregon Water Handbook" (Oregon State University Press, 2006). He ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Interview with Rick Bastasch Author: Bastasch, Rick, Rupp, Michael, Knight, James Year: 2017 Rick Bastasch was interviewed by Michael Rupp and Jim Knight on May 10, 2017. A lifelong Oregonian, Rick Bastasch is the author of "The Oregon Water Handbook" (Oregon State University Press, 2006). He worked with the Oregon Water Resources Department for over a decade, specializing in river basin planning, intergovernmental coordination, public information, and legislative analysis. He has also led recent efforts to conserve and restore the Willamette River. Title: Interview with Rick Bastasch Author: Bastasch, Rick, Rupp, Michael, Knight, James Year: 2017 Rick Bastasch was interviewed by Michael Rupp and Jim Knight on May 10, 2017. A lifelong Oregonian, Rick Bastasch is the author of "The Oregon Water Handbook" (Oregon State University Press, 2006). He worked with the Oregon Water Resources Department for over a decade, specializing in river basin planning, intergovernmental coordination, public information, and legislative analysis. He has also led recent efforts to conserve and restore the Willamette River. Close

• 6. [Article] Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed

  This study conducts a dam-scale cost versus benefit analysis in order to explore the feasibility of each the 13 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commissioned dams in Oregon’s Willamette River network. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed Author: Nagel, Alexander Cameron Year: 2017 This study conducts a dam-scale cost versus benefit analysis in order to explore the feasibility of each the 13 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commissioned dams in Oregon’s Willamette River network. Constructed between 1941 and 1969, these structures function in collaboration to comprise the Willamette River Basin Reservoir System (WRBRS). The motivation for this project derives from a growing awareness of the biophysical impacts that dam structures can have on riparian habitats. This project compares each of the 13 dams being assessed, to prioritize their level of utility within the system. The study takes the metrics from the top three services (flood regulation, hydropower generation and recreation) and disservices (fish mortality, structural risk and water temperature hazards) and creates a rubric that scores the feasibility of each dam within the system. Within a range between 0 to 3 for three dam services and 0 to -4.5 for two disservices, the overall calculated score elucidates for each structure whether its contribution to the WRBRS is positive or negative. Further analysis searches for spatiotemporal trends such as anomalous tributaries or magnified structural risk for structures exceeding a certain age. GIS data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID), U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) water measurements, raw data from USACE, and peer-reviewed studies comprise the statistics that generate results for this analysis. The computed scores for each dam yield an average overall score of -1.31, and nine of the 13 structures have negative results, indicating that the WRBRS faces challenges going forward. The study seeks to contribute to the increasingly relevant examination of dam networks at the watershed scale. Title: Analyzing Dam Feasibility in the Willamette River Watershed Author: Nagel, Alexander Cameron Year: 2017 This study conducts a dam-scale cost versus benefit analysis in order to explore the feasibility of each the 13 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) commissioned dams in Oregon’s Willamette River network. Constructed between 1941 and 1969, these structures function in collaboration to comprise the Willamette River Basin Reservoir System (WRBRS). The motivation for this project derives from a growing awareness of the biophysical impacts that dam structures can have on riparian habitats. This project compares each of the 13 dams being assessed, to prioritize their level of utility within the system. The study takes the metrics from the top three services (flood regulation, hydropower generation and recreation) and disservices (fish mortality, structural risk and water temperature hazards) and creates a rubric that scores the feasibility of each dam within the system. Within a range between 0 to 3 for three dam services and 0 to -4.5 for two disservices, the overall calculated score elucidates for each structure whether its contribution to the WRBRS is positive or negative. Further analysis searches for spatiotemporal trends such as anomalous tributaries or magnified structural risk for structures exceeding a certain age. GIS data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID), U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) water measurements, raw data from USACE, and peer-reviewed studies comprise the statistics that generate results for this analysis. The computed scores for each dam yield an average overall score of -1.31, and nine of the 13 structures have negative results, indicating that the WRBRS faces challenges going forward. The study seeks to contribute to the increasingly relevant examination of dam networks at the watershed scale. Close

• 7. [Article] Streamflow Modeling of Johnson Creek Subwatersheds Using the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System

  Johnson Creek, in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region, has several pollutants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 303(d) list including excess heat, low dissolved oxygen, and harmful ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Streamflow Modeling of Johnson Creek Subwatersheds Using the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System Author: Malone, Theophilus M Year: 2014 Johnson Creek, in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region, has several pollutants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 303(d) list including excess heat, low dissolved oxygen, and harmful bacteria. Understanding streamflow response to precipitation events is an important component to evaluating water quality trends and calculating the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pollutants of concern. Investigating the streamflow-precipitation relationship on the subwatershed scale can give insight to the hydrologic response of a given watershed. However, developing rating curves for several subwatersheds can be cost and time prohibitive. The objective of this project was to develop a hydrologic model using the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to validate streamflow estimates for subwatersheds lacking a significant period of record. ESRI’s ArcMap, a geographic information system (GIS), was used to characterize the target drainage basins and extract basin-specific parameters for upper watersheds of Johnson Creek. The Johnson Creek Upper Watershed (JCUW) model was calibrated to an existing streamflow gage at Regner Road, in Gresham, Oregon. Calibrated parameters were substituted into a second PRMS model characterizing the Sunshine Creek Subwatershed, which lies within the JCUW. The Sunshine Creek model was used to validate a flow time-series derived from a pressure transducer and a rating curve. Title: Streamflow Modeling of Johnson Creek Subwatersheds Using the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System Author: Malone, Theophilus M Year: 2014 Johnson Creek, in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region, has several pollutants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 303(d) list including excess heat, low dissolved oxygen, and harmful bacteria. Understanding streamflow response to precipitation events is an important component to evaluating water quality trends and calculating the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pollutants of concern. Investigating the streamflow-precipitation relationship on the subwatershed scale can give insight to the hydrologic response of a given watershed. However, developing rating curves for several subwatersheds can be cost and time prohibitive. The objective of this project was to develop a hydrologic model using the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to validate streamflow estimates for subwatersheds lacking a significant period of record. ESRI’s ArcMap, a geographic information system (GIS), was used to characterize the target drainage basins and extract basin-specific parameters for upper watersheds of Johnson Creek. The Johnson Creek Upper Watershed (JCUW) model was calibrated to an existing streamflow gage at Regner Road, in Gresham, Oregon. Calibrated parameters were substituted into a second PRMS model characterizing the Sunshine Creek Subwatershed, which lies within the JCUW. The Sunshine Creek model was used to validate a flow time-series derived from a pressure transducer and a rating curve. Close

• 8. [Article] Protecting Stream Ecosystem Health in the Face of Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change

  The ability to anticipate and evaluate the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on streamflow regimes is critical to developing proactive strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems. I developed ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Protecting Stream Ecosystem Health in the Face of Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change Author: Wu, Hong Year: 2015 The ability to anticipate and evaluate the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on streamflow regimes is critical to developing proactive strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems. I developed an interdisciplinary modeling framework to compare and contrast the effectiveness of integrated stormwater management, or its absence, with two regional growth patterns for maintaining streamflow regimes in the context of climate change. In three adjacent urbanizing watersheds in Oregon's Willamette Valley, I conducted a three-step sequence to: 1) simulate land use change under four future development scenarios with the agent-based model Envision; 2) model resultant hydrological change under the recent past and two future climate regimes using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool; and 3) assess scenario impacts on streamflow regimes using 10 ecologically significant flow metrics. I evaluated each scenario in each basin using a flow metric typology based on the magnitude of change in each metric and the degree to which such changes could be mitigated, i.e., insensitive, sensitive and manageable, and sensitive and resistant. My results demonstrated distinct signatures of urbanization and climate change on flow regimes. Urbanization and climate change in isolation led to significant flow alterations in all three basins. Urbanization consistently led to increases in flow regime flashiness and severity of extreme flow events, whereas climate change primarily caused a drying trend. Climate change tended to exacerbate the impacts of urbanization but also mitigated urban impacts on several metrics. The combined impacts of urbanization and climate change caused substantial changes to metric sensitivities, which further differed by basin and climate regime, highlighting the uncertainties of streamflow regime responses to development and the value of spatially explicit modeling that can reveal complex interactions between natural and human systems. Scenario comparisons demonstrated the importance of integrated stormwater management and, secondarily, compact regional growth. My findings reveal the need for regional flow-ecology research that substantiates the ecological significance of each flow metric, develops specific targets for manageable ones, and explores potential remedies for resistant ones. The interdisciplinary modeling framework shows promise as a transferable tool for local watershed management. This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material. Title: Protecting Stream Ecosystem Health in the Face of Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change Author: Wu, Hong Year: 2015 The ability to anticipate and evaluate the combined impacts of urbanization and climate change on streamflow regimes is critical to developing proactive strategies that protect aquatic ecosystems. I developed an interdisciplinary modeling framework to compare and contrast the effectiveness of integrated stormwater management, or its absence, with two regional growth patterns for maintaining streamflow regimes in the context of climate change. In three adjacent urbanizing watersheds in Oregon's Willamette Valley, I conducted a three-step sequence to: 1) simulate land use change under four future development scenarios with the agent-based model Envision; 2) model resultant hydrological change under the recent past and two future climate regimes using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool; and 3) assess scenario impacts on streamflow regimes using 10 ecologically significant flow metrics. I evaluated each scenario in each basin using a flow metric typology based on the magnitude of change in each metric and the degree to which such changes could be mitigated, i.e., insensitive, sensitive and manageable, and sensitive and resistant. My results demonstrated distinct signatures of urbanization and climate change on flow regimes. Urbanization and climate change in isolation led to significant flow alterations in all three basins. Urbanization consistently led to increases in flow regime flashiness and severity of extreme flow events, whereas climate change primarily caused a drying trend. Climate change tended to exacerbate the impacts of urbanization but also mitigated urban impacts on several metrics. The combined impacts of urbanization and climate change caused substantial changes to metric sensitivities, which further differed by basin and climate regime, highlighting the uncertainties of streamflow regime responses to development and the value of spatially explicit modeling that can reveal complex interactions between natural and human systems. Scenario comparisons demonstrated the importance of integrated stormwater management and, secondarily, compact regional growth. My findings reveal the need for regional flow-ecology research that substantiates the ecological significance of each flow metric, develops specific targets for manageable ones, and explores potential remedies for resistant ones. The interdisciplinary modeling framework shows promise as a transferable tool for local watershed management. This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material. Close