Jaime R. Goode

Sediment delivery and transport through mountain rivers affects aquatic habitat and water resource infrastructure. This research synthesized existing data from central Idaho to explore (1) how sediment yields are likely to respond to climate change in semi-arid basins influenced by wildfire, (2) the potential consequences for aquatic habitat and water resource infrastructure, and (3) prospects for mitigating sediment yields in forest basins. In the northern Rocky Mountains, sediment yield is expected to increase in a warming climate primarily through climate-driven changes in temperature and hydrology that promote vegetation disturbances (i.e., wildfire, insect/pathogen outbreak, drought-related die off). Goode, J. R., C. H. Luce, and J. M. Buffington. 2012. Enhanced sediment delivery in a changing climate in semi-arid mountain basins: Implications for water resource management and aquatic habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains. Geomorphology 139-140: 1-15.

John Buffington and I just returned from an 11 day trip to re-survey a one-mile section of the Middle Fork of the Boise River that experienced three simultaneous debris flow inputs following the Hot Creek Fire in 2003. The photo series below (credit: John Buffington) shows the rapid response of the main stem river at the Steel Creek fan. Our surveys continued on a former postdoc project and sediment transport model developed by Mik Lewiki. I won’t go into too many of those specifics here, but stay tuned for the 2012 repeat photo next week.  

“Have I ever told you how much I LOVE my job!?” This phrase may be a little over used in my world, but who cares, it’s true.  I was able to book end my summer field work with two float trips down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and one trip sandwiched in the middle. So it was a hat trick, a trifecta, a tripple crown. Whatever you prefer to call it, it came in threes: three trips down the river, three different seasons, three different flows, three different purposes all rolled into one – science, adventure, fun. (Actually there are more of the later, but three seemed to fit the theme, so I chose the best ones.) Yes, I love my job (it’s actually better to call it my career and my life, but enough bragging). Here are some highlights from the trips: – I flew into Indian Creek to launch […]