Abstract:
The world's largest dam removals on the Klamath River presented the regulatory and scientific community with uncertainties regarding how sediment, water quality and the aquatic ecosystem would respond and recover. How would the really wet fine sediment in the reservoirs mobilize
Would dissolved oxygen models developed for wastewater accurately predict the complex interactions in a river
Would our conceptual models of how light drives primary production be adequate to explain the biomass of plants and algae when the water looked like chocolate milk
In this talk, I will summarize some of the key hypotheses we had regarding reservoir erosion, water quality, and primary production in the Klamath River during dam removal, then summarize where the data support those ideas, and where they don't.
Bio:
Desiree Tullos, PhD, PE (OR) is the Miner Endowed Professor of Biological and Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University. Her research emphasizes the sustainable engineering and management of rivers. Current projects include a) Physical and biological responses to dam removal, b) Connectivity and fine sediment storage in modern floodplains; c) Sustainable flood risk management and infrastructure, and d) mitigation of harmful algal blooms. Her research program heavily emphasizes engaging and mentoring undergraduate students in research with societal relevance. She also serves on multiple boards and science and engineering advisory panels to help translate science into practice and policy, and works as a design engineer on a variety of river restoration projects.