Publications

Aug, 2026

Journal

Connecting ambient toxicity testing with community-level responses of benthic macroinvertebrates in an impacted stream in East Tennessee, USA

Single-species laboratory toxicity tests are a standard tool for evaluating potential impairment of freshwater systems; however, it remains uncertain how well they reflect community-level impacts in natural environments. This study presents a multi-decadal dataset (2005-2025) pairing ambient toxicity testing with macroinvertebrate surveys along Bear Creek on the Oak Ridge…

Feb, 2026

Journal

Protection of U.S. streams is insufficient to safeguard stream diversity and prevent habitat impairment

Despite covering a small portion of Earth’s surface, streams support a disproportionate amount of biodiversity. Here, we measure progress against the Global Biodiversity Framework 30×30 protection target for streams within the conterminous U.S., in terms of quantity, representation, and effectiveness of habitat protection under primarily land-based protection strategies. W…

Jan, 2026

ORNL Report

National Hydropower Fish Passage Database User’s Guide and Methodology

Jan, 2026

ORNL Report

Stakeholder Questionnaire on Fish Passage Facilities at US Hydropower Developments

Dec, 2025

ORNL Report

Y-12 National Security Complex Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program—2024 Calendar Year Report

Oct, 2025

ORNL Report

East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2025 Fiscal Year Report

Aug, 2025

Journal

The HydroBio Dataset: a new data resource for evaluating existing and potential hydropower capacity and freshwater biodiversity in the conterminous United States

Hydropower is a critical source of affordable and reliable electricity and energy system stability services in the United States. Opportunities to expand US hydropower production include retrofitting existing non-powered dams to produce power, retrofitting existing hydropower dams to improve efficiency or increase capacity, or constructing new hydropower infrastructure on…

Jul, 2025

Journal

A census of fish passage facilities at US hydropower developments across the conterminous United States

Hydropower provides reliable and secure electricity and contributes significantly to the flexibility and stability of the US electricity grid. Hydropower dams generally are aquatic barriers and hazards to migratory fish in rivers. Fish passage facilities mitigate risks from hydropower to migratory fish, but information on these facilities is incomplete for the conterminous…

Jul, 2025

Journal

Longitudinal Patterns in Nitrate Revealed Through Drone-Based Measurements in an Agriculturally Influenced Midwestern U.S. River

Nitrate concentrations in streams and rivers in the Midwestern United States are often elevated, reflecting the predominance of agriculture in the surrounding landscape. Recent advances in technology, including surface water drones and more precise sensors, provide opportunities to investigate nitrate dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. We deployed an aquat…

Jul, 2025

ORNL Report

East Tennessee Technology Park Biological Monitoring and Abatement Program 2024 Calendar Year Report

May, 2025

Journal

Integrated Modeling Driven Evaluation of Opportunities for Climate-Resilient Perennial Biomass Crop Plantings in Flood-Prone Agricultural Landscapes

Adapting to future climate change in flood-prone landscapes will require climate-resilient agricultural systems. Planting perennial crops, like switchgrass and willow, along river corridors can mitigate future flooding while supporting bioenergy markets. We developed an integrated assessment linking climate, hydrologic, and inundation model results to assess future flood r…

May, 2025

Journal

Application of Atmospheric Gases and Particulate Matter to the Assessment of Urban Heat Island

Urban heat island (UHI), where built areas are warmer compared to non-urban regions, increases human related diseases and mortality. A key challenge in UHI analysis is the designation of sites as urban or suburban/rural; however, the growing complexity of green spaces in urban areas and the predominance of the transportation sector in nonurban areas creates a dilemma for d…