Big Muddy Speaker Series

Presentation by Susannah Erwin, Ph.D, Research Hydrologist with River Studies Branch of U.S. Geological Survey

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

• 7 p.m. presentation
• upper floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro in Rocheport, MO
• Map and Directions

NOTE – This month’s presentation will be the THIRD TUESDAY this month. In March, we’ll return to our normal 2nd Tuesday. 

The Bistro Restaurant will not be open during our Jan, Feb, and March Sessions – the presentation will take place upstairs. We’re sorry for the inconvenience! The bar, however, will be open to serve drinks to you! 

Presentation is FREE and open to the public!

This is our second consecutive presentation looking deep into what science has learned about the ancient pallid sturgeon since the Endangered Species Act kicked the science into gear. In the process, scientists are learning much more about how the Missouri River ecosystem works, and how it isn’t working. And using cutting edge techniques in the process.

The term “Adaptive Management” is used to describe science and management decisions on the Missouri River, but how does it really work? How do scientists identify and address fundamental gaps in knowledge, test hypotheses, and deliver critical information to decision makers?

Research hydrologist Dr. Susannah Erwin and hydrologic technician Brian Anderson inspect velocity data on the Upper Missouri River during the larval drift study.

As a Research Hydrologist for the River Studies Branch of the U.S. Geological Survey, Susannah Erwin, is deep into the modeling of complex river processes such as hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, and geomorphology. In today’s talk, she’ll look at an example of a large-scale field experiment on the Upper Missouri River, MT, conducted in summer 2016.

The experiment consisted of a tracer experiment using fluorescent dye, the release of hundreds of thousands of larval pallid sturgeon, and an extensive hydraulic measurement campaign conducted over hundreds of river miles. Dr. Erwin will examine how results are being used to inform how dams and reservoirs are managed.

Directions

• 14020 W. Hwy BB, Rocheport, MO
• Take I-70 to the Rocheport, MO, exit (Exit #115). It’s the first exit east of the Missouri River.
• Head north toward Rocheport.
• After about a mile, turn left at the sign for Les Bourgeois Bistro. Follow the signs to the Bistro. You will probably need to park in the lot above the Bistro and walk the trail down.
• The presentations are held in upstairs in the restaurant. The restaurant is no longer open on Tuesdays but the bar is! You are welcome to bring your own food or snacks.