RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
Kristin Byrd, Ph.D.
Landscape Ecology, Remote Sensing, and Decision Support for Natural Resources Management
Current Position
I am an applied landscape ecologist with expertise in vegetation ecology, remote sensing, integrated landscape modeling and stakeholder engagement. I lead interdisciplinary teams in landscape-scale studies of Nature-based Climate Solutions provided by wetlands and working lands. Research topics address coastal ecosystem controls on hurricane impacts and sustainability of ecosystem services. I integrate models of land use and management, climate and hydrological change to identify climate adaptation opportunities. I analyze multispectral and hyperspectral imagery to quantify ecosystem condition. My work spans U.S. coastal wetlands, the State of California and the Central Valley, California and Puget Sound, Washington. I emphasize the use of open data and open source software to easily reproduce, update and transfer information. All projects feature extensive outreach to land managers to aid natural resources decision making.
Current Projects
Team Member, Philippines Counter Wildlife Trafficking & Protected Area Management Project, U.S. Dept. of Interior International Technical Assistance Program short-term assignment. 2023 – 2024.
PI: “Climate-related impacts and restoration opportunities for culturally significant Klamath River willow riparian species.” USGS Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. 2024 – 2027.
Co-PI: "Triage and Decision Support Tool for Evaluating Vulnerability of Indigenous Shell Middens and Loss of Marsh Habitat Diversity to Sea Level Rise. USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. 2024 – 2026. PI: Kathryn Smith, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.
Senior Personnel: “Shifting Culture and Mitigating Inequities in Landscape Ecology Through a Collaborative Network of Professional Societies.” NSF Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS). 2024 – 2029. PI: Kusum Naithani, University of Arkansas.
PI: “Remote Sensing of Mercury Speciation in South San Francisco Bay: Applications of Emerging Technologies to Track Management and Climate Impacts." USGS Bay-Delta Priority Ecosystem Studies Program. 2022 – 2026.
Co-PI: “Coastal wetland vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise: understanding ecological thresholds and ecosystem transformations.” USGS Large Landscapes Priority Ecosystem Studies Program. 2023 – 2025. PI: Michael Osland, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Co-PI: SHIFT (NASA Surface Biology and Geology High Density Time Series) Field Campaign. NASA SBG. 2022 - 2023. Lead: Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Co-PI: "Coastal Elevation Models and Land Surface Variables for Use in Forecasting Hurricane Impacts." Hurricane Coastal Impacts, Task 1, National Oceanographic Partnership Program. 2021 – 2024. PI: Dean Gesch, USGS EROS.
PI: "Remote Sensing and Forecasting Wetland and Watershed Ecosystem Services." USGS National Land Imaging Program. Ongoing.
Science and Products
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
By
California Water Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow
The sandbar willow of the Klamath River is used within the Karuk Tribe’s ongoing cultural practices of basketweaving. The willow has been threatened by intensifying fire and dams, but restoration and the recent historical dam removals provide an opportunity to increase the quantity, quality, and access to this important resource. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will study how
Evaluating the Vulnerability of Indigenous Shell Middens and Marsh Habitat Diversity to Sea Level Rise
Coastal marshes in the Gulf of Mexico host diverse ecological communities and hold Native American cultural artifacts within shell mounds (middens). However, both are vulnerable to erosion and submergence due to rising sea levels and more frequent severe storms. Researchers supported by this Southeast CASC project will develop a risk-assessment tool to evaluate the vulnerability of cultural sites
Developing General Coastal Vegetation Maps for Coastal Morphodynamic Models
The USGS is collaborating with researchers from other agencies, academia, and industry to predict coastal impacts from hurricanes. The results from this study will better inform coastal morphological change models, which will lead to improved hurricane impact projections.
Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
A Tool for Rapid-Repeat High-Resolution Coastal Vegetation Maps to Improve Forecasting of Hurricane Impacts and Coastal Resilience
We developed a Jupyter Notebook Application and a Graphical User Interface that use Planet Labs Super Dove 8-band, 3-meter multispectral imagery and a machine learning classification model to deliver high-resolution maps of coastal vegetation showing near real-time conditions. These products will help improve forecasts of hurricane impacts.
Recreational Birdwatching and Habitat
Thousands of visitors flock to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge every year to look for birds both rare and common. Birdwatching activities contribute to economic activity for the Nisqually area and play a role in the broader outdoor-loving culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Assessing the Benefits and Vulnerability of Current and Future Potential Ecosystem Services of the Nisqually River Delta and other Puget Sound Estuaries
The Nisqually River Delta represents the largest wetland restoration in the Pacific Northwest. The restoration resulted in a 50% increase in potential salt marsh habitat. The Delta supports threatened salmon fisheries, large populations of migratory birds, and provides unique opportunities for recreation. The Delta also provides multiple ecosystem services, which are the benefits that wildlife or
Rangeland Ecosystem Services
The Rangeland Ecosystem Services research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
Integrating Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting into Decision-Support for Wetland Wildlife Management in the Central Valley of California
In the Central Valley of California, the few remaining wetlands plus cropland that is flooded after harvest provide critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. However future climate conditions and a growing human population will challenge how they are managed. To support coordinated conservation, wetland restoration, and climate adaptation planning, we partnered with Point Blue Conservation...
Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon
The Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing
We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
RUSH: Rapid Remote Sensing Updates of landcover for Storm and Hurricane forecasts
RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
Science and Products
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
By
California Water Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow
The sandbar willow of the Klamath River is used within the Karuk Tribe’s ongoing cultural practices of basketweaving. The willow has been threatened by intensifying fire and dams, but restoration and the recent historical dam removals provide an opportunity to increase the quantity, quality, and access to this important resource. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will study how
Evaluating the Vulnerability of Indigenous Shell Middens and Marsh Habitat Diversity to Sea Level Rise
Coastal marshes in the Gulf of Mexico host diverse ecological communities and hold Native American cultural artifacts within shell mounds (middens). However, both are vulnerable to erosion and submergence due to rising sea levels and more frequent severe storms. Researchers supported by this Southeast CASC project will develop a risk-assessment tool to evaluate the vulnerability of cultural sites
Developing General Coastal Vegetation Maps for Coastal Morphodynamic Models
The USGS is collaborating with researchers from other agencies, academia, and industry to predict coastal impacts from hurricanes. The results from this study will better inform coastal morphological change models, which will lead to improved hurricane impact projections.
Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...
A Tool for Rapid-Repeat High-Resolution Coastal Vegetation Maps to Improve Forecasting of Hurricane Impacts and Coastal Resilience
We developed a Jupyter Notebook Application and a Graphical User Interface that use Planet Labs Super Dove 8-band, 3-meter multispectral imagery and a machine learning classification model to deliver high-resolution maps of coastal vegetation showing near real-time conditions. These products will help improve forecasts of hurricane impacts.
Recreational Birdwatching and Habitat
Thousands of visitors flock to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge every year to look for birds both rare and common. Birdwatching activities contribute to economic activity for the Nisqually area and play a role in the broader outdoor-loving culture of the Pacific Northwest.
Assessing the Benefits and Vulnerability of Current and Future Potential Ecosystem Services of the Nisqually River Delta and other Puget Sound Estuaries
The Nisqually River Delta represents the largest wetland restoration in the Pacific Northwest. The restoration resulted in a 50% increase in potential salt marsh habitat. The Delta supports threatened salmon fisheries, large populations of migratory birds, and provides unique opportunities for recreation. The Delta also provides multiple ecosystem services, which are the benefits that wildlife or
Rangeland Ecosystem Services
The Rangeland Ecosystem Services research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
Integrating Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting into Decision-Support for Wetland Wildlife Management in the Central Valley of California
In the Central Valley of California, the few remaining wetlands plus cropland that is flooded after harvest provide critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. However future climate conditions and a growing human population will challenge how they are managed. To support coordinated conservation, wetland restoration, and climate adaptation planning, we partnered with Point Blue Conservation...
Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon
The Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing
We focus on landscape studies of natural and working lands, in particular coastal and inland wetlands and rangelands. We quantify ecosystem benefits, find areas vulnerable to future change, and identify potential for climate mitigation and resilience. We conduct research by scaling field measurements to the regional, state and national scale with remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and modeling...
RUSH: Rapid Remote Sensing Updates of landcover for Storm and Hurricane forecasts
RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
AVIRIS image of Rush Ranch, Suisun Marsh, CA
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government