Richard McDonald
Richard McDonald is a Hydrologist with the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Richard McDonald is a hydrologist with 25 years of experience working on general water resources, flow and
sediment transport dynamics and eco-hydrology. He has extensive experience performing field, laboratory and computational research on river flow and sediment transport associated with regulated and unregulated rivers related to instream flow requirements, physical habitat, and evaluation of channel restoration designs. He is the principal developer of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Multi-Dimensional Surface Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS) and co-developer of the iRIC modeling system.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 39
Simulation of hydraulic conditions and observed and potential geomorphic changes in a reconfigured reach of Muddy Creek, north-central Colorado, 2001-2008
No abstract available.
Authors
J. G. Elliott, K.R. Schaffrath, R. R. McDonald, C.A. Williams, K.C. Davis
Effects of uncertain topographic input data on two-dimensional flow modeling in a gravel-bed river
Many applications in river research and management rely upon two-dimensional (2D) numerical models to characterize flow fields, assess habitat conditions, and evaluate channel stability. Predictions from such models are potentially highly uncertain due to the uncertainty associated with the topographic data provided as input. This study used a spatial stochastic simulation strategy to examine the
Authors
C.J. Legleiter, P.C. Kyriakidis, R. R. McDonald, J. M. Nelson
Mechanics of flow and sediment transport in delta distributary channels
Predicting the planform and dimensions of a channel downstream from a confluence of two smaller channels with known sediment and water supplies is a fundamental, well-studied problem in geomorphology and engineering. An analogous but less well understood problem is found
well downstream of such confluences, where large river channels split into two or more distributary channels on a river delta. I
Authors
Jonathan M. Nelson, Paul J. Kinzel, Duong Duc Toan, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Richard R. McDonald
Topographic evolution of sandbars: Flume experiment and computational modeling
Measurements of sandbar formation and evolution were carried out in a laboratory flume and the topographic characteristics of these barforms were compared to predictions from a computational flow and sediment transport model with bed evolution. The flume experiment produced sandbars with approximate mode 2, whereas numerical simulations produced a bed morphology better approximated as alternate ba
Authors
Paul J. Kinzel, Jonathan M. Nelson, Richard R. McDonald, Brandy L. Logan
Mechanics and modeling of flow, sediment transport and morphologic change in riverine lateral separation zones
Lateral separation zones or eddies in rivers are critically important features for sediment storage and for a variety of roles they play in riparian and aquatic ecology. As part of a larger effort to predict the morphology of lateral separation zones in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon for a selection of sediment supply and discharge scenarios, we evaluated the performance of two modeling techni
Authors
Brandy L. Logan, Jonathan M. Nelson, Richard R. McDonald, Scott Wright
Sediment-transport during three controlled-flood experiments on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, with implications for eddy-sandbar deposition in Grand Canyon National Park
Three large-scale field experiments were conducted on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam in 1996, 2004, and 2008 to evaluate whether artificial (that is, controlled) floods released from the dam could be used in conjunction with the sand supplied by downstream tributaries to rebuild and sustainably maintain eddy sandbars in the river in Grand Canyon National Park. Higher suspended-
Authors
David J. Topping, David M. Rubin, Paul E. Grams, Ronald E. Griffiths, Thomas A. Sabol, Nicholas Voichick, Robert B. Tusso, Karen M. Vanaman, Richard R. McDonald
The use of the multi-dimensional surface-water modeling system (MD-SWMS) in calculating discharge and sediment transport in remote ephemeral streams
No abstract available.
Authors
Peter G. Griffiths, David J. Topping, Richard R. McDonald, Thomas A. Sabol
Computational modeling of bedform evolution in rivers with implications for predictions of flood stage and bed evolution
Uncertainties in flood stage prediction and bed evolution in rivers are frequently associated with the evolution of bedforms over a hydrograph. For the case of flood prediction, the evolution of the bedforms may alter the effective bed roughness, so predictions of stage and velocity based on assuming bedforms retain the same size and shape over a hydrograph will be
incorrect. These same effects w
Authors
Jonathan M. Nelson, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Sanjay Giri, Richard R. McDonald
Simulation of streamflow using a multidimensional flow model for white sturgeon habitat, Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho – Supplement to Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5230
During 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed, calibrated, and validated a multidimensional flow model for simulating streamflow in the white sturgeon spawning habitat of the Kootenai River in Idaho. The model was developed as a tool to aid understanding of the physical factors affecting quality and quantity of spawning and rearing habitat used by the endangered white sturgeon (Acipense
Authors
Gary J. Barton, Richard R. McDonald, Jonathan M. Nelson
Surface-exposure ages of Front Range moraines that may have formed during the Younger Dryas, 8.2 cal ka, and Little Ice Age events
Surface-exposure (10Be) ages have been obtained on boulders from three post-Pinedale end-moraine complexes in the Front Range, Colorado. Boulder rounding appears related to the cirque-to-moraine transport distance at each site with subrounded boulders being typical of the 2-km-long Chicago Lakes Glacier, subangular boulders being typical of the 1-km-long Butler Gulch Glacier, and angular boulders
Authors
Larry Benson, Richard F. Madole, P. Kubik, Richard R. McDonald
Modeling surface-water flow and sediment mobility with the Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS)
The Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS) is a Graphical User Interface for surface-water flow and sediment-transport models. The capabilities of MD_SWMS for developing models include: importing raw topography and other ancillary data; building the numerical grid and defining initial and boundary conditions; running simulations; visualizing results; and comparing results with m
Authors
Richard McDonald, Jonathan Nelson, Paul Kinzel, Jeffrey S. Conaway
A broadscale fish-habitat model development process: Genesee Basin, New York
We describe a methodology for developing species-habitat models using available fish and stream habitat data from New York State, focusing on the Genesee basin. Electrofishing data from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation were standardized and used for model development and testing. Four types of predictive models (multiple linear regression, stepwise multiple linear regression,
Authors
James E. McKenna, Richard R. McDonald, Chris Castiglione, Sandy S. Morrison, Kurt P. Kowalski, Dora R. May Passino
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 39
Simulation of hydraulic conditions and observed and potential geomorphic changes in a reconfigured reach of Muddy Creek, north-central Colorado, 2001-2008
No abstract available.
Authors
J. G. Elliott, K.R. Schaffrath, R. R. McDonald, C.A. Williams, K.C. Davis
Effects of uncertain topographic input data on two-dimensional flow modeling in a gravel-bed river
Many applications in river research and management rely upon two-dimensional (2D) numerical models to characterize flow fields, assess habitat conditions, and evaluate channel stability. Predictions from such models are potentially highly uncertain due to the uncertainty associated with the topographic data provided as input. This study used a spatial stochastic simulation strategy to examine the
Authors
C.J. Legleiter, P.C. Kyriakidis, R. R. McDonald, J. M. Nelson
Mechanics of flow and sediment transport in delta distributary channels
Predicting the planform and dimensions of a channel downstream from a confluence of two smaller channels with known sediment and water supplies is a fundamental, well-studied problem in geomorphology and engineering. An analogous but less well understood problem is found
well downstream of such confluences, where large river channels split into two or more distributary channels on a river delta. I
Authors
Jonathan M. Nelson, Paul J. Kinzel, Duong Duc Toan, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Richard R. McDonald
Topographic evolution of sandbars: Flume experiment and computational modeling
Measurements of sandbar formation and evolution were carried out in a laboratory flume and the topographic characteristics of these barforms were compared to predictions from a computational flow and sediment transport model with bed evolution. The flume experiment produced sandbars with approximate mode 2, whereas numerical simulations produced a bed morphology better approximated as alternate ba
Authors
Paul J. Kinzel, Jonathan M. Nelson, Richard R. McDonald, Brandy L. Logan
Mechanics and modeling of flow, sediment transport and morphologic change in riverine lateral separation zones
Lateral separation zones or eddies in rivers are critically important features for sediment storage and for a variety of roles they play in riparian and aquatic ecology. As part of a larger effort to predict the morphology of lateral separation zones in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon for a selection of sediment supply and discharge scenarios, we evaluated the performance of two modeling techni
Authors
Brandy L. Logan, Jonathan M. Nelson, Richard R. McDonald, Scott Wright
Sediment-transport during three controlled-flood experiments on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, with implications for eddy-sandbar deposition in Grand Canyon National Park
Three large-scale field experiments were conducted on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam in 1996, 2004, and 2008 to evaluate whether artificial (that is, controlled) floods released from the dam could be used in conjunction with the sand supplied by downstream tributaries to rebuild and sustainably maintain eddy sandbars in the river in Grand Canyon National Park. Higher suspended-
Authors
David J. Topping, David M. Rubin, Paul E. Grams, Ronald E. Griffiths, Thomas A. Sabol, Nicholas Voichick, Robert B. Tusso, Karen M. Vanaman, Richard R. McDonald
The use of the multi-dimensional surface-water modeling system (MD-SWMS) in calculating discharge and sediment transport in remote ephemeral streams
No abstract available.
Authors
Peter G. Griffiths, David J. Topping, Richard R. McDonald, Thomas A. Sabol
Computational modeling of bedform evolution in rivers with implications for predictions of flood stage and bed evolution
Uncertainties in flood stage prediction and bed evolution in rivers are frequently associated with the evolution of bedforms over a hydrograph. For the case of flood prediction, the evolution of the bedforms may alter the effective bed roughness, so predictions of stage and velocity based on assuming bedforms retain the same size and shape over a hydrograph will be
incorrect. These same effects w
Authors
Jonathan M. Nelson, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Sanjay Giri, Richard R. McDonald
Simulation of streamflow using a multidimensional flow model for white sturgeon habitat, Kootenai River near Bonners Ferry, Idaho – Supplement to Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5230
During 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed, calibrated, and validated a multidimensional flow model for simulating streamflow in the white sturgeon spawning habitat of the Kootenai River in Idaho. The model was developed as a tool to aid understanding of the physical factors affecting quality and quantity of spawning and rearing habitat used by the endangered white sturgeon (Acipense
Authors
Gary J. Barton, Richard R. McDonald, Jonathan M. Nelson
Surface-exposure ages of Front Range moraines that may have formed during the Younger Dryas, 8.2 cal ka, and Little Ice Age events
Surface-exposure (10Be) ages have been obtained on boulders from three post-Pinedale end-moraine complexes in the Front Range, Colorado. Boulder rounding appears related to the cirque-to-moraine transport distance at each site with subrounded boulders being typical of the 2-km-long Chicago Lakes Glacier, subangular boulders being typical of the 1-km-long Butler Gulch Glacier, and angular boulders
Authors
Larry Benson, Richard F. Madole, P. Kubik, Richard R. McDonald
Modeling surface-water flow and sediment mobility with the Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS)
The Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS) is a Graphical User Interface for surface-water flow and sediment-transport models. The capabilities of MD_SWMS for developing models include: importing raw topography and other ancillary data; building the numerical grid and defining initial and boundary conditions; running simulations; visualizing results; and comparing results with m
Authors
Richard McDonald, Jonathan Nelson, Paul Kinzel, Jeffrey S. Conaway
A broadscale fish-habitat model development process: Genesee Basin, New York
We describe a methodology for developing species-habitat models using available fish and stream habitat data from New York State, focusing on the Genesee basin. Electrofishing data from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation were standardized and used for model development and testing. Four types of predictive models (multiple linear regression, stepwise multiple linear regression,
Authors
James E. McKenna, Richard R. McDonald, Chris Castiglione, Sandy S. Morrison, Kurt P. Kowalski, Dora R. May Passino