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Hydrology and Water Resources

Our research group has been examining various aspects of hydrology and water resource topics in both urban and rural settings in different parts of the world. In the Pacific Northwest, in collaboration with many local, regional agencies (e.g., US Geological Survey, Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, Metro, Portland Water Bureau, Clean Water Services, and Watershed Councils), we have been examining such topics as water quality and land cover change (Tualatin and Johnson Creek, ), the effects of climate change on watershed hydrology and transportation infrastrcture (Portland metro area), economic impacts of climate change on freshwater resources (Willamette River basin), interactions among climate variability, hydrologic ecosystem services in a chagning climate (Sandy River, Northern Willamette Valley), land use and residential water consumption (Portland, Hillsboro), climate change and water demand modeling (Portland metro) urban stream restoration (Johnson Creek), and the effects of urban storm water runoff on water quality (Fanno Creek). In Korea, in collaboration with Sejong University and Meteorological Research Institute of Korea, we have been examining vulnerability of flood risks (Gangwon Province) and the interactions of water use, climate, and population changes (Seoul and Han River basin). Research projects have been funded by US National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Korea, and James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. We are using various biophysical and socioeconomic data describing watershed characteristics to investigate the complex and hierarchical interactions of watershed dynamics. We are also using both quantitative and qualitative methods to unravel these complex interactions. Geographic information systems and spatial statistics are strongly recommended topics for all students working in this area. Students are also encouraged to take related courses offered by other departments, including the environmental sciences and management program.

People	Publications	Presentations

Faculty contact: Heejun Chang ( mailto:changh@pdx.edu) Department of Geography

Postdoctotal scholar

Ilwon Jung (Ph.D. Sejong University) Ilwon has been working on climate change impact assessments for large river basins in Korea and Oregon. He has been using a number of statistical methods and numerical models to understand the dynamics of complex water systems in a changing climate. He won the best dissertation award from the Korean Water Resources Association. Ilwon is currently one of three postdoctal scholars selected by the Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices. Additional support was provided by Geography (0.75FTE) and Civil and Environmental Engineering (0.25FTE).

Current students

Lilee House-Peters (entered fall 2008) Lilee is interested in spatial dimensions of water supply and demand for sustainable water resource management under climate change and population growth. Lily has been working for a Miller Foundation grant examining the relation between climate varibility, vegetation patterns and water demand in the Portland metro area. She is currently working for simulating microclimatology using the LUMPS model as part of a NOAA project.

Brian Block (entered fall 2008) Brian is interested in investigating the relation among climate variability, land cover change, and stream temperature in the Portland metro area streams. He has been working for a Willamette River modeling study that investigates potential economic impacts of climate change on water resources using a hydroeconomic model.

Matt Wood (entered fall 2008) Matt is interested in sustainable strom water management in urban areas. Matt has been working for a OTREC project, calibrating and verifying USGS PRMS model for climate impact assessment. He is also working for a part-time intern for the City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services.

Jame Manzione (entered fall 2009) James is currently working for a USDA-NRCS project for developing a GIS model to identify optimal SNOWTEL sites in mountain watersheds in the western United States.

Willow Campbell (entered fall 2009) Willow is currently working for a NOAA project for developing the relationship between climate change and water consumption rates in the Portland metro area.

Former Students

David examined the effects of climate change in the upper Clackamas River basin (near Portland ). The findings of his research agreed with other regional models of climate change, which anticipate that Cascades watersheds at moderate elevations are susceptible to losing a large proportion of their snowpack if temperature increases do occur during the 21 st century. This effect will likely lead to increases to winter flows, and decreases to summer flows from these watersheds. David is interested in the use of GIS and statistical analysis for waterresources assessment and management. David is currently working for Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission in Portland, OR.

Mike investigated trends in oxygen demand variables (DO sat, COD, TKN, NH 3 -N) from 1993-2003 for thirteen water quality monitoring sites throughout the Rock Creek watershed. A multi-scale land cover change analysis, through aerial photo interpretation, and a local analysis of urban land cover variables provided insight into the relationship of human influence on the landscape and water quality characteristics for this watershed. Mike is currently working for Watershed Science in Portland, OR.

Alex examined changes in channel morphology after effective discharge events for reference and impaired reaches of Kelley Creek, a tributary of Johnson Creek in east Portland. Examined parameters include longitudinal profiles, cross-sections, and pebble counts. He measured how channel geometry, residual pool dimensions, and particle size distribution changed following the events. The effective discharge flows altered the restoration reach more substantially than the reference reaches. This study has implications for restoration planners with the dynamic fluvial geomorphology of stream channels in humid temperate climates. Alex is currently working for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA.

Jon investigated the effects of climate change and urban development on runoff in Rock Creek, Oregon, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the State. Using a BASIN-SWAT model, he identified the importance of scale in detecting changes in runoff in the basin. He is also interested in integrated water resource management, GIS, and water quality issues. Jon has worked as a research assistant for Heejun Chang, and has several coauthored publications from the funded research projects. Jon is currelty working for Watershed Science in Portland, OR..

Joe Parker is examining the dynamic situation for village water managers in a rural area of Sichuan province, China. His interest is in identifying specific problems in local irrigation water management that are largely the result of government policies and programs meant to stabilize food production and costs (keeping rice prices at WTO-mandated levels), but which in fact are undermining ancient culturally-driven, eminently sustainable practices. A recent paper by Joe, Forestalling Water Wars: Returning to Our (Grass) Roots deals with the subject of conflict over water rights.

Sarah has investigated the combined effects of climate change and urban development on water quality in the Tualatin River basin and its sub-basins. She uses a Climate Assessment Tool in BASIN-HSPF to model potential changes in sediments, nitrogen and phosphorus loads as well as runoff at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Sarah has been working for a Miller grant on sustainable water resource management and a Korean project that investigates adaptive water resource management under climate change. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Oregon.

Publications since 2002 (* student author)

Chang, H. Parandvash, H. and Shandas, V. (2009) Spatial patterns of single family residential water use in the Portland metropolitan area. Urban Geography (accepted)

House-Peters, L,* Pratt, B*. and Chang, H. (2009) Effects of urban spatial structure, sociodemographics, and climate on residential water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon, Journal of the American Water Resources Association (accepted)

Praskievicz, S,* and Chang, H. (2009) A review of hydrologic modeling of basin-scale climate change and urban development impacts, Progress in Physical Geography 33(5): 650-671.

Im, E-S, I-W Jung, H. Chang, D-H Bae, W-T Kwon, (2009) Hydroclimatological Response to Dynamically Downscaled Climate Change Simulations for Korean Basins. Climatic Change (DOI 10.1007/s10584-009-9691-2)

Praskievicz, S., and Chang, H. (2009) Identifying the relationships between urban water consumption and weather variables in Seoul, Korea. Physical Geography 30(4): 308-323.

Praskievcz, S.*, and Chang, H. (2009) Winter precipitation intensity and ENSO/PDO variability in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. International Journal of Climatology 29(13): 2033-2039.

Franczyk, J.,* and Chang, H. (2009) The effects of climate change and urbanization on the runoff of the Rock Creek in the Portland metropolitan area, OR, USA. Hydrological Processes 23(6): 805-815

Franczyk, J.,* and Chang, H. (2009) Spatial analysis of water use in Oregon, USA, 1985-2005. Water Resources Management 23(4): 755-774

Chang, H., Franczyk, J.,* and Kim, C (2009) What is responsible for increasing flood risks? The case of Gangwon province, Korea. Natural Hazards 48(3): 339-354

Chang, H. (2008) Teaching water sustainability through visuals and student-based learning. Oregon English Journal 30(2): 48-51.

Duh, J., Shandas, V., Chang, H., and George, L. (2008) Rates of urbanization and the resilience of air and water quality. Science of the Total Environment 400 (1-3): 238-256  

Chang, H. and Franczyk, J.* (2008) Climate change, land use change, and floods: Toward an integrated assessment. Geography Compass 2(5): 1549-1579: doi: 10.1111/j.1749-8198.2008.00136.x

Bae, D-H, Jung, I-W., and Chang, H. (2008) Long-term trend of precipitation and runoff in Korean river basins. Hydrological Processes 22(14): 2644-2656

Chang, H. (2008) Spatial analysis of water quality trends in the Han River basin, South Korea.Water Research 42: 3285-3304  

Boeder*, M. and Chang, H. (2008) Multi-scale analysis of oxygen demand trend in an urbanizing Oregon watershed. Journal of Environmental Management 87(4): 567-581.

Levell*, A. and Chang, H.(2008) Monitoring the Channel Process of a Stream Restoration Project in an Urbanizing Watershed: A Case Study of Kelley Creek, Oregon, USA River Research and Applications 24(2): 169-182.

Bae, D-H. Jung, I-W., and Chang, H. (2007) Regional impacts of climate change on water resources in Korea by using a high resolution scenario. Climate Research 35(3): 213-226.

Franczyk*, J. and Chang, H. (2007) Economic impacts of climate change on water resources: Toward spatially-explicit impact assessments. The Geographical Journal of Korea 41(4): 1-12.

Chang, H. and Kwon, W-T. (2007) Spatial patterns of summer precipitation trends in South Korea, 1973-2005 Environmental Research Letters 2 045012 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/2/4/045012

Chang, H., J. Franczyk*, I-S Im, W-T. Kwon, D-H. Bae, and I-W. Jung (2007) Vulnerability of Korean water resources to climate change and population growth. Water Science and Technology 56(4): 57-62.

Knight, C. G., B. M. Evans, J. M. Hamlett, D.W. Lehning, M. P. Staneva, J. J. Carmichael T. N. Hristov, D. Dimitrov, V. D. Ioncheva, I. I. Nikolov, and H. Chang (2007) REKA: A Catchment Management Tool for Improving Water Quality. pp.129-138 In "Managing Water Resources in a Changing Physical and Social Environment" edited by Robinson, P.J., Jones, T., and Woo, M-K. International Geographical Union Home of Geography Publication Series, Societ? Geografica Italiana, Rome, 177pp. ISBN 978-88-88692-35-7.

Chang, H., Franczyk*, J., Bae, D-H, Jung, I-W. Im, E-S., and Kwon, W-T. (2007) Effects of climate change and population growth on Korean water resources International Association of Hydrological Sciences 315.

Chang, H. (2007) Streamflow characteristics in urbanizing basins in the Portland Metropolitan Area, Oregon, USA, Hydrological Processes 21(2): 211-222 (DOI: 10.1002/hyp6233)

Graves*, D and Chang, H. (2007) Hydrologic impacts of climate change in the Upper Clackamas basin of Oregon. Climate Research 33(2): 143-157.

Chang, H. (2006) City and Hydrology, in "Urban Geography and Urbanology" edited by Kim, I. And Park, S. Purungil Publisher. Seoul, Korea (ISBN: 89-87691-67-5). (in Korean)

Chang, H. J. Franczyk*, and D-H. Bae (2006) Putting climate change into water resource management: Adaptation efforts in the U.S. U.K., Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. Journal of Environmental Policy 5(4): 19-50.

Chang, H. and T. N. Carlson (2005) Water Quality During Winter Storm Events in Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, USA, Hydrobiologia, 544:321-332 .

Chang, H. (2005) Spatial and Temporal Variations of Water Quality in the Han River and its Tributaries, Seoul, Korea, 1993-2002. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 161: 267-284 .

Chang, H. and T. N. Carlson (2004) Patterns of Nitrate and Phosphorus Transport in Central Pennsylvania Streams. The Pennsylvania Geographer . 42(2): 61-74

Chang, H. and C. Kim (2004) Recent research trends in American Geomorphology and Hydrogeography, Journal of the Korean Geographical Society . 39(6): 873-887

Chang, H. (2004) Water Quality Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes in Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Professional Geographer, 56(2): 240-257.

Chang, H. (2003) Basin Hydrologic Response to Changes in Climate and Land Use: The Conestoga River Basin, Pennsylvania. Physical Geography, 24(3): 222-247.

Chang, H., C. G. Knight, M. P. Staneva, and Kostov, D. (2002) Water Resource Impacts of Climate Change in Southwestern Bulgaria . GeoJournal, 57: 115-124.

Ioncheva, V.D., J.M. Hamlett, B.M. Evans, T. N. Hristov, I. I. Nikolov, and H. Chang, (2002) Diffuse Pollution - The BISTRA model, in Knight, C.G. and Hristov, T.N. (eds.) River Environmental Knowledge and Assessment - REKA Applied to The Yantra River Basin, pp.25-55. University Park and Sofia, PA and Bulgaria (ISBN: 954-90485-3-5).

Chang, H. (2002) Spatial variations of nutrient concentrations in Pennsylvania Watersheds. Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 37(5): 536-550

Presentations since 2002

Chang, H., Jung, I-W., Block, B*, Praskievicz, S.*, Spatially-explicit economic impact assessment of climate change on the water resources of the Willamette River basin, American Water Resources Association, Anchorage, AL, May 2009.

House-Peters, L*., Pratt, B.*, Wood, M.*, and H. Chang. Determining spatial patterns of residential water consumption: A case study of Hillsboro, Oregon, Sigma-Xi symposium, Portland, OR, April 9.

Jung, I-W., Chang, H., and Bae, D-H. Quantifying Uncertainty of Climate Change on Regional Water Resources using Multi-Model Ensemble 105th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Las Vegas, NV, March, 2009.

Chang, H., Lafrenz, M., Jung, I-W., and Figliozzi, M. Climate change and urban floods: Impacts on transportation structure 105th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Las Vegas, NV, March, 2009.

Lafrenz, M. Chang, H., Jung, I. and Figliozzi, M. Fluvial Response to Climate Change: Implications for Bridge and  Road Flooding in Portland, OR, 105th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Las Vegas, NV, March, 2009.

Chang, H. Praskievicz, S.*, and Parandvash, H. Sensitivity of Portland's water consumption to climate variability and change, Oregon Academy of Sciences, February 28, 2009.

Praskievicz, S*. and Chang, H. Impacts of climate change and urban development on water resources in the Tualatin River basin, Oregon, Oregon Academy of Sciences, February 28, 2009.

Jung, I. and Chang, H. Uncertainty of climate change impact assessment on regional water resources in Korea, Oregon Academy of Sciences, February 28, 2009.

Wood, M.*, Jung, I. and Chang, H. Potential impacts of climate change on flood frequency in urban watersheds, Oregon Academy of Sciences, February 28, 2009.

Chang, H. and Block, B*. Impact of climate variability on water quality in Portland streams. Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium, Portland, OR, January 26, 2009.

Shandas, V. Chang, H., and Parandvash, H. A Multi-Scale Assessment  of Spatial Variations of Residential Water Use: Innovative  Techniques in Demand-Side-Management, American Water Work Association, January, 2009.

Chang, H., Franczyk, J.* Praskievcz, S.* Potential economic impacts of climate change on water resources in the Willamette River basin. AGU, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 30, 2008.

Chang, H., Shandas, V., and Parandvash, H. Spatial patterns of residential water use in the Portland metro area. 104th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers Boston, MA, April 18, 2008.

Franczyk, J.* and Chang, H. The impacts of climate change and urban development on the runoff of the Rock Creek basin, OR, Oregon Academy of Sciences, Portland, OR, February 23, 2008.

Chang, H., J. Franczyk,* D-H. Bae, I-W., Jung, E-S. Im, W-T. Kwon, Effects of climate change and population growth on Korean water resources. International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Perugia, Italy, July 10, 2007

Chang, H., Challenges and opportunities for teaching water resources, Teaching water resources at the Undergraduate level. Panelist, 103rd Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, CA, April 21, 2007.

Kim, C. and Chang, H. Who is responsible for increasing flood hazards? The case of Kangwon province of Korea. 103rd Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, San Francisco, CA, April 20, 2007.

Chang, H., J. Franczyk,* and D-H. Bae, Climate change and future flood regimes. International workshop, The science and practice of flood disaster management in urbanizing Monsoon Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand, April 5, 2007.

Chang, H., Kim, C. and Franczyk, J.*, Flood hazards and in urban areas of Korea and implications of climate change, International workshop, The science and practice of flood disaster management in urbanizing Monsoon Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand, April 5, 2007.

Chang, H., J. Franczyk,* D-H. Bae, I-W., Jung, E-S. Im, W-T. Kwon, Integrated regional assessment of climate change for Korean river basins. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 12, 2006.

Chang, H., Franczyk, J.* Im, E-S., Kwon, W-T. Bae , D-H, Jung, I-W. Assessing vulnerability of Korean water resources under the changing environment , Inovations in coping with water and climate related risks” Amsterdam, 25 September, 2006.

Franczyk, J.* and Chang, H. Spatial patterns of Oregon water use. Annual Meeting of the Association of Pacific Coastal Geographers, Eugene, OR, September 7, 2006.

Chang, H. Kim, C. and Franczyk, J.* Spatial and temporal variations of flood hazards in Korea, American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly, Baltimore, Maryland, May 25, 2006.

Chang, H. and Boeder, M.* Trends in surface water quality for Korean river basins , American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly, Baltimore, Maryland, May 25, 2006.

Chang, H. and Boeder, M.* Assessment of water quality trends in the Han River basin, Korea, Oregon Academy of Sciences, Eugene, OR, February 25, 2006.

Levell, A.* Monitoring the form and process of a stream restoration project in an urbanizing watershed: a case study of Kelly Creek, OR. Oregon Academy of Sciences, Eugene, OR, February 25, 2006.

Franczyk, J.* and Chang, H. Korean water use: trends and forecasts, Oregon Academy of Sciences, Eugene, OR, February 25, 2006.

Dougall, J.* Fountain, A. and Chang, H. Downstream effects of glaciers on stream water quality, Oregon Academy of Sciences, Eugene, OR, February 25, 2006.

Chang, H. Spatial patterns of water quality in the Han River basin , Korea , 101st Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Denver, CO, April 9, 2005.

Graves , D.* An Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change in the Upper Clackamas River Basin. The American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Technical Information Exchange Meeting, Vancouver, November 10, 2005 .

Chang, H. and M. Boeder,* Multivariate Analysis of Water Quality in the Tualatin River basin, OR. Annual Meeting of Oregon Academy of Sciences, Corvallis, February 26, 2005.

Graves, D.* An Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change in the Upper Clackamas River Basin. Annual Meeting of Oregon Academy of Sciences, Corvallis, February 26, 2005.

Chang, H. and M. Boeder,* Spatial Patterns of Water Quality in the Tualatin River basin, Third Annual Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium, Portland, January 28, 2005.

Chang, H. Stream Restoration in Urban Areas: The Case of Portland and Seoul Metropolitan Areas, The 100th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Philadelphia, March 16, 2004.

Chang, H. Hydrologic Effects of Urbanization in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Annual Meeting of Oregon Academy of Sciences, Portland, February 28, 2004.

Chang, H. Effects of Urbanization on Streamflow in Northwestern Oregon Watersheds. Annual Meeting of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, Portland, September 20, 2003.

Chang, H. Interactions of climate Change and Land use Change in Water Quality. The 99th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, New Orleans, March 6, 2003.

Chang, H. Assessing Hydrologic Impacts of Climate Change at the Watershed Scale. American Institute of Hydrology, Portland, OR, October 2002.

Chang, H. and T. Carlson. Storm Water Related Pollutant Transport in Urbanizing Watersheds. The 98th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Los Angeles, CA, March 21, 2002.