Professor Vicki Watson

Interests: Watershed conservation; democracy; folk dancing.

          read about my trip to Cuba.

Education

PhD 1981, MS 1976, Botany (Ecology), University of Wisconsin at Madison

BS 1974, Biology, University of Houston

Professional Organizations

Ecological Society of America, Montana Academy of Science, Pres. 1988-91, 1995-7

Experience

1983 to present - Professor, Environmental Studies,University of Montana

1981 to 1983 - Staff scientist for Citizens for a Better Environment, WI

1976 to 1983 -- Lake Ecology Researcher, University of Wisconsin.

Research

My research, teaching and service focus on the conservation and restoration of watersheds. I’ve researched herbicides, heavy metals, nutrients, nuisance algae, and other water quality issues for EPA, US Geological Survey, Forest Service, NRCS, the state of Montana & local government agencies. I helped the Montana Department of Environmental Quality develop a statewide water quality monitoring system and water quality criteria through studies of streams and lakes throughout Montana. Our work on wadeable streams in the Northern Plains and Western Mountains appears in a recent EPA report. As part of a team of scientists, I helped EPA develop nutrient criteria guidance documents for the US.

Much of my work focuses on western Montana's Clark Fork River Basin which contains wilderness, working lands, and the largest Superfund complex in the country. I helped the state of Montana design and interpret a basin-wide water quality study of this basin, and I continue to assist the Tristate Water Quality Council with monitoring and management of this basin. With a colleague, I developed a watershed information delivery system and have organized and edited a series of Clark Fork Symposia where citizens and scientists discuss the science and conservation of the basin. While serving as PI or Co-PI on well over $1 million in grants over the past 20 years, I also provided countless hours of pro bono assistance to community groups.

Teaching

At UM, I teach 5-6 courses a year & have developed over 20 different courses in biology, ecology, environmental science, impact assessment, watershed conservation, and research methods. All my classes emphasize research and service learning and have contributed over 20,000 hours of service to the local community. I have directed over 55 MS theses, served on over 70 other graduate committees, advised hundreds of undergraduates, and directed at least 100 internships. I provide an e-newsletter for EVST undergrads, maintain a jobs listserv for our students & alums, an online Community Conservation Calendar, and  help provide numerous opportunities to k-12 students, including the Science Fair, Montana Junior Academy of Sciences, Watershed Education Network, and more.

Service

To make the community service provided by my students and myself more visible and effective, I started the UM Watershed Health Clinic which matches students with community groups who need technical help in conserving their watersheds. My students & I have conducted many watershed studies, helped write watershed plans & grant proposals, & provided education/training/field trips to community groups and schools. I served as the first chair to UM's Sustainable Campus Committee, created & maintain the Greening UM web site, serve as chair of UM's Recycling Committee, and organize many annual service events (like Earth Day, Public Land Day, etc.) for the campus & community.

Honors

- Dedicated Conservationist Award, Clark Fork Coalition, 1988

- Missoula YWCA Professional Woman of the Year, 1991

- University of Montana's Distinguished Teaching Award, 1992

- Arnold Bolle Conservation Professional Award, 1996

- University of Montana Service Learning Fellowship, 1998

- University of Montana's Greening UM award, 2007

- Montana Natural History Center's Outstanding Nature Educator, 2007

Selected Publications

1976. Modeling & analysis of ecosystems. In D. L. Jameson (ed.) Ecosystem Impacts of Urbanization. EPA 600/3-76-072.

With O. L. Loucks. 1979. Analysis of turnover times in a lake ecosystem & implications for system properties. In E. Halfon (ed.), Theoretical Systems Ecology.

Et al. 1979. Impacts of development on watershed hydrologic and nutrient budgets. J. Water Pollution Control Federation 51:2876-85.

Et al. 1981.The impact of urbanization on seasonal hydrologic & nutrient budgets of a small North American lake. Hydrobiologia 77:87-96.

1982. Application of a model of lake loading tolerance. In Lauenroth, W. K., et al. (eds.) Analysis of Ecological Systems. Elsevier.

1985. Phytoplankton photosynthesis & primary production. In T. D. Brock, A Eutrophic Lake--Mendota. Springer-Verlag.

1985. Water quality problems in the Clark Fork River. First Clark Fork River Symp.

1988. Environmental problem solving. and Lake Ecosystem models. In M. G. Singh (ed.), Encycl. of Systems & Control. Pergamon.

Et al. 1988. Modeling trophic status of Lake Pend Oreille, ID. Proc. Mont. Acad. Sci. 48:119-126.

Et al. 1989. Environmental fate of picloram used for roadside weed control. J. Env. Quality. 18(2):198-205.

1989. Control of attached algae by N and P in the Clark Fork River. Proc. Symp. Headwaters Hydrology.Amer. Water Resour. Assn. pp. 287-297.

1989. Maximum levels of attached algae. and Dissolved oxygen in the Clark Fork. Proc. Montana Acad. Sci. 49:27-35, and 47-162.

1990. Editor, 2nd Clark Fork River Symposium.

1993. Biomass of aquatic invertebrates in the upper Clark Fork River, western Mont.

1993. Copper and zinc in aquatic insects in the upper Clark Fork River, west Mont. Proc. Montana Acad. Sci. 53:15-24,and 25-32.

With others. 1995. Assessing ecological risks in terrestrial systems. IN Butterworth, F. M.et al. (eds.) Biomonitoring & Biomarkers as Indicators of Environmental. Change. Plenum.

­ With B. Gestring. 1996. Monitoring algae levels in the Clark Fork River. Intermountain J. Sciences. 2(2): 17-26.

1996. Modeling the response of attached algae levels to nutrient management in Montana rivers. Montana University System Water Resources Center Report 196, 24 pp.

With others. 1999. Scientific basis of a nutrient TMDL for a river of the Northern Rockies. Wildlands Hydrology. Proc. Symp. Amer. Water Resources, Assn. (AWRA).

With others. 1999. A scientific critique of EPA's guidance on sufficient, credible data & use support criteria as used in Montana. Wildlands Hydrology. Proc. Symp. AWRA

With W. Bollman. 1999. Improving stream bioassessment methods for the Montana Valleys and Foothill Prairies ecoregion. Wildlands Hydrology. Proc. Symp. AWRA.

1999. The Clark Fork River Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Plan. Proc. 6th National Watershed Conference, Austin, TX.

2000. with Harris, James. Watershed Restoration Assessment for Lost Creek a tributary of the Upper Clark Fork River, Montana University System Water Center Tech. Report #207, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 30 pgs.

2000. with others. Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual-Rivers and Streams. EPA-822-B-00-002.

2000. editor of 2000 Clark Fork River Symposium proceedings.

2002. Environmental Science online course.

2003. State of the Sustainable Campus report for UM

2004. State of the Sustainable Campus report for UM

2005. editor of 2005 Clark Fork River Symposium proceedings.

2006. with others. Efficiency of Measuring Chlorophyll a in Stream Sediment Samples using Spectrophotometric Methods. Montana Department of Environmental Quality Report.

2007. with others. Deriving Nutrient Criteria for Prairie Streams of the Northwestern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion. submitted to Jour. North Amer. Benthological Society  (tracking number 06-076) in revision

Suplee, M., V. Watson, M. Teply, and H. McKee. 2008. How Green is too Green? Public Opinion of What Constitutes Undesirable Algae Levels in Streams. J. American Water Resources Association. 44(6):1-18.

Suplee, M, V. Watson, A. Varghese & J. Cleland. 2008. Scientific & Technical Basis of Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Montana’s Wadeable Streams & Rivers. MT DEQ technical paper. Undergoing EPA external review.

 

Recent grants & funders

2008

   MT Reference Stream Study (M67024), MT DEQ, $217075

   MT Lakes & Reservoirs Study (M67025), MT DEQ, $ 66040 continuing from last year

   Clark Fork Attached Algae Long Term Monitoring, Tristate Water Quality Council, $9700

2007

   MT Reference Stream Study (M67024), MT DEQ, $107075

   MT Lakes & Reservoirs Study & EPA lake survey (M67025), MT DEQ/EPA, $66040

   MT Nutrient Survey Study (M67014), MT DEQ, $64,300

   Clark Fork Attached Algae Long Term Monitoring, Tristate Water Quality Council, $8500

2006:

   Montana Reference Stream study (M27684), MT DEQ, $96817

   Montana Lakes & Reservoirs study, MT DEQ, $23051

   Montana Algae Nuisance Perception Survey  (M27885 & M27921), MT DEQ, $26897

   Clark Fork Attached Algae Long Term Monitoring, Tristate Water Quality Council, $8500

   University of Idaho River Algae Analysis, U of Idaho, $11000

    EPA Star Graduate Fellowship, EPA, $17344

2005:

   Montana Reference Stream Study, MT DEQ, $59991

   Montana Lakes & Reservoirs study, MT DEQ, $24883

   Clark Fork Attached Algae Long Term Monitoring, TriState Water Quality Council, $8500

2004:

   Montana Reference Stream Study, MT DEQ, $70968

   Montana Lakes & Reservoirs study, MT DEQ, $39291

   Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Project, MT DEQ, $61929

   Clark Fork River Algae Long Term Monitoring, TriState Water Quality Council, $8500

   Support of native fish studies, Grizzly Riders, $15000

..Habitat analysis for Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction in Blackfoot Valley, MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks, $8000

2003:

   Montana Reference Stream Study, MT DEQ, $49554

   Montana Lakes & Reservoirs study, MT DEQ, $28030

   NE MT streams study, MT DEQ, $55047

   Clark Fork River Algae Long Term Monitoring, Tristate Water Quality Council, $8500

   Lake Pend Oreille periphyton study, U of Idaho, $13000

2002: Northern Glaciated Plains (Milk River Basin) study, MT DEQ, $115,000

   Clark Fork River Algae Long Term Monitoring, Tristate Water Quality Council, $8500
   ......Lolo Creek Watershed Assessment, MT DNRC & Missoula Water Quality District, $20,000

   Clark Fork Nonpoint Sources study, MSl Water Quality District, $14000/yr

2001:   Stoner Creek Watershed Assessment, Flathead Basin Commission, $17356

   EQIP training & Outreach, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, $14064/yr

   Clark Fork River Algae Long Term Monitoring, TriState Water Quality Council, $8500

   Clark Fork River Watershed Info System, MT NRDP, $9550

   Clark Fork nonpoint source study, Msl Water Quality District, $14000/yr

2000: 

   Clark Fork River Algae Long Term Monitoring, TriState Water Quality Council, $8500

   Clark Fork River Nonpoint Source Study, Missoula Water Quality District, $14000/yr

1996 to present. Clark Fork River monitoring, TriState Water Quality Council, $8500/yr

1999-2003. Clark Fork nutrient nonpoint source study, Missoula Water Quality District, $14,000/yr, 5 yrs

Recent Reports for grants/contracts:

With B. Anderson & T. Monroe. 2000. Montana Statewide Monitoring Program-recommendations. Report to Mt DEQ.

With J. Lohtak & D. Shulund. Nonpoint nutrient source studies in the Clark Fork & Bitterroot Basins. 2002. For Missoula Water Quality District.

With C. Brick. 2002. Watershed Restoration Planning Information System—Final report. For Montana   Natural Resource Damage Program.

With M. Coen (student). 2003. Physical, chemical & biological assessment of Stoner Creek, Flathead Basin, MT. Prepared for Flathead Basin Commission.

With S. Sullivan. (student) 2003. Watershed assessment of Lolo Creek. For Msl Water Quality District.

With M. Suplee of MT DEQ. In prep. Streams of Montana’s Northern Glaciated Plains.

With M. Suplee of MT DEQ. In prep. Trophic classification of Montana’s Lakes & Reservoirs

Annual reports to funders on: Clark Fork River and Lake Pend Oreille attached algae monitoring; Clark Fork River nonpoint source study;  NRCS EQIP education grant; etc.

Presentations at professional meetings

Invited speaker, USFWS/BLM, Working at a Watershed Level, Chico, CA, Jan., 1999.

Invited speaker, Mont. Env. Education Association Conf., annual meeting. March 1999, Missoula; topic - StreamKeepers Teacher training.

Watson, V., P. Watson, and W. Bollman. Trends in attached algal levels in the Clark Fork River. Montana Acad. Science (MAS) annual meeting, April, 1999.

Watson, V. Clark Fork River Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Plan. 6th National Watershed Conference, Austin, TX, May, 1999.

Watson, V. et al. Scientific basis of a nutrient TMDL for a river of the Northern Rockies. Amer. Water Resources Assn (AWRA). Annual meeting, Bozeman, MT, 1999.

DeArment, J., V. Watson, & L. Bahls. A scientific critique of EPA's guidance on sufficient, credible data & use support criteria as used in Montana. Ibid.

Watson, V. Trends & relationships in nutrients & attached algae in a river of the Northern Rockies. Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual meeting, Spokane, 1999.

Bollman, W. and V. Watson. Improving stream bioassessment methods for the Montana Valleys & Foothill Prairies Ecoregion. ibid.

Harris, J, J. Lhotak, & V. Watson. 2000. Watershed/TMDL assessment for Lost Creek, MT. AWRA meetings, West Yellowstone.

The following presentations at the 2000 Clark Fork Symposium are published online.

Watson, V. State of the Clark Fork. Clark Fork Symposium, Missoula, April 2000.

Alter, R., K. Colburn, & V. Watson. Wetlands of the Clark Fork Basin. Ibid.

Alter, R, G. Grallo, & V. Watson. The Pattee Creek watershed. Ibid.

Bollman, W. & V. Watson. Evaluating Stream Bioassessment Protocols with Data from the Clark Fork River's Ecoregion. Ibid.

Glaser, D, M. Marler, & V. Watson. Restoring O'Brien Creek, Missoula, MT. Ibid.

Harris, J. & V. Watson. Watershed restoration assessment for Lost Creek, Ibid.

Lhotak, J. & V. Watson. 2001. Clark Fork Nonpoint Source Nutrient Sampling. Ibid.

Watson, V. Using online watershed information in env. education. Montana Environmental Education Association annual meeting, Missoula, March 2001 

Lhotak, J, V. Watson & others, Riparian assessment of Cottonwood Creek, near Deer Lodge, MT. Montana Academy of Sciences annual meeting, Missoula, April 2001

Lhotak, J. & V. Watson. Nonpoint nutrient sources in the upper Clark Fork River. Ibid

Lhotak, J., V. Watson & others. Baseline watershed assessment of Cottonwood Creek, near Deer Lodge, MT. American Water Resources Association, Montana Chapter, Annual Meeting & Symposium (Fires, Drought & Water Quality), Missoula, MT. Oct 2001.

Lhotak, J., V. Watson, & M. Suplee. Milk River Basin Streams—Characterization & Classification. Ibid.

Sanctuary, M. and V. Watson. Restoration of Willow Creek, Rock Creek Basin. Ibid

With  S. Anderson. Invited seminar. Is your ecological footprint sustainable?   Spirit, Commerce and Sustainability Conference, Missoula, Sept 2001. 

Watson, V., G Ingman, J Babcock, B. Anderson. Trends & target attainment for nutrient & algal levels in the Clark Fork River under a nutrient reduction plan. Poster at--"Assessing and Re-naturalizing Streams Impacted by Mining—a conference hosted by UM River Center" in Missoula, MT Sept 25-26, 2003.

Watson, V. UM Sustainability initiatives. Invited talk at meeting of International Assn. of Sustainability Businesses & Organizations, Pacific NW Chapter.  Missoula, Sept, 2003.

Watson, V., G Ingman, J Babcock, B. Anderson. Clark Fork River response to a voluntary nutrient reduction plan—5 year review. AWRA meetings in Butte Oct, 2003

Watson, V. et al. Clark Fork River response to nutrient reductions from mid 1980’s to present. Poster at MT Ch. American Fisheries Society meeting, Whitefish, MT, Feb. 2004.

Invited speaker at MT Governor’s Conference on Service Learning, Helena, Aug. 2004

With Michael Suplee of MT DEQ, Classification and quality criteria for streams of MT’s Northern Glaciated Plains; annual meeting of MT Ch. of American Water Resources Association, Helena, Oct. 2004

Watson, V. Summary of research on the Clark Fork River for UM meeting with visiting researchers from Chile’s Patagonia Ecosystem Research Center, Missoua, Nov 2004

Watson, V. Summary of water quality findings, Clark Fork Pend Oreille Watershed 1984-2002 for Missoula Water Quality Advisory Council, Nov 2004

Watson, V.  Watershed Restoration in the Clark Fork Basin. Fourth Forum on Central American & Caribbean Watersheds, Havana, Cuba. October, 2004.

Suplee, M, & V. Watson, Classification and quality criteria for streams of MT’s northern glaciated plains. Paper presented at Mt Chapter of American Water Resources Association meeting, Helena, 2004

Watson, V. Clark Fork River Status and Trends Analysis (1984-2002).Presentation to Missoula Water Quality Advisory Council. November, 2004

Watson, V. State of the Clark Fork Basin. Paper presented at 2005 Clark Fork Symposium, Missoula, Apr 2005 Published online

Watson, V.  “Trophic State of Lakes in the Blackfoot & Swan River Basins” Poster presented at Clark Fork River Symposium & UM Graduate Faculty Conference April, 2005, published online (also presented to the Montana Watershed Coordination Council, May 2005).

Glabek, J., T. Switalski, V. Watson, & H. Zuuring.  Success of nonnative seeding on decommissioned forest roads;  Presented at Society for Ecological Restoration NW Chapter conference, Seattle, Apr 2005 and at Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference, Bozeman, Feb 2005 and at Montana Chapter of American Fisheries Society meeting, Missoula, March 2005.

Watson, V. with others ‘Using algal indicators to diagnose nutrient enrichment in the NW Glaciated Plains’. Paper  presented at the North American Benthological Society meetings in New Orleans, May 2005

Watson, V. et al. Characterizing Reference Streams of Montana’s Northern Glaciated Plains. Paper presented at American Water Resources Association annual meeting, Missoula, June 2006

Watson, V. et al. Developing Criteria for Wadeable Streams of Montana’s Northern Glaciated Plains. Poster presented at University of Montana River Center Conference, Missoula, September 2006

Watson, V. and M. Suplee. 2008. Nuisance Algae in Streams: Public Perception vs Environmental Impact. Ecological Society of America meetings. Milwaukee, WI August 08