Hydrology Days Award
The Hydrology Days Award is presented each year in recognition of outstanding and significant contributions to hydrologic science.
The 2025 Hydrology Days award will be presented to Neil Grigg, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University, for his work on water resources planning and management, public works and utility management, and hydraulics and hydrology. Professor Grigg will provide a keynote address on April 8th at 1 PM.
The Global Risks Report of the World Economic Forum identified extreme weather among the greatest risks facing the planet, second only to state-based armed conflict. Among these risks, flooding causes massive losses every year and has large impacts on lower income and disenfranchised populations. Flood professionals agree that solutions will require integrated management of land and water in river basins and urban areas, as well as efficient use of floodplains and flood warning systems to minimize loss of life. While much is known about such response measures, losses continue to rise. The question addressed is whether science and engineering can make significant improvements or whether climate change and governance disorder caused by urbanization and uncontrolled land use decisions will overwhelm ongoing efforts to reduce risk. The discussion will address whether comprehensive approaches based on systems methods can be effective to confront the disparate threats of flood risk reduction. The background of historic flooding and policy responses will be described, and experiences of recent disastrous floods will be reviewed. The Integrated Flood Management concept will be explained, and the status of forecasting, modeling, and data analytics will be discussed in the light of emerging databases, centers of excellence, and online resources. The difficult issues of floodplain mapping, flood insurance, and public involvement will be explained in the light of challenges to enact workable and just governance approaches. The conclusion will provide suggested pathways for rising flood risk researchers and professional practitioners.
Neil S. Grigg is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University. He has experience as an educator, researcher, consulting engineer, and public official. His concentrations are in water management and institutions, water rights, water supplies, state water planning, water law, policy and regulation, infrastructure development and water security. His international water experience includes projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
- Martha Anderson (2024) Research Physical Scientist – USDA Agricultural Research Center Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory.
- Mary C. Hill (2023) Professor of Geology – University of Kansas
- Soroosh Sorooshian (2020*) Distinguished Professor – Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science, Director, Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS), The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine *Note – Due to COVID-19, Dr. Sorooshian was selected in 2020 but could not accept the award until 2022 when the event could be held in-person
- Bridget R. Scanlon (2019) Senior Research Scientist – Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin
- Stephen J. Burges (2018) Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington
- Efi Foufoula-Georgiou (2017) Distinguished Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering – University of California, Irvine
- Dara Entekhabi (2016) Bacardi and Stockholm Water Foundations Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Scott W. Tyler (2015) Professor – Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada – Reno
- William W-G Yeh (2014) Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California – Los Angeles
- Vijay P. Singh (2013) Distinguished and Regents Professor – Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University
- Michael A. Celia (2012) Professor & Director, Princeton Environmental Institute
- James Shuttleworth (2011) Regent’s Professor – Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
- Andrea Rinaldo (2010) Director – Ecole Polytechnique Fedarale de Lausanne, Switzerland
- George F Pinder (2009) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont
- Wilfried Brutsaert (2008) Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University
- Jean-Yves Parlange (2007) Professor – Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University
- Rafael L. Bras (2006) Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Charles A Troendle (2005) Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service
- Andras Szöllözi-Nagy (2004) Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO
- Jose D. Salas (2003) Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
- Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe (2002) Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University
- Stanley Schumm (2001) Professor Emeritus – Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University
- Hubert J. Morel-Seytoux (2000) Professor Emeritus – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
Borland Award
Each year at Hydrology Days, we honor a speaker by inviting them to present a Borland lecture in either hydrology or hydraulics. Learn more about Whitney Borland and the Borland Endowment to the CSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The 2025 Borland Hydrology Award keynote address will be provided by Terri Hogue, Dean of Earth and Society Programs at the Colorado School of Mines, for her work in Hydrology. Dr. Hogue will provide a keynote address on April 9th at 1 PM.
Modeling Hydrologic Impacts from Forest Disturbance: Progress, Challenges, and Paths Forward
Forest disturbances are increasingly prevalent in the western U.S., driven by prolonged droughts, wildfires, forest mortality from insects or disease, and urban expansion, all of which disrupt hydrologic behavior. Watershed impacts can be acute, such as wildfires or evolve more slowly, like insect-induced mortality. Quantifying the vulnerability of hydrological systems to forest disturbance is crucial for providing both short- and long-term information to stakeholders, aiding in decision-making for sustainable land and water management practices. Depending on the scale of the event, disturbances can significantly alter the magnitude and timing of water budget partitioning, with varying degrees of severity or predictability. Unfortunately, few if any hydrologic models have been developed or parameterized to capture forest disturbances. Both operational and research models suffer in their ability to capture altered hydrological, geochemical, or ecological processes.
Our recent work has focused on improving post-fire predictability in physically based models (i.e. Noah-MP and MIKE-SHE) and statistical models. We utilize machine learning, such as LSTMs, to inform model parameterizations and independently predict post-fire hydrologic behavior, including streamflow and stream water temperature. This presentation will give an overview of disturbance model development for headwater basins in Colorado, focusing on fire and other disturbance regimes, as well as national-scale studies using remote sensing data and statistical models. We also draw attention to watersheds experiencing compound or overlapping disturbance, such as insect-induced forest mortality and wildfire. Challenges and opportunities for improved hydrologic prediction in these systems will also be presented. Understanding the vulnerability of watersheds to disturbance is critical for effective adaptation and resilience-building efforts for regional water resources
Professor Hogue’s research centers on understanding hydrologic and land surface processes, with much of her work focused in semi-arid regions. The overarching goal of her work is to improve the prediction of hydrologic fluxes for better management of water resources, to assess human impacts on the environment, and to mitigate the effects of natural hazards. Projects include investigating catchment response to wildfire, understanding the impact of urbanization on hydrologic fluxes, evaluating climate variability and response of land-atmosphere systems, and improving hydrologic forecasts. Professor Hogue and her research group use field and experimental methods, modeling and optimization techniques, as well as remote sensing data in their investigations.
Visit Dr. Hogue’s biography page to learn more: https://cee.mines.edu/project/hogue-terri/
Hydraulics Recipients
- Christa D. Peters-Lidard (2024) Director in Sciences and Exploration Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Fred L. Ogden (2023) Chief Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Water Center Office of Prediction.
- Ellen Wohl (2020*) Distinguished Professor – Geology and Geosciences, Colorado State University *Note – Due to COVID-19, Dr. Wohl was selected in 2020 but could not accept the award until 2022 when the event could be held in-person
- Fotis Sotiropoulos (2019) Dean – College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Stony Brook University
- Jeffrey R. Koseff (2018) Professor – Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
- Harindra J.(Joe) Fernando (2017) Wayne and Diana Murdy Endowed Professor – Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame
- Mark Schmeeckle (2016) Associate Professor – Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University
- Gordan Grant (2015) Research Hydrologist – USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
- Martin Doyle (2014) Director – Water Policy Program, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University
- Peter Wilcock (2013) Professor and Department Head – Watershed Sciences, Utah State University
- Heidi Nepf (2012) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stephen G. Monismith (2011) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
- John M. Buffington (2010) Geomorphologist – Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service
- Marcelo H. Garcia (2009) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- William E. Dietrich (2008) Professor – Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley
Hydrology Recipients
- Hoshin V. Gupta (2023) Regents Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona.
- Ana Barros (2020*) Distinguished Professor – Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University *Note – Due to COVID-19, Dr. Barros was selected in 2020 but could not accept the award until 2022 when the event could be held in-person
- Nandita Basu (2019) Associate Professor – Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology, University of Waterloo
- Jeffrey Arnold (2018) Agricultural Engineer – Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS
- Thomas J. Jackson (2017) Hydrologist – Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, USDA-ARS
- Casey Brown (2016) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Amilcare Porporato (2015) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton Environmental Institute
- Elfatih A.B. Eltahir (2014) Breene M. Kerr Professor – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Richard M. Vogel (2013) Professor Emertius – Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University
- Jeffrey McDonnell (2012) Professor and Associate Director – Global Institute for Water Security, School of Environment and Sustainability
- Tissa H. Illangasekare (2011) Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
- Shaun Lovejoy (2010) Professor – Dept. of Physics – McGill University
- Efi Foufoula-Georgiou (2009) Distinguished Professor – Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine
- Dennis P Lettenmaier (2008) Distinguished Professor – Geography, University of California Los Angeles
Student Awards
The Hydrology Days Student Showcase provides an opportunity for students at different points in their careers to exchange ideas, give research presentations and enhance their scientific communication skills. The showcase offers students an enriching environment that sparks peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
- 1st Place- Elizabeth Ellis, Colorado State University
- 2nd place- Naiara Doherty Garcia, University of Colorado
- 3rd Place (tied)- Brendan Allen, Colorado State University
- 3rd Place (tied)- Gillian Gallagher, University of Colorado
1st Place (tied)- Joseph Bindner, Colorado State University
- 1st Place (tied)- Cavin Alderfer, Colorado State University
- 2nd Place (tied)- Marin Wiltse, Colorado State University
- 2nd Place (tied)- Mickey Means-Brous, Colorado State University
- 3rd Place (tied)- Reid Maynard, Colorado State University
- 3rd Place (tied)- Tristen Anderson, Colorado State University