Geology topics

Amanda D. Stoltz

Publications and source records attributed to Amanda D. Stoltz.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

From model to action: Identifying the gaps in coastal marsh models for decision making

Coastal salt marsh modeling projects are designed to answer questions about where salt marshes may migrate, how they can migrate, and how they will be impacted by changing water levels. While this information is vital for climate-resilient marsh conservation, translating these findings into actionable results remains a challenge. The authors examined the actionability of marsh modeling efforts in the United States by analyzing data collected from semi-structured interviews of marsh model users ( n = 24) across two ongoing projects along the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico). By qualitatively analyzing the interview data, the authors found that the tasks of practitioners who use coastal marsh model outputs fall into three major themes: (1) marsh restoration, (2) planning with uncertainty, and (3) conserving habitat for marsh-reliant species. For each of these themes, the authors identify unmet needs, including high spatial resolution information for local planning, accessible descriptions of uncertainty to increase user confidence, and the incorporation of human dimensions data (e.g., human alterations to the landscape such as impoundments and culverts) for a comprehensive understanding of the coastal salt marsh. Marsh modeling projects should strategize how to fulfil these unmet user needs so that marsh modeling outputs can better support decisions related to marsh conservation and restoration.

Gulf of America, United States East Coast↗

USGS2026

Challenges and opportunities for national-scale projections of future coastal landscape change

Local to global scale projections of future coastal landscape change are essential to improve land and resource management decisions that aim to prepare for and reduce risk exposure to impending coastal hazards. However, the availability of actionable knowledge is often limited due to the complexity of drivers of change, their consequences, and uncertainties that span disciplines. Varying spatial and temporal scales of physical processes that occur on landscapes with differing levels of coastal development and modification complicate decision-making. This paper reviews advances in observational approaches, modeling, and quantification of uncertainty to support the next generation of coastal change projections. We also highlight transdisciplinary opportunities for making this information more accessible and useful to support decision-making in the coastal zone. This includes consideration of different levels of user engagement to address specific needs, as well as resources and mechanisms that can support knowledge transfer broadly. A central recommendation is the development of a coordinated framework to support research integration including three components: accounting for relevant drivers, processes, and feedbacks; working with users to identify their information needs; and generating meaningful projections and uncertainty. Actions that would support such frameworks include the evaluation of models through coordinated research approaches and multi-model comparisons; ongoing investments in observations and data-driven approaches necessary to understand this complex environment; expansion of modeling capabilities using novel techniques; prioritization of co-development efforts between researchers and users; and continued training and support for transdisciplinary research.

Alaska, California, Florida, New York↗

USGS2023

So, you want to build a decision-support tool? Assessing successes, barriers, and lessons learned for tool design and development

The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of how the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing decision-support tools (DSTs) by documenting successes and barriers across all levels of USGS scientific tool creation and outreach. These findings will help streamline future tool design and development processes. We provide a synthesis of lessons learned and best practices across a spectrum of USGS decision-support efforts to, A, provide guidance to future efforts and, B, identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for knowledge transfer and integration. We present this information as five guiding principles for those striving to create effective DSTs. These principles are: (1) use an adaptive, iterative design process, (2) collaborate across disciplines and organizations, (3) engage with the target users of the tool, (4) develop an empirical understanding of use and usability, and (5) plan for the tool’s full life span. By providing guidance on how effective DSTs are realized at every phase of development (from planning to maintenance), these principles provide a starting point to improve the process of designing DSTs and thus help further the USGS mission of delivering actionable science.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2023

User engagement to improve coastal data access and delivery

Executive Summary A priority of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program focus on coastal change hazards is to provide accessible and actionable science that meets user needs. To understand these needs, 10 virtual Coastal Data Delivery Listening Sessions were completed with 5 coastal data user types that coastal change hazards data are intended to serve: resource managers, consultants, local planners, State planners, and non-USGS researchers. During these listening sessions, participants revealed challenges to coastal data use including being overwhelmed by too many webtools, having a lack of capacity to search for and understand new information, facing difficulties finding data, and not understanding how to apply data. The specific coastal data and information needs described by participants are also detailed in the report and describe data gaps, a need for simpler tools, data needs that differ across spatial and temporal scales, and more outreach on coastal topics and climate change. Participants also suggested leveraging data across study sites and regions to help improve capacity issues and called for more communication and collaboration among and within Federal agencies. The synthesized information from the Coastal Data Delivery Listening Sessions provided in this report can help the USGS and those working on coastal challenges better understand barriers to coastal information use and the exact data requirements of different coastal data users.

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2022

Stakeholder engagement to guide decision-relevant water data delivery

Water resources management and policy making require access to reliable scientific data. However, water managers may need to overcome various obstacles to accessing data. For example, insufficient technological infrastructures, low data literacy, and data format complexities often inhibit data user access. Thus, it is imperative to include stakeholders in the design of data delivery systems. The United States Geological Survey's Water Resources Mission Area is currently developing Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) — multi-extent, stakeholder driven, near real-time water availability census and prediction for human and ecological uses. To provide appropriate user accessibility to data delivery systems developed for IWAAs, a user-centered design process including stakeholder focus groups was used to determine potential water data user needs and preferences. Focus groups identified five types of potential users: Public sector water resources managers, Public sector water resources manager data analysts, Industry and private companies, Tribal Nations, and Nonprofit organizations. Different water data user types depended on diverse spatial and temporal scale data. Public sector water resources managers benefitted most from data synthesized into user-friendly platforms and Public sector water resources data analysts preferred easy access to raw data. These findings can support the development of a water data delivery platform that meets a variety of user needs.

Journal of the American Water Resources Associatio↗