Dr. Joe Wheaton
Watershed Sciences
Professor

Contact Information
Office Hours: By AppointmentOffice Location: NR 360
Phone: (435) 554-1247
Email: joe.wheaton@usu.edu
Additional Information:
Educational Background
Research Interests
My main interests are in fluvial geomorphology and ecohydraulics with a particular focus on linking the two (ecogeomorphology). I also have strong applied interests in the interface between environmental policy and science, and how uncertainties arising from each combine to influence the outcome of activities like river restoration. Most of my research falls under the following themes: Linking geomorphic dynamics and ecohydraulics, Monitoring and Adapting to Change, Scenario Model Development
Awards
Overseas Research Studentship, 2003
Academic Universities U.K.
CItation In Recognition of Outstanding Undergraduate Accomplishments in Hydrology, 2002
University of California at Davis Hydrology Department
LAWR Opportunity Fund, 2002
University of California at Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
CGA Scholarship Awards, 2001
California Groundwater Association
CGA Scholarship Awards, 2000
California Groundwater Association
ECA Scholarship, 2000
Engineering Contractors Association
- Wheaton, J.M, Darby, S.E, Sear, D.A, (2008). The Scope of Uncertainties in River Restoration: River Restoration: Managing the Uncertainty in Restoring Physical Habitat. John Wiley & Sons
- Sear, D.A, Wheaton, J.M, Darby, S.E, (2008). Uncertain restoration of gravel-bed rivers and the role of geomorphology: Gravel-Bed Rivers VI: From Process Understanding to River Restoration. Elseiver
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Passalacqua, P., Belmont, P., Staley, D.M, Simley, J.D, Arrowsmith, J.R, Bode, C.A, Crosby, C., DeLong, S.B, Glenn, N.F, S.A, Lague, D., Sangireddy, H., Schaffrath, K., Tarboton, D.G, Wasklewicz, T., Wheaton, J.M, (2015). Analyzing high resolution topography for advancing the understanding of mass and energy transfer through landscapes: A review. Earth-Science Reviews, 148, doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.05.012
- Majerova, M., Neilson, B.T, Schmadel, N.M, Snow, C.J, Wheaton, J.M, (2015). Impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes in a mountain stream. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences19, 1-16. doi: doi:10.5194/hess-19-1-2015
- Manners, R., Schmidt, J.C, Wheaton, J.M, (2013). Multi-scalar model for the determination of spatially explicit riparian vegetation roughness. Journal of Geophyscial Research - Earth Surface, 118:1, 65-83. doi: doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002188
- Susannah, E., Schmidt, J.C, Wheaton, J.M, (2012). Closing a sediment budget for a reconfigured reach of the Provo River, Utah, United States. Water Resources Research, 48, WR10512. doi: 10.1029/2011WR011035
- Erwin, S.O, Schmidt, J.C, Wheaton, J.M, Wilcock, P., (2012). Closing a sediment budget for a reconfigured reach of the Provo River, Utah, United States. Water Resources Research, 48:10, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR011035
- Tang, C., Crosby, B.T, Wheaton, J.M, Piechota, T.C, (2012). Assessing streamflow sensitivity to climate changes in the Salmon River Basin, Idaho. Global and Planetary Change, 88-89, 32-44. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.03.002
- Wheaton, J.M, Garrard, C.G, Whitehead, K., Volk, C., (2012). A Simple, Interactive GIS Tool for Transforming Assumed Total Station Surveys to Real World Coordinates - The CHaMP Transformation Tool. Computers in Geosciences, 42, 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2012.02.003
- Wheaton, J.M, Gibbins, C., Wainwright, J., McElroy, B., Larsen, L., (2011). Preface: Multiscale Feedbacks in Ecogeomorphology. Geomorphology, 126:3-4, 265-268.
- Wheaton, J.M, Brasington, J., Darby, S.E, Sear, D., (2010). Accounting for Uncertainty in DEMs from Repeat Topographic Surveys: Improved Sediment Budgets. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 35:2, 135-156. doi: 10.1002/esp.1886.2009
- Wheaton, J.M, Brasington, J., Darby, S.E, Merz, J.E, Pasternack, G.B, Sear, D.A, Vericat, D., (2010). Linking Geomorphic Changes to Salmonid Habitat at a Scale Relevant to Fish. River Research and Applications, 25, 469-486. doi: 10.1002/rra.1305
- Vericat, D., Brasington, J., Wheaton, J.M, Cowie, M., (2008). Accuracy Assessment of Aerial Photographs Acquired using Lighter-Than-Air Blimps: Low-Cost Tools for Monitoring Fluvial Systems. River Research and Applications, doi: 10.1002/rra.1198
- Wheaton, J.M, Darby, S.E, Sear, D.A, Milne, J.A, (2006). Does scientific conjecture accurately describe restoration practice? Insight from an International River Restoration Survey. Area, 38:2, 128-142. doi: 10.1111.j.1475-4762.2006.00685.x.
- Pasternack, G.B, Gilbert, A.T, Wheaton, J.M, Buckland, E.M, (2006). Error Propagation for Velocity and Shear Stress Prediction: Using 2D Models For Environmental Management. Journal of Hydrology, 328:1-2, 227-241. doi: 10.1016/j.hydrol.2005.12.003
- MacWilliams, M.L, Wheaton, J.M, Pasternack, G.B, Street, R.L, Kitanidis, P.K, (2006). Flow convergence and routing hypthesis for pool-riffle maintenance in alluvial rivers. Water Resources Research, 42, doi: 10.1029/2005WR004391
- Merz, J.E, Pasternack, G.B, Wheaton, J.M, (2006). Sediment budget for salmonid spawning habitat rehabilitation in regulated river. Geomorphology, 76:1-2, 207-228. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.11.004
- Merz, J.E, Setka, J.D, Pasternack, G.B, Wheaton, J.M, (2004). Predicting benefits of spawning-habitat rehabilitation to salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) fry production in a regulated California river. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 61:8, 1433-1446. doi: 10.1139/f04-077
- Wheaton, J.M, Pasternack, G.B, Merz, J.E, (2004). Spawning Habitat Rehabilitation - I. Conceptual Approach and Methods. International Journal of River Basin Management, 2:1, 3-20.
- Wheaton, J.M, Pasternack, G.B, Merz, J.E, (2004). Spawning Habitat Rehabilitation - II. Using Hypothesis Testing and Development in Design, Mokelume River California, U.S.A.. International Journal of River Basin Management, 2:1, 21-37.
Professional Journal
- O'Brien, G.R, Wheaton, J.M, Kirstie et al, F., (2019). Mapping Valley Bottom Confinement at the Network Scale. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.4615.
- O'Brien, G., Wheaton, J.M, Fryirs et al, K., (2017). A geomorphic assessment to inform strategic stream restoration planning in the Middle Fork John Day Watershed, Oregon, USA.. Journal of Maps
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | MultiMedia
Software
- Wheaton, J.M, (2011). CHaMP Transformation Tool. *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Technical Reports
Research Reports
- Kopp, K., Endter-Wada, J.L, Baker, M.A, Brahney, J., Chikamoto, Y., Kettenring, K., Neilson, B.T, Null, S., Rivers, E., Rosenberg, D.E, Schmidt, J.C, Shilton, R., Tarboton, D.G, Torres-Rua, A., Wang, S., Wheaton, J.M, Wurtsbaugh, W.A, Yost, M., Zhang, W., (2021). Utah State University 2021 Report to the Governor on Utah’s Land, Water, and Air.
- CHaMP, , Wheaton, J.M, (2012). Scientific protocol for salmonid habitat surveys within the Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program. Terraqua, Inc.
- Wheaton, J.M, Bennett, S., Bouwes, N., Camp, R., (2012). Asotin Creek Intensively Monitored Watershed: Restoration Plan for North Fork Asotin, South Fork Asotin and Charlie Creeks. Eco Logical Research, Inc. *
- Scott, M.L, Perkins, D.L, Wheaton, J.M, (2012). Final Report: Big River Protocol Development – A Prototype Warranty Project. *
- Manners, R.B, Schmidt, J.C, Grams, P., Ralston, B., Davis, P., Wheaton, J.M, (2012). Predicting and detecting changes to riparian vegetation communities along the large rivers of the Colorado Plateau as a result of climate change. Final Report Prepared for Grand Canyon Research and Monitoring Center, Flagstaff, Arizona by Utah State University Geomorphology Lab *
- DeMeurichy, K., Wheaton, J.M, Welsh, S., Consolati, F., (2011). Bridge Creek IMW Topographic and Aerial Photography Surveys: 2010-2011 Deliverables . Ecogeomorphology and Topographic Analysis Lab, Utah State University, Prepared for Eco Logical Research and NOAA *
- Lokteff, R., DeMeurichy, K., Wheaton, J.M, (2011). High Resolution Mapping of Instream Habitat: Pilot Study using Ground-based LiDaR in Logan River Watershed. Ecogeomorphology and Topographic Analysis Lab, Utah State University, Prepared for US Forest Service *
- Bangen, S., Wheaton, J.M, DeMeurichy, K., (2011). Methodological Intercomparison of Topographic & Aerial Photographic Habitat Survey Techniques. Ecogeomorphology and Topographic Analysis Lab, Utah State University, Prepared for Eco Logical Research and NOAA *
- Wheaton, J.M, Pasternack, G.B, (2002). The Integrated Design Approach to Designing In-Stream Spawning Habitat Enhancement Projects: A Case Study of the Mokelumne River. University of California at Davis Watershed Hydrology and Geomorphology Laboratory *
Other Reports
- Gee, J.H, Keirle, I., Wheaton, J.M, Wootton, R.J, (2007). A Monitoring Strategy for the Afon Teifi Restoration Project. CCW Contract Science Report No: 773 *
- Wheaton, J.M, (2003). A Review of Averaging and Upscaling in Hydrology. Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Newsletter
- Wheaton, J.M, (2005). Salmon! In Sulphur Creek?. Acorn Soupe Scoop Newletter *
Other
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Teaching
Graduate Students Mentored
Current Graduate Students
Courses taught
WATS 4930/6920 - Advanced GIS & Spatial Analyses
WATS 4631/6921 - GIS Research Projects
WATS 6915 - GIS Fundamentals
WATS 6215 - Graduate Student Induction Course
WATS 6900 - Fluvial Hydraulics and Ecohydraulics
WATS 6900 - Sediment Transport in Stream Assessment and Design
WATS 6900 - Geomorphic Change Detection
WATS 6900 - Partnering with Beaver in Restoration Design Workshop
Further description of courses Joe teaches