Research Projects

 

Temperature Variability on the West Branch and Tributaries

The Watershed Sciences and Engineering program has started an extensive monitoring program on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.  As part of this effort, I obtained temperature data loggers through a scholarly development grant.  Over 40 of these data loggers have been placed in a stretch of the West Branch between Muncy, PA and Winfield, PA.  Water temperature is often an indicator of overall water quality.  We expect to use the spatially-distributed water temperature data in conjunction with longer-term single site water temperature records, discharge data, climate data, watershed characteristics, and subsurface data to begin to understand the physical controls on water temperature in this river system.  Much work remains to be done in this extensive field data collection effort!  

 

Publications: Cox et al. (2014); Hayes et al. (2012)

 

 

Channel Morphology and Bedforms of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River

The bed of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River remains largely uncharacterized.  We have investigated several relatively low-cost methods that allow us to collect data related to the bedform of the river, the bed sediment size distribution, and the spatial distribution of sediment sizes.  Data collection through this investigation has led to the development of several hypotheses related to the formation of the bedforms and the current sediment transport regime of the river.  We are continuing to develop data collection methods in order to develop a more complete understanding of the geomorphological processes (past and present) in the West Branch.

 

Publications: Cottrell et al. (2014); Newlin et al. (2013); Hayes et al. (2013)

 

 

Modeling of Glacial Outburst Floods and the Natural History of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River

It is difficult to explain much of the observed form of the West Branch considering only the modern flow regime.  We have investigated the effects of the hypothetical peak discharges that could have been created in the middle to late Pleistocene following failures of an ice dam draining glacial Lake Lesley into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River between Muncy, PA and Northumberland, PA.  A steady 1-D HEC-RAS model was developed from valley and modern channel morphology as an initial attempt to compare this flow regime with the observed form of the West Branch.

 

Publications: Newlin and Hayes (2015); Newlin (2014)

 

 

Effects of Bridges and Hydraulic Structures on Hydraulic and Geomorphic Processes

White Deer Creek is a nearby stream where a stream restoration project was constructed near a bridge crossing in order to improve the sediment transport capacity for the gravel- to cobble-sized bed material and to improve the habitat in the restoration reach.  This site was monitored extensively for 3 years following the construction and mathematical simulation was used to quantify the effects of the bridge hydraulics on the performance of the stream restoration structures.  Current activities at this site include less frequent monitoring of the stream restoration site, and detailed assessment of the entire watershed.  The White Deer Creek watershed was once logged and current observations indicate that this characteristic of the watershed may still be influencing the sediment transport dynamics of the stream. To compliment the detailed monitoring and investigation at White Deer Creek, the general effects of bridges on the observed channel processes (hydraulic and sediment transport) are being studied through the field observation of additional sites throughout Pennsylvania, general process mathematical modeling and physical modeling.

 

Publications: Newlin and Schultz (2014); Newlin et al. (2012); Schultz and Newlin (2010); Stodart and Newlin (2010); Johnson et al. (2010); Newlin and Johnson (2009); Newlin et al. (2008), Johnson et al. (2008) 

 

 

Geoinformatics and Management of Built and Natural Environments

In collaboration with scientists at Penn State's Center for Statistical Ecology and Environmental Statistics, I have applyied partially-order set theory and surveillance geoinformatics methods to bridge-stream intersection management. The partially-order set theory was used to analysis a multi-criteria data set related to the stability of a bridge crossing with respect to the stream channel that it is crossing.  These methods lead to the prioritization of sites for maintenance needs without condensing multiple criteria into a single index.  Surveillance geoinformatics allows for the identification of spatial "hotspots" based on identified criteria.  Preliminary studies on bridge scour hotspots in Pennsylvania was completed to investigate the potential use of these methods for asset management decisions.

 

Publications: Newlin and Patil (2010); Newlin et al. (2010); Newlin and Bhat (2007)