Dr. Katie Spahr is Research Program Manager at The Water Research Foundation.
What does ecohydrology mean to you?
For me, ecohydrology is an interdisciplinary field that explores relationships between water and ecological systems at different scales and different settings (i.e. developed vs. undeveloped).
What are your undergraduate and graduate degrees in?
I have a BS (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), a MS (CU Boulder), and a PhD (Colorado School of Mines) all in Environmental Engineering. I also am a licensed Professional Environmental Engineer; I am clearly consistent. My degrees and subsequent work experience have focused on urban water and treatment spanning the different types of water (e.g. stormwater, drinking water, grey water, water resources). I label myself as a water engineer.
How did you arrive at working in/thinking about ecohydrology?
My PhD and Postdoc work focused on contextualizing and communicating the ancillary social and environmental benefits associated with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). As part of this work, I explored the hydrologic-process and vegetated-related benefits of GSI. I really enjoyed diving into the literature that related larger urban green infrastructure installations, like parks, to positive ecological outcomes, like mitigation of urban heat, and exploring if the findings would be appropriate to apply to GSI.
What do you see as an important emerging area of ecohydrology?
I think the most important and prescient work that is being done is looking at equity and the built environment. Specifically, I think we need to take a deeper dive into verifying that all the ancillary benefits of urban green infrastructure are actually being realized and which communities are receiving these benefits. I am part of a team hosting an AGU 2021 session entitled “Urban heat, vegetation, and water dynamics: new insights and implications for management and equity” and am looking forward to chatting with colleagues in the field about this important work.
Do you have a favorite ecohydrology paper? Describe/explain.
I find myself thinking a lot about Shorky et al. 2020 where the authors analyze the placement of GSI and the consequent socio-ecological risk in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The authors looked at how GSI sped up gentrification in some Philadelphia neighborhoods and lead to displaced and socio-ecological insecurity for vulnerable populations.
Shokry, G., J. J. Connolly, and I. Anguelovski. 2020. “Understanding climate gentrification and shifting landscapes of protection and vulnerability in green resilient Philadelphia.” Urban Clim. 31 (Mar): 100539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2019.100539.
What do you do for fun (apart from ecohydrology)?
I like to read (mostly fiction), get outside (mountain biking, rock climbing, ice climbing; all the Colorado sports!), garden, cook, and hang out with my family and my dog. I’m looking forward to being able to travel more soon but I have loved all the road trips we have been taking lately.
For me, ecohydrology is an interdisciplinary field that explores relationships between water and ecological systems at different scales and different settings (i.e. developed vs. undeveloped).
What are your undergraduate and graduate degrees in?
I have a BS (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), a MS (CU Boulder), and a PhD (Colorado School of Mines) all in Environmental Engineering. I also am a licensed Professional Environmental Engineer; I am clearly consistent. My degrees and subsequent work experience have focused on urban water and treatment spanning the different types of water (e.g. stormwater, drinking water, grey water, water resources). I label myself as a water engineer.
How did you arrive at working in/thinking about ecohydrology?
My PhD and Postdoc work focused on contextualizing and communicating the ancillary social and environmental benefits associated with green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). As part of this work, I explored the hydrologic-process and vegetated-related benefits of GSI. I really enjoyed diving into the literature that related larger urban green infrastructure installations, like parks, to positive ecological outcomes, like mitigation of urban heat, and exploring if the findings would be appropriate to apply to GSI.
What do you see as an important emerging area of ecohydrology?
I think the most important and prescient work that is being done is looking at equity and the built environment. Specifically, I think we need to take a deeper dive into verifying that all the ancillary benefits of urban green infrastructure are actually being realized and which communities are receiving these benefits. I am part of a team hosting an AGU 2021 session entitled “Urban heat, vegetation, and water dynamics: new insights and implications for management and equity” and am looking forward to chatting with colleagues in the field about this important work.
Do you have a favorite ecohydrology paper? Describe/explain.
I find myself thinking a lot about Shorky et al. 2020 where the authors analyze the placement of GSI and the consequent socio-ecological risk in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The authors looked at how GSI sped up gentrification in some Philadelphia neighborhoods and lead to displaced and socio-ecological insecurity for vulnerable populations.
Shokry, G., J. J. Connolly, and I. Anguelovski. 2020. “Understanding climate gentrification and shifting landscapes of protection and vulnerability in green resilient Philadelphia.” Urban Clim. 31 (Mar): 100539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2019.100539.
What do you do for fun (apart from ecohydrology)?
I like to read (mostly fiction), get outside (mountain biking, rock climbing, ice climbing; all the Colorado sports!), garden, cook, and hang out with my family and my dog. I’m looking forward to being able to travel more soon but I have loved all the road trips we have been taking lately.
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