Making Waves: William Graf

Making Waves is the podcast of the Society for Freshwater Science

Episode 5: Reservoirs, Sediment, & Their Biological Impacts, Dr. William Graf

In this month's podcast, Dr. William Graf discusses how different types of dams influence river processes and their downstream ecology, with a focus on hydropower and sediment.  He also discusses the need to apply theory in ecology for solving real-world problems.  

Dr. William Graf is University Foundation Distinguished Professor of Geography Emeritus at the University of South Carolina and Regents Professor of Geography Emeritus at Arizona State University. He is also a Senior River Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and was a plenary speaker at the 2013 Society for Freshwater Science meeting in Jacksonville.

Dr. Graf's research focuses on geomorphology and hydrology of rivers, and the intersection of science and policy for public land and water. He has conducted research and served in science management and oversight positions associated with water quality, water quantity, aquatic and riparian habitats, and endangered species in a variety of systems including the Klamath River of California and Oregon, Colorado River, Rio Grande in New Mexico, Platte River in Nebraska, the Everglades, and the Congaree River in South Carolina.

His more than 120 papers and book chapters along with several books resulted from funding by agencies such as the National Park Service, National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, National Geographic Society, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and a variety of state and local agencies.

Graf has served as a consultant and expert witness in more than 30 legal cases involving rivers, and has served on more than 20 National Research Council boards or committees as member and chair. He was a member of the Presidential Commission on American Heritage Rivers and presently serves as a member of the Environmental Advisory Board to the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has been a member of a special advisory team on environmental restoration for the Executive Office of the President.

Running time: 11 minutes
Host: Eric Moody
Published: 8/15/2013

Listen to the podcast

• Listen on the SFS YouTube Channel
• High Quality MP3 (7.6 Mb)
• Low Quality MP3 (4.4 Mb)