Juli Scamardo (PI)

I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University. Prior to starting at USU, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Vermont and a graduate student at Colorado State University. As a fluvial geomorphologist, I'm particularly interested in studying how rivers and streams respond and are resilient to natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as floods, fires, storms, and land use change. I combine field-based measurements with remote sensing and numerical modeling in order to understand river and floodplain dynamics across scales. When I'm not studying rivers in the lab, you can find me enjoying them outside! 

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Bethany Blakey (MS Student)

Bethany's research focuses on quantifying drivers of geomorphic change in non-perennial streams. She earned a B.S. in Geoscience at the University of Montana in 2025, where she studied the impact of small dam removal on the ecology and geomorphology of a creek using citizen science data. Bethany also spent time working as a park ranger at Craters of the Moon National Monument and researching the impact of juniper encroachment on soil-water flow at Colorado School of Mines. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and reading. 

Wes Johnston (MS Student)

Wes's research will be focused on aspects of stream drying in the Bear River Mountains. He earned his B.A. in Geology from Whitman College, where his undergraduate research focused on how channel morphology controls flood responses to the June 2022 Yellowstone flood. Since graduating, he has worked as an arborist in Washington and a hydrology consultant in California. When he’s not in the field or lab, he can be found trail running, backcountry skiing, playing basketball, or making woodcut prints.