Juli Scamardo (PI)

I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Water, Earth, and Environmental Science at Utah State University. Prior to starting at USU, I earned my PhD at Colorado State University and was then a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Vermont. As a fluvial geomorphologist, I'm particularly interested in studying how rivers and floodplains respond and are resilient to natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as floods, fires, land cover change, and restoration. 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 (PhD Student)

Bethany's research focuses on quantifying the magnitude and drivers of sediment storage and geomorphic change in non-perennial rivers and floodplains.  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 aims to understand the influence of large wood on pond and pool formation in non-perennial streams and how that impacts streamflow permanence in headwaters. 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. 

Undergrad STUDENTS

Alumni