Studying the interdependencies of river and human systems at Colorado State University
Recent News
02/05/2026 Nick Christensen wins best presentation at CPRW Flash Talks
PhD candidate Nick Christensen won “best talk” at Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed’s flash talks. His presentation on modeling flood attenuation across river networks struck just the right balance between rigorous science and well-timed humor. Congratulations, Nick!
12/11/2025 New decision support tool improves river management collaboration
Research assistant Rachel Spurrier has written a story for CSU SOURCE highlighting the group’s work. The team developed a new decision-support tool to improve collaboration in river management, combining data, modeling, and visualization so users can explore scenarios and tradeoffs more easily. Read the full story to learn more.
01/21/2026 Mariah Papac begins sustainability fellowship program
Master’s student, Mariah Papac, who was named a fellow in the Diana Wall Sustainability Leadership Fellows Program in fall 2025, officially kicked off the program in January 2026. Over the coming months, she’ll take part in interactive workshops focused on building leadership skills, strengthening professional communication, and translating her sustainability expertise into meaningful career impact.
Rivers and floodplains are complex, resilient systems that have been altered around the world.
My research focuses on understanding the complexities of river systems, the impacts of human alterations, the importance of river restoration.