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Contact Information:

photo of Michael Yard
Name:
Yard, Michael D.
Title:
Biologist (Aquatic)
Discipline(s):
(Not yet specified.)
Research Station:
GCMRC
Work Address:
2255 North Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001
Telephone Number:
(928)556-7374
Email Address:
myard@usgs.gov

Biographical Sketch:

Mike Yard grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and has been professionally involved in the Colorado Plateau and the Colorado River for over 30 years. His interest of water, light and the critters that exist in water have lead him down a circuitous path starting as a river guide and progressing through to a Ph.D. from Northern Arizona University. His research interests are currently focused on fish diets, predator prey relationships and determining what drift particle sizes are utilized by fish and other organisms within the Colorado River. His is an integral part of the workings of GCMRC.

Project List

  • (Not yet specified.)

Publications, Maps, and other Products

  1. Yard M.D. 2003. Light availability and aquatic primary production: Colorado River, Glen and Grand Canyons, AZ. Ph.D. Dissertation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. 205 pp. [Thesis/Dissertation]
  2. Yard M.D., L.E. Coggins Jr., M. Caron, E. Tietjen. 2003. Diet and incidence of predation for rainbow and brown trout near the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. October-2003, Tucson, AZ. [Presentation]
  3. Korman J., M.D. Yard. 2003. One-fish, two-fish, red-fish, blue-fish: An evaluation of the utility of snorkel surveys for estimating population size and tracking trends in relative abundance of rainbow trout in the Lees Ferry reach of the Colorado River. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. October-2003, Tucson, AZ. [Presentation]
  4. Yard M.D., G.E. Bennett, S. Mietz, L.E. Coggins Jr., L.E. Stevens, S. Hueftle, D.W. Blinn. . 2003. Influence of topographic complexity on aquatic ecosystems: solar insolation estimates for the Colorado River. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. October-2003, Tucson, AZ. [Poster]
  5. Coggins L.E., M.D. Yard. 2003. Mechanical removal of non-native fishes in the Colorado River within Grand Canyon: An update on 2003 operations and results. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. October-2003, Tucson, AZ. [Presentation]
  6. Yard M.D., G.E. Bennett, D.W. Blinn. 2002. Autotrophic response to varying physical and biological factors in an altered riverine ecosystem. Ecological Society of America. Tucson, AZ. [Presentation]
  7. Yard M.D., D.W. Blinn. 2001. Algal colonization and recolonization response rates during experimental low summer steady flows. NAU CA:98-FC-40-0540, LSSF Final Report. 60pp. [Technical Report]
  8. Yard M .D., D.W. Blinn. 2001. LSSF Experiment: phytobenthic colonization. River Ecosystem Science Symposium. April-2001, Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  9. Meitz S., M.D. Yard, S. Wyse. 2001. Using habitat mapping for fish sampling design in Glen Canyon. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. April-2001, Flagstaff, AZ. [Poster]
  10. Yard M.D., D.W. Blinn. 2001. Primary production rates under varying light, temperature and biomass. Colorado River Ecosystem Science Symposium. April-2001, Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  11. Fritzinger C., M.J. Liszewski, T. Melis, S. Mietz, B. Ralston, M. Yard, B. Gold. 2000. Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center: A science plan for WY 2000 low summer steady flows. [Technical Report]
  12. Fritzinger C., M. Liszewski, T. Melis, S. Mietz, B. Ralston, M. Yard, B. Gold. 2000. A science plan for WY 2000 low summer steady flows. Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. April, 2000. [Technical Report]
  13. Fritzinger C., M.Liszewski, T. Melis, S. Meitz, B.Ralston, M.D. Yard., B.Gold. 2000. A science plan for WY-2000 Low Summer Steady Flows. USGS-GCMRC 73 pp. [Technical Report]
  14. Yard M.D., D.W. Blinn. 2000. Factors influencing benthic algal standing mass in the Colorado River: light temperature and velocity. NAU CA:98-FC-40-0540, GCMRC 2000 Annual Report. 15 pp. [Technical Report]
  15. Yard M.D., D.W. Blinn. 1999. Reservoir and river linkages: physical, chemical and biological processes regulating the physics of underwater light availability. Fifth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  16. Stevens L.E., M.D. Yard, G.E. Bennett. 1999. Distribution of solar radiation in the Colorado River ecosystem in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Ecological Society of America. Snow Bird, UT. [Presentation]
  17. Wegner D.L., V.J. Meretsky, M.D. Yard. 1997. Restoration of dam impacted ecosystems: the use of a controlled flood on the Colorado River. Seventh International Symposium on Regulated Streams (SISORS III)., Chattanooga, TN. [Presentation]
  18. Yard M.D., G.E. Bennett, L.E. Stevens, D.W. Blinn, J. Shannon. 1996. A mechanistic approach used to model gross primary production in the Colorado River. North American Benthological Society. Kalspell, MT. [Presentation]
  19. Yard M.D. 1996. Razorback suckers, Xyrauchen texanus: Physical habitat and geomorphic characteristics of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. USBR Razorback Sucker Workshop. Laughlin, NV. [Presentation]
  20. Ayers T.J., R.W. Scott, L.E. Stevens, K. Warren, A. Phillips III, M.D. Yard. . 1995. Additions to the flora of Grand Canyon National Park - I. J. Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 28:70-75. [Journal Article]
  21. Protiva F., M.D. Yard. 1995. An integrated approach to modeling thermal and topographic features at tributary confluences. NBS, Third Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. Flagstaff, AZ. [Poster]
  22. Protiva F., M.D. Yard. 1995. Modeling physical habitat features under fluctuating discharges at the confluence of the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon. Desert Fishes Council. Reno, NV. [Poster]
  23. Yard M.D., G.E. Bennett, L.E. Stevens. 1995. A mechanistic model: predicted gross primary production for the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, AZ. NBS, Third Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  24. Yard M.D., G.E. Bennett, L.E. Stevens. 1995. A mechanistic model to predict PAR in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, AZ. Ecological Society of America. Snow Bird, UT. [Presentation]
  25. Yard M.D., L.E. Stevens, A.G. Haden, D.W. Blinn, W.Verneiu. 1994. Light attenuation, sediment concentration and fluvial ecosystem responses in the regulated Colorado River, Grand Canyon, AZ. Ecological Society of America. Knoxville, TN. [Presentation]
  26. Yard M.D., L.E. Stevens, D.W. Blinn, J. Shannon. 1994. Limnology and lower trophic levels of the Colorado River: from Lake Powell through the Grand Canyon. American Fisheries Society, Western Division. Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  27. Yard M.D., G.A. Haden, W.S. Vernieu. 1993. Photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) in the Colorado river: Glen and Grand Canyons. USBR, GCES Phase II report. 66 pp. [Technical Report]
  28. Haden G.A., M.D. Yard, D.L. Wegner. 1993. Survival of the native fishes in the Grand Canyon: is it a losing proposal? . NPS, Second Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]
  29. Yard M.D., R.D. Williams, D.L. Wegner. 1990. Feasibility of employing radiotelemetry in the Grand Canyon on the endangered humpback chub. USBR, GCES Phase II Report. 49 pp. [Technical Report]
  30. Anderson L.S., L.M. Lucas, M. McGee, M.D. Yard, G.A. Ruffner. 1986. Aquatic habitat analysis for low and high flows of the Colorado river in Grand Canyon. USBR, GCES Phase I report. 59 pp. [Technical Report]