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Andrew W. Tranmer, Ph.D.

Andy Tranmer, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Office

Center for Ecohydraulics Research

Phone

208-364-6165

Mailing Address

Center for Ecohydraulics Research
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Idaho
322 E. Front Street, Suite 440
Boise, Idaho, 83702

  • Ph.D., University of Idaho, 2013
  • M.E., University of Idaho, 2008
  • B.S., University of California, Davis, 2004

  • Hydrology
  • Water resources
  • Numerical and physical modeling
  • Fluvial geomorphology
  • Sediment transport
  • Channel evolution
  • River restoration

Andy Tranmer’s research addresses the physical processes of complex aquatic systems and their respective influence on ecological resilience for the purposes of responsible alluvial design and river restoration. A greater understanding of the physical mechanics occurring in the riparian corridor allow for prediction of geomorphic evolution, habitat suitability and ecosystem performance to guide sustainable resource management and public policy. A complementary suite of field, numerical and laboratory studies are employed to further the current state of knowledge in these dynamic environments. Recent work in Idaho assessed reservoir operations to guide floodplain sustainability and endangered species recovery. International projects examined pristine fluvial networks in Chilean Patagonia and large-scale flume experiments in Korea to quantify transport mechanics during alluvial channel evolution.

  • Tranmer, A.W., Ji, U., Ahn, M., Jung, S.H., Yager, E.M., 2024. Characterizing erosion and deposition in and around riparian vegetation patches: Complex flow hydraulics, sediment supply, and morphodynamic feedbacks. Water Resources Research, 60, e2023WR034859. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034859.
  • Tranmer, A.W., Benjankar, R., Tonina, D., Vidergar, D., 2023. Identifying failure mechanisms of native riparian forest regeneration in a variable-width floodplain using a spatially distributed riparian forest recruitment model. Ecological Engineering. 187: 106865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2022.106865
  • Tranmer A.W., Camaano, D., Arteaga, A.E., 2022. Urban stream syndrome: quantifying topographic variation along an urban-rural gradient. Journal of Environmental Management. 317: 115413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115413
  • Tranmer A.W., Caamano, D., Clayton, S.R., Giglou, A.N., Goodwin, P., Buffington, J.M., Tonina, D., 2022. Testing the effective-discharge paradigm in gravel-bed river restoration. Geomorphology. 403: 108139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108139
  • Tranmer, A.W., Benjankar, R., Tonina, D., 2020. Post-wildfire riparian forest recovery processes along a regulated river corridor. Forest Ecology and Management. 478: 118513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118513
  • Benjankar, R., Tranmer, A.W., Tonina, D., Vidergar, D., 2020. Riparian Vegetation Model to Predict Seedling Recruitment and Restoration Alternatives. Journal of Environmental Management. 276: 111339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111339
  • Tranmer A.W., Marti, C., Goodwin, P., Tonina, D., Benjankar, R., Weigel, D.E., Imberger, J., 2020. Coupled reservoir-river systems: Lessons from an integrated aquatic ecosystem assessment. Journal of Environmental Management. 260: 110107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110107
  • Tranmer, A.W., Caamaño, D., Goodwin, P., 2020. Evaluation of extremal hypotheses in an undeveloped alluvial river. Progress in Physical Geography. 44: 514-533. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133319886721
  • Tranmer, A.W., Caamaño, D., Goodwin, P., 2020. Identifying dynamic equilibrium of an undeveloped alluvial stream by extremal hypotheses. Catena. 194: 104680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104680
  • Fuentes-Aguilera, P., Caamaño, D., Alcayaga, H., Tranmer, A.W., 2020. The Influence of Pool-Riffle Morphological Features on River Mixing. Water. 12: 1145. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12041145
  • Tranmer, A.W., Goodwin, P., Caamaño, D., 2018. Assessment of alluvial trends toward dynamic equilibrium under chronic climatic forcing. Advances in Water Resources 120: 19-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.11.015
  • Tranmer, A.W., Marti, C.L., Tonina, D., Benjankar, R., Weigel, D.E., Vilhena, L.C., McGrath, C., Goodwin, P., Tiedemann, M., McKean, J., Imberger, J., 2018. A hierarchical modelling framework for assessing physical and biochemical characteristics of a regulated river. Ecological Modelling 368: 78-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.11.010
  • Weigel, D.E., Vilhena, L.C., Woods, P., Tonina, D., Tranmer, A.W., Benjankar, R., Marti, C.L., Goodwin, P., 2017. Aquatic habitat response to climate-driven hydrologic regimes and water operations in a montane reservoir in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Aquatic Sciences 79: 953, 953-966. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-017-0544-1
  • Tranmer, A.W., Goodwin, P., Tonina, D., Benjankar, R., Tiedemann, M. 2015. Floodplain sustainability and dynamic-equilibrium conditions in a canyon environment. Geomorphology 250: 147-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.09.001

  • Geomorphic evolution of deglaciating catchments
  • Integrated reservoir-river interactions
  • Effects of vegetation and sediment transport on river channel evolution
  • Geomorphic sustainability of floodplains in the landscape

Center for Ecohydraulics (CER)

Center for Ecohydraulics Research

Mailing Address:

322 E. Front St., Suite 442
Boise, ID 83702

Phone: 208-364-6164

Email: eyager@uidaho.edu