Publications by Bill Dennison

IAN is committed to producing practical, user-centered communications that foster a better understanding of science and enable readers to pursue new opportunities in research, education, and environmental problem-solving. Our publications synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques.

Guanabara Bay Report Card (Page 1)

Guanabara Bay Report Card

Dave Nemazie, Alexandra Fries, Bill Dennison ·

This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of health in Guanabara’s Bay and basin using data from 2013-2015. Guanabara Bay health and Guanabara Bay Basin health are defined as the progress of five water quality indicators toward scientifically-derived thresholds or goals. The indicators are combined into two water quality scores, one score for the Bay, and one for the Basin.

Ecological Forecasting and the Science of Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay (Page 1)

Ecological Forecasting and the Science of Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay

Testa JM, Clark JB, Dennison WC, Donovan EC, Fisher AW, Ni W, Parker M, Scavia D, Spitzer SE, Waldrop AM, Vargas V, And Ziegler G ·

Chronic seasonal low oxygen condition (hypoxia) occurs in the deep waters of Chesapeake Bay as a result of eutrophication-induced phytoplankton blooms and their subsequent decomposition. Summertime hypoxia has been observed in Chesapeake Bay for over 80 years, with scientific attention and understanding increasing substantially during the past several decades after rigorous and routine monitoring programs were put in place.

Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in Chesapeake Bay: Sentinel Species in a Changing World (Page 1)

Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in Chesapeake Bay: Sentinel Species in a Changing World

Orth RJ, Dennison WC, Lefcheck JS, Gurbisz C, Hannam M, Keisman J, Landry JB, Moore KA, Murphy RR, Patrick CJ, Testa J, Weller DE, And Wilcox DJ ·

Chesapeake Bay has undergone profound changes since European settlement. Increases in human and livestock populations, associated changes in land use, increases in nutrient loadings, shoreline armoring, and depletion of fish stocks have altered the important habitats within the Bay. Submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a critical foundational habitat and provides numerous benefits and services to society.

2016 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (Page 1)

2016 Chesapeake Bay Report Card

Caroline Donovan, Alexandra Fries, Dylan Taillie, Bill Dennison ·

This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of Chesapeake Bay. In 2016, the report card includes five water quality indicators and two biotic indicators. In 2016, the overall grade for Chesapeake Bay is a 54%, a C. This means the Bay is in moderate health. Long term trends of each reporting region health and a fisheries index are also presented. For further details, visit the Report Card Website.

IAN Report Card 2015 (Page 1)

IAN Report Card 2015

Bill Dennison, Jamie Testa, Jane Hawkey, Emily Nastase ·

The aim of this report card was to complete IAN's first annual report. IAN staff reflected back on accomplishments from 2015 and developed indicators in 3 categories: social impacts, ecological outcomes, and partnership satisfaction. IAN received an overall grade of a B+.

Report cards and system dynamics modelling (Page 1)

Report cards and system dynamics modelling

Simon Costanzo, Bill Dennison, Alexandra Fries, Heath Kelsey, Dave Nemazie, Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen, Emily Nastase ·

This newsletter summarizes the outcomes of a workshop exploring the linkages and potential benefits of combining river basin health report cards and system dynamics modelling. These two approaches have traditionally been utilized separate from each other, however merging the two will lead to better management of the world's river basins.

Ecological Drought in the Southeast United States (Page 1)

Ecological Drought in the Southeast United States

Brianne Walsh, Simon Costanzo, Bill Dennison ·

The Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and their managing organization, the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey, have chosen the emerging climate science field of Ecological Drought as a research focus area. This newsletter highlights the outcomes of a two-day workshop held in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of a series of meetings at each of the nation’s eight CSCs.

Ecological drought in the South Central United States (Page 1)

Ecological drought in the South Central United States

Brianne Walsh, Simon Costanzo, Bill Dennison ·

The Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and their managing organization, the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey, have chosen the emerging climate science field of Ecological Drought as a research focus area. This newsletter highlights the outcomes of a two-day workshop held in Norman, Oklahoma, as part of a series of meetings at each of the nation’s eight CSCs.

Ecological Drought in the Northeast United States (Page 1)

Ecological Drought in the Northeast United States

Brianne Walsh, Simon Costanzo, Bill Dennison ·

The Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and their managing organization, the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center at the U.S. Geological Survey, have chosen the emerging climate science field of Ecological Drought as a research focus area. This newsletter highlights the outcomes of a two-day workshop held in Amherst, Massachusetts, as part of a series of meetings at each of the nation’s eight CSCs.