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Keith M. Reynolds

Keith M. Reynolds
Research Forester
Pacific Northwest Research Station
Ecological Process and Function
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331-8550
United States
Phone
541-750-7434
0000-0002-5286-4754
Email
Current Research
My current work is focused on developing and applying decision-support systems for environmental analysis and planning. I have led development of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system since 1995, a general solution framework that has been applied to many domains, a variety of spatial scales, and in various places around the world.

Vizcarra, Natasha; Povak, Nicholas; Hessburg, Paul; Reynolds, Keith. 2015. Sour streams in appalachia: mapping nature’s buffer against sulfur deposition. Science Findings 175. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 6 p.

McDonnell, Todd C.; Sullivan, Timothy J.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Reynolds, Keith M.; Povak, Nicholas A.; Cosby, Bernard J.; Jackson, William; Salter, R. Brion. 2014. Steady-state sulfur critical loads and exceedances for protection of aquatic ecosystems in the U.S. southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Environmental Management. 146: 407-419.

Reynolds, Keith; Hessburg, Paul; O’Callaghan, Joan. 2014. Restoration planning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee national forest: prescriptions for resilient landscapes. Science Findings 162. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 6 p.

Bollenbacher, Barry L.; Graham, Russell T.; Reynolds, Keith M. 2014. Regional forest landscape restoration priorities: Integrating historical conditions and an uncertain future in the northern Rocky Mountains. Journal of Forestry. 112(5): 474-483.

Povak, Nicholas A.; Hessburg, Paul F.; McDonnell, Todd C.; Reynolds, Keith M.; Sullivan, Timothy J.; Salter, R. Brion; Crosby, Bernard J. 2014. Machine learning and linear regression models to predict catchment-level base cation weathering rates across the southern Appalachian Mountain region, USA. Water Resources Research. 50: 2798-2814.

Povak, Nicholas A.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Reynolds, Keith M.; Sullivan, Timothy J.; McDonnell, Todd C.; Salter, R. Brion. 2013. Machine learning and hurdle models for improving regional predictions of stream water acid neutralizing capacity. Water Resources Research. 49(6): 3531-3546.
Past Research
Recent major applications of EMDS that I have supported include decision support for (1) watershed analysis (Northwest Forest Plan), (2) forest fuels evaluation and fuel treatment planning (Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs), (3) integrated restoration and protection strategy (Forest Service Region 1), (4) maintenance of dispersal habitat for the northern spotted owl (Washington Department of Narural Resources), and (5) soil impacts associated with logging and wildfire (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest).

Reynolds, Keith M.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Miller, Richard E.; Meurisse, Robert T. 2011. Evaluating soil risks associated with severe wildfire and ground-based logging. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-840. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 27 p.

Hessburg, Paul F.; Reynolds, Keith M.; Keane, Robert E.; James, Kevin M.; Salter, R. Brion. 2010. Evaluating wildland fire danger and prioritizing vegetation and fuels treatments. In: Pye, John M.; Rauscher, H. Michael; Sands, Yasmeen; Lee, Danny C.; Beatty, Jerome S., tech. eds. Advances in threat assessment and their application to forest and rangeland management. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-802. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest and Southern Research Stations: 329-352.

Keane, Robert E.; Drury, Stacy A.; Karau, Eva C.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Reynolds, Keith M. 2010. A method for mapping fire hazard and risk across multiple scales and its application in fire management. Ecological Modelling. 221: 2-18.

Reynolds, Keith M.; Hessburg, Paul F.; Keane, Robert E.; Menakis, James P. 2009. National fuel-treatment budgeting in US federal agencies: capturing opportunities for transparent decision-making. Forest Ecology and Management. 258: 2373-2381.

Hessburg, Paul F.; Reynolds, Keith M.; Keane, Robert E.; James, Kevin M.; Salter, R. Brion 2008. Evaluating wildland fire danger and prioritizing vegetation and fuels treatments. Forest Ecology and Management. 247: 1-17.

Gärtner, S.; Reynolds, K.M.; Hessburg, P.F.; Hummel, S.S.; Twery, M. 2008. Decision support for evaluating landscape departure and prioritizing forest management activities in a changing environment. Forest Ecology and Management. 256: 1666-1676.

Reynolds, Keith M., ed. 2006. Sustainable forestry in theory and practice: recent advances in inventory and monitoring, statistics and modeling, information and knowledge management, and policy science. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-688. Portland, OR: U.S. Deparment of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. [CD-ROM]
Research Interest
  • Logic modeling
  • Decision analysis
  • Geospatial analysis
  • Decision support
  • Quantitative landscape ecology
Why This Research Is Important
Contemporary natural resource management typically involves implementing concepts and principles of adaptive ecosystem management in the context of large, complex, and abstract problems, and often requires integrated solutions over two or more spatial scales or multiple assessments spread over time. This research has resulted in the deployment of one of only a very few decision-support technologies capable of addressing all these complexities in a relatively comprehensive and pragmatic way.
Education
  • North Carolina State University, Ph.D., Phytoepidemiology, 1984
  • Oregon State University, M.S., Forest pathology, 1980
  • Oregon State University, B.S., Forest science, 1976
Professional Experience
  • Team leader, Land/Climate Interaction Team,  PNW Research Station,  2010 - Current
  • Research forester,  PNW Research Station,  1987 - Current
Awards & Recognition
  • Deputy Chief's Science delivery Award, 2014
    For exceptional performance in sustained productivity, leadership and science delivery, serving natural resource management in the United States with global applications.
  • PNW Station Director's Award for Science Delivery, 2014
    In recognition of excellence in creative efforts and contributions in science delivery through sustained research for the PNW Research Station.
  • Northern Region, Regional Forester's Award, 2012
    For stewardship of national forests and grasslands for participation in the development of the integrated restoration and protection strategy for the Northern Region.
Featured Publications
Other Publications
Citations of Non-Forest Service Publications
  • Cleland, D.; Reynolds, K.; Vaughan, R.; Schrader, B.; Li, H.; Laing, L.. 2017. Terrestrial condition assessment for national forests of the USDA Forest Service in the continental US. Sustainability. 9: 2144–2163.

  • Povak, N.A.; Hessburg, P.F.; Giardina, C.P.; MacKenzie, R.A.; Reynolds, K.M.; Heider, C,; Salminen, E.; Salter, R.B. 2017. A watershed decision support tool for managing invasive species on Hawaii Island, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 400: 300–320.

  • Reynolds, K.M.; Murphy, P.J.; Paplanus, S. 2017. Toward geodesign for watershed restoration on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Pacific Northwest, USA. Sustainability. 9: 678–696.

  • Reynolds, K.; Bollenbacher, B.; Fisher, C.; Hart, M.; Manning, M.; Henderson, E.; Sims, B. 2016. Decision support for the integrated restoration and protection strategy of Forest Service Region 1. FS-1031. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Published on DVD.

  • Reynolds, K.; Paplanus, S.; Miller, B.; Murphy, P. 2015. Design features behind success of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System and future development. Forests. 6: 27–46.

  • Bollenbacher, B.L.; Graham, R.T.; Reynolds, K.M. 2014. Regional Forest Landscape Restoration Priorities: Integrating Historical Conditions and an Uncertain Future in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Journal of Forestry. 112: 474–483.

  • McDonnell, T.C.; Sullivan, T.J.; Hessburg, P.F.; Reynolds, K.M.; Povak, N.A.; Cosby, B.J.; Jackson, W.; Salter, R.B. 2014. Steady-state sulfur critical loads and exceedances for protection of aquatic ecosystems in the US southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Environmental Management. 146: 407–419.

  • Povak, N.A.; Hessburg, P.F.; McDonnell, T.C.; Reynolds, K.M.; Sullivan, T.J.; Salter, R. B.; Cosby, B.J. 2014. Machine learning and linear regression models to predict catchment-level base cation weathering rates across the southern Appalachian Mountain region, USA, Water Resources Research. 50: 2798–2814.

  • Reynolds, K.M.; Hessburg, P.F.; Bourgeron, P.S. 2014. Synthesis and new directions. In Reynolds, K.M., P.F. Hessburg, and P.S. Bourgeron (eds), Making Transparent Environmental Management Decisions: Applications of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System. Berlin: Springer. Chapter 14.

  • Paplanus, S.; Miller, B.; Murphy, P.; Reynolds, K.; Saunders, M. 2014. EMDS 5.0 and Beyond. In Reynolds, K.M., P.F. Hessburg, and P.S. Bourgeron (eds), Making Transparent Environmental Management Decisions: Applications of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System. Berlin: Springer. Chapter 13.

  • Hessburg, P.F.; Salter, R.B.; Reynolds, K.M.; Dickinson, J.D.; Gaines, W.L.; Harrod, R.J. 2014. Landscape evaluation and restoration planning. In Reynolds, K.M., P.F. Hessburg, and P.S. Bourgeron (eds), Making Transparent Environmental Management Decisions: Applications of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System. Berlin: Springer. Chapter 7.

  • Keane, R.E.; Menakis, J.; Hessburg, P.; Reynolds, K.; Dickinson, J. 2014. Evaluating Wildland fire hazard and risk for fire management applications. In Reynolds, K.M., P.F. Hessburg, and P.S. Bourgeron (eds), Making Transparent Environmental Management Decisions: Applications of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System. Berlin: Springer. Chapter 6.

  • Bourgeron, B.; Humphries, H.; Fisher, C.; Bollenbacher, B.; Reynolds, K. 2014. The integrated restoration and protection strategy of USDA Forest Service Region 1: A road map to improved planning. In Reynolds, K.M., P.F. Hessburg, and P.S. Bourgeron (eds), Making Transparent Environmental Management Decisions: Applications of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support System. Berlin: Springer. Chapter 5.

Research Highlights

Terrestrial Condition Assessment supports agency mission to protect and restore ecosystem integrity in the National Forest System

Year: 2018
Terrestrial Condition Assessment tools provide agency users with a holistic and integrated understanding of the how numerous stressors are affecting the integrity of forest ecosystems on National Forest System lands. The tools are easily customized by region and national forest to improve applicabil...
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/about/people/kreynolds