DRI / DIRECTORY / ALAN HEYVAERT
Alan Heyvaert Profile Photo
Dr. Alan Heyvaert
Associate Research Professor, Biochemistry

Professional Interests

Dr. Heyvaert is a limnologist at the Desert Research Institute with professional experience in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. His fields of interest include biogeochemistry, paleolimnology and watershed management. He has worked for many years on water quality issues in the Lake Tahoe Basin, with an applied research focus on the effective design of stormwater monitoring systems and performance evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). During this time, Dr. Heyvaert has also contributed to the continuing efforts of resource management agencies at Lake Tahoe to coordinate their research and monitoring programs. He is an active member of the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program and has been a principal investigator for the Tahoe TMDL.

As a biogeochemist, Dr. Heyvaert is particularly interested in nutrient budgets and mass balance models for watershed management. He has developed numerous research projects and directed studies on nutrient and pollutant loadings to lakes, rivers and reservoirs in the western U.S. and South America. His technical interests include nutrient chemistry, elemental and stable isotope analyses, radionuclide chemistry, and geochemical biomarkers. In the field of paleolimnology he has investigated historical patterns of change in lakes and watersheds of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin. These studies have included Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake and Mono Lake, where his research has focused on ecosystem response to anthropogenic impacts and changes related to the Holocene paleoclimate.

Education

Degree Year Institution Area
Ph.D. 1998 University of California, Davis Ecology
B.A. 1982 University of Colorado, Boulder Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology

Academic Affiliations

 

Keywords

biogeochemistry, limnology, ecology, stormwater, watershed management, paleolimnology, paleoecology, water quality, sustainability, monitoring, sediment, ecosystem, nutrient chemistry

 

Publications
2023
Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J., Naranjo, R. (2023). Water Quality Working Group Response to Outline of Thresholds Standards Update. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV, January 2021

Buxton, A., Heyvaert, A. C., Leisenring, M., Feldman, J., Orr, A. (2023). Tahoe Stormwater Treatment BMPs in a Changing Climate. Tahoe Resource Conservation District: South Lake Tahoe CA, July 2023

Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, G., Naranjo, R., Melack, J., Chandra, S. (2023). Clarity Coordination Memorandum. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV, August 2023

Hershey, R. L., Lutz, A. D., Rybarski, S. C., Heyvaert, A. C., Cooper, C. A. (2023). Leviathan Mine Remedial Investigation Report, Suggested Re-Analysis Ideas for Groundwater Data, August 2023

Heyvaert, A. C. (2023). Screening Protocols and Results from Laboratory Bench-Scale Testing of Convergent Media Formulations, October 2023

2022
Heyvaert, A. C., Naranjo, R., Melack, J., Watanabe, S., Schladow, G., Chandra, S. (2022). Lake Tahoe Clarity and Associated Conditions, 2022, Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV

Naranjo, R. C., Work, P., Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, G., Cortes, A., Watanabe, S., Tanaka, L., Elci, S. (2022). Seasonal and Long-Term Clarity Trend Assessment of Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5070, 10.3133/sir20225070

Buxton, A., Heyvaert, A. C. (2022). Caldor Fire Stormwater Impact Report, Tahoe Resource Conservation District: South Lake Tahoe, CA

Chandra, S., Scordo, F., Suenaga, E., Blaszczak, J., Seitz, C., Carlson, E., Loria, K., Brahney, J., Sadro, S., Schladow, G., Forrest, A., Larrieu, K., Watanabe, S., Heyvaert, A. C., Williamson, C., Overholt, E. (2022). Impacts of Smoke-Ash from the 2021 Wildfires to the Ecology of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV

2021
Bess, Z., Chandra, S., Erin, S., Kelson, S., Heyvaert, A. C. (2021). Zooplankton influences on phytoplankton, water clarity, and nutrients in Lake Tahoe, Aquatic Sciences, 83 (26)

Heyvaert, A. C., Naranjo, R. C., Watanabe, S., Melack, J., Schladow, G., Chandra, S. (2021). Summary Science Report on Lake Tahoe Clarity and Associated Conditions, 2021. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV, August 2021

Heyvaert, A. C. (2021). The Data Synthesis and Analysis (DSA) Project Process. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV, October 2021

2019
Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, S. G., Dettinger, M. D., Naranjo, R. C., Sadro, S. (2019). Linking Science to Action: A Framework to Advance Science-Based Management for Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV

Heyvaert, A. C. (2019). Vulnerability Assessment: Watershed Hydrology and StreamflowChapter : . In , Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Edited by Catalyst Environmental Solutions for the California Tahoe Conservancy: South Lake Tahoe, CA

Rajagopal, S., Pohll, G. M., Heyvaert, A. C. (2019). Vulnerability Assessment: Groundwater HydrologyChapter : . In , Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Edited by Catalyst Environmental Solutions for the California Tahoe Conservancy: South Lake Tahoe, CA

Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, S. G. (2019). Science to Action Planning, Project Briefing and Science Vision for Lake Tahoe, 2019. Tahoe Science Advisory Council: Incline Village, NV

2018
Chellman, N. J., McConnell, J. R., Heyvaert, A. C., Arienzo, M. M., Wennrich, V. (2018). Incandescence-based single-particle method for black carbon quantification in lake sediment cores, Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 16 (11), 711-721. Wiley Online Library

Heyvaert, A. C. (2018). Structuring Data to Facilitate Management of Threshold Standards at Lake Tahoe

2017
Qualls, R. C., Heyvaert, A. C. (2017). Accretion of nutrients and sediment by a constructed stormwater treatment wetland in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 53 (6), 1495-1512

Forrester, H. A., Clow, D., Roche, J., Heyvaert, A. C. (2017). Effects of backpacker use, pack stock trail use, and pack stock grazing on water-quality indicators, including nutrients, E-coli, hormones and pharmaceuticals, in Yosemite National Park, USA, Environmental Management, 60 (3), 526-543

McCrum, M. J., Heyvaert, A. C., Schmidt, C. A. (2017). Evaluation of Pinyon-Juniper Biochar as a Media Amendment for Stormwater Treatment

2016
Heyvaert, A. C., Fitzgerald, B. C., Morton, C. G., McGwire, K. C., Susfalk, R. B. (2016). Pilot Implementation of the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Monitoring Framework for Clarity Metrics, DRI Report No. 41267

Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Qualls, R. G., Sansalone, J. J., Midgette, J. R. (2016). Tahoe Stormwater Assessment and Management for Urban and Roadway Runoff

2015
Heyvaert, A. C., Susfalk, R. B., Fitzgerald, B. C., Buxton, A. (2015). Performance Evaluation of Two Stormwater Filtration Treatment Devices Installed by the Nevada Department of Transportation, DRI Report No. 41264

Golden, P., Heyvaert, A. C., Thomas, J. M., Edwards, R. (2015). IPC Payette Basin Silver Sampling, Final Report

2014
Rios, D. T., Chandra, S., Heyvaert, A. C. (2014). The importance of small urbanized watersheds to pollutant loading in a large oligotrophic subalpine lake of the western USA, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186 (11), 7893-7907

2013
Sahoo, G. B., Nover, D. M., Reuter, J. E., Heyvaert, A. C., Riverson, J., Schladow, S. G. (2013). Nutrient and particle load estimates to Lake Tahoe (CA-NV, USA) for Total Maximum Daily Load establishment, Science of the Total Environment, 444, 579-590

Segale, H. M., Parra, A. C., Heyvaert, A. C. (2013). The Polaris Creek Restoration Project

Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Chandra, S., Susfalk, R. B., Schladow, S. G., Hackley, S. G. (2013). Lake Tahoe Nearshore Evaluation and Monitoring Framework. Final report prepared for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

2011
Bisiaux, M. M., Edwards, R., Heyvaert, A. C., Thomas, J. M., Fitzgerald, B. C., Susfalk, R. B., Schladow, S. G., Thaw, M. N. (2011). Stormwater and Fire as Sources of Black Carbon Nanoparticles to Lake Tahoe, Environmental Science and Technology, 45 (6), 2065-2071, 10.1021/es103819v

2009
Osleger, D. A., Heyvaert, A. C., Stoner, J. S., Verosub, K. L. (2009). Lacustrine turbidites as indicators of Holocene storminess and climate: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, Journal of Paleolimnology, 42, 103-122

Lopus, S. E., Bachand, P. A., Heyvaert, A. C., Werner, I., Teh, S. J., Reuter, J. E. (2009). Potential toxicity concerns from chemical coagulation treatment of stormwater in the Tahoe basin, California, USA, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 72, 1933-1941

Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Thomas, J. M. (2009). Water QualityChapter Water Quality. In , Comprehensive Science Plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin: Conceptual Framework and Research Strategies

Heyvaert, A. C., Chandra, S., Fritsen, C. H., Hershey, R. L., Moser, D. P., Stone, M. C., Bruckner, J., Lutz, A. D., Memmot, J., Umek, J., Thomas, J. M. (2009). Contemporary Limnology of Walker Lake, NevadaChapter Contemporary Limnology of Walker Lake, Nevada. In , Restoration of a Desert Lake in an Agriculturally Dominated Watershed: The Walker Lake Basin

Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Thomas, J. M. (2009). Development of a Long-Term Integrated Tahoe Regional Stormwater Monitoring Network

Heyvaert, A. C., Patterson, S., Brown, S., Reuter, J. E., Strasenburgh, C. (2009). Cultured Ecology Generation 2: Demonstrating Nutrient and Fine Particle Removal from Tahoe Basin Stormwater

Heyvaert, A. C., Mihevc, T. M., Thomas, J. M., Miller, W. M., Reuter, J. E. (2009). Evaluating an Approach for Cost-Benefit Analysis of Project Alternatives. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, July 31, 2009, Prepared for Nevada Division of State Lands, 901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 5003, Carson City, NV 89701

Stone, M. C., Heyvaert, A. C., Chandler, C., Fritsen, C. H., Hershey, R. L., Moser, D. P., Bruckner, J., Lutz, A. D., Memmott, J. C., Acharya, K. (2009). Ecological model for Walker Lake, Nevada. In Restoration of a Desert Lake in an agriculturally dominated watershed: The Walker Lake Basin
https://www.dri.edu/cwes/walker-lake-basin

Heyvaert, A. C., Chandra, S., Fritsen, C. H., Hershey, R. L., Moser, D. P., Stone, M. C., Bruckner, J., Lutz, A. D., Memmott, J. C., Umek, J. W., Thomas, J. M. (2009). Contemporary Limnology of Walker Lake, Nevada. Final Report submitted to the Walker Basin Project. In: Restoration of a Desert Lake in an Agriculturally Dominated Watershed: The Walker Lake Basin. (Eds) M.W. Collopy and J.M. Thomas.

2008
Coats, R., Larsen, M., Heyvaert, A. C., Thomas, J. M., Luck, M., Reuter, J. E. (2008). Nutrient and sediment production, watershed characteristics and land use in the Tahoe Basin, California-Nevada, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 44, 754-770

Richerson, P. J., Suchanek, T. H., Zierenberg, R. A., Osleger, D. A., Heyvaert, A. C., Slotton, D. G., EaglesSmith, C. A., Vaughn, C. E. (2008). Anthropogenic stressors and changes in the Clear Lake ecosystem as recorded in sediment cores, Ecological Applications, 18, 257-283

Osleger, D. A., Heyvaert, A. C., Stoner, J. S., Verosub, K. L. (2008). Lacustrine turbidites as indicators of Holocene storminess and climate: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

Heyvaert, A. C., Parra, A., Strasenburgh, C., Townsend, R. (2008). Brockway Project Area Stormwater Runoff and Characterization Study

Heyvaert, A. C., Parra, A., Townsend, R., Strasenburgh, C. (2008). Upper Cutthroat Infiltration Testing and Stormwater Runoff Study

2007
Patterson, S., Heyvaert, A. C., Strasenburgh, C. (2007). Pilot Water Quality Treatment System for the Lake Tahoe Basin: Phosphorus and Fine Particle Removal by Cultured Periphyton

2006
Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Goldman, C. R. (2006). Subalpine, cold climate, stormwater treatment with a constructed surface flow wetland, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 42, 45-54

2005
Chandra, S., Vander Zanden, M. J., Heyvaert, A. C., Richards, B. C., Allen, B. C., Goldman, C. R. (2005). The effects of cultural eutrophication on the coupling between pelagic primary producers and benthic consumers, Limnology and Oceanography, 50, 1368-1376

Kent, G. M., Babcock, J. M., Driscoll, N. W., Harding, A. J., Dingler, J. A., Seitz, G. G., Gardner, J. V., Mayer, L. A., Goldman, C. R., Heyvaert, A. C., Richards, R. C., Karlin, R., Morgan, C. W., Gayes, P. T., Owen, L. A. (2005). 60 k.y. record of extension across the western boundary of the Basin and Range province: Estimate of slip rates from offset shoreline terraces and a catastrophic slide beneath Lake Tahoe, Geology, 33, 365-368.

Thomas, J. M., Mihevc, T. M., Cooper, C. A., Gunter, M., Heyvaert, A. C., Michalski, G. (2005). Groundwater Nutrient Loading to Lake Tahoe in a Near-Shore Area with High Turbidity and Chlorophyll, DRI Report No. 41213

Heyvaert, A. C., Mihevc, T. M., Jacobson, R. L. (2005). Efficiency Assessment of Stormwater Treatment Vaults in the Round Hill General Improvement District — Final Report, DRI Report No. 41216

2000
Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Slotton, D. G., Goldman, C. R. (2000). Paleolimnological reconstruction of historical atmospheric lead and mercury deposition at Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada, Environmental Science and Technology, 34, 3588-3597

1989
Weibezahn, F. H., Heyvaert, A. C., Lasi, M. A. (1989). Lateral mixing of the waters of the Orinoco, Atabapo, and the Guaviare Rivers after their confluence in southern Venezuela, Acta Cientifica Venezolana, 40, 263-270

Conference Proceedings
2023
Buxton, A., Heyvaert, A. C., Leisenring, M. (2023). BMP Evaluation for a Changing Climate. Storm-Water Quality Improvement Committee (SWQIC): South Lake Tahoe, CA, October 18, 2023-October 18, 2023

2022
Bess, Z., Chandra, S., Suenaga, E., Kelson, S., Heyvaert, A. C. (2022). Effects of zooplankton and Mysis diluvian on phytoplankton, water clarity, and nutrients in Lake Tahoe, Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies, Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM): Grand Rapids, MI, May 14, 2022-May 20, 2022

2019
Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, S. G., Larsen, R. (2019). Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Science Advisory Council (TSAC). Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA): Reno, NV, September 25, 2019-September 26, 2019

2018
Heyvaert, A. C., Schladow, S. G., Reuter, J. E. (2018). Evaluation of Wildfire Smoke Fallout Effects on Lake Tahoe. Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA): Reno, NV, September 25, 2018-September 26, 2018

2017
Heyvaert, A. C., Leisenring, M., Susfalk, R. B., Dan, P., Buxton, A. (2017). Advances in Real-Time Stormwater Data Acquisition, Management and Analysis for the Lake Tahoe Basin. California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA): Sacramento, CA, September 26, 2017-September 27, 2017

Heyvaert, A. C., Qualls, R. (2017). Performance Characteristics of a Cold-Climate Constructed Treatment Wetland. North American Lake Management Society (NALMS): Westminster, CO, November 6, 2017-November 9, 2017

2016
Chellman, N. J., McConnell, J. R., Heyvaert, A. C., Brigham-Grette, J., Melles, M., Wennrich, V., Svensson, A. (2016). 150 kyr History of Arctic Black Carbon Deposition Recorded by Paired Ice Core and Sediment Core Records from Lake El’gygytgyn and NEEM. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting Supplement: San Francisco, CA, December 12, 2016-December 16, 2016, Abstract C12A-06

Chellman, N. J., McConnell, J. R., Arienzo, M. M., Heyvaert, A. C., Vannière, B. (2016). Using paired ice core and sediment core records to evaluate Holocene black carbon flux and fire history across the Northern Hemisphere. 2nd Open Science Conference, International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences (IPICS): Hobart, Tasmania, March 7, 2016-March 11, 2016

Heyvaert, A. C., Fitzgerald, B. C., Morton, C. G., McGwire, K. C., Susfalk, R. B. (2016). Evaluating Nearshore Clarity Conditions and Linkages to Watershed Management Objectives at Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada. North American Lake Management Society (NALMS): Banff, Canada, November 1, 2016-November 4, 2016

2015
Tai, Y., Chen, L.-W.A., X. Wang, Chow, J. C., Heyvaert, A. C., Knue, J. D., Watson, J. G., Zhang, M. (2015). Atmospheric Deposition of Particulate Matter in the Lake Tahoe Basin: Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Implications for Lake Clarity. Nevada Water Resources Association (NWRA) Conference: Reno, NV, January 26, 2015-January 29, 2015

Chellman, N. J., McConnell, J. R., Arienzo, M. M., Heyvaert, A. C., Vannière, B. (2015). Evaluating and interpreting a new method for measuring BC in lake sediment cores using paired ice core and sediment core records from the Northern Hemisphere. International Conference on Carbonaceous Particles in the Atmosphere (ICCPA): Berkeley, CA, August 10, 2015-August 13, 2015

Johnson, B., Noble, P., Heyvaert, A. C., Chandra, S., Karlin, R. (2015). Anthropogenic and Climatic Influences on the Diatom Flora within the Fallen Leaf Watershed, Lake Tahoe Basin, California. International Association of Limnogeology: Reno, NV, June 15, 2015-June 19, 2015

Heyvaert, A. C. (2015). Climate Change Patterns and Implications for Management Practices in the Truckee River Basin. International Association of Limnogeology: Reno, NV, June 15, 2015-June 19, 2015

Stevens, A. D., Heyvaert, A. C., Chandra, S., Susfalk, R. B. (2015). Evaluation of Nearshore Water Clarity Conditions at Lake Tahoe. Nevada Water Resources Association Conference: Reno, NV, January 26, 2015-January 29, 2015

Stevens, A. D., Fitzgerald, B. C., Heyvaert, A. C., McGwire, K. C., Chandra, S., Susfalk, R. B. (2015). Evaluation of Nearshore Water Clarity Conditions at Lake Tahoe. 2015 Tahoe Science Conference, September 21, 2015-September 23, 2015

2014
Heyvaert, A. C., Reuter, J. E., Chandra, S., Schladow, S. G., Susfalk, R. B. (2014). Developing an Approach for Integrated Evaluation of Water Quality and Ecological Conditions at Lake Tahoe, CA-NV. American Water Resources Association IWRM Conference: Reno, NV, June 30, 2014-July 2, 2014

Heyvaert, A. C. (2014). Integrated Nearshore Monitoring: What is it good for? A case study from Lake Tahoe. North American Lake Management Society: Tampa, FL, November 12, 2014-November 14, 2014

Heyvaert, A. C. (2014). Response of endorheic Pyramid Lake to climate change and management practices in the Truckee River Basin. Geological Society of America: Vancouver, BC, Canada, October 19, 2014-October 22, 2014

Coats, R. N., Heyvaert, A. C., Lewis, J., Reuter, J., Sahoo, G. B., Schladow, G., Thorne, J. H. (2014). Is Lake Tahoe Terminal?. American Geophysical Union: San Francisco, CA, December 15, 2014-December 19, 2014

2013
Heyvaert, A. C., Susfalk, R. B., Schladow, S. G., Reuter, J. E. (2013). Assessing turbidity, clarity, and suspended fine particle concentrations in Lake Tahoe. Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR): South Lake Tahoe, CA, June 11, 2013-June 13, 2013

Heyvaert, A. C., Susfalk, R. B., Schladow, S. G., Reuter, J. E. (2013). Using data for management and monitoring decisions at Lake Tahoe. California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA): Squaw Valley, CA, September 9, 2013-September 11, 2013

2012
Heyvaert, A. C., Caldwell, T. G., Nover, D. M., Towbridge, W., Schladow, G., Reuter, J. E., Thomas, J. M. (2012). Characterization of Fine Suspended Particulates in Tahoe Basin Stormwater. 2012 Tahoe Science Conference: Incline Village, NV, May 22, 2012-May 24, 2012

Bisiaux, M. M., Edwards, R. R., Heyvaert, A. C. (2012). Distribution and fate of black carbon nanonparticles from regional urban pollution and wildfire at a large subalpine lake in the western United States. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012: Vienna, Austria

2011
Johnson, B. E., Noble, P. J., Chandra, S., Heyvaert, A. C., Trowbridge, W. (2011). Cyclotelloid to araphid-dominated diatom community shift in Castle Lake, Siskiyou County, CA. Geological Society of America: Minneapolis, MN, October 9, 2011-October 12, 2011

2008
Bruckner, J., Fritsen, C. H., Memmott, J. C., Hershey, R. L., Heyvaert, A. C., Moser, D. P. (2008). Microbial communities of a saline, alkaline terminal lake (Walker Lake, NV), American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting: Boston, MA, June 2008, Poster No. N-116.