Faculty/Staff Profile Title

Refereed Journal Articles

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Turtle Times and Tales, "Turtle Times and Tales," Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Hawk Mtn Scout Res., Hamburg, PA. (2025).

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Turtle Times and Tales, "Turtle Times and Tales," Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Hawk Mtn Scout Res., Hamburg, PA. (2025).

Kemp, S. J. PA Master Naturalist class, "Water in the Landscape," PA Master Naturalist Program, Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro PA. (2025).

Kemp, S. J. MD Master Naturalist Class, "Watershed functions: connections between land, water, and organisms," MD Master Naturalist, Baltimore, MD. (2025).

Kemp, M. J., Osgood, D., Erb, B., Stinson, J., George, D., & Kemp, S. J. 27th annual Watershed Congress, "Angelica Creek Watershed – Tales of Hope and Heartbreak," Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Alvernia University. (2025).

Kemp, M. J., & Kemp, S. J. Joint conference of PA, OH, and WV American Fisheries Society, "Love on the Rocks: Behavioral and non- behavioral factors in determining mating success in Common Shiners (Luxilus cornutus) in NE Maryland, USA," PA, OH, and WV American Fisheries Society, Wheeling, WV. (2025).

Kemp, S. J., Jerez, L. A., Smith, V. B., & Welker, A. L. Freshwater Science annual meeting, "CAN NEW STORMWATER BMPS IN A REDEVELOPED SITE IMPROVE BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY IN A DEGRADED URBANIZED STREAM? RESULTS OF A BACI STUDY CONDUCTED IN SOUTHEASTERN PA," Society for Freshwater Science, Philadelphia, PA. (2024).

Kemp, S. J. MD Master Naturalist Class, "Watershed functions: connections between land, water, and organisms," MD Master Naturalist, Baltimore, MD. (2024).

Kemp, S. J. Annual meeting of the Lake Roland nature council, "Ecology, History, and Hope for the Jones Falls," Lake Roland nature council, Baltimore MD. (2023).

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Baltimore Ecosystem Study, 25th annual meeting, "How do fish meet the challenge of living in urban streams? An analysis of urban fish communities using underwater video surveys in Dead Run.," Baltimore Ecosystem Study, Baltimore, MD. (2023).

Kemp, S. J. Annual meeting of the Ruxton – Riderwood- Lake Roland community improvement Assoc., "Ecology, History, and Hope for the Jones Falls," Ruxton – Riderwood- Lake Roland community improvement Assoc, Baltimore, MD. (2023).

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Turtle Times and Tales, "Turtle Times and Tales," Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, Hawk Mtn Scout Res., Hamburg, PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J. PA Master Naturalist field trip, "Field trip on watershed and terrestrial ecosystems ecology," PA Master Naturalist, Rock Hollow EE Center, Birdsboro, PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J. Mengel Natural History Society, "Freshwater Porifera (sponges): rich history, ecosystem services, and a local find," Mengel Natural History Society, Reading, PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J. Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro PA, "Water in the Landscape," PA Master Naturalist Program, Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J., & Osgood, D. Schuylkill Watershed Congress, "Multiple Benefits of Dam Removal: Angelica Creek Park Case Study," Delaware Rivekeeper Partnership, Pottstown, PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Mifflin Park Elementary School, "Turtles of Pennsylvania," Governor Mifflin School District, Shillington, PA. (2023).

Kemp, S. J. 24th Annual Meeting of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, "A flooded future for river chub? Predicted effects of climate change and urbanization on nesting activity of a keystone native fish species," Baltimore Ecosystem Study, Baltimore, MD. (2022).

Kemp, S. J. FTJF/EWRI Joint Conference: Beyond The Jones Falls — Sustainable Science, Environmental Engineering & Community Greening., "Environmental Science Panel Discussion/ Jones Falls," Freinds of the Jones Falls, EWRI, Baltimore, MD. (2022).

Kemp, S. J., & Kemp, M. J. Turtle times and tales, "Turtle times and tales," Conrad Weiser school district, Hawk Mountain Reserve, PA. (2022).

Kemp, S. J., & kemp, M. J. Mengel Natural History Society, "River chub and nest associates: A fascinating mutualism in peril," Mengel Natural History Society, Nolde Forest SP, Reading PA. (2022).

Kemp, S. J. PA chapter of American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, "A flooded future for river chub? Predicted effects of climate change and urbanization on nesting activity," PA chapter of American Fisheries Society, State College, PA. (2022).

Kemp, M. J., Pjura, W., & Kemp, S. J. 151st annual meeting of American Fisheries Society, "Complexity in mutualistic interactions between River chub and nest associates," American Fisheries Society, Baltimore, MD. (2021).

Kemp, S. J. 151st meeting of the American Fisheries Society, "A flooded future for river chub? Predicted effects of climate change and urbanization on nesting activity," American Fisheries Society, Baltimore, MD. (2021).

Kemp, S. J. Delaware County Master Watershed Stewards, "GSI, stormwater, and watershed health," Delaware County Master Watershed Stewards, Media, PA. (2021).

Kemp, S. J., & Williams, K. PADCNR training seminar, "Creeks Alive!: Fishes of Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania State Parks, Altoona, PA, Canoe Creek State Park. (2021).

Mora- Jerez, L., Welker, A., Smith, V., & Kemp, S. J. Environmental and water resources institute, "The Effect of an Economic Lockdown on Water Quality of Streams within Developed Watersheds.," ASCE, virtual. (2021).

Kemp, S. J., & Kehres, K. Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro, PA, "Field Trip: Water in the Landscape/ Terrestrial Ecosystems," PA Master Naturalist program, Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro, PA. (2021).

Kemp, S. J. Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro PA, "Water in the Landscape," PA Master Naturalist Program, Rock Hollow Environmental Education Center, Birdsboro PA. (2021).

Mora- Jerez, L., Welker, A., Smith, V., & Kemp, S. J. Delaware Watershed Research Conference, "“Lessons Learned from Monitoring Five Headwater Streams in Delaware County”," ACNATSCI Drexel University, virtual. (2020).

Kemp, S. J. Master Watershed Stewards Class, "Watershed health and restoration," Master Watershed Stewards, Delaware County; Penn State Ag ext., Webinar/ virtual. (2020).

Kemp, M. J., & Kemp, S. J. PA chapter of American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, "SHALLOW BEHAVIORS ON RIVER CHUB NESTS: DESCRIBING THE ROLE OF A REGIONAL KEYSTONE SPECIES AND AN IMPORTANT MUTUALISM," American Fisheries Society, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA. (2020).

Kemp, S. J., Welker, A., Mora- Jerez, L., Kugel, J., & Carambelas, E. Pennsylvania Chapter American Fisheries Society, "Impacts of abnormally high precipitation on headwater stream biota and function: implications for sustainable stormwater management and infrastructure," American Fisheries Society, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA. (2020).

Kemp, M. J., & Kemp, S. J. Mengel Natural History Society Monthly Meeting, "2019 Nolde Box Turtle Update," Mengel Natural History Society, Nolde Forest SP, Reading, PA. (2020).

Kemp, Stanley J, "Building a More Sustainable Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) Fishery Through Prevention of Ghost Fishing Bycatch" Sponsored by NOAA, Federal, $168000. (2024 - 2026). (Not Funded)

Kemp, Stanley J, "Quantifying the ecological benefits of thermal load mitigation in urbanized streams: Connecting thermal mitigation with habitat improvement" Sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Trust, State, $199692. (2024 - 2026).

Kemp, Stanley J(Principal), "Determining the impact of thermal refugia on urban biological communities: quantifying the ecological value of thermal load mitigation in urban restoration strategies" Sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Trust, State, $206618. (2023 - 2026). (Not Funded)

Kemp, Stanley J(Principal), Kemp, Mary J(Co-Principal), "Crab Trap Rigging Modifications to Prevent Entanglement and Ghost Fishing" Sponsored by NOAA, Federal, $140445. (2023 - 2024). (Not Funded)

Osano, Anne (Principal), Ray, Supriyo (Co-Principal), Yan, Jie (Co-Principal), Xu, Weifeng (Co-Principal), Kemp, Stanley J(Supporting), "SMART AGRICULTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM: Engaging minority institutions in the study of the impact of nano nutrient delivery methods and artificial intelligence in aquaponic systems" Sponsored by USDA, Federal, (2021 - 2022). (Not Funded)

Kemp, Stanley J(Co-Principal), "Evaluating the comprehensive impacts of urbanization and restoration on stream processes" Sponsored by Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Federal, $119960. (2020 - 2021).

Delaware County Times: Kemp, S. J. 2020. “Stormwater runoff creates havoc in Middletown neighborhood” quoted in article by P. Bannan, Delaware County Times 9/5/20. Front page. Accessed 3/21/2022 at https://www.delcotimes.com/news/stormwater-runoff-creates-wrecks-havoc-in-middletown-neighborhood/article_630036f8-ef05-11ea-a1ae-f3f37863065f.html. (2020).

"A study of population level impacts of high flows on river chub populations" (On-Going)
Keyed data are being collected (nesting survey, population profile through) which will be able to assess the impact on population dynamics of river chub of favorable and unfavorable conditions for reproductive activities.

"Adapting virtual reality to environmental education"
Collaboration with Sujan Shrestha (UB) to create virtual underwater environments for educational purposes. Expansion planned in summer 2019.

"Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Stormwater Controls at the Promenade at Granite Run" (On-Going)
One of the most important methods in watershed restoration involves controlling stormwater. However, the benefits provided by modern stormwater control regulations in terms of stream functions have rarely been quantified. It is essential to understand the benefits provided by modern stormwater control measures in order to design effective watershed protection and restoration strategies. This study is a collaboration with Villanova University, and seeks to take advantage of a particular situation to do just that. It is funded by the William Penn foundation through the Delaware Watershed Research Initiative program and will stretch over 3 years. The unique situation is that the watershed of a small stream (Chrome Run) is being converted from one that is nearly 100% impervious to one that is protected by stormwater control measures as required by law. Monitoring of all levels of stream functions will take place at control streams and Chrome Run during the study. This will quantify the benefits of the new stormwater control measures at Chrome Run, which will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of current regulations.

"Habitat needs of a keystone fish species in an urbanized region: Spawning habitat requirements of river chub (Nocomis micropogon)" (Writing Results)
One of the key unknown aspects of urbanization is the critical water velocity at which nests are disturbed or destroyed. This is an important link between modeling the hydraulic effects of restoration activities in streams and watersheds and their impacts on physical habitat for river chub. The planned collaboration will develop a distributional relationship between the integrity of river chub nests and measured stream velocity. The project will involve experimental nests placed in array around USGS water monitoring stations. The nests will be placed in a variety of depths and velocities around each monitoring station, and will be monitored over time for nest dimensions and ecological characteristics. At the end of the study the relationship between stream velocity and disruption of river chub nests will be quantified, over a range of initial depths and velocities. Having these data in hand will open up many opportunities for predictive modeling for evaluating the effects of restoration activities, urbanization impacts, and even climate change. This will place me in a position as a researcher where I am able to conduct modeling and simulations using my own data set, which I have long anticipated. I have secured funds through the CAS Summer grants program to conduct the research, and have also obtained a grant from the Provost office to purchase a standard water velocity meter, which is sorely needed.

"Nesting ecology of river chub in Maryland and impacts of urbanization" (On-Going)
This summer, my lab will be involved in two separate projects investigating these issues. The first is a continuation of a project on a keystone fish species found in freshwater ecosystems, the river chub (Nocomis micropogon). This species is a keystone species through its construction of nesting habitat for a number of other fish species, and also serves as a community ‘hub’ for other species (Peoples et al., 2013; Kemp and Lamb, 2013). Last year I was privileged to have a CAS summer grant to conduct experiment and observation regarding the relationship between high flows and the survivability of river chub nests. While much valuable data was collected and the experiment was a success, it is necessary to gain another field season’s worth of data on observation of natural nests for a number of reasons. First, last year’s aberrant rains destroyed many of the season’s natural nests. In addition, low temperatures hindered their construction until later in the season. At some sites, particularly Big Elk Creek and Winters Run, the sample size of natural nests which were monitored and tracked was under what would be desired for this study. Another factor is that last year was the first year we had the capability to measure accurate stream velocities in the areas surrounding nests at all depths. We strongly need additional data collected with this accurate instrument as there were not enough nests measured at several sites. For this summer’s research, I am proposing collecting another set of data on natural nests alongside sites monitored by the USGS for flow. This would involve identifying, marking, measuring and tracking nests beginning in May and ending (most likely) in July. In addition, collection and analysis of video documentation will allow answers to critical life history questions related to the survivorship of river chub nests. These include how often spawning occurs and how long the embryos require the use of the nest. Multiple years of data in ecological observations are strongly desirable, since there is so much potential variation in data sets from year to year. The goal of this research is to determine a critical threshold for high flows which significantly disrupt river chub nest. Having another year of data will allow for a much stronger determination of this level. This could be incorporated into watershed protection and restoration strategies where biodiversity is a primary goal, and the ability to do this is timely given the vast number of stream and watershed restoration projects coming in the following decades due to the Chesapeake Bay TMDL.

"The ecosystem services of the Asiatic clam in the Jones Falls"
This project is ongoing and seeks to determine the role that the invasive Asiatic clam has in cleaning up urban waterways such as the Jones Falls. While the species acts to filter and clean water in some situations, the species can also negatively impact water clarity if it engages in deposit feeding. This study aims to determine when this species acts to benefit ecosystem services and when it acts against them.