Sue L. Niezgoda, Ph.D., P.E

Professor, Civil Engineering

Dr. Niezgoda is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Gonzaga University and a registered licensed engineer in the state of Wyoming. She has an emphasis in water resources engineering and teaches and conducts research in the areas of engineering...

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Sue Niezgoda

Contact Information

Education & Curriculum Vitae

Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2004

M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 1998

B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, May 1997

B.A. in Engineering and Physics, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, May 1996

Courses Taught

CENG 252 Civil Fluid Mechanics

CENG 352 Hydraulic Engineering

CENG 352L Hydraulic Engineering Lab

CENG 426 Stream Restoration

CENG 450 Watershed Modeling

Dr. Niezgoda is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Gonzaga University and a registered licensed engineer in the state of Wyoming. She has an emphasis in water resources engineering and teaches and conducts research in the areas of engineering education, hydraulic engineering, river engineering/stream restoration, soil erosion and sediment transport, uncertainty and risk assessment, and porous pavement applications.

Dr. Niezgoda has developed a risk-benefit assessment method based on design failure modes and effects analysis for use in selecting streambank stabilization measures and improving the design of stream restoration projects.  She is actively working on two monitoring related research efforts: the development of an effectiveness monitoring protocol for urban stream restoration projects, and the effectiveness of beaver dam analogs and trapping sediment in watersheds.  Dr. Niezgoda is also actively involved in the ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute, holding officer positions in task committees under the Hydraulics and Waterways Council.  Working with members of the Stream Restoration Educational Materials Task Committee, Dr. Niezgoda has developed a stream restoration body of knowledge that synthesizes the state-of-the-art in stream restoration education requirements and sets the basis for developing a national certification. Dr. Niezgoda is also highly active in River Restoration Northwest (RRNW), and is currently an officer on the board of directors. RRNW is a non-profit organization which seeks to advance the science and standards of practice in river restoration through educational programs that emphasize a process based, interdisciplinary approach to restoration.  She has published numerous papers on a variety of river issues, including bridge scour, sediment transport, risk and uncertainty in stream restoration design, channel forming flow predictions, erodibility of cohesive channels, and the practice of stream restoration. 

More about Dr. Sue Niezgoda

The Gonzaga Bulletin talks with Dr. Sue about the Sharp Avenue permeable pavement project 

Dr. Sue Niezgoda on How to be Academically Successful at GU 

Faculty Profile: Sue Niezgoda Engages Students, Sparks Passion

Refereed Journal Papers (Published)

  • Niezgoda, S.L., Wilcock, P.R., Baker, D.W., Mueller Price, J., Castro, J.M., Curran, J.C., Thompson, T.W., Schwartz, J.S., and Shields, F.D. 2014.  Defining a stream restoration body of knowledge for national certification. ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(2): 123-146.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 2012. A case study in applying risk-benefit analysis to select an appropriate streambank stabilization measure. ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 138(5): 449 - 461.
  • Thoman, R.W., and Niezgoda S.L. 2008. Determining erodibility coefficients and stable channel capacity estimates for cohesive channels: A case study in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. ASCE, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 134(12): 1677-1687.           
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 2007. A case study in cost-based risk assessment for selecting a stream restoration design method for a channel relocation project. ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 133(5): 468-481.       
  • Niezgoda, S. L. and Johnson, P.A. 2006. Modeling the long term impacts of using rigid structures in stream channel restoration. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA), 42(6):1597-1613.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 2005. Improving the urban stream restoration effort: identifying critical relationships between form and processes.  Environmental Management, 35(5): 579-592.
  • Johnson, P.A., and Niezgoda, S.L. 2004. Risk-based method for selecting scour countermeasures.  ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 130(2): 121-128.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

  • Niezgoda, S.L., Muszynski, M., Navickis-Brasch, A. 2016. A critical review of permeable asphalt behavior and performance to guide application to arterial streets in cold climates. Proceedings of the ASCE World Water and Environmental Resources Congress. West Palm Beach, FL, May 23-27, 2016.
  • Navickis-Brasch, A., S., Bormann, N.E., Niezgoda, S.L., and Zarecor, M. 2014. Expanding the Presence of Stormwater Management in Undergraduate Civil Engineering. Proceedings of the 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Indianapolis, IN, June 15-18, 2014.
  • Muller Price, J., and Niezgoda, S.L. 2014. Get your feet wet! – Experiential learning activities along Lost Creek. Proceedings of the 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Indianapolis, IN, June 15-18, 2014.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. and West, T. S. 2012.  Relationships between watershed and stream characteristics and channel forming discharge in snowmelt dominated streams. Proceedings of the 2012 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Albuquerque, NM, May 2012.
  • Celebucki, A.W.*, Eviston, J. D.*, and Niezgoda, S.L. 2011.  Monitoring streambank properties and erosion potential for the restoration of Lost Creek.  Proceedings of the 2011 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Palm Springs, CA, May 2011. *Former Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering
  • Niezgoda, S. L., Castro, J., Carpenter, D. D., Schwartz, J. S., Johnson, P. A., Simon, A, Pomeroy, C., Wynn, T, Schmidt, J., Wilcock, P., Curran, J., Rosgen, D., and Slate, L.O.   2010. Stream restoration education and professional development: Working toward a consensus.  Proceedings of the 2010 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Providence, RI, May 2010.
  • Moss, C.S.**, and Niezgoda, S.L. 2010.  Integration of restoration education into undergraduate course work and community group activities through the Lost Creek restoration project.  Proceedings of the 2010 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Providence, RI, May 2010. *Former Rose-Hulman MS Graduate Student
  • Sliwinski, T. M.*, Niezgoda, S.L., and DeVasher, M. 2009. Developing probability of failure estimates for stream restoration design components. Proceedings of the 2009 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Kansas City, MO. 
  • * Former Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2009. Using watershed scale geomorphic assessment to improve urban stream restoration design. Proceedings of the 2009 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Kansas City, MO, May 2009. 
  • Schwartz, J. S., Niezgoda, S. L, Carpenter, D. D., Lucas, S., McPhillips, M., Slate, L. O., Pomeroy, C., Wynn, T., and Annable, W.  2009. A monitoring and assessment framework to evaluate stream restoration needs in urbanizing watersheds. Proceedings of the 2009 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Kansas City, MO, May 2009.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., 2008.  Modeling the long-term impacts of using rigid structures in stream            channel restoration. Proceedings of the 2008 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Honolulu HI, May 2008.
  • Schwartz, J.S., Niezgoda, S.L, Carpenter, D.D., Lucas, S., McPhillips, M., Prager, R., and Slate, L.O. 2007. Urban stream restoration: Guidance for monitoring and assessment protocols, update. Proceedings of 2007 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Tampa, FL, May 2007.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and West, T.S. 2007. Stream restoration design discharge for snowmelt dominated streams. Proceedings of 2007 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Tampa, FL, May 2007.
  • Thoman, R.W., and Niezgoda, S.L. 2007. Estimating the erodibility of ephemeral, cohesive streams that receive coal bed natural gas product water in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.  Proceedings of 2007 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Tampa, FL, May 2007.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., Johnson, P.A., and Slate, L.O. 2007. Applying cost-based risk assessment to stream restoration design. Proceedings of 2007 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Tampa, FL, May 2007.
  • West, T. S., and Niezgoda, S.L. 2006. Estimating a Stream Restoration Design Discharge.  Proceedings of 2006 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Omaha, NE, May 2006.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 2005. Stream restoration design using sediment transport modeling and risk assessment. Proceedings of 2005 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Anchorage, AK, May 2005.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 2004.  Restoring form and processes in urban streams: the state-of-the-art.  Proceedings of 2004 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Salt Lake City, UT, July 2004.

Non-Refereed Conference Proceedings and Poster Presentations

  • Nielsen, E. C.*, Nowak, J. C.*, and Niezgoda, S. L. 2013. Relationships between watershed, stream, characteristics and channel forming flow. Poster presentation at the 13th Annual Northwest Stream Restoration Symposium, River Restoration Northwest, Stevenson, WA. *Former GU Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering.
  • Celebucki, A.W.*, Eviston, J. D.*, and Niezgoda, S.L. 2011. Monitoring streambank properties and erosion potential for the restoration of Lost Creek.  Poster at the 2011 ASCE World Water and Environmental Resource Congress, Palm Springs, CA, May 2011. *Former Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Students in Civil Engineering.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., 2008.  Impacts of rigid structures on channel processes and restoration design. Proceedings of the National Sedimentation Laboratory 50th Celebration Conference, 50 Years of Soil and Water Research in a Changing Agricultural Environment, Oxford, MS, September 2008.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., and Johnson, P.A. 1999. Abutment scour at small, severely contracted bridges. Proceedings of the ASCE 10th International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering, Lincoln, NH.

Research Reports

  • Niezgoda, S.L., Muszynski, M., Navickis-Brasch, A. 2016. Sharp Avenue Porous Asphalt Monitoring System Design, Phase II Final Report. Gonzaga University, Spokane WA, Submitted to the City of Spokane, Capital Improvements Management, June 2016.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., Allen, L.*, Collins, C.*, Cupp, M.*, Fitterer, H.*, Hatfield, T.*, Ngan, C.*, Rivarola, L.*, Muszynski, M., Bormann, N., London, M., Navickis-Brasch, A., Cleary, D., Carpenter, D. 2014. Sharp Avenue Permeable Pavement Feasibility Study, Phase I Final Report. Gonzaga University, Spokane WA, Submitted to The City of Spokane, Capital Improvements Management, August 2014. * Former GU Undergraduate Students
  • Niezgoda, S.L.  Faculty Success Grant: Expansion of the ecological systems laboratory into the Lost Creek stream network to further promote sustainable development in education and research. Final Project Report, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN, May 2011.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. Pressure Contraction Scour at Submerged Bridges. Final Project Report, Wyoming Department of Transportation – Research Advisory Committee, Cheyenne. WY, May, 2007.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. and Thoman, R.W. Estimating the Critical Shear Stress and Erodibility of Coal Bed Natural Gas Discharge Streams. Final Project Report, Wyoming Department of Environment Quality – Water Quality Division, Cheyenne, WY, May, 2007
  • Johnson, P.A., Niezgoda, S.L., and Newlin, J.T. Ohiopyle State Park, Youghiogheny River, Dimple Rock Study.  Final Report to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, May 2005.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. and Johnson, P.A.  Task 7 - Stream Restoration and Relocation.  In Hiltunen, D.R., et al., Interstate 99 Research, Final Report.  PennDOT contract no. SPC 020S78, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg, PA, May 2004.
  • Niezgoda, S.L., Kestler, M.A., Stark, J., and Yamada, A.  Design and Construction Guidance for Bituminous Surface Treatments.  Special Report as Part of the USFS-CRREL Memorandum of Understanding, US Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire, September 1999.  

Professional Short Course Development and Instruction

  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2017. Hydrology, Hydraulics and Modeling Modules. Three, 2-hour modules in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program, Physical Processes Short Course. Co-Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR, March 2017 (6 PDHs).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2016. Introduction to Beaver Dam Analogs and their Applications in Stream
  • Restoration. Half-Day Short Course (3 PDHs), Presented to Attendees at the 2016 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, Avon, CO, October 10, 2016.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2016. Applied Watershed Restoration Field Course. 5-day professional short course in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program, Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR (Rock Creek), July 2016 (40 PDH’s).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2016. Hydrology, Hydraulics and Modeling Modules. Three, 2-hour modules in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program, Physical Processes Short Course. Co-Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR, March 2016 (6 PDHs).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2015. Applied Watershed Restoration Field Course. 5-day professional short course in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program, Facilitator and Instructor, Ridgefield, WA, July 2015 (40 PDH’s).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2015. Hydrology, Hydraulics and Modeling Modules. Three, 2-hour modules in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program , Physical Processes Short Course. Co-Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR, March 2015 (6 PDHs).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2014. History, Hydrology, Hydraulics and Modeling Modules. Four, 2-hour modules in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program. Week-Long Physical Processes Short Course, Co-Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR, March 2014 (8 PDHs).
  • Niezgoda, S.L, and Bormann, N. 2014. HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS Modeling. Four day workshop (three hour segments on four different days, 12 PDHs),  Presented to members of the ASCE Inland Empire Section, Gonzaga University Campus, Spokane, WA, February 2014.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2013. Quantifying uncertainty, risk, and benefit in stream restoration design. Half-Day Short Course (3 PDHs), Presented to Attendees at the 2013 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, Avon, CO, October 9, 2013.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2013. History, Hydrology, Hydraulics and Modeling Modules. Four, 2-hour modules in the Portland State University, Environmental Professional Program, Stream Restoration Certificate Program Week-Long Physical Processes Short Course, Co-Facilitator and Instructor, Portland, OR, March 2013 (8 PDHs).
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2012. Incorporating uncertainty and risk in stream restoration design, Half-Day Short Course (3 PDHs), Presented to Attendees at the 2012 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, Avon, CO, October 8, 2012.
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2012. Incorporating uncertainty and risk in stream restoration design, Half-Day Short Course (4 PDHs), Presented to King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Water and Land Resources Division, Seattle, WA, March 14, 2012
  • Niezgoda, S.L. 2010. Incorporating uncertainty and risk in stream restoration design, Half-Day Short Course (4 PDHs), Presented to HNTB Engineers in attendance at the HNTB Water Resources Workshop, Chicago, IL September 18, 2010
  • Niezgoda, S.L, 2009. Incorporating uncertainty and risk in stream restoration design. Half-Day Short Course, River Restoration Northwest Annual Stream Restoration Design Symposium, Stevenson, WA, February 3, 2009
  • Niezgoda, S.L., Castro, J, and Anderson, C. 2009. Portland State University (PSU), Environmental Professional Program, River Restoration Field Institute, Co-Instructor and Participant, July 13 – August 7, 2009

Stream Restoration

  1. Monitoring the effectiveness of Beaver Dam Analogs at storing water and sediment in watersheds and developing design guidelines for the implementation of BDAs in a variety of watershed locations
  2. Identifying the current state-of-the-art in stream restoration education: Establishing a common and consistent body of knowledge.
  3. Developing a monitoring and assessment framework to evaluate stream restoration needs in urbanizing watersheds
  4. Determining an appropriate design discharge for snowmelt dominated streams
  5. Quantifying uncertainty and risk in stream restoration design

Low Impact Development

  1. Advancing permeable pavement research: Evaluation of durability, hydrologic performance, and water quality treatment effectiveness in cold climates