Sarah Yarnell

Dr. Sarah Yarnell is a Research Professor at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Center for Watershed Sciences. She specializes in river resilience, environmental flows, and climate adaptation strategies. Her work integrates hydrology, ecology, and policy to address freshwater ecosystem challenges. She teaches courses on California rivers and experiential learning through rafting, emphasizing hands-on environmental science education.

Her research focuses on functional flow regimes, meadow restoration, and flood risk management. Notable projects include the Van Norden Meadow restoration and transboundary comparisons of flood management in the Rhine and Sacramento River basins. She contributes to the California Environmental Flows Framework, guiding statewide ecological water management policies.

Dr. Yarnell collaborates internationally, particularly with German institutions, on floodplain restoration and multi-benefit approaches. Her work highlights the interplay between hydroclimatic change, groundwater dynamics, and biodiversity conservation in mountain ecosystems.