Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Faculty Mentor
Bethany Neilson
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The western US is currently experiencing effects of one of the worst droughts in 1200 years. These effects are evident in our rivers, as shown by broad scale reductions in baseflow. This lack of runoff combined with growing demands has resulted in the overallocation of the water contained within our rivers and reservoirs. Water temperature is the key factor in many biological, chemical, and physical processes, making it critical to the health of ecosystems . River temperatures are a function of many factors including weather and tree canopy, but also instream flow volumes and water residence time. When instream flows are low and water residence time is high, the resulting increased water temperatures alter processes that support healthy ecosystems and can result in other water quality impairments. Other human activities, such as tree removal, can have similar, compounding impacts due to changing the timing and magnitude of heat and water delivered to a system. My research goal is to advance the integration of detailed data and local knowledge into river temperature modeling to guide the establishment of instream flow requirements considering complex human and drought impacts in highly diverted rivers.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2023 2:30 PM
End Date
4-11-2023 3:30 PM
Included in
Quantifying and Managing Anthropogenic and Drought Influences on Instream Temperatures
Logan, UT
The western US is currently experiencing effects of one of the worst droughts in 1200 years. These effects are evident in our rivers, as shown by broad scale reductions in baseflow. This lack of runoff combined with growing demands has resulted in the overallocation of the water contained within our rivers and reservoirs. Water temperature is the key factor in many biological, chemical, and physical processes, making it critical to the health of ecosystems . River temperatures are a function of many factors including weather and tree canopy, but also instream flow volumes and water residence time. When instream flows are low and water residence time is high, the resulting increased water temperatures alter processes that support healthy ecosystems and can result in other water quality impairments. Other human activities, such as tree removal, can have similar, compounding impacts due to changing the timing and magnitude of heat and water delivered to a system. My research goal is to advance the integration of detailed data and local knowledge into river temperature modeling to guide the establishment of instream flow requirements considering complex human and drought impacts in highly diverted rivers.