Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Michelle Baker
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Around 40% of rivers in the United States have been increasing in salinity in recent decades. This salinization is caused by natural and anthropogenic processes, such as applying salts to roads for deicing purposes. Rapid increases in salinity in freshwater streams can have negative impacts on drinking water, infrastructure, and biodiversity. However, catchment protections may offer resilience to water quality degradation. Using a weighted regression on time, discharge, and season, we analyzed long-term trends in specific conductance in the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs. The majority of the Yellowstone River upstream of this site lies on federally protected lands with minimal development. We found that there has been a 5% increase in annual average specific conductance from 2002 to 2020, a slower rate of change than many other rivers in the country. Interestingly, specific conductance trends in the nearby Tongue River, whose headwaters are not protected, show a 15% increase from 2004 to 2016. This case study suggests that catchment protections may provide resilience to freshwater salinization.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2023 11:30 AM
Included in
Catchment Protections Enhance River Resilience to Water Quality Perturbations
Logan, UT
Around 40% of rivers in the United States have been increasing in salinity in recent decades. This salinization is caused by natural and anthropogenic processes, such as applying salts to roads for deicing purposes. Rapid increases in salinity in freshwater streams can have negative impacts on drinking water, infrastructure, and biodiversity. However, catchment protections may offer resilience to water quality degradation. Using a weighted regression on time, discharge, and season, we analyzed long-term trends in specific conductance in the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs. The majority of the Yellowstone River upstream of this site lies on federally protected lands with minimal development. We found that there has been a 5% increase in annual average specific conductance from 2002 to 2020, a slower rate of change than many other rivers in the country. Interestingly, specific conductance trends in the nearby Tongue River, whose headwaters are not protected, show a 15% increase from 2004 to 2016. This case study suggests that catchment protections may provide resilience to freshwater salinization.