Watershed Symposium 2022

Understanding the effect of cloud-based illumination on ET estimation is crucial for the wider application of drone based image collection. We tested the ET estimation under partial cloud and cloud free condition using the image collected by drone and found that the ET are overestimated on the pixel superimposed over cloud shadows.

Agriculture is the largest user of water in Utah and throughout most of the world but you can’t effectively manage what you don’t accurately measure. UAV based imagery are increasingly used for mapping Evapotranspiration (ET) from agricultural fields as they can produce flights on demand and provide higher resolution images. Numerous literature claims that their flexibility to fly on cloudy days and the possibility of capturing higher variability of ET is the added advantage over similar other remote sensing techniques. However, little is known about how cloud based illumination impacts on the ET mapping from agricultural field. Although drones can be flown under the cloud, the sensor's perception of ground data might be impacted by the varying weather conditions. Therefore, understating the effect of cloud on drone based ET estimation is critical for mapping ET. In this research, we estimated and compared the ET under cloudy and non cloudy condition using the images collected by Mica Sense Altum sensor mounted on DJI Matrice 210 Quadacopter on same day. ET was estimated using the Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC) model over three irrigated agricultural fields alfalfa, corn, and peas. Our result shows that ET values are estimated to be higher in the areas superimposed over cloud shadows compared to cloud-free areas. This information will be precious for better and more efficient water management, including precision agriculture.

What are the observed trends and future projections of the climate signals? And how would the snowpack, soil moisture, and streamflow change in the future? Let's discuss results using climate and hydrologic models (i.e., VIC, and RAPID) for the Jordan river basin (i.e., Spanish Fork, Provo, Utah Lake, and Jordan River).

In the recent years, we have witnessed mega-drought events and stresses on precious water resources and the environment. The observed climate and hydrologic data show changing patterns in rain and snowpack, record high summer temperatures, variation in soil moisture contents, very low water reservoir levels, lowered groundwater, and resulting streamflow. The consequences of events have resulted in observed historical low water levels in the Great Salt Lake. For policymakers and water professionals, it is important to answer some of the key questions such as (1) what are the observed climate change signals in water basins in the state of Utah, and (2) what are the potential future projections of the climate change and hydrological responses, (3) how resilient are our water resources against changing climate and extreme events, and (4) what are potential adaptation strategies to achieve the goals of water resilience.

This presentation attempts to answer part of those questions in two parts. The first part of the presentation will include an analysis of historical data on the observed temperature, precipitation, snowpack, and streamflow in several parts of Utah. The analysis results will reveal the rate and trends in the changes of climate stressors on water resources. The second part of the presentation will cover future climate projection and impacts on water resources, including precipitation, snowpack, soil moisture, and streamflow. The analysis will be based on multiple Global Climate Model results statistically downscaled in the finer resolutions of 6.25 km, forced run the Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC), and Routing Application for Parallel computation of Discharge (RAPID) models.

This presentation covers the larger Jordan river basin (includes Spanish Fork, Provo, Utah Lake, Jordan River), one of the most populated basins in the state and one of the primary sources of water supply to the Great Salt Lake. The models were calibrated from 1980 to 2004 and validated for 2005 to 2020. It includes continuous daily simulations of multiple climate projection inputs until the end of the 21st century. This presentation is based on one of the ongoing and in-house modeling projects of the Utah Division of Water Resources to evaluate the impact of climate change in GSL watersheds. Water policy professionals will have an opportunity to get informed about signals and trends of climate change and its impact on water resources at the regional level. Technical water professionals will have an opportunity to learn the type and sources of data, methods, and models that can be applied to large basin-level water resources assessment.

The following are learning objectives from these presentations: 1. Basic understanding of main climate signals and trends considered in water resources assessment. 2. Become informed about climate model projections at the basin level. 3. Gain an understanding of how large-scale hydrological models are developed to simulate climate change impact at the basin level. 4. Understand how resilient our local water bodies are against the changing climate.

Granger-Hunter Improvement District, in times of extreme drought, may find it’s water supply cut. The District’s customers have responded with significant water use reductions, but in order to have a resilient supply, groundwater sources with higher levels of manganese and iron will need to be developed.

Granger-Hunter Improvement District serves West Valley City, the second largest city in Utah. Most of the District’s water comes from the Wasatch Mountains, and with Utah in a prolonged drought, surface water supplies are being impacted. District customers have conserved incredible amounts of water, mostly by reducing outdoor irrigation, but with future supplies of surface water at risk, the District has embarked on a multi-year program to develop and improve groundwater in the Salt Lake Valley. The District relies on a water wholesaler for approximately 75% of its water supply. In times of extreme drought, it is possible that supply could be cut by as much as 30%, leading to potential shortages. While District customers have reduced consumption by over 15% in the last couple of years, higher-density future growth will require a drought-resistant high-quality supply. Additional challenges include revenue shortfalls due to increased conservation, conservation-oriented rate design, and a shrinking Great Salt Lake that is directly impacted by increased outdoor water use and reduced snowfall. In order to develop groundwater for a drought-resistant supply, higher levels of iron and manganese must be removed. One treatment plant is under construction with two additional plants planned, but the cost of construction is substantial and additional funding sources, including SRF and WaterSMART grants, are being explored with some success. There is also risk of overdrawing groundwater surface water sources are also reduced to neighboring communities. The long-term plan is to encourage appropriate outdoor water use with tiered rates, and to develop reliable, clean groundwater sources if the drought continues. This session will discuss the Utah drought and the challenges that a reduced water supply will bring to residents of West Valley City, Utah, the second largest city in Utah. Future planning challenges include reduced consumption (and revenue) due to drought messaging, fixed wholesale water contracts, and higher-density growth. To plan for potential shortages, Granger-Hunter Improvement District has embarked on a long-term plan to develop and treat groundwater impacted by iron and manganese. The District has also pursued SRF loans and grants in order to reduce the cost burden on its customers.

The implications of misconceptions surrounding Utah Lake have become clear as wildly diverse proposals have been made for the lake’s management. This interdisciplinary panel will discuss Utah Lake research, management, and education to try to uproot misinformation and encourage evidence-based stewardship of this unique ecosystem.

Utah Lake is a large and unique waterbody at the heart of Utah Valley. Upstream of the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake’s status is central to the functioning and resiliency of the Great Salt Lake watershed. Though it is one of the largest freshwater lakes west of the Mississippi River, many in the broader community know little about Utah Lake’s history, ecology, and importance to our future. This cultural disconnect has led to widespread misconceptions about the status of the lake, the effectiveness of management interventions, and the setting of restoration targets. While some of the Utah Lake debate has stemmed from legitimate scientific uncertainty, much of the confusion and controversy has its origins in political and regulatory pressures. The proposal to build islands on Utah Lake and the creation of the new Utah Lake Authority have intensified the political “heat”.

In this panel discussion, we will provide a brief overview of the Utah Lake ecosystem and then jump into its controversies regarding management, perception, research, and legislation. We will try to identify areas of consensus and continued scientific debate. We will also address the ideological and structural struggles that have occasionally hampered effective management and messaging about Utah Lake. Specifically, we will discuss trends and causes of algal blooms, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and approaches for improving public understanding and management of Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake watershed more broadly.

The poster session is a forum for presenters to highlight programs and to share successful ideas with colleagues by presenting a research study, a practical problem-solving effort, or an innovative program or project. Posters are listed alphabetically by title.
==> Full Abstracts

Adaptive Management Strategies at Big Bend Habitat Restoration Area
Anders Eckert, Utah Conservation Corps & West Jordan City Parks
The Big Bend Restoration Project is located along the Jordan River and is filled with a high abundance of biodiversity. The Big Bend provides a native home for many different species offering reprieve from the Urban infrastructure found around the park. This presentation will inform Adaptive Management Strategies and plans for the Big Bend Site.

An Urban Canal and the Logan River: Bugs, Leaves, and Water Quality
Ellie Smith-Eskridge, Utah State University
For my masters research, I compared water quality, freshwater invertebrates, and leaf decomposition between an urban canal and a natural stream, the Logan River. The canal showed faster leaf decomposition relative to the Logan River, and leaf-shredding amphipods were abundant in the canal.

End-Member Mixing Analysis of the Upper Provo River
Alyssa Thompson, Brigham Young University
The Provo River is an important water source for Utah County, but little is known about the sources of water that feed into this river. This study identifies these main sources of water, what the chemistry of these sources look like, and calculates the percent contribution from each of these sources to understand how these sources change over time.

Green Infrastructure Microbial Community Response to Storm Events
Yvette Hastings, University of Utah
Have you ever wondered what stormwater green infrastructure (SGI) bioswales are? In this presentation, I will describe what these are and how soil microbial communities respond to precipitation events in experimental bioswales.

How Dry Must the Great Salt Lake Be to Produce Hazardous Dust?
Thorn Merrill, University of Utah
Airborne dust effects the air quality of the Wasatch front in Utah. One of the closest dust sources is the Great Salt Lake Playa. Surface crust and soil moisture are two main dictators of dust emission in an emissive area. Where there is broken or absent crust dust emission decreases as soil moisture increases.

Investigating Ground and Surface Interactions within Utah Lake, UT
Justin McCurry, Courtney Brown, Kyle Johnson, Daren Nelson, Utah Valley University
Our team is investigating the effectiveness of identifying groundwater and surface water interactions of cold water springs at Utah Lake, UT by integrating traditional flow analyses with thermal imaging cameras from small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Jordan River Channel Improvements at Brighton North Point Diversion
Hannah Murphy, Salt Lake County Watershed Planning & Restoration
Removal of the Brighton North Point Canal diversion structure provided a seamless, navigable river system, reestablishing flood plains, improving instream habitat, and mitigating invasive weed species throughout.

LGBTQIA+ DEI Efforts of Birding & Bird Conservation Organizations
Georgie Corkery, Utah State University
The goal of this research is to develop a DEI handbook template for the birding community, with a completed section on LGBTQAI+. This will be executed via an analysis of DEI efforts of 16 birding and bird conservation organizations, interviews with queer birders, and a look into queer ecology.

Mapping Flows of Influence Across Utah's Two Largest Lakes
Shannon Lambson, Brigham Young University; Ben Abbott, Brigham Young University
An interactive look at how information and influence move between stakeholders, using the Utah Lake islands proposal as a case study. We invite input during the session from the community about how to improve coordination and communication in conservation and restoration efforts for the integrated Great Salt Lake system.

Microbial Community Analysis of Anaerobic Digesters
Maliea Holden, Brigham Young University
Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, when used as a pretreatment of waste activated sludge, increases gas production and decreases solid waste in anaerobic digestion effluent.

Microbial Community Composition to Fingerprint Dust Emission Sources
DeTiare Leifi, Brigham Young University
Particular microbial communities unique to land use and location may serve as general indicators in dust fingerprinting.

Muddy Snow and Hazardous Air: Dust Transport from Great Salt Lake
Maura Hahnenberger, Shane Schmidt, Salt Lake Community College
The decline of the Great Salt Lake has exposed large areas of shoreline that now produce hazardous dust when winds blow. Continued episodic drought and consumptive water use will make recovery of Great Salt Lake levels a challenge, posing the threat of continued hazardous dust transport into the future.

Nutrient Release from Utah Lake Wetting and Drying Cycles
Kate Scanlan, Brigham Young University
Utah Lake littoral sediments are subject to frequent drying and wetting cycles that are a result of annual variability in water levels across Utah Lake. These changing water levels result from a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors, and can lead to potentially increased nutrient release rates of N, P, and organic C.

Opportunities for Increasing Mass Transit in Suburban Utah County
Katie Lawrence, Brigham Young University
Transportation is a large source of air and stormwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This pollution has only increased with suburban sprawl. Thus, we are proposing a framework for changes to Utah's mass transit infrastructure based on a local spatial analysis, and discussing the implications for air and water quality.

Seasonal Nutrient Limitations of Various Microbes in Utah Lake
Sarah Chan, Brigham Young University
Cyanobacterial and algal blooms present unique issues to be understood thoroughly. We found that the nutrient limitation of cyanobacteria, and to a lesser extent phytoplankton, was influenced by season and space.

Thermal Spring Interactions at Utah Lake via the use of UAVS
Kyle Johnson, Justin McCurry, Courtney Brown, Daren Nelson, Utah Valley University
Our team is investigating the effectiveness of utilizing thermal imaging cameras from small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to better understand how thermal hot springs are interacting with Utah Lake and its surrounding ecosystems.

Toxic Algae in a Changing Climate: Protecting Recreational Health
Hannah Bonner, Utah Division of Water Quality
Warming water temperatures, declining reservoir levels, and increasing human disturbance all foster the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs). The Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ), in partnership with local health departments, works to mitigate this risk through cooperation, communication, and proactive monitoring in Salt Lake County.

Toxin Producers or Non-Toxin Producers: What causes them to Bloom?
Shadman Kaiser, University of Utah; Ramesh Goel, University of Uta