12th Annual
Student World
Water Forum
November 18th-20th, 2015
University of Nevada, Reno
Joe Crowley Student Union
and
Davidson Math and Science Building
Redfield Auditorium
West Stadium Parking Complex
Joe Crowley Student Union (JCSU)
Davidson Math and Science Center
University of Nevada, Reno
Campus Map
View this campus map online at http://www.unr.edu/around-campus/maps
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NOTES
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Welcome to the 12th Annual University of Nevada, Reno
Student World Water Forum!
Without freshwater, life on Earth cannot be sustained.
Of all freshwater resources, which total only 3% of water on Earth, the usable supply for ecosystems
and humans is less than 1%. Urbanized areas hold half of Earth’s total population and grow by two
people every second. Water usage has increased by twice the rate of human population over the last
century. By 2025, water usage is predicted to increase 50% in developing countries and 18% in
developed countries. Currently, nearly 20% of Earth’s inhabitants live in river basins where the use
of water exceeds replenishment rates.
Since 2003, the Student World Water Forum has been an opportunity for interdisciplinary
undergraduate and graduate students to present their work and raise awareness of local, regional,
national, and global water issues.
The event is organized by students, for students, with hopes to not only spread awareness, but also
gain presentation experience and feedback on techniques from community professionals.
Thank you very much for joining us for the 2015 Student World Water Forum!
Sincerely,
The 2015 SWWF Committee
http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/colorado-river-dries-west-feels-pain
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The 12th Annual University of Nevada, Reno
Student World Water Forum
Organized by the following students of the Graduate Program
of Hydrologic Sciences:
Brian Anderson
Zack Arno
Zachary Carter
Katherine Clancey
Rachel Hallnan
Elijah Mlawsky
Cara Nadler
Rose Petersky
Dan Saftner
Xueke Yang
and
Dr. Laurel Saito – Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science,
and Director of the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
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Special thanks to each of our professional
Evaluators:
Dr. Tom Albright, Department of Geography, University of Nevada Reno (UNR)
Mr. Ellis Antuñez, Retired
Mr. Tim Bardsley, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Kate Berry, Department of Geography, UNR
Mr. Steve Bradhurst, Central Nevada Water Conservation District
Dr. Michael Branch, Department of English, UNR
Dr. Clay Cooper, Desert Research Institute
Ms. Shayne Del Cohen, SDC Consulting
Ms. Marianne Denton, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Mr. John Enloe, Truckee Meadows Water Authority
Mr. Brian Giroux, McGinley and Associates
Dr. Adrian Harpold, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Dr. Alan Heyvaert, Desert Research Institute
Ms. Lisa Holan, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Mr. Terry Katzer, Retired
Mr. Jason King, Nevada Division of Water Resources
Ms. Jasmine Kleiber, Nevada Department of Wildlife
Dr. Satoko Kurita, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UNR
Dr. Alexandra Lutz, Desert Research Institute
Dr Nancy Markee, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Dr. Eric Marchand, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNR
Dr. Stephanie McAfee, Department of Geography, UNR
Dr. Scott Mensing, Department of Geography, UNR
Dr. Glenn Miller, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Dr. Kerri Jean Ormerod, Department of Geography, UNR
Mr. Ben Peterson, McGinley and Associates
Dr. Greg Pohll, Desert Research Institute
Dr. Seshadri Rajagopal, Desert Research Institute
Dr. Rina Schumer, Desert Research Institute
Dr. Loretta Singletary, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Mr. Chris Smallcomb, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ms. Julie Stoughton, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Mr. Michael Stewart, Nevada Legislative Council Bureau
Dr. Sherman Swanson, Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Veterinary Science, UNR
Ms. Mary Kay Wagner, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Ms. Harmony Warren, SRK Consulting
Mr. Jeffrey Weagel, NCE
LTC Gerd Wilhelm, Retired
Dr. Frank Yang, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. David Zeh, Graduate School, UNR
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Join us for a special opening event:
"Let's Talk About Water" on Nov. 18th 5 pm to 9 pm in JCSU Ballroom A for a film
screening of "Last Call at the Oasis" followed by an expert panel discussion
on drought in northern Nevada.
Special thanks to our Keynote Speaker:
Professor Sudeep Chandra, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, Reno
November 20, 2015 – 4:00 pm
Nell J Redfield Auditorium
Davidson Math and Science Center, Room 110 (First Floor)
“Challenges and Successes in Conserving Water Quality and
Species Diversity in the Developing World.”
Our global lakes and rivers continue to degrade in environmental quality despite
the numerous scientific discoveries regarding ecosystem process and function. For
example, the number of water bodies influenced by cultural eutrophication has
increased substantially in developing countries in the last 50 years even though
scientists from developed countries have outlined the causes and consequences of
eutrophication since the 1970s. We have models and natural experiments that
demonstrate biodiversity loss due to disruptions in the natural flow regime of
rivers, yet scientists and engineers continue to investigate the influence of dams
and diversions to river function. So why are aquatic ecosystems continuing to
degrade despite our advances in knowledge? In this presentation, I share scientific
and cultural experiences working as a limnologist to solve water quality issues in
Guatemala and conserve biodiversity in Mongolia. Both countries are developing
and have only recently had more stable political democracies. My experiences have
led me to wonder, “Do (scientists and engineers) passively promote the degradation
of water resources by promoting studies that have already been completed in other
ecosystems? By not integrating our work into the cultural, economic and political
dimensions are we the cause of continued degradation to our global aquatic
ecosystems?”
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SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Wednesday, Nov. 18th – “Let’s Talk About Water” – JCSU Ballroom A
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Opening Reception and Introduction
5:45 pm – 7:00 pm
“Last Call at the Oasis” film
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Short Break
7:15 pm – 8:00 pm
Questions/Discussion with panelists
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Closing Reception
Thursday, Nov. 19th – JCSU Graduate Lounge
7:45 am – 8:00 am
Meet and Greet Coffee
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Session 1: Environmental Issues & Management
9:15 am – 10:15 am Session 2: Pollution I
10:30am – 11:30 am Session 3: Social & Cultural Issues
11:30am – 12:30 pm Lunch (Not provided)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Session 4: Groundwater & Surface Water
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Session 5: Agriculture
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Session 6: History/Language/Literature
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Session 7: Water Treatment & Sustainability
Friday, Nov. 20th - JCSU Graduate Lounge
8:00 am – 8:12 am
Meet and Greet Coffee
8:12 am – 9:00 am
Session 8: Pollution II
9:15 am – 10:03 am Session 9: Water Policy & Governance
10:30am – 11:30 am Session 10: Chemistry & Geochemistry
11:30am – 12:30 pm Lunch (Not provided)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Session 11: Climate Change & Drought
1:45 pm – 2:33 pm
Session 12: Innovations & Technology
Davidson Math and Science Building:
Redfield Auditorium, Room 110
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Keynote Speaker
Davidson Math and Science Building:
Redfield Foyer
5:00pm – 7:00PM
SWWF Closing Social (all are invited)
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Thursday, November 19
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Environmental Issues & Management
Sara L. McBee
Graduate – NRES/Hydrologic Sciences
“Influences of Livestock Grazing Management and Wild Horse Use on
Meadow Function in Greater Sage-Grouse Core Habitat”
An assessment of how wild “feral” horse use and livestock grazing management strategies influence
riparian-wetland function is critical for understanding late brood-rearing habitat suitability of the
greater sage-grouse in herd management areas (HMAs) and horse territories (HTs) that are managed
for livestock grazing. Due to the prevailing arid climate within the Great Basin, late brood-rearing
habitat, especially in riparian-wetland areas, is often the habitat type which most limits sage-grouse
population size. We randomly selected a riparian-wetland site in randomly selected allotments that are
managed for livestock grazing within HMAs and HTs boundaries that are categorized as greater sagegrouse core management habitat. In a five-year study, we will sample for long-term and short-term
indicators using vegetation, soil, and hydrologic sampling methods. Wildlife trail cameras will record
animal use to understand the correlation between riparian-wetland functioning condition and grazing
use variables such as season, duration, and intensity. We hypothesize that without the full set of
management strategies that addresses both wild horse and livestock use in riparian-wetland systems,
relationships between riparian-wetland functioning condition indicators and grazing use variables will
demonstrate the need for changes in management for both livestock and wild horses. This research will
help guide grazing management decisions for riparian-wetland systems where wild horses and
livestock graze together so that managers can fulfill commitments to manage for proper functioning
condition (PFC) and for sage-grouse habitat.
John Paul Valle
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“Impacts of Reduced Water Flow to the Iraqi Wetlands”
Water engineering projects along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have reduced the amount of water
flow entering into the Mesopotamian marshlands in Iraq, causing the wetland area to decrease to a
fraction of its original size. The loss of habitat has impacted the wildlife and human inhabitants of the
region by affecting the natural food chain and the ecological services supplied by the marshes. The
Marsh Arabs that inhabited the wetlands survived on the marshes and many of the people have moved
out of the region due to the lack of resources or the poor quality of the remaining water. With more
dams being built along the watersheds of these two rivers, the remaining marshes could experience
further damage. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, restoration efforts started on the marshes
but they have been slow and unorganized. Future planned water projects threaten further restoration
efforts and may possibly cause even more damage to the remaining marshes. In this presentation, I will
focus on past, present and possible future impacts of engineering projects on the two rivers and the
impact these projects have had on the wetlands.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Environmental Issues & Management
Katherine Clancey
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Delayed Mortality of Salmon Linked to Dam Passage ”
Over the last several decades, Snake River Chinook salmon and steelhead populations have declined to
extremely low levels since completion of the Columbia River hydrosystem. To recover these salmon
populations, fish passage technologies have been designed to improve the survival of juvenile and adult
fish past hydroelectric dams during their migration to and from the Pacific Ocean. However, Snake
River salmon stocks continue to decline, leading to the hypothesis that mortality that takes place in the
estuary and ocean may be related to earlier experiences within the hydrosystem. If delayed mortality is
related to the hydrosystem, then dam breaching may provide a high probability of recovery of the fish
populations. This presentation will provide an overview of evidence from published literature on
causes of stress for salmon related to the hydrosystem, indirect evidence for delayed hydrosystem
mortality based on spatial and temporal stock comparisons, and direct evidence from fish-tagging
experiments. Evidence suggests that delayed mortality of Snake River fish is related to the
hydrosystem, so actions chosen to recover these stocks should consider both direct and delayed
components to fish mortality.
Mitchell Grange
Undergraduate – Geography
“Changes to Salinity and Water Balance of the Aral Sea During its Decline”
The Aral Sea has experienced a 90% decrease in its water volume since the 1960s, primarily due to the
diversion of the lake’s two primary inputs, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, to support cotton
agriculture. Ninety percent of the water that flows down these rivers every year is used for irrigation.
Since 1960, more than 40,000 square kilometers of the Aral Sea lake bed have been exposed. The salts
left behind have adverse effects on the environment. Not only has the salinity of the remaining portion
of the Aral Sea increased tremendously since 1960, but also much of the salt is being deposited by the
wind over thousands of kilometers in the Aral Sea basin, adversely affecting soil fertility, increasing
groundwater salinity, and causing problems for agriculture, which relies heavily on fertile soil and a
healthy water balance. This presentation will look at changes to soil and water salinity and the how
they have affected the water balance in Aral Sea Basin since 1960.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Environmental Issues & Management
Tina Slowan-Pomeroy
Graduate – Environmental Health and Science / Environmental Toxicology
“Isolation, Purification, and Characterization of Flavobacterium
psychrophilum Bacteriophages from Northern Nevada Waterways”
The Phage Hunters of Northern Nevada research group seeks to discover, purify, and characterize local
bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts for the purpose of contributing to the current body of
knowledge in bacteriophage biology and to increase public awareness of the usefulness of
bacteriophages for the treatment of bacterial infections. This presentation will focus on bacteriophages
that infect and kill the pathogenic bacteria, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the causative agent for cold
water disease (CWD), a bacterial infection that affects salmonid species. F. psychrophilum is a gramnegative bacilli commonly found in fresh water sources. CWD is known to cause severe mortalities and
has significant impact on aquaculture and conservation hatcheries. Current treatment involves the use
of antibiotics, though some antibiotic resistant strains have been discovered. An alternative treatment
being investigated involves the use of bacteriophage therapy. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and
kill bacteria, including those known to cause disease in salmonids common to northern Nevada. These
bacterial viruses provide a treatment for common bacterial infections that could, under certain
circumstances, decimate our native fish populations. This research has the potential to impact fisheries
across the country. One of the objectives of this research involves the capture and characterization of
Flavobacteriophages which involves the optimization of F. psychrophilum as a host. F. psychrophilum is
difficult to grow in culture and its fastidious nature requires the use of specialized media. Water
sampling continues to be conducted throughout the northern Sierras and surrounding watershed and
bacteriophages have been discovered using standard methods.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 2: 9:15 am – 10:15 am
Pollution I
Rachel Weber
Undergraduate – Environmental Engineering
“Fluoride Issues in Ghana’s Water Supply”
In the Upper East Region of Ghana, the groundwater used for drinking water has a high concentration of
naturally occurring fluoride. The hot climate in Ghana causes higher water consumption by the
population in this area compared to populations in cooler climates. This, combined with the high
amount of fluoride in the drinking water, can create a public health concern regarding fluorosis.
Fluorosis causes dental enamel to become subject to damage and can hinder the growth of bones in
extreme cases. To mitigate this potential health concern, Ghana is searching for ways to treat this
fluoride-contaminated water. The most promising technique to do this is a solar water distiller. This
technique mimics water’s natural cycle by causing water to evaporate and then condense, leaving
behind any contaminants. This presentation will discuss the problems of fluoride in the drinking water
and the preliminary ways Ghana is starting to address this issue by describing several case studies.
These studies are all located in the Bongo District of Ghana and look at the relationship between
fluoride in groundwater and the Bongo granite geography.
Gina Featherstone
Undergraduate - Community Health Science-Public Health
“Cholera and Water Issues in the Great Lakes Regions of Africa”
Cholera is an acute diarrheal waterborne disease that can be deadly if left untreated. Provision of safe
water and clean sanitation is crucial for addressing cholera. There is a strong link between cholera
outbreaks, climate, and the environment of the Great Lakes region in Africa. The transmission of cholera
is linked to inadequate environmental management, where basic infrastructure is not available.
Reduction of the incidence of cholera should reduce morbidity and mortality. If the Great Lakes region
has proper water management, then there would be a dramatic decrease in the cholera cases. Data on
cholera outbreaks in this region showed that cholera increased when the temperature increased when
the El Nino arrived. Cholera decreased or remained stable between these warm events. There was also a
strong link between rainfall and cholera, with more cholera epidemics occurring when the rainy season
started. The purpose of this presentation is to examine cholera and its effects on people and the
environment and to discuss further steps for eradicating cholera near the Great Lakes in Africa.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 2: 9:15 am – 10:15 am
Pollution I
Kimberly Penrose
Undergraduate – Molecular Microbiology & Immunology
“Differentiating Pseudomonas aeruginosa Autophagy from Pseudomonas
aeruginosa Bacteriophages Isolated from Water Samples Collected in
Northern Nevada”
Bacteriophages are viruses that attack and kill specific host bacteria for the purposes of replication.
Bacteriophage therapy, the use of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections, has been used in
Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union for over 60 years, while use in the United States has been
minimal. With the surge of antibiotic resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria, bacteriophage therapy has
seen renewed interest. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative aerobic rod-shaped bacteria
commonly found in fresh water and soils, is a primary cause of numerous primary and secondary
infections in humans and fish, including ulcerative lesions in catfish species such as Clarias gariepinus.
This research involves the isolation, purification, and characterization of P. aeruginosa bacteriophages
found in water samples collected from waterways in Northern Nevada. Isolation of P.
aeruginosa bacteriophages is challenging due to the tendency of strains of autolysis-forming autophages
that effectively mimic the plaques often used to identify bacteriophages. This autolysis is a mechanism
of biofilm formation, with Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) being a key indicator of autolysis
production. Autophagy serves to both eliminate the weakest cells and produces a matrix cavity to free
space for further biofilm dispersion. This autolysis mechanism and subsequent strong biofilm creation
is correlated with increased antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa, which lends even more importance to
the goal of this research in identifying bacteriophages while using a PQS rich P. aeruginosa host.
Nathaniel Foote
Undergraduate – Geological Sciences and Engineering
“Environmental Issues of the Columbia River”
When Lewis and Clark first passed along “the Great River of the West” in October 1805, they found a
river filled with fish and containing many rapids. Today, 110 years later, the Columbia River has
changed dramatically. Dams built along the river have transformed it into a series of lakes. These dams
inundated the falls of the Columbia Gorge, and, along with the operation of canneries, severely affected
the fish populations. Not only did the dams block fish migration paths, but they also warmed water
temperatures in the river. The dams were built to provide electricity, flood protection, irrigation water
for farmers, and make the river navigable to boats, so resolving issues caused by the dams is very
complex. However, environmental issues of the Columbia go beyond dams. The water quality has
considerably degraded. Improved water quality is important to both wildlife and people who use the
river for recreation. Radiation from the Hanford Nuclear site alone is a nightmare for the river. Hanford
is considered to be one of the most contaminated sites in the western hemisphere. In addition to
radiation from Hanford, pesticides and fertilizers from farms, PCBs from storm water runoff, heavy
metals from mining, dioxins from paper bleaching, and fecal traces from human waste, have all
contributed to pollution in the Columbia. Hopefully in the coming years, people will make the dwindling
fish populations and decreased water quality a much bigger priority, and take action to improve the
“Great River of the West.”
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Thursday, November 19
Session 2: 9:15 am – 10:15 am
Pollution I
Kendall Welling
Undergraduate – Geological Engineering
“Big South Fork Mine Drainage Contamination”
Water that runs through an abandoned mine has the potential to destroy surrounding streams, rivers,
and lakes. This drainage collects contaminants along its path and is referred to as AMD (Acid Mine
Drainage). Big South Fork National River and Recreation area is subject to this hazard because of runoff
that makes its way through the abandoned mines in the area. At this point, the National Park Service is
responsible for the plans for clean-up and/or rehabilitation of the mine, the water, and the area the
AMD has already affected. The layout for the potential filtration plans are well underway, but the
journey this project must take is in its very early stages. Overall, the National Park Service has formed a
team of experts in various fields of mining and geology to compile the data, come up with a few
solutions that vary in estimated cost and timeliness, and determine the preferred action that ultimately
needs approval. The team continues to work in hopes of gaining permission to proceed with the plans
sometime in the next fiscal year.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 3: 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Social & Cultural Issues
Olivia Alexander-Leeder
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“Irrigating a Bright Future: Water Security for Poverty Alleviation in South
Africa”
South Africa is a nation that is known for its wild-lands and rich culture. Unfortunately, these assets are
shadowed by a history of conflict that has left many South African people living in poverty.
Unemployment, unreliable energy, and economic inequality further increase the struggle for water and
food security amongst South Africa’s poor. To address the development of resource security, irrigated
agriculture is gaining support as a method for alleviating socioeconomic inequity. Once people’s basic
needs of freshwater and reliable nutrition are satisfied, South Africa can better address issues that
hinder its economic growth. In cooperation with many of South Africa’s rural farmers and villagers,
multiple methods of irrigation have been implemented, each with its own successes and failures in
maintaining water security and alleviating poverty. In this presentation, I will describe the multifaceted
approach of using irrigation to address water security and poverty alleviation in South Africa.
Connor Farrell
Undergraduate – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
“The Intangible Impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis: How Water Mismanagement
has Affected the Culture and Society of the Karakalpakstan and Khorezm
Regions of Uzbekistan”
The Aral Sea crisis is arguably one of the worst man-made ecological disasters. After having its waters
diverted to irrigate cotton fields over the past fifty years, the world’s fourth largest inland water body
has been reduced to one tenth of its former size. The effects of this event are well documented;
however, imperceptible in the satellite images of receding shorelines are the people facing the harsh
realities of this drastically altered landscape. Water loss in the Aral Sea has devastated fisheries and
exposed populations to toxic dust storms, and increased soil salinization has decreased agricultural
productivity. Decades of Soviet bureaucracy have created a water management system incapable of
performing the tasks required of it. These and other factors have had a dramatic impact on the psyche
and culture of the inhabitants of the surrounding area, resulting in, for example, a general apathy
towards environmental concerns in the face of more immediate socioeconomic challenges. This
presentation will explore the relationship between the mismanagement of water in the Aral Sea Basin
and the resulting cultural and societal impacts on those most affected by it in the Karakalpakstan and
Khorezm regions of Uzbekistan.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 3: 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Social & Cultural Issues
Maritza Andicoechea
Undergraduate – Atmospheric Science
“A Comparison of Gender Inequality in Water Collection Between Ghana and
Northern India”
Women are often constrained to a culturally imposed gender identity. In many cases, women are
expected to stay home to do household duties, and collecting water is one of these daily duties. When
girls, usually young, stay home from school, they miss opportunities that males in their age groups have.
It is important to understand how water can create a gender inequality and to understand how these
issues can be changed by creating access to nearby water sources and educating communities about
water sanitation. In Ghana, women traditionally collect the water, but by having these responsibilities,
they do not have the time to go to school. By educating women on ways to provide clean water to their
community, the women have one less thing to worry about. In India, water is now being provided in
schools and villages, allowing young girls to attend school. In comparing Ghana and the region of
Northern India, my presentation will describe the different struggles that women face in their
communities involving water collection and how each area is addressing the issue of obtaining safe
water for their homes.
Caitlin Farrell Oliver
Undergraduate – International Affairs: Environmental Studies
“Lack of Access to Safe Drinking Water in Kenya: Consequential Effects on
Gender Inequality”
Water is essential for sustaining life. As in many developing countries, the task of gathering,
transporting, and managing water in rural Kenya of sub-Saharan Africa falls on women and young girls.
Most of these Kenyans must walk more than thirty minutes to access clean water for their households.
This repetitive burden is done multiple times a day and is physically strenuous; as such, the fetcher is
often unable to retrieve the sufficient amount of water needed for their household. Water collectors also
risk exposure to accidents, attacks, and water-borne diseases. Distance traveled to fetch water is
inversely related to the health, productivity, and personal development of the water collectors, leaving
women little time for economic or leisure activities, healthcare, and education. This presentation will
highlight how water scarcity exacerbates gender roles and inequality in Kenya. It will examine the
importance of convenient access to sources of safe drinking water for the maintenance of human health,
the development of rural communities, agricultural productivity, and income generation and education
for rural women. There will be discussion of potential access solutions and water management
strategies that could facilitate development and lay a foundation for realizing gender equality
opportunities in Kenya.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 3: 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Social & Cultural Issues
Courtny Devin Ballard
Undergraduate – Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
“Genocide and Water Case Studies from Rwanda, Cambodia, and Sudan”
Over the last 150 years, tens of millions of individuals have lost their lives in genocides across the globe.
These numbers fail to adequately reflect the number of individuals that die as a result of conditions left
behind after genocide. Genocide has devastating effects on the countries and peoples that genocide is
committed against. After the suffering and loss of human life, the survivors must try to return to life
before genocide, but, as illustrated by the case studies in Rwanda, Sudan, and Cambodia, this endeavor is
more complicated by the effects genocide has on both the availability and quality of water. Genocide
ravages lands, destroys preexisting water infrastructure, and often decreases the quality of existing
water supplies. This presentation seeks to describe and explain the effects genocide has on water
quality and availability in countries following acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing. Issues related to
ecocide, environmental refugees, and water infrastructure play important roles in determining the
severity of consequences following genocide and will be described. Rwanda, Cambodia, and Sudan will
be the focus of this presentation; however the results can reflect similar situations found across the
globe.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 4: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Groundwater & Surface Water
Kerry L. Howard
Graduate – Geological Sciences & Engineering/Geology
“Catchment Characteristics and Hydrology of Several Lassen Volcanic National
Park Lakes”
This presentation summarizes catchment properties, hydrological data, and geochemical data that
characterize Manzanita, Butte and Widow lakes in Lassen Volcanic National Park (LAVO) to advance the
current understanding of processes occurring in these lake systems. Manzanita Lake hydrology is
dominated by surface-water inflow; hydraulic residence time (dependent on flow regime) is highly
variable. Geochemical data suggest that Manzanita Lake is a sink for iron, barium, calcium, nitrogen,
phosphorus, and silica that is likely dependent on variations in hydraulic residence time. Butte Lake
hydrology is dominated by groundwater inputs, and the effective size of this catchment is highly
variable. The Butte Lake system functions as an “open” or “closed” system depending on the amount of
surface water entering the system. Widow Lake has the smallest catchment size and the hydrology is
dominated by groundwater inputs. Weighted curve number estimates suggest that there is a high
likelihood for regular surface-water runoff with pulses of sediment and nutrients to Manzanita Lake,
and intermittent pulse events to the Butte Lake system. In contrast, a low curve number for Widow
Lake suggests a greater likelihood for surface water infiltration during storm events or spring snowmelt,
and points to a probable lack of regular pulse events in this system. These data suggest that these LAVO
lake systems may be highly sensitive to abrupt natural and anthropogenic disturbances occurring over
interannual, or even seasonal time scales.
Steven N. Bacon
Graduate – Graduate Program Hydrologic Sciences
“First-Order Hydrologic Budget Models for the Owens River Watershed and
Owens Lake Basin from 1913 to 1988 A.D.: A feasibility assessment for
Holocene paleoprecipitation reconstruction for the southern Sierra Nevada”
Shoreline landforms created by Holocene-age (prehistoric) lakes provide a quantitative record of large
hydrologic changes in the past through relations between basin water budget and the exact lake surface
areas. The ratio of lake surface area to total drainage basin area is directly controlled by the hydrologic
budget, which can be numerically modeled to estimate past annual runoff if moisture can be deduced
from paleoclimate proxies. This presentation describes initial approaches used to estimate historical
runoff in the Owens River watershed in the southern Sierra Nevada of east-central California using two
simple water-balance models: 1) the Thornthwaite model to predict land runoff based on PRISM
monthly temperature and precipitation, and 2) a lake model based on Owens River flow reconstructions
from historical discharge records and Thornthwaite-modeled runoff correlated with tree-ring derived
Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Both models include simulation of evaporation of lake water
based on temperature and solar insolation. Lake level is calculated from the change in storage at each
monthly or annual time step in relation to the basin and calibrated with Owens Lake water levels from
1913 to 1988 A.D. The ultimate goal of this research is to estimate paleoprecipitation in the watershed
over the past 8,000 years using simple hydrologic models and calibration with the Holocene lake-level
record of Owens Lake. Paleohydrologic input variables will be estimated using empirical relationships
derived from correlated historical PRISM climate data with the Holocene solar insolation and Sheep
Mountains tree ring records.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 4: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Groundwater & Surface Water
Bonnie LaRue Wood
Undergraduate – Geography
“Managed Aquifer Recharge and its Application in India”
The world’s increasing human population and the associated demand for food and water required to
meet population needs has pushed the subject of water control and management to the forefront. India
is a prime example of a country in need of new management practices for its water resources. With
fifteen percent of the world’s population, India is challenged to provide clean drinking water as well as
plentiful food for all of its inhabitants. To meet this challenge, India has increasingly relied on managed
aquifer recharge (MAR) as a method of increasing available water. MAR is the intentional restructuring
of landscapes to facilitate infiltration of precipitation. This presentation describes the use of MAR
concepts as they are applied to Indian agriculture. MAR requires a management program that is
tailored to the topography and individual needs of a region and its people. The effectiveness and
efficiency of MAR is directly related to the management and proper utilization of the system installed.
Seven different watersheds in India are evaluated for their potential performance or impacts.
Determining the effectiveness of MAR in India is difficult to assess as actual impacts to watersheds are
still unknown and more data needs to be obtained to quantify impacts of MAR in these seven
watersheds.
Rowan Gaffney
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Sustainability of Groundwater Extraction in the Colorado River Basin and
California’s Central Valley”
Water resources across the Western United States are stressed from both an increase in consumption
from growing populations and a reduction in supply due to droughts and reduced snowpack. During
periods when the traditional water supply is not sufficient to meet demand, increased groundwater
extraction is a common approach to make up the difference. This trend is evident in both the Colorado
River Basin (CRB), the most over-allocated river system in the world, and California’s Central Valley
(CV), a highly-productive agricultural region. While surface water allocations are highly regulated in
both regions, groundwater extraction is either unregulated or monitored to a far less extent. To
measure the cumulative effect of increased groundwater extraction in these areas, we examine results
from several published studies using variation in monthly terrestrial water storage from NASA’s Gravity
Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite. The resulting groundwater extraction rates for the
CRB and CV are 5.6±0.4 km3 yr-1 (Dec 2004 to Nov 2013) and 31.0±2.7 mm yr−1 (Oct 2003 to Mar 2010),
respectively. These alarmingly high groundwater extraction rates are unsustainable at the decadal scale
and indicate the need to better manage and regulate groundwater resources in these over-allocated
regions.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 4: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Groundwater & Surface Water
Brian Minkin
Undergraduate – Geology
“Surfing the Unrideable: Big Waves, Tidal Bores, and Glacial Calves”
Classically, surfing is an act of human strength. The lone surfer paddles into only the waves he can
catch with arm strength alone. Surfable waves are generally produced from storms generated in low
pressure systems and transported thousands of miles to shoal up on coastlines and reefs. However,
technology has modified our ability to interact in the ocean and catch waves. Tow-in surfing (waves
caught with the aid of jet skis) push surfers into bigger and bigger waves, such as the 100-ft wave
caught in 2014 in Nazere, Portugal. However, rideable waves are not narrowed to ocean environments.
Tidal bores (waves produced from abnormally powerful tides into wide, shallow and rapidly narrowing
channels against the normal flow of river water) like the Seven Ghosts wave of the Kampar River in
Indonesia generate river-borne waves also. Similar conditions produce rideable standing waves, like
the ones found in Reno’s own Truckee River Whitewater Park. Technology allows humans the ability to
surf waves at their point of inception such as waves produced from the wakes of ski boats and large
cargo ships. The most astounding example of a rideable inception wave was naturally generated by the
calving of a 300-ft iceberg off Child’s glacier in South Central Alaska. In this presentation I will explain
briefly how a surfable wave is produced. I will then present examples of how technology has expanded
our definition of what a rideable wave is to include tidal bores, standing waves, large tow-in surf, and
point of inception waves.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 5: 1:45-2:45 pm
Agriculture
Hiroto Yamada
Undergraduate- Natural Resources and Environmental Science/Environmental Science
“A Comparison of Different Supplemental Irrigation Methods on
Watermelon Crops in Kenya”
Climate change has been a challenging issue in Kenya where 80% of the land is arid or semi-arid.
Droughts can limit crop production, so supplemental irrigation was recently introduced in Kenya as a
strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Because water resources are limited in this
country, farmers have been producing watermelon, a crop that provides a high return from
supplemental irrigation and also has potential as an important nutrition source for local people.
Several methods of supplemental irrigation have been used in Kenya such as drip, sprinkler, and furrow
irrigation. In this presentation, I will describe these different irrigation methods and a study that
compared how each supplemental irrigation method affected watermelon yield in Kenya. Also included
will be data on how the different irrigation methods compared with respect to the number of fruits per
plant, total yield, and cost.
Megan Ludwig
Undergraduate- Ecohydrology
“How Foggy Days Impact Evapotranspiration Rates from Strawberry Farms
in Coastal California”
Strawberries grown on the central coast of California near Monterey Bay are exposed to frequent fog
events throughout the summer months, when conditions are otherwise warm and dry. These fog events
could potentially reduce water loss through the reduction of evapotranspiration (ET) rates, which in
turn, could mean a reduction in irrigation rates on foggy days. I used the Pennman-Moneith equation to
estimate ET rates on foggy and non-foggy days from a strawberry field 1.5 km from the coast. To
represent ET at the field scale I included meteorological observations collected at the site, as well as a
network of nearby microclimate observations collected at California Irrigation Management
Information System (CIMIS) stations. To validate model outputs, ET estimates here are compared with
field observations of leaf and canopy-scale transpiration rates on foggy and clear days. I found that leaf
and canopy-scale transpiration rates mirrored that of modeled ET rates, showing lower rates of both on
foggy days. The outcome of this research can be used to inform farmer decisions about how much to
irrigate on foggy and non-foggy days in coastal California.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 5: 1:45-2:45 pm
Agriculture
Haley Toups
Graduate – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
“The Future of Agriculture in a World of Water Scarcity”
The current drought plaguing the western United States, namely in California, provides an unsettling
view into the future of agriculture. California is sinking at a rate of 2 inches per month and the soil is
accumulating salts due to the rapid depletion of ground water while the draining of levees is destroying
the native wetland habitats. Water is the crucial-limiting factor in this disaster. Despite efforts to save
crops and livestock, farmers are facing minimal harvests that have not been seen since the Dust Bowl. It
is clear in the current drought and in the face of future climate change that existing agriculture is not
sustainable and must change if the human population is to survive. Luckily, modern science can provide
the revolution needed to adapt to agriculture to a world with limited water. The creation of seed stocks
with increased water use efficiency and yield through selective breeding and genetic modification, the
establishment of drought tolerant root stocks from genotypic markers, and the ability to grow steak and
ground beef without the cow are just the beginning to the evolution of agriculture in a world of water
scarcity. This presentation will address the current drought in California, its effects on agriculture and
the innovations science can provide to establish sustainable agrarian practices.
Matt Peckham
Undergraduate – Natural Resources and Environmental Science / Ecohydrology
“The Changing Hydrology of Argentina’s Pampas Region Due to Shifting
Agricultural Practices”
Agricultural practices in the sub-humid hyperplains of the Pampas region of Argentina have been
shifting gradually away from the more traditional cattle grazing and alfalfa agriculture toward highyield grain cultivation mainly due to market prices. This has had a marked effect on the groundwater
hydrology and the buffering capacity of the soil during heavy precipitation events. By using satellite
data, hydrologic modeling and in-field water table measurements, researchers have demonstrated that
pastures and alfalfa fields help hold the water table at a greater depth than grain fields due to
significantly deeper root structures and greater evapotranspiration rates. A very shallow water table
under the high-yield cropland has led to an increase in flood frequency and duration during the wet
season and additionally, the standing water is often slow to retreat. In this presentation, I will discuss a
recent study that analyzed these issues, and how the farmers of the Pampas region can cooperate to
optimize the hydrologic resources of this vast and productive area.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 5: 1:45-2:45 pm
Agriculture
Karmyn Witt
Undergraduate - Forest Management and Ecology
“Water Management in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia”
Over the past hundred years, European settlement has shaped and changed the natural state of the
Murray-Darling Basin in Australia. The basin’s natural water cycle is characterized by periods of
flooding and drought that are crucial for many organisms native to the basin because they maintain the
regeneration of species and signal mating cycles. However, a year-round flow of water is favorable for
Australia’s farming economy. Europeans built many structures to ensure that the basin’s rivers would
supply a continuous flow that they could utilize for agriculture and drinking water. These settlers
cleared out forests and native grasses, replacing them with cereal crops and bringing in various
livestock. In my presentation I will describe the structures Europeans have used to change the flow of
the rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin, discuss the effects these structures have had on the basin, and
look into policies and initiatives made by the Australian government to help reverse the damage made
to the basin’s natural water cycle.
22
Thursday, November 19
Session 6: 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
History/Language/Literature
Helen Fillmore
Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Exploring Human Relationships to Water Through the Washoe Language”
The Washoe people have lived in what is now called Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas for thousands of
years. There has always been a co-dependency between water systems like rivers and streams and
people. The Washoe people used many resources from these water systems for sustenance, and helped
to manage the health of these systems through their harvesting and stewardship techniques.
Furthermore, water systems in this area were central to family identity and relationships between
families, as well as to cultural and spiritual practices. The Washoe language holds a special worldview
about the connection the original people have to these lands and resources, but this point of view is
often lost in translation. Due to colonization over the last few hundred years, much of the traditional
knowledge for managing water and resources in the Lake Tahoe region and of the role of water in
Washoe value systems and identity has declined. This talk will explore the traditional relationship
between Washoe people and water systems, and how by reconnecting to the Washoe language, people
may be able to re-connect to the original knowledge of these lands, and continue some of management
practices that are desperately needed for the health of ecosystems here.
Rob Lugg
Undergraduate – English/English Literature
“A River Runs Through…The Composition Classroom?”
What is the role of the Truckee River in the University of Nevada, Reno English 101 classroom? While
rarely used as a text in the composition classroom, I make the case that the teaching of Mary Webb,
Peter Goin, and Robert Dawson’s A Doubtful River is an important tool for developing students’ writing
about and caring for our bioregional communities. As Nedra Reynolds writes in the Geographies of
Writing, “…identities take root from particular sociogeographical intersections, reflecting where a
person comes from and, to some extent, directing where she is allowed to go.” Drawing from Reynolds’
concept of location as “an act of coming into being and taking responsibility,” and outcomes from my
experience teaching A Doubtful River, I explore the ways in which this pedagogical move encourages
students to see the connections between their identities, the act of writing, and our bioregion, to enact
their agentive role in our particular social and ecological communities, and to create spaces for
interdisciplinary conversations and connections through writing.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 6: 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
History/Language/Literature
Amanda Pratt
Graduate – English/Writing
“Healing Waters: An Essay on Hot Springing in the American West”
Hot spring areas are sacred places that have been recognized as having healing powers since ancient
times. In this creative nonfiction piece, I recount several memorable experiences while “hot springing”
in the American West. Whether taking a break from hiking the Continental Divide to heal blistered feet
in rural Montana, shredding tires on obsidian shards in the Black Rock Desert, or exploring the remote
valley that once served as a hideout for the Manson family, the experience of hot springing never fails to
be a unique and embodied way of connecting to landscapes and healing waters. In this essay, I explore
the art and science of soaking, the tenuous journeys associated with finding hot springs, the comical
interactions that often occur between people at hot springs, and the political concerns associated with
the protection of these sacred places.
Leo Demski
Graduate – Anthropology
“The Role of Natural Ice in the Economy and Development in the Late 19th
Century West”
Prior to the invention of electric refrigerators or ice-makers, the annual harvesting of ice from frozen
rivers, lakes and other water resources was an important American industry. During winter, ice was
cut into blocks and packed into icehouses with sawdust as insulation. The ice was used to refrigerate
food and regulate heat in the days before air conditioning. The efficiency of this method allowed for
year-round access to ice and created a new industry. In the mid-1800s, hundreds of tons of ice was
shipped from the east coast of the U.S. to England, the Caribbean, and the San Francisco gold rush
frontier, where it was offered as an expensive luxury item. Bypassing the middleman, Californians
established ice companies in the Sierra Nevada in the 1860s, along the route of the transcontinental
railroad. Using ice harvested from the Sierra made it possible to ship perishable goods by rail for long
distances. California produce was successfully sold in Boston in the 1870’s and perishable East coast
oysters were brought to San Francisco shortly thereafter. Year round ice availability had social effects
as Americans became used to having ice daily. Hotels and restaurants attracted customers by offering
iced drinks, and the icebox improved food storage techniques. At its peak, seasonal ice production
harvests had their own newspaper coverage, with a special census report in 1884. By the 1930s,
however, increasing consumer demand, rising winter temperatures, mechanized refrigeration/icemaking technology, and polluted water sources led to the downfall of the natural ice harvesting
industry.
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Friday, November 20
Session 6: 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
History/Language/Literature
Ryan Powell
Graduate-History
“Inverted Reservoirs: A History of Nevada’s National Forests”
National forests in Nevada have an anomalous presence. With little harvestable timber, Great Basin
national forests owe their creation to the 1897 Forest Organic Act. The Great Basin denotes some of the
extremes of an arid environment, but the extensive mountain ranges provide forests and snowpack
necessary to store water for the health of numerous springs and creeks through summer months. The
phrase in the Forest Organic Act, “…favorable conditions of water flows,” carries protean meanings for
forage and irrigation possibilities in the arid-outback country of Nevada’s Great East. National forest
lands were largely designated in Nevada for the protection of water reserves and storage to secure
grazing cultures (and any accompanying irrigation) that came to the Great Basin during the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The creation of national forests, with their subtext of water
reserves, became the initial wedge that brought federal forestry and ultimately a variety of federal land
management practices to this unlikely place in Nevada. As a result, rangeland positivism infiltrated land
use agendas on the range that authenticated a managerial authority based on early twentieth century
science. To do so, land first needed boundaries and land managers to exert influence within geographic
lines deemed significant. Second, managers had to construct an administrative body suitable to enforce
rules and regulations within those boundaries. Third, and as a result, scientific practices filtered through
those administrative pathways. These three significant categories prioritized Nevada forests as inverted
reservoirs that helped bring federal management to the high desert.
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Thursday, November 19
Session 7: 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Water Treatment & Sustainability
David Lake
Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Effective Detention Basin Treatment Strategies for Removal of
Anthropogenic Contaminate Sources in Surface Water Runoff”
Public health agencies are becoming more concerned about treatment options to prevent anthropogenic
sources from contaminating surface water runoff and degrading water habitats. Various treatments
options of detention basin strategies offer proven results to remove phosphorus and microbial
pathogens from surface water runoff. Two case studies used mesocosms to simulate contaminated
urban runoff and agriculture runoff treatment in scaled model detention basins. Detention basin
strategies investigated included submerged aquatic vegetation, sand filtration, wet detention, and alum
coagulation treatment systems. Outflows after various detention times were measured for contaminant
removal. Successful removal of contaminants was observed when longer hydraulic retention times and
contaminant absorption mechanisms such as coagulation or assimilation were applied. Hydraulic
retention times for 7 days or longer offered significant reduction in phosphorus concentrations of
outflows, and implementation of alum coagulation treatment showed almost complete removal of
contaminants. Results of this study indicate that detention basins can be engineered, designed, and
constructed with various treatment options so that we can protect the water habitats we coexist with.
With these types of environmental protection strategies, life forms that so heavily depend on healthy
water habitats will continue to flourish.
Connor Johnson
Undergraduate- Environmental Science
“Constructed Wetlands in Developing Countries: Affordable Wastewater
Treatment”
Access to clean water and sanitation is a major problem facing developing countries. Often wastewater
goes untreated and can pose threats to public health and the environment. Constructed wetlands are
water features built for treatment of storm water and various types of wastewater effluent. They use
natural processes to remove contaminants and excessive nutrients from water. This allows for less
polluted outflows and the potential for reusing the treated water for irrigation or other uses.
Constructed wetlands can also be effective at protecting water quality of lakes, streams, and rivers.
These wetlands can serve as cost effective ways to manage wastewater in rural or small communities
where it may be cost prohibitive for centralized wastewater treatment. They can also be easily
implemented and managed with minimal cost where climate and space availability are appropriate.
Despite the potential benefits, constructed wetlands are underutilized in developing countries. In my
presentation, I will examine the types of constructed wetlands used for wastewater treatment and use
projects in Nepal, Mexico, and China as case studies. I will also discuss some of the constraints of this
technology as well as how constructed wetlands can be better utilized in developing countries into the
future.
26
Thursday, November 19
Session 7: 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Water Treatment & Sustainability
Mallory Ong
Undergraduate- Forest Management and Ecology
“Sources and Consequences of Pollutants in the Yangtze River”
The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world, supplying drinking water for over 400 million
citizens in China. In addition, over 50% of China’s agricultural production takes place along the Yangtze
River. In 2005, the annual discharge of sewage and industrial waste into the Yangtze River was
approximated at 25 billion U.S. tons. There was a 73% increase in pollutant levels in the river from
1955 to 2005. The pollution comes in the form of accumulation of heavy metals, increased sediments,
toxic organic and inorganic compounds, and harmful bacteria. The sources of these pollutants are
directly related to expanding agricultural, economic, and urban growth. An ever-increasing population
creates a demand for higher yield crops, expanding industries, and development of broader sanitation
infrastructure. Unfortunately, the result of these demands has been increased pesticide/ fertilizer
contamination, unrestricted industrial waste disposal, and inadequate sewage management.
Contamination of the Yangtze River has detrimental effects on both the wellness of the populous and the
ecosystem. The Yangtze makes up over 40% of China’s freshwater resources, as well as 60% of China’s
fishery production, which is the country’s main protein staple. This presentation will describe the
studies that have examined the sources of pollution into the Yangtze River, and the consequences of
those pollutants on the largest freshwater resource in China. Furthermore, this presentation will
describe the actions underway to reduce pollutants into the river.
Adam Zuro
Undergraduate- Environmental Science
An Analysis of Singapore’s Water Control Measures and Their Applicability
to Southeast Asia
Singapore is in a unique situation because it is the most developed country in Southeast Asia and its
residents enjoy an above average quality of life. In its brief history of independence, the Singapore
government has made its primary goal the conservation of natural resources and growth of public
environmental consciousness. Singapore’s political history is one characterized by the struggle to find
alternative sources of water and efficient water management. Even before its independence from
Britain, the country has been dependent on water brought in through pipelines from neighboring
Malaysia. Recent events and negotiations in water pricing, however, have caused the government to
pursue a variety of plans aimed at attaining water self-sufficiency for the country. This presentation will
cover the climatic patterns and water-related issues that affect the region of Southeast Asia in order to
give context to the issues that the countries there face, including Singapore. The various technological
innovations and management practices that have allowed Singapore to meet the water needs of its
people will be presented and their applicability to neighboring Malaysia and other countries in
Southeast Asia will be considered.
27
Thursday, November 19
Session 7: 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Water Treatment & Sustainability
Spencer Whitman
Graduate Program of Hydrologic Science
“A Look at the Water-Energy Nexus: Water demands of Various Electricity
Generation Methods”
Water and energy resources are linked in an intricate and often poorly understood manner. In order to
understand the impact of an electrical generation method on water resources, water usage must be
accounted for during fuel production, construction, and operational phases. For example, traditional
(thermoelectric) power plants require vast amounts of cooling water during operation, hydroelectric
power reservoirs suffer from high evaporative losses, and manufacturing of photovoltaic panels
requires large amounts of high quality water. Forecasted increases in water scarcity and energy
demand dictate that decisions concerning water resources and energy needs be made jointly. Continued
installation of high water use electricity generation has the potential to contribute to increased water
scarcity and insecure electricity generation. This talk will explore one side of the water-energy nexus,
the life cycle water resource demands of several prominent types of electricity generation. Findings
from a literature review consisting of a number of published studies related to the water-energy nexus
will be presented in the context of United States and Nevada electricity generation and water resources.
Most studies point to renewable electricity generation as having low water resource demands compared
to thermoelectric generation, while a variety of intermediary solutions may exist for existing
thermoelectric sources. Generation of low consumptive water use electricity promises to increase
energy security and free up precious water resources for high priority uses.
28
Friday, November 20
Session 8: 8:12 am – 9:00 am
Pollution II
Kelly August
Undergraduate- Geology
“Water Contaminants and Their Causes”
In every part of the world, water has a unique signature due to distinct physical, chemical,
environmental, radiological, and human-caused factors. Much of the world’s water contains
contaminants and heavy metals that would harm humans should they ingest them. Water pollutants
may include chemicals, minerals, and heavy metals. There are also biological factors such as parasites,
illnesses, and fecal material that can contaminate water. Where do these harmful elements come from?
What pollutants occur where? Which contaminants are not of critical concern? This presentation will
describe the contaminants, parts of the world they are commonly seen, and what practices are in use to
protect ourselves from these contaminants. Case studies of major contamination will also be discussed.
Mio Sakai
Undergraduate – Community Health Sciences
“Impacts of Pit Latrines on Groundwater Quality in Zimbabwe and Uganda”
Groundwater is a major source of water for domestic purposes in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies were
conducted in the Marondera district, Zimbabwe, and Kampala, the capital city of Uganda to see how the
use of pit latrines, a type of dry toilet common in these countries, impact groundwater quality. Most of
the people in these regions use on-site sanitation (i.e., excreta is generated, stored and treated on-site).
Poor sanitation practices have been found to be a potential cause of groundwater contamination and can
result in water-borne diseases due to pathogens that are major causes of morbidity and mortality in
both Zimbabwe and Uganda. By using unimproved pit latrines, fecal matter can leach into groundwater
and decrease its quality. In addition, the lack of waste collection and treatment causes human wastes,
including excreta, dumped at landfills to be exposed to the environment in urban areas. Untreated and
mistreated wastes can leach into and pollute groundwater. This presentation will focus on fecal waste
from pit latrines and waste management sites and its effects on groundwater quality and the potential
for diseases from poor sanitation by comparing two regions, one in Zimbabwe and one in Uganda.
29
Friday, November 20
Session 8: 8:12 am -9:00 am
Pollution II
Arthur Duff Callan
Undergraduate- Geography
“Effects of War on Water: Groundwater Contamination in Kuwait”
Iraq invaded and occupied its neighboring country Kuwait in early August 1990. Iraq ignored the
United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait, and the Persian Gulf War began. An
impact of the war was damage to most of the oil wells in Kuwait caused by Iraqi troops igniting them.
The ignition of the oil wells led to spillage of crude oil in large quantities on the surface of the Earth. The
crude oil spillage gave rise to bodies of oil called oil lakes, and the crude oil was soaked up by the soils.
The spill of crude oils was widespread across Kuwait, contaminating much of its soils. It was feared that
groundwater would be contaminated by infiltrating water transporting crude oil to the water table, or
crude oil coming in direct contact with groundwater by seeping down to the subsurface through
damaged casings. If the groundwater is contaminated, this would be an issue in Kuwait. Kuwait has an
arid climate with little precipitation, high evaporation, and scarce water resources. These fears led to
the investigation of possible groundwater contamination in Kuwait. This presentation will describe a
study that found that the fresh waters under Umm Al-Aish oil field and in the southeastern parts of the
Raudhatain oil field were affected by hydrocarbon pollution. It is important for Kuwait to know which
groundwater supplies are still potable for its people.
Keith Hayes
Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“A Critical Review of the Risks to Water Resources from Unconventional
Shale Gas Development and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States”
The total production of natural gas has increased by more than 30% in the last decade spurred by the
improved technology of unconventional extraction methods. Forecasters predict that unconventional
natural gas production in the U.S. from shale formations will double by 2035, accounting for ~50% of
total domestic natural gas production. The rise in shale gas development has triggered an intense
public debate regarding the potential environmental and human health effects from hydraulic
fracturing. In this paper, four potential risks for water resources are discussed: (1) the contamination
of shallow aquifers by stray gas; (2) the contamination of surface water and shallow groundwater via
spills, leaks, and/or the disposal of inadequately treated wastewater; (3) the accumulation of toxic and
radioactive elements in soil or stream sediments near disposal or spill sites; and (4) the overextraction
of water resources leading to water shortages or conflicts with other water users in water-scarce areas.
Evidence for these risks acquired from published data through January 2014 is presented as are
possible solutions to the four potential scenarios.
30
Friday, November 20
Session 9: 9:15 am – 10:03 am
Water Policy and Governance
Elijah Mlawsky
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Transboundary Groundwater Management: Lessons Learned from the
Guarani Aquifer Agreement”
Diffusion of innovations is a concept that describes the influence and propagation of policy instruments
developed for one community and adopted for use by others. Adapting tools for applications beyond
their original purpose is an efficient process, as policy makers are often given an indication of past
success under similar circumstances. This concept is increasingly important under the lens of water
issues, where timely development of resource management strategies is critical to human and
environmental health. This talk explores a noteworthy example of transboundary groundwater
resource management: the Guarani Aquifer Agreement, and supplementary regulatory tools. I will
describe insights on successful groundwater management policy by reviewing the world’s largest
transboundary aquifer system, and the legal framework currently in place between the stakeholder
countries of Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Ultimately, I will address the questions: What
works for transboundary aquifer management? What doesn’t? And, how can successful strategies be
applied to comparable scenarios in the United States?
Iker Saitua
Graduate – Center for Basque Studies
“Controlling the Range: Ranchers, Sheepherders, and the Water Law of
1925 in Nevada”
In the early twentieth century, a great percent of the public thought that Nevada had reached its
maximum agricultural growth. In the 1890s, while rangelands were severely exhausted and
deteriorated, the number of sheep grew dramatically in the public lands in detriment to the cattle. By
that time, about two hundred large livestock operations had built up great holdings on many thousands
acres each. Big livestock companies strategically monopolized the most valuable tracts of land and
controlled a large number of water sources. They had secured much of their estates in the form of
chains of forty-acre tracts, which, because of the possession of water rights, controlled the pasturage of
vast areas of public lands. Furthermore, the Nevada legislature adopted resolutions against itinerant
sheep operations and favored the establishment of large landed holdings by livestockmen. The state
used large-scale privatization as means to prevent competition problems, but with little success. In the
early 1920s, with the growing numbers of transient sheep operations, many Nevada landholders felt a
loss of control and a sense of powerlessness over the range. In 1925, the state government passed a
watering stock act to protect large livestockmen from transient sheep operators. This paper analyzes
the history and effects of the 1925 act, which made the use of water for livestock a beneficial use.
31
Friday, November 20
Session 9: 9:15 am – 10:03 am
Water Policy and Governance
Cara Nadler
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Social Participation Models: An Analysis of Water Management”
In recent history in the western U.S., water management has been handled by less affected policymakers
and technical professionals, which can lead to the exclusion of the more affected stakeholders. At times
this top-down approach has led to a number of conflicts between stakeholders, water professionals and
politicians. This presentation examines participatory governance as a possible solution. This will
include an analysis of two models of social participation in water issues as well as the advantages and
disadvantages of participatory governance. The first model, by Alfredo Boné-Pueyo, is based on the
Aragon Water Commission from an autonomous community in Spain. This model specifies intrinsic and
external conditional factors to be considered, suggesting a “start small and work your way up”
approach. The second model, by Jeff Loux, is based on the Sacramento Area Water Forum for the Lower
American River. This model describes six consecutive steps to both optimize social participation and
minimize negotiation conflicts. Both models propose creating a varied but small committee to tackle
issues first in subcommittees and then as a group. Both models could require years to reach
implementation, but this downside could be outweighed by the positive effect of finding a more
sustainable, agreeable solution for the majority of the stakeholders.
Zachary Carter
Graduate –Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Environmental Issues of the Proposed Nicaragua Canal”
The global economy is driving the supply and demand for products all over the world, increasing the
need for larger shipping vessels and faster shipping routes. Nicaragua will become the site of a major
inter-oceanic thoroughfare for the transport of international goods through the construction of a $50
billion canal project. The proposed canal is expected to be about 300 kilometers in length and will
connect the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, and yet the project is still without an environmental
report that addresses long term impacts. This canal will not only pass through reserves, wetlands, and
Central America’s largest lake, Lake Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua), but it will also displace thousands of
indigenous people, migratory birds, and endangered animals. Humans have been modifying the
environment and their surroundings since the dawn of time, but usually at the expense of
environmental health. The proposed Nicaragua canal will increase shipping capabilities, but at what
cost to the native flora and fauna? This multifaceted issue can be addressed through governmental
transparency, cooperation amongst all involved parties, and communication amongst the scientific
community. This presentation will discuss the issues revolving around building another interoceanic
canal, including impacts to the environment and indigenous people, political concerns, and how to turn
a potentially devastating feat of engineering into an amiable compromise.
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Friday, November 20
Session 10: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Chemistry and Geochemistry
Dinesh Adhikari
Graduate – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
“Asynchronous Reductive Release of Iron and Organic Carbon from
Hematite-Humic Acid Complexes”
Association with solid-phase iron plays an important role in accumulation and stabilization of soil
organic matter (SOM). Ferric minerals are subject to redox reactions, which can compromise the
stability of iron-bound SOM. To date, limited information is available concerning the fate of iron-bound
SOM during redox reactions. We investigated the release kinetics of hematite-bound organic carbon
(OC) during abiotic reduction of hematite-humic acid (HA) complexes by dithionite as an analog for the
fate of iron-bound SOM in natural redox reactions. Our results indicate that the iron reduction release
obeyed first-order kinetics. Initially, iron-bound OC was rapidly released and then became stable within
120 to 240 minutes with residual fractions of 4.6% to 58.2%. Aromatic carbon was released more
rapidly than overall OC. For all samples, 90% of aromatic carbon was released in the first hour. Rapid
release of aromatic OC was attributed to its potential distribution on the outer layer because of steric
effects and possible reduction of quinoids. Our findings show that iron-bound OC and iron were
asynchronously mobilized and aromatic carbon was released more readily than other organic
components during iron reduction. This study illustrates the importance of evaluating the stability of
iron-bound SOM, especially under aerobic-anaerobic transition conditions.
Qian Zhao
Graduate – Civil & Environmental Engineering
“Importance of Iron and Soil Physicochemical Properties to Stabilize
Organic Carbon in Soils”
Global warming can potentially accelerate the decomposition of forest soil organic matter (SOM) and it
can become a source of greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the fate of forest SOM is important for
evaluating and managing the global carbon cycle under climate change. Iron minerals play an important
role in stabilizing organic carbon (OC) and regulating the biogeochemical cycle in the soil environment,
but there is only limited information concerning how iron-mediated OC stabilization is affected by soil
physicochemical properties. This study investigated the behavior of iron-bound OC in soils collected
from 14 forests across the United States, and the impact of soil physicochemical properties on the
stabilization of OC by iron minerals. We found that iron-bound OC contributed 1.2 - 57.7 weight % of
total OC in forest soils. Atomic ratios of iron-bound OC:Fe ranged from 0.006 to 0.178, indicating the
importance of sorptive interactions. The fraction of iron-bound OC was more closely correlated to the
molar ratio of iron-bound OC:Fe than the absolute concentration of reactive iron, which ranged from
0.08 to 19.31 mg/g. Iron-bound OC was enriched in 13C compared to the non-iron-bound SOM. There
were significant correlations between the total N concentration and total or non-iron bound OC, but not
with iron-bound OC. Overall, iron minerals mainly stabilize 13C-enriched non-nitrogenous OC, which was
almost regulated by the sorptive association between iron and OC. Our results illustrate the importance
of understanding the stabilization of OC in soil, and the coupled biogeochemical processes of carbon and
iron.
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Friday, November 20
Session 10: 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Chemistry and Geochemistry
Daniel Murray
Graduate –Chemistry
“Two-Dimensional Polymers: Membranes in 2D”
Membrane separation processes play a large role in providing clean freshwater. More specifically,
current separation processes for desalinating salt water are expensive and inefficient. Nanoporous
membranes may have the ability to alleviate these issues. An ideal nanoporous membrane possesses
two key features: absolute thinness, and uniform, nanometer-sized pores. The importance of these
features stems from two items: the flux across a membrane being inversely proportional to its
thickness, and selectivity in separations requiring uniform pores. Controlling the size and density of
these pores is currently an obstacle in membrane production. To circumvent this problem, we are
developing two-dimensional polymers (2DPs) as nanoporous membranes. Our 2DP is built from
monomers consisting of three anthracene blades around a central triptycene core. In our current
approach, these monomers are spread at the air water interface and photopolymerized to give a ~1 nm
thick 2DP membrane. The large free volume of the monomer ensures that the 2DP lattice has open
pores which is beneficial in that pores can be designed into the structure of the polymer. Because 2DPs
are rationally synthesized one can control the size and density of the pores by tailoring the monomer to
the desired application. Designing membranes with molecular precision may give rise to more efficient
separation methods.
Claire Archer
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Major Ion and Stable Isotope Geochemistry Reveal Source Relationships
Between Groundwater and Surface Waters in the Rieti Basin, Italy”
Water samples were collected from the Rieti Basin, Lazio, Italy, revealing hydrological connections
between surface water and groundwater. This work aids in the interpretation of sediment core
geochemical results from an ongoing multidisciplinary paleoclimate study. The study area is an
intrapenninic basin that has been utilized by humans for over 2000 years, extensively altering the
hydrologic regime. Two shallow lakes (~5m depth), Lago Lungo and Lago di Ripasottile, occupy the
lowest elevations of the basin today and are remnants of a larger ancient lake (Lacus Velinus). The
characterization of the modern regime included multi-seasonal sampling of seven waters: Lago Lungo
and Lago di Ripasottile, the Velino River, and 4 springs in or adjacent to the basin; the Santa Susanna,
Vicenna Riara, Peschiara and Terme di Cotilia. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, dissolved
oxygen, pH, alkalinity, major ion concentration, and stable isotope (δ2H, δ18O, δ13C, δ34S) composition.
The distinguishing factors among the waters were their sulfate, magnesium and bicarbonate (alkalinity)
concentrations. The concentrations of all major ions in Lago Lungo were very similar to the Vicenna
Riara spring, while Ripasottile is chemically related to Santa Susanna. Stable isotope results corroborate
these linkages. The δ2H and δ18O values also show a difference in recharge elevations of waters sampled.
These results, when viewed in conjunction, can be used to define hydrochemical facies and
groundwater-surface water interactions. This information will allow for downcore geochemical changes
to be viewed within the context of shifts in source water.
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Friday, November 20
Session 10: 10:30 am – 11:30 pm
Chemistry and Geochemistry
Rachel Hallnan
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Mechanisms Driving Carbon Dioxide Evasion in Inland Waters: Terrestrial
Carbon Source Coupled with Ecosystem Structure”
Supersaturation of aqueous CO2 in lakes and reservoirs with respect to the atmosphere creates a net
CO2 flux to the atmosphere. This process, known as evasion, is one of the many sources of the
greenhouse gas CO2 in the atmosphere, and a contributor to climate change. Therefore, the mechanisms
that drive CO2 supersaturation in lakes and reservoirs impact the amount of CO2 evasion in a particular
system, and consequently, climate change. CO2 supersaturation has traditionally been attributed to
negative net ecosystem production. This occurs in systems in which large inputs of terrestrial dissolved
organic matter allow net heterotrophy to persist. However recent attention has been placed on
inorganic carbon sources, such as carbonate weathering in the watershed. Systems in which carbonate
weathering drives CO2 supersaturation also typically have high alkalinity. In environments with high
pH, this may result in calcium carbonate precipitation, which in turn releases CO2 gas. Therefore,
conditions within inland waters controlling carbonate weathering and dissolution, such as alkalinity,
pH, and ecosystem structure, directly relate to supersaturation of CO2 in systems with high terrestrially
derived inorganic carbon. The total amount of CO2 evasion must be influenced both by the terrestrial
carbon source, either organic or inorganic, as well as the structure of the given limnologic ecosystem.
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Friday, November 20
Session 11: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Climate Change and Drought
Cale Lopez
Undergraduate – Natural Resources & Environmental Science/Forest Management & Ecology
“Glacial Shrinkage and Water Resources in the Tropical Andes”
Almost all of the world’s tropical glaciers are located in the Andes, and Andean countries rely to a great extent
on freshwater from glaciated basins. Mountain glaciers in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia act as a
critical buffer against highly seasonal precipitation and provide water for domestic, agricultural and industrial
use during the dry season. However, these glaciers have been rapidly shrinking since the Little Ice Age, and,
given the projected changes in climate, they will continue to retreat. This problem is exacerbated in the
tropical Andes because its glaciers are particularly sensitive to climate change. Many of the smaller glaciers
are expected disappear entirely within a few decades. But even where glaciers do not completely disappear,
the change in water availability due to the reduction of glacial buffering will significantly affect the livelihood
of downstream populations that depend on them for water and energy supplies during the dry season. The
potential impact of glacial shrinkage on water supply for human consumption, agriculture and ecosystem
integrity is of grave concern. This presentation will show that after a temporary period of increased runoff as
glaciers melt—to which downstream users will quickly adapt—the available water will decrease along with
the rapid retreat of the glaciers, thereby raising serious sustainability concerns.
Amanda Tate
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“Holistic Management of Limited Water Resources in Singapore”
Water has become an issue of national security for Singapore due to the country’s dependence on water
imports from Malaysia. Singapore would like to become less dependent on Malaysia because of a
possible breakdown of water agreements. The urban city-state has taken steps to become more water
independent by implementing holistic policies that look at all interconnected parts of Singapore’s water
system. Singapore focuses on supply and demand management under one self-governing organization,
the Public Utility Board (PUB), while also considering economic, social, and environmental
considerations when implementing its policies. The PUB manages water supply through desalination,
rainwater capture, and water reclamation. Demand for water is controlled through socially equitable
tariffs based on income and usage. The PUB also focuses on the environmental impacts of water with
strict water quality regulations not only for drinking water, but also for reclaimed wastewater. Despite
this, Singapore has, and will continue to have, a growing energy need to keep this system running. This
means that Singapore is still reliant on imports of energy sources which also threaten its national
security. In my presentation I will describe how Singapore came to be a leader in water management
while providing sufficient water quantity and quality. I will also discuss the energy costs of this new
system.
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Friday, November 20
Session 11: 12:30 am – 1:30 pm
Climate Change and Drought
Kaylie Bundy
Undergraduate – Environmental Sciences
“Desalination: Reducing Egypt’s Water Scarcity”
Almost all of Egypt’s accessible fresh water sources have been exhausted. Egypt’s demand for
water continues to increase, and this exacerbates Egypt’s water scarcity. Egypt’s condition will continue
to get worse as global climate change intensifies. Egypt has coastlines on two seas: the Mediterranean
Sea and the Red Sea. Although these bodies of water are very important for Egypt’s culture and
economy, they are not sources of drinking water of acceptable quality. They do, however, provide an
opportunity for desalination, and could then supply Egypt with dependable, fresh drinking water. In the
past, desalination has been implemented in Egypt with some success, but because of technological
issues and high costs, use of desalination has been limited. Desalination is expensive because of
processing and transportation costs. In addition, there is an environmental cost related to brine
disposal. Egypt has an opportunity to incorporate renewable energy resources to help power the
desalination plants which could ultimately reduce the costs of the desalination process and supply all of
Egypt (not just the coastal areas) with a greater source of fresh water. In my presentation, I will present
pros and cons and techniques of incorporating desalination in Egypt.
Jeffrey Stroup
Graduate – Economics
“Economic Impact of the 2013 Nevada Drought on Agriculture”
Nevada is experiencing a severe drought after facing four years of historically low precipitation rates.
The reduced water supply has taken a toll on Nevada’s economy, particularly the agricultural sectors.
According to the 2013 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm and Ranch Irrigation
Survey, over half of Nevada’s 2,159 irrigated farms reported diminished crop yields due to irrigation
interruption, with about 90% reporting the cause to be water shortage of some type. In the midst of
continuing drought conditions, Nevadans are facing important decisions regarding future water
allocation. Economic analysis of drought impacts to Nevada’s economy, particularly the vital agriculture
and related economic sectors, provides an improved basis for more informed decisions related to water
policy. Agricultural economic impact multipliers were estimated using a modified input-output model
for Nevada using IMPLAN software. Agriculture sector activity was then adjusted to simulate estimated
production losses based on reported irrigation interruption due to lack of available water. This model
improves upon the baseline IMPLAN model by validating both employment data for all sectors and
production functions for agricultural sectors. Employment and wage data for all non-agricultural
sectors were verified using Nevada’s Department of Employment, Rehabilitation and Training data.
Twelve agricultural sectors were constructed based on the 2012 USDA Nevada Census of Agriculture.
These modifications provide an improved basis which better reflects agricultural economic activity
specific to Nevada.
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Friday, November 20
Session 11: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Climate Change and Drought
Jennifer Callahan
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“Effects of Climate Change on Himalayan Water Resources”
In Sanskrit, one of the ancient languages of south and eastern Asian cultures, Himalaya translates to “the
abode of snow”. This title is fitting for the tallest mountain range in the world that rises above India,
Pakistan, Bhutan, Tibet (China) and Nepal while producing three of the world’s major rivers: the Ganges,
the Indus, and the Brahmaptura. While this presentation will focus on water issues related to mountain
communities and economy, it is important to note that 600 million people benefit from the drainage of
the Himalaya. Himalayan mountain economy thrives on high altitude rangelands, irrigated crops,
tourism, and trade—all of which are dependent on water resources. The Himalayas are experiencing
warming temperatures, increased amounts of snowfall, and fast melting as a result of climate change. In
a place where rivers and streams are as tied to the mountains as cultural identity, this presentation will
aim to bridge the gap between water resources, mountains, mountain communities, and a changing
climate. Sherpas, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, mountaineers, kayakers, and other various forms of
life will be presented as groups most affected by alterations of the hydrologic cycle caused by climate
change.
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Friday, November 20
Session 12: 1:45 pm – 2:33 pm
Innovations and Technology
Guy Smith
Graduate – Graduate Program Hydrologic Sciences
“Cloud Computing of the Landsat Archive as a Tool for Water Resource
Managers of the Arid West”
Throughout much of the arid Western United States groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs; those
in which the flora necessarily rely on expressions of subsurface or surficial groundwater) represent
hotspots of biodiversity, providing pockets of mesic habitat in an otherwise arid landscape. Despite their
integral ecological role, little is known about the long term dynamic spatiotemporal response of GDEs in
arid lands to both disturbance and climatic variability. Climate change, combined with anthropogenic
ground and surface water development, has drastically altered the hydrologic regime throughout much
of the region, thereby placing these GDEs under intense environmental stress. Given the economic, and
intrinsic cultural value provided by these unique environments through their many ecosystem services,
improving understanding of their spatiotemporal dynamics is of the utmost importance. Remotely
sensed vegetation indices are commonly used as a proxy for measuring evapotranspiration and net
primary productivity across many terrestrial ecosystems, though limitations in data availability and
computing power have historically confined these analyses both spatially and temporally. Google’s
Earth Engine cloud computing and environmental monitoring platform was used to both streamline
computationally intense environmental analyses, and to access pre-processed Landsat and downscaled
National Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) data, effectively overcoming the temporal and spatial
constraints previously posed by limited economic resources and computing power. Results of Landsat
time series analyses illustrate the strong coupling between depth to groundwater and GDE net primary
productivity. Broad spatiotemporal analyses of GDEs through cloud computation analysis offer resource
managers a tool for prioritizing and monitoring future management decisions.
Melissa Sieffert
Undergraduate – Community Health Sciences
“NASA and Hydrology from Space”
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is turning its gaze from the stars back down
to Earth as scientists look to gain a global perspective of the world’s most important hydrologic cycles.
This past January, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite mission was launched with the
objective of mapping soil moisture and freeze/thaw state with incredible accuracy all over the world.
Over a three year period, SMAP will gather data that will help scientists analyze water, energy, and
carbon cycles, as well as help to better predict and monitor floods and droughts. In 2020, NASA will also
be launching the Surface Water & Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission, which will measure and
track water volumes in surface water systems, and elucidate our understanding of ocean circulation as it
relates to carbon cycles and climate change. These novel space-based technologies will revolutionize
not only how we approach the ways we study the water cycle, carbon cycle, and climate, but also shape
what we understand of these processes on a massive simultaneous scale. This talk will give an overview
of how these satellites function, what we have learned from collected data thus far (such as the sinking
of the San Joaquin Valley due to expended aquifers), what we can expect to learn from the collected data
in the future, and NASA’s future plans for space-based hydrology studies.
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Friday, November 20
Session 12: 1:45 pm – 2:33 pm
Innovations and Technology
Jack Jacquet
Graduate – Graduate Program Hydrologic Sciences
“Structure from Motion: A New Photogrammetry Method Used for
Topographic Modelling of Fluvial Systems”
The acquisition of high resolution, high quality topographic datasets is in increasing demand in order to
understand the structure and dynamics of fluvial systems. Unfortunately, high quality topographic
datasets can come at quite an investment in terms of cost and time. Structure from Motion (SfM) is a
digital photogrammetry method that reconstructs real-world scenes quickly and for a fraction of the
cost. The process uses identifiable features from multiple offset images to automatically solve for the
camera’s pose (position and orientation). The camera’s pose is then used to create a point cloud which
can be georeferenced using ground control points allowing for the construction of topographic products
such as digital elevation models (DEMs). When compared to topographic datasets acquired using
alternative techniques such as LIDAR, SfM compares favorably in accuracy and resolution. Images used
for SfM can be obtained from the ground, but are now more commonly obtained through unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAV’s expand the capabilities of the SfM method due to their portability and
proficiency in covering rough expansive terrain. The low costs, effectiveness, and flexibility of the SfM
method allows for the simple acquisition of high quality topographic data that is important for
geomorphic change detection and hydrodynamic modeling in fluvial systems.
Brian Anderson
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Measuring Drought: Signals from GPS time Series Inversion”
Several recent studies have shown that with modern continuous GPS monitoring networks and
processing techniques, uplift resulting from elastic rebound as a response to hydrologic changes can be
observed and measured with precision. Using GPS time-series inversion, one study documents
widespread uplift in California at a median range of 4 mm to 15 mm in the mountains. This uplift is
determined to result from elastic rebound resulting from mass loss due to recent drought. This
presentation will introduce another recent study that makes an attempt to further develop this
technology as a means of making quantitative assessments of a change in water storage, or equivalent
water thickness. While Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measurements are able to
effectively determine change in water storage over a given area, the low resolution limits its use to large
areas. Assessments of water storage using GPS inversion are compared to measurements from GRACE
and other hydrology models to evaluate its efficacy. It is determined that GPS time-series inversion used
in conjunction with GRACE, which has an effective resolution on the order of 200 km, can reduce the
resolution to the order of 50 km.
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Acknowledgements
On behalf of the Student World Water Forum
Committee, we would like to thank:
The Graduate Student Association (GSA), the Graduate Program of Hydrologic
Sciences, and Bibo Coffee Co. for their generous donations and contributions.
.
Thank you to our professional evaluators and students who have dedicated their
time and effort toward the success of the SWWF 2015.
Thank you to our student presenters, as this conference would not exist without
them.
A special thanks to Dr. Laurel Saito for her advice, organization, and donations.
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Student World Water Forum
University of Nevada, Reno
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