November 20 and 21, 2014
University of Nevada, Reno
Joe Crowley Student Union
and
Davidson Math and Science
Building
Redfield Auditorium
NOTES
2
Welcome to the 11th 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%. 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 2014 Student World Water Forum!
Sincerely,
The 2014 SWWF Committee
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The 11th Annual University of Nevada, Reno
Student World Water Forum
Organized by:
Erik Cadaret - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Katie Clancey - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Elijah Mlawsky - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Jamie Myers - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Nicholas Paasche - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Benjamin Trustman - Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
and
Dr. Laurel Saito – Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science,
and Director of the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
Dr. Kate Berry, Professor, Department of Geography
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Special thanks to each of our
Professional Evaluators:
Dr. Tom Albright, Department of Geography, University of Nevada Reno
Mr. Ellis Antuñez, Retired
Dr. Doug Boyle, Department of Geography, University of Nevada Reno
Mr. Steve Bradhurst, Central Nevada Water Conservation District
Dr. Michael Branch, Department of English, UNR
Mr. Greg Burst, HDR, Inc.
Mr. Jack Byrom, Truckee Meadows Water Authority
Ms. Annie Caires, Department of Biology, UNR
Mr. John Cobourn, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Dr. Clay Cooper, Desert Research Institute
Dr. Clinton Davis, Department of Biology, UNR
Ms. Marianne Denton, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
Dr. Louis Forline, Department of Anthropology, UNR
Dr. Jennifer Frederick, Desert Research Institute
Mr. Brian Giroux, McGinley and Associates
Dr. Adrian Harpold, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Mr. Terry Katzer, Retired
Mr. Jason King, Nevada Division of Water Resources
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
Mr. Doug Martin, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District
Dr. Eric Marchand, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNR
Ms. Gerry McCarroll, Retired
Dr. Stephanie McAfee, Department of Geography, UNR
Dr. Maureen McCarthy, Academy for the Environment, UNR
Dr. Scott Mensing, Department of Geography, UNR
Dr. Glenn Miller, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Mr. Jon Mittelstadt, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Dave Mouat, Desert Research Institute
Dr. Denis Mutiibwa, Department of Geography, UNR
Dr. Paula Noble, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, UNR
Dr. Ania Panorska, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UNR
Dr. Seshadri Rajagopal, Desert Research Institute
Ms. Heather Segale, University of California at Davis
Dr. David Shintani, Department of Biotechnology, UNR
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
Mr. Adam Sullivan, Nevada Division of Water Resources
Dr. Sherman Swanson, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Dr. Aleksey Telyakovskiy, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UNR
Dr. Shauna Uselman, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, UNR
Ms. Jasmine Vittori, Stantec Engineering
Dr Tamara Wall, Desert Research Institute
Mr. Dave Wathen, Federal Water Master Office
LTC Gerd Wilhelm, Retired
Mr. Mervin Wright, Jr., Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Government
Dr. Frank Yang, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Special thanks to our Keynote Speaker:
Dr. John Shurts – Northwest Power and Conservation Council
November 21, 2014 – 4:00 pm
Davidson Math and Science Building
Redfield Auditorium
All participants are invited to attend a social in the
Davidson Math and Science Building Redfield Auditorium Foyer
after the keynote presentation.
“Rethinking the Columbia River Treaty: will we get the future right
this time?”
The United States and Canada are parties to the Columbia River Treaty, first signed in 1961 and
ratified in 1964. The treaty obligated Canada to construct three storage dams in the portion of the
Columbia River basin in the Province of British Columbia. The Treaty then called for the coordinated
operation of storage and hydroelectric projects in British Columbia and the United States for the dual
purposes of flood control and power generation. Both nations understood that most of the power and flood
control benefits of these storage projects would be realized in the downstream nation (United States), and
that these benefits would then be equitably shared via money and the delivery of power with the upstream
nation (Canada) that hosts the projects. The treaty Entities (the implementing agencies designated by the
government to operate the treaty) have implemented the treaty for these purposes and under these
premises ever since.
The Columbia River Treaty is perhaps the classic example of a successful benefits-sharing
international river treaty, at least when viewed on its own terms. The treaty storage projects have been an
important factor in preventing the damaging flood events that occurred in the United States in earlier
periods. These projects have helped the system operators optimize hydroelectric generation in the region
to meet a winter-peak electricity demand. Benefits have been shared, within the range of the bargain
entered into. And the operating Entities have cooperated remarkably well in implementing this
arrangement.
So what’s the problem? The Columbia River Treaty has also become an anachronism, in that what
both nations want in 2014 out of the river and the regional water management system appears to be so
very different and more complex than in 1960. Moreover, the people who negotiated the Treaty designed it
for a particular future, and the future – not surprisingly -- turned out much different than expected. For the
most potent example, fish and wildlife and other ecosystem needs are now just as important in the
domestic law and policy of both nations as power and flood control, yet not a formal part of the
international arrangement and awkwardly and informally integrated at best.
An opportunity to focus our attention on this dilemma has arisen because of provisions in the
treaty that (1) automatically put an end to the assured, systematic flood control operation in 2024
(another aspect of the future that did not occur) and (2) allow for unilateral termination of the power
provisions if one or both nations no longer sees the benefit of continued cooperation.
For this reason, agencies in both nations have conducted extensive reviews of the Columbia River
Treaty in the last few years, resulting in a set of recommendations to the national governments. What is
needed now is for representatives of the two nations to sit down again and ask themselves the same
questions they asked in the 1950s, but in the altered context: Are there ways in which the two nations can
continue to cooperate on Columbia River management that would bring greater total benefits than if the
two nations act unilaterally? And if so, what are the right mechanisms for this cooperative operation and
to what ends? And what are the right mechanisms for estimating and equitably sharing the benefits?
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SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Thursday, Nov. 20 – JCSU Great Room
7:45am – 8:00am
Meet and Greet Coffee
8:00am – 9:30am
Session 1: Asia, Oceania and the Middle East
9:45am – 10:45am
Session 2: Africa I
11:00am – 12:00pm Session 3: North America and Europe
12:00pm – 12:45pm Lunch (on your own)
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Session 4: Africa II
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Session 5: Asia and the Middle East I
3:15pm – 4:15pm
Session 6: North and South America I
4:30pm – 5:45pm
Session 7: Asia, Australia, and the Middle East
Friday, Nov. 21 – JCSU Great Room
8:00am – 9:00am
Session 8: Asia and the Middle East II
9:15am – 10:15am
Session 9: North and South America II
10:30am – 11:15am Session 10: North America and Africa
11:15pm – 12:15pm Lunch (on your own)
12:15pm – 1:15pm
Session 11: North America and Greenland
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Session 12: North and South America III
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 (all7are invited)
Thursday, November 20
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East
Adriana Scala
Undergraduate – Veterinary Sciences
“Antibiotics and Water Quality due to Agricultural and Livestock Impacts on
the Haihe River”
For years the overuse and abuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals have led to many strains of
resistant bacteria and diseases being produced and hidden in things we use every day, including water.
Agricultural production industries are often blamed for water quality impairment with antibiotics when
other factors may also be considered. The Haihe River, in northern China, is a major source of drinking
and irrigation water for millions of people who live within the river basin. Over the years the quality of
the river has been significantly reduced due to urban population increasing as well as runoff from rural
areas surrounding the river. In this presentation I will focus on agricultural impacts on the river using a
case study on the Haihe River where samples from the river and its banks were taken and tested for
antibiotics and other constituents to see where the heaviest areas of contamination occurred. Although
the case study shows that animal production waste products from ranches and farms surrounding the
river add their share of contaminants, the results of this study indicate that the effects of human
activities on the river also need to be addressed due to their significant impacts on the quality of the
water.
Darrin R. Miller
Undergraduate – Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation
“Assessing Urban Water Supply Infrastructure and Urban Stream
Conditions: A Case Study of Hamilton, New Zealand”
Maintenance and development of urban water supply and infrastructure is a concern to cities with
respect to escalating populations and growing concern of climate change. For many cities, aging
infrastructure presents issues as well. This presentation examines the condition of urban water supply
and infrastructure of a modern city - Hamilton, New Zealand - as a case study of issues associated with
urban water supply and infrastructure. Issues such as the influence of population growth and climate
change that affect water supply and infrastructure will be evaluated. This paper also provides an
assessment of the condition of urban streams in Hamilton and associated restoration initiatives as
another perspective into how this city plans its future around water in view of projected population
increases and changing climatic conditions. The case study will identify a broad range of factors that
growing cities in other parts of the world, and those potentially influenced by climate change, could pay
heed to as they plan around water management issues for the future.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East
Jennifer Arnold
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Tigris and Euphrates Waters: A Continuing Conflict between Turkey, Syria
and Iraq”
The water flowing in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East have historically been a source
for conflict over fresh water. The rivers originate in Turkey, flow south through Syria and Iraq, and
eventually into the Persian Gulf. Water scarcity is apparent in this area so the development of dams and
diversions were created to supply water to those that live in the region. Water development projects,
carried out by Turkey upstream, have caused tensions and conflicts with the lower countries that rely
on the rivers. Turkey’s GAP project gives the country widespread control over the Euphrates River,
which currently has 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants. The conflict over control of these
waters has been a historical battle and is continuing today. Turkey believes the water that flows from
the rivers is Turkish water while Syria and Iraq, the countries downstream, believe the water is
international and should be allocated equally. Since the 1960’s fair use of the rivers has been an issue
for the three countries but now the conflicts are even more dangerous as the terrorist group the Islamic
State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are becoming increasingly dependent on the rivers waters as well. With all
three countries heavily dependent on water from these rivers, resolution of the conflict is needed
before tensions escalate even more. This presentation will discuss the historical and present issues
between these three countries as they continue to dam and develop the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Megan Ludwig
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“The Effectiveness of Treating Wastewater in Developing Countries using
Constructed Wetlands: A Case Study in China”
Due to the lack of wastewater treatment, many water supplies in developing countries are diseaseridden and unsafe for human use. Constructed wetlands have been shown to effectively clean
wastewater at a much lower cost than traditional centralized systems, making them a viable option for
developing countries. With a focus on long term studies done within China, this presentation will
describe the high efficiency rate in removal performance of a wide range of contaminants with several
types of constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands are limited to tropical and subtropical
environments, but due to lack of awareness, land use issues and other constraints, they are not being
used to their full potential. Many of the constructed wetlands are efficient enough to meet regulated
discharge limits for wastewater plants, demonstrating their utility as a practical means of treatment for
countries that are unable to afford large centralized systems.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 1: 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East
Andy Hauck
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Chinese Agricultural Water Use Techniques and Technology”
China, the country with the world’s largest population, requires massive amounts of agriculture to
sustain its vast populations. However, many parts of the country, primarily in the north and northwest,
are not entirely suitable for agricultural use and water shortages are a common occurrence. For such a
populous nation to thrive and meet the needs of its growing number of citizens, using water efficiently
and effectively to address less-than-ideal agricultural conditions is paramount. Without such
applications, China, the second largest player in the world’s economy, may experience widespread
famine and man-made water resource depletion. This presentation will examine the water use
technology and methods that are applied by Chinese agriculture and describe their benefits in
efficiency. Additionally, while showing that these practices are indeed beneficial, this presentation will
demonstrate that more needs to be done to improve water use efficiency to sustain agriculture in the
arid and semi-arid northern regions of China to continue to meet the nation’s growing demand for food.
Kaitlyn Fox
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Desalination in Australia: The Effects of Brine Effluent Disposal”
Desalination of seawater is increasingly being used to provide water for cities along arid coastlines.
Australia currently has 22 million inhabitants and is expected to increase to 36 million inhabitants in
the next 50 years, yet it is the driest continent so freshwater is scarce. Desalination of seawater may be
the answer the country has been looking for that may help solve its water shortage, but as with many
water supply options there are potential environmental problems to consider. This paper discusses the
process of desalination in Australia and issues associated with the disposal of brine effluent in the
ocean. One of the main environmental concerns is the potential impact on near-shore sea life when
brine effluent is disposed in the ocean. Rises in seawater temperatures may also be associated with
oceanic brine disposal that could have detrimental impacts on marine life.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 2: 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Africa I
Carolyn Turner
Undergraduate – Political Science
“Counteracting Desiccation in the Sahel: Transboundary Management of the
Lake Chad Watershed”
The Lake Chad watershed is comprised of two vast endorheic basins in the Sahel covering upwards of
two million square kilometers. The larger of these two secondary basins provides fresh water to
millions of individuals in the form of Lake Chad itself. Beginning in the 1960s, this area experienced a
drastic decrease in fresh water supplies due to the prevalence of drought conditions as well as
irrigation and the damming of the rivers that feed the lake, the Chari and the Logone. As a result of this
trend, Lake Chad currently stands at one-twentieth of its original size. If nothing is done to reverse this
pattern, millions of lives will be lost. The matter is further complicated because the basin extends into
six separate countries- Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Sudan- which
raises concerns about the practicality of implementing effective transboundary solutions. In this
presentation, I will take stock of the management practices which have resulted in this large loss of
water as well as the innovative solutions being proposed to mitigate the damage for future generations
and the challenges that lie therein.
Jacob Sax
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Which Fog Water Collection Systems are Appropriate for Drought-Stricken
South Africa?”
Fog water collection systems (FWCSs) capture atmospheric water vapor using mesh or similar
materials. Collected fog water is often used for domestic purposes such as drinking and cleaning. Fog
water collection projects in South Africa have been increasingly implemented in the 1990's and 2000's,
specifically in fog-prone areas experiencing drought. I have reviewed data and analysis concerning
location and technology of various fog collection projects. From this data and analysis, I attempt to
decipher which FWCSs collect the most water, and which are not efficient. If past successes and failures
of FWCSs are not understood, future projects will fail, and fog-prone communities may continue to
suffer avoidable water shortages.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 2: 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Africa I
Sierra Waechter
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Development of Water Supply: Links between Rural Uganda’s Access to
Clean Water and Poverty”
Many rural communities suffer due to lack of access to clean water. Having to search and collect water
limits the amount of time that can be focused on other important aspects of community life, such as
education and development. Such problems are common in rural areas throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
With few economic opportunities, people and governments in rural sub-Saharan Africa are challenged
and sometimes new approaches are needed. In hopes of completing the 1990 Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) to halve the proportion of people without access to clean drinking water by 2015,
development opportunities increased with help from the government and donors. One promising idea
involving water development has been rainwater-harvesting technologies, which have been introduced
in the rural district of Wakiso, Uganda. The problem with rainwater harvesting is the cost of
construction, which appears to be feasible only through full government subsidy of the project. A look
into even smaller-scale projects in the district of Mbale, Uganda suggest other potentially feasible
approaches, such as increasing the capacity of Jerry cans, installing sheet-metal roofs, or simply adding
a bicycle to the home. These simple ideas may provide the catalyst needed to help push these regions
out of poverty.
Erik Cadaret
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Student Association for International Water Issues: Who We Are and What
We Do”
The Student Association for International Water Issues (SAIWI) is a club at the University of Nevada,
Reno (UNR) that focuses on developing an understanding of global water issues and undertakes
activities to enable communities around the world to obtain potable water supplies and practice
sanitation and hygiene through education and hands on training. SAIWI seeks to provide a forum that
fosters communication, enhances the dissemination of related information, and encourages the proper
development of water resources primarily in underprivileged, developing countries where a great need
exists for potable water supplies. In this presentation, I will describe who we are and what we do
through one of the many experiences we provide SAIWI club members. In January 2014, a team of
SAIWI volunteers traveled to Panama to aid in the construction of composting latrines in Valle
Escondido in the Bocas Del Toro region. The team was there for two weeks and built one composting
latrine and finished two uncompleted latrines that were neglected over the years. The team gained as
much from the experience as the families and individuals did through cultural exchange, hospitality,
and working towards common goals to improve water quality, sanitation, and hygiene. SAIWI is a
unique club that provides students at UNR opportunities to aid in improving the quality of life of others
around the world and gain invaluable skills, knowledge, and experience that enhances their educational
experience.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 3: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
North America and Europe
Keith Heidecorn
Graduate – Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences/Hydrologic Sciences
“Comparison of the Chemical Composition of Gaseous Oxidized Mercury in
the Atmosphere at Three Different Locations in Nevada”
Three forms of mercury (Hg) exist in the atmosphere, gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), gaseous oxidized
Hg (GOM), and particle-bound Hg (PBM). All forms of Hg are deposited from the atmosphere; however,
because oxidized Hg is more available for methylation in ecosystems it is of significant concern.
Different chemical compounds of GOM exist in the atmosphere. Each has unique chemical and physical
properties. Understanding the relative abundances and properties of GOM in the atmosphere is critical
for assessing the potential impacts on human and ecological health. A newly developed active system
that measures the chemical form and concentration of GOM was deployed with triplicate nylon and
cation exchange membranes, respectively. Membranes were deployed and collected at highway, freetroposphere, and agricultural impacted sites. Nylon membranes are used to estimate potential GOM
compounds using thermodesorption, and cation-exchange membranes are assumed to collect all GOM.
The objective of this study was to understand distribution and chemistry of GOM compounds in the
atmosphere at these three locations with different oxidants. Thermodesorption profiles were generated
using a laboratory system consisting of a custom-built eight-port manifold system and compared to
profiles developed from samples collected from the field. GOM profiles developed in the laboratory
were created from permeation of GOM from solid compounds: HgCl2, HgBr2, HgO, Hg(NO3)2, and
HgSO4. Results indicate different forms of GOM across space and time. GOM concentrations were
observed to be 33% higher at the free-troposphere site compared to the highway-impacted site. Data
suggest that different Hg reactions are occurring at different sites.
Lars Bolster
Undergraduate – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Effects of Clear-Cut Logging on Water Quality and Salmon Spawning in
British Columbia Streams”
British Columbia has experienced a steady loss of its forests from pine beetle kills and commercial
logging operations throughout its history. These immense landscape changes have heavily affected
terrestrial ecosystems, but what effects does clear-cut logging have on the aquatic ecosystems of the
province? The loss of dense forests in the mountainous regions of British Columbia have increased
stream flows and shifted yearly peak flows to earlier in the spring. In addition, the loss of trees and
plants has destabilized soils and made steep landscapes more susceptible to erosion. Logging of
riparian areas is of particular concern to water quality because of the lack of shade and accumulation of
in-stream debris that raises the water temperature of streams. One major biological impact of increased
water temperatures is the mortality rate of migrating salmon. Salmon are already under enormous
pressures from over fishing and migration barriers, and warmer temperatures are making salmon more
susceptible to bacterial infection during their migration. Headwater streams that feed larger rivers are
the most affected by clear-cut logging operations, and these habitats are also where many salmon come
to spawn. In this presentation, I will discuss how the proper management of logging operations that
impact stream temperatures can give British Columbia’s salmon a greater chance of successfully
reaching their spawning grounds.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 3: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
North America and Europe
Karly Wagner
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Groundwater Movement in Restored Meadows of the Sierra Nevada Range”
A recently adopted and successful meadow restoration technique called the Pond and Plug Method
attempts to raise an incised channel to the meadow surface. This technique takes material available on
site to dam the incised channel in several places, which creates a pond behind each plug as the
groundwater table rises back to closer to the meadow surface. Water flowing through the meadow is
slowed by floodplain spreading, meanders, and roughness from increased vegetation. One proposed
benefit of this type of restoration is higher base flow in the late summer months downstream of the
projects. This benefit has been observed in some cases, but in other projects the opposite has been
observed where prolonged or increased base flow does not extend into the fall due to the current
drought and increased evapotranspiration or deep percolation. Conceptually meadows may act in one
of three ways: as sponges, storing abundant water from snowmelt or precipitation and releasing water
in dry periods; as valves, recharging the meadow through springs and regulating water outflow; and as
drains, where water drains from the meadow to a regional aquifer. To test these ideas, we studied eight
restored meadows over three summers in the Sierra Nevada Range for patterns in meadow hydrology.
Once the meadows or parts of meadows have been defined as one of the three model types described
above, this study hopes to link these models with the local geology, soils, meadow gradient, and/or
meadow geography.
Elijah Mlawsky
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Anthropogenic Earthquakes: Groundwater Extraction-Induced Seismicity
in Lorca, Spain and Central California”
Groundwater pumping can become more prevalent in times of drought. Overuse of groundwater
resources potentially results in negative environmental impacts such as land and surface water
subsidence and declines in water quality. Additionally, recent studies suggest a more immediate
consequence of over-extraction: induced seismicity. When water is removed from subsurface aquifers,
the weight and stress distribution along the Earth’s crust is significantly altered. Rearranging of active
forces can remove some of the burden from faults, effectively unlocking them and causing premature
slip. Resulting earthquakes have the potential to deal major structural damage to societal and natural
environments. Risk is increased by the fact that earthquakes of this nature occur in close proximity to
the local water distribution infrastructure. This presentation will explore the relationship between
groundwater pumping and increased seismic activity. Emphasis is placed on a case study of the fatal
magnitude (Mw) 5.1 earthquake that occurred in Lorca, Spain in May of 2011. Additional examples will
look at more recent earthquakes in the Central Valley of California. Expected findings should provide
further evidence of groundwater over-extraction leading to anthropogenic-induced seismicity.
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Thursday, November 20
Session 4: 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Africa II
Matt Reider
Undergraduate - Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Equity in Water Governance: A Case Study of South Africa and the 1998
Water Act”
Globally, several barriers remain in access to clean water for millions of people, one of which is equity
in water governance. Post-apartheid South Africa presents a significant example of the challenges in
moving from legal reasoning to implementation in promoting equity in water governance. Apartheid
divided the nation between severely neglected, semi-autonomous ‘homeland’ regions, and areas
serviced by normal government functions. The South African government overlooked these areas
regarding water delivery, water infrastructure, sanitation, and designation of water rights for decades.
Following the 1994 collapse of the apartheid regime, a groundbreaking national water law was drafted.
The National Water Act of 1998 (NWA) set guidelines for incorporating underserved communities into
a broader framework of national public waters with the goal of facilitating water equity. In conjunction
with the NWA, a newly drafted democratic Bill of Rights granted every citizen access to clean water for
domestic, agricultural, and economic uses. This presentation examines South Africa’s NWA, which is
widely regarded as being a model for other nations but challenges remain in implementation.
Economic and institutional barriers prevent South Africa from implementing some improvements to
water and sanitation infrastructure outlined in the Act. In traditional communities denied services
under apartheid, communal governance systems developed to fill the void in water allocation, many
based on existing tribal relationships. The NWA fails to mention these, some of which may come into
conflict with future government policies. Going forward, how can South Africa continue improving this
innovative legislation and expand water services to underserved communities?
Karen Gastineau
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Hydrogeochemical Controls on Groundwater Quality in the West Mamprusi
area, Northern Ghana”
In the Northern Region of Ghana where groundwater is scarce and borehole success rates are low, there
are still large gaps in groundwater quality research. Generally, groundwater is a safer source of
drinking water than surface water, but it can contain naturally occurring elements, such as fluoride and
arsenic, that pose health risks. A better understanding of geologic controls on groundwater quality will
help predict areas of poor quality groundwater before wells are drilled, leading to higher quality
drinking water and lower project costs. This study focuses on the West Mamprusi area of Northern
Ghana, where geology varies from coarse- to fine-grained sedimentary rocks to basement complexes
consisting of metavolcanics, metasediments, and granitoids. Previous water quality issues in the area
will be outlined, with major health impacts of groundwater contaminants explained. Forty new
groundwater samples were analyzed for major ions and trace elements, and 25 samples were analyzed
for carbon-13 isotopes. Graphical and statistical analyses, including Piper diagrams, principal
component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis, will be used to categorize the water chemistry and
determine important water-rock interactions within the aquifer.
15
Thursday, November 20
Session 4: 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Africa II
Mitchell Krieger
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“The Potential for Small Hydropower in Ethiopia”
For many developing countries, generating power sources for the public is a problem not easily solved.
In the southern region of Amhara in Ethiopia, small hydropower may be useful for providing power for
neighborhoods and villages. In a case study, flow rates derived from catchment measurements and
water head measurements led to estimations of the potential hydropower that this region of Ethiopia
could harness. Small hydropower could be useful because the energy that could be harnessed by units
with a capacity of 10MW per unit could fulfill the power needs of the isolated communities in this
region. Estimates of small hydropower potential in this study were made in the dry season and have had
little variation in recent years, which is a good indication of what to expect in terms of water availability
for small hydropower projects in this region of Ethiopia. Small hydropower requires modern machinery
to maximize its efficiency, well planned arrangements to minimize environmental damages, and trained
personnel to monitor the station. This presentation describes small hydropower and the case study in
Ethiopia, and discusses small hydropower options for countries and regions that might be comparable
to Amhara, Ethiopia.
Kenneth Schaefer
Undergraduate –Photography
“Rice Irrigation in Mali”
Mali, Africa has rice as its main source of revenue and as the livelihood of many villages along the Niger
River. Irrigated rice farms in Mali have an abundance of water, but few regulations concerning water
allocation between villages. Water Users Associations (WUAs) and the Office du Niger are organizations
in Africa implementing regulations concerning the use of water for irrigation. WUAs may provide
organizational structure and establish platforms to resolve conflicts over irrigation, since village level
decision-making has tended to be informal. The Office du Niger is the governmental power that is
providing financial support while villages are making the transition to the plans the WUAs are
implementing. Research has been conducted to show that in 2005, out of eighty-nine farms within the
WUA, only 24% of them had a plan to distribute water or set rules regarding the use of the water. Thus,
there is a general lack of regulations concerning water allocation between the villages. This
presentation describes initial plans that have been recommended to allocate irrigation water for rice
fields and identifies associated actions taken to support irrigation within and between villages. It will
also address issues about who should serve as representatives for the villages in ways that will maintain
a system of water allocation and allow future generations to continue growing rice in Mali.
16
Thursday, November 20
Session 5: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Asia and the Middle East I
Chris Kuhn
Undergraduate – Environmental Engineering
“Groundwater Contamination in the Mekong River Delta: Causes and
Consequences”
The greater Mekong Delta is home to over 17 million Vietnamese and 2.4 million Cambodian settlers. In
recent years, residents of this massive river delta have been unintentionally exposing themselves to
toxic contamination through the increased use of groundwater sources in the area. Many Mekong Delta
residents have transitioned from utilizing surface water sources that have potential microbial
contamination, to groundwater sources which they thought was a safe alternative. Unbeknownst to
much of the local population, the groundwater being used can cause adverse long term health effects.
Recent studies in the area have shown unsafe levels of contamination in 74% of tested wells over an
area of 8,000 km2. Some of the contaminants detected include arsenic, manganese, barium, cadmium,
lead and uranium. These toxic substances are linked with adverse health effects, some of which are just
now beginning to surface in the local population. This paper examines the causes of contamination as
well as some of the consequences of drinking water contamination on the local population. This paper
concludes with suggestions for approaches to develop practical solutions to groundwater contamination
that could affect millions of people in the Mekong River Delta.
Ashley Schumacher
Undergraduate –Journalism
“Islamic Concepts and Practices related to Water”
Water plays an important role in the religion of Islam. Within the religion, water is viewed as a social
good and it is believed that humans are responsible for ensuring that water is available to all living
beings. Islamic thought and practices developed in arid and semi-arid areas of the Middle East and
North America, a region with limited water supplies not only for religious practices but for daily use.
This presentation examines the tenets of Islam related to the allocation and protection of freshwater as
well as Islamic practices which involve water. Connections will also be drawn between Islamic teachings
and practices related to water with respect to initiatives on water conservation and water quality
management by countries and communities in the Middle East and North Africa.
17
Thursday, November 20
Session 5: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Asia and the Middle East I
Joel Hupp
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“Desalination in Israel: A Case Study”
Supplying adequate water is a challenge in Israel given periodic droughts, climate change, and
increasing populations. Desalination of seawater has been a way to mitigate water scarcity and, as a
result, Israel has been involved in desalination for many years. Several methods for desalination exist,
but in Israel most desalination is powered by large, energy-intensive plants which rely on fossil fuels for
operation. Finding economically viable and sustainable ways to provide water in times of scarcity is of
crucial importance, not just to Israel but globally, as trends suggest that water demands are rising while
the availability of supplies is becoming less predictable. This presentation examines Israel’s history with
desalination and water infrastructure development to get a better understanding of the role that
desalination plays in the country’s water supply and what changes have been initiated to make
desalination more sustainable. In Israel the National Water Carrier is a unique water management
system, largely because it supplies water for much of the country as well as provides for various types of
water users. Israel’s initiatives related to desalination may provide useful insights for other countries in
arid and semi-arid regions.
Erin L. Smith
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“Arsenic Contamination in the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra Plain”
Extremely high levels of arsenic found in groundwater throughout parts of eastern India, Nepal and
Bangladesh are causing social and health problems along with economic instability. In this region of the
Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra plain, arsenic is a naturally occurring byproduct of the physical and
chemical weathering of the Himalayan Mountains. Millions of people rely primarily on groundwater for
crop irrigation, drinking water, and cooking water and often have no other sources for potable water.
Growing regional demand on groundwater has significantly increased the range and severity of arsenic
contamination throughout the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra plain. The greatest arsenic contaminated
water is taken from shallow tube wells and hand pumps, which are the most common types of wells in
rural, agricultural communities. Chronic exposure to high levels of arsenic can result in toxic arsenic
poisoning in humans, often manifested in characteristic skin lesions but it can also result in a variety of
serious illnesses, including lung disease and cancer. Crops irrigated with contaminated water have
reduced yields, and anaerobic conditions in fields of rice, the most widely grown crop in the region,
facilitate high uptake of arsenic. This presentation examines the scope of the arsenic problem associated
with groundwater development in the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra plain, the documented public health
effects, and the solutions that are being developed. These solutions include development of new farming
techniques, finding new sources of potable water, and cost effective treatment of contaminated
groundwater.
18
Thursday, November 20
Session 6: 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
North and South America I
Sonia Heckler
Undergraduate – Geography
“Stability of Pacific Decadal Oscillation Teleconnections and Precipitation in
Alaska”
The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is commonly used to make management decisions in Alaska.
However, the reliability of the PDO’s teleconnections for predicting climate has come in to question
recently. With only one positive and one negative PDO on record, there is a lack of sufficient data to
fully understand the consistency of this climate pattern. In addition, climate change complicates
matters by possibly increasing the uncertainty of the PDO. There is a need to assess how the PDO
impacts precipitation for discrete locations in Alaska. This presentation will discuss how well the PDO
is correlated to precipitation for locations with major populations. Increased understanding of the PDO
will help Alaska implement improved long-term plans moving forward.
Kelley Sterle
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Incorporating Human Decision-Making to Build Resiliency to Climate
Change in a Snow-fed Arid River System”
Management of snow-fed, arid river systems in the Western United States has taken on critical
importance in response to variable climatic conditions impacting water supply. The Truckee-Carson
River System (TCRS) depends on spring snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada to supply water for
agriculture, urban communities, and natural resource protection, yet TCRS stakeholders' decisionmaking processes, including both water right holders and water users, are not well documented.
Stakeholders dependent on the system are particularly sensitive to changes, and therefore it remains
unknown how resilient the TCRS is to future climate scenarios. The Water for the Seasons Project aims
to understand: 1) How resilient is the TCRS to variable climatic conditions and 2) How water right
holders along the system use climate information to make decisions. In order to address these complex
regional water management issues, a highly interdisciplinary research team will involve stakeholders in
collaboratively modeling future climate scenarios and actions to increase the resiliency of the system.
This presentation will introduce the Water for the Seasons project objectives, describe the TCRS
hydrologic and policy data challenges, and explain the role of stakeholders in the collaborative modeling
process.
19
Thursday, November 20
Session 6: 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
North and South America I
Ryan Kennedy
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“Fog Water Harvesting: A Case Study in Northern Chile”
Supplying water to semi-arid regions of Northern Chile such as the Atacama Desert is challenging. The
Atacama is home to tens of thousands individuals that rely on water supplied by a series of pipelines
and trucks. Fog water harvesting provides a simple and sustainable alternative to other fresh water
sources. Unlike desalinated water, which required a 2 million dollar investment in the Coquimbo Region
of Chile, fog water collection is a cheap, low impact technology that has been around for over half a
century in this area. This method involves a series of canvas-like sheets attached to a system of pipes. As
the fog passes through a sheet, the fog condenses into droplets that trickle down to the system of pipes.
This alternative is even gaining the attention of a local mining company that began using fog water
harvesting in order to restore damaged forests in the Coquimbo region. Overall, the simple design of
this alternative would reduce the price and impact of water being supplied to rural communities.
Increasing the scale at which fog water collection is used could reduce stress on other forms of
infrastructure that supply clean water, but would also require appropriate space and environmental
conditions. This presentation will describe the process of fog water harvesting and its ability to provide
clean water for rural communities with appropriate climates.
Erik Cadaret
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Bi-National Agreements on Colorado River Salinity between the United
States and Mexico”
Since the dawn of the 20th century, the Colorado River has been transformed through a series of
policies that govern the river’s water allocation and salinity. This presentation will address water
policies related to the Mexican Water Treaty of 1944 (MWT) along with salinity management practices
in the Colorado River Basin. The MWT is a bi-national cooperative agreement that allocates water
between the US and Mexico. The treaty’s ambiguity in terms of salinity sparked tensions starting in the
1960s when Mexico was receiving water from the US that exceeded 1400 ppm of salinity. As a result, the
US and Mexico engaged in negotiations which produced Minute 242. This Minute charged the US with
immediately reducing the salinity of water delivered to Mexico so that it would not exceed 850 ppm ±
110 ppm, the standard for American water users below Imperial Dam. Shortly afterwards, the Colorado
River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974, which specified the implementation of salinity control
measures to improve water quality, was passed. Nearly forty years later, in November 2012, the
International Boundary and Water Commission signed Minute 319, a complex agreement that addresses
uses of Colorado River water through 2017. Minute 319 also amends portions of the MWT by specifying
the terms of the water allocation and salinity. These bi-national agreements have the potential to pave
the way for improved water and salinity management throughout the basin.
20
Thursday, November 20
Session 7: 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
Asia, Australia, and the Middle East
Steven Ponte
Undergraduate – Geography
“Australia’s Cultural, Economic, and Political Reactions to Drought”
What has been the cultural reaction to water scarcity associated with drought in Australia? With
changing climate and severe weather becoming more prevalent the effects to the environment may be
apparent, but what are the influences on the culture of Australian cities and towns? An evaluation of the
literature will be used to identify which cultural, economic, and political factors have been influenced by
drought episodes in Australia during the past fourteen years. Cultural factors such as water usage and
public opinion of water issues, will be evaluated. This presentation will identify how Australians have
made cultural adaptations to limited water supplies during droughts, in particular looking at broader
cultural changes, cultural adaptations made within the context of daily living, and place-based cultural
changes.
Alexander Rapphahn
Undergraduate – Political Science
“Irrigation and Water Security in Afghanistan”
Afghanistan used to be known for its exports of fruit. The country has many areas with farmlands that
were overseen by the different tribes that populated the country. Then the Russian invasion in
the1980s, the Taliban Government from the mid-1990s to 2001, and most recently the war, all took
their toll on the country’s farming, irrigation, and potable drinking water. Additionally, increases in
opium poppy farming and the lack of government and military reliability in the country have caused
additional water security problems that hinder attempts to improve irrigation and sustainable farming.
This presentation examines steps taken in recent years to change matters and improve the
opportunities for irrigation and farming in Afghanistan and ensure their security. One recent program
involves linking irrigation with water security. Members of the Ministry for Agriculture Irrigation and
Livestock are being trained by Afghanistan’s allies through trips to other countries with similar
environments where they learn about sustainable irrigation techniques and systems. Their goal is to
train these government workers to become subject matter experts so they can go back and train farmers
in local tribes. This is a teaching technique called “train the trainer”. International Security Assistance
Forces (ISAF) are working to ensure that the Afghan military can protect the resources once they are
reestablished. This presentation focuses on the damage caused to irrigation and farming by the wars,
what programs are being put into place to rectify the damage, and how increased water security would
ensure its protection for the country’s future.
21
Thursday, November 20
Session 7: 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
Asia, Australia, and the Middle East
Blake Minor
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“Water Management Issues due to Urbanization: A Case Study of Ho Chi
Minh City, Vietnam”
Urbanization in developing countries has led to large increases of people living in cities around the
globe. Improving water resource management is crucial to meet the economic needs of the growing
cities, but it is also essential for sustainable extraction, use and distribution of clean water. Supplying
usable water to everyone during times of rapid urban and population growth is becoming extremely
difficult due to the constraints placed on the finite resource. In the case of the rapidly urbanizing city of
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, water management has suffered greatly in response to the rising needs of the
people. Although the city is located in a water abundant area, rapid urbanization has led to poor
management and depletion of water supplies. Improvement of water management in Ho Chi Minh City
requires governing bodies to develop the institutional capacity to supply enough water while
maintaining an environmental, economic and social balance. To meet this balance, the city and its people
have attempted to advance network water supply infrastructure, implement effective water treatment
to prevent degradation of water supplies, cultivate methods to increase public participation, and
strengthen cooperation between governing bodies to make lasting impacts for the prosperity of future
generations. This paper will analyze these possible improvements and propose strategies that can be
followed to fulfill these developments in order to prevent poor water use and management and
maintain a healthy water supply.
Corey Stone
Undergraduate – Community Health Science
“Arsenic Crisis in Bangladeshi Water Supply”
In 1972 UNICEF launched a campaign in Bangladesh to provide clean water from underground aquifers.
Currently, 3 million tubewells provide drinking water for 97% of the population. UNICEF’s attempt to
provide clean water induced another problem, arsenic accumulation. Last winter we embarked on a
research expedition to Bangladesh to investigate arsenic concentrations in the water supply by
collecting samples from local tubewells in Naria, Bangladesh in the Shariatpur district. For each well we
collected two samples: one to be analyzed in the field using an arsenic assay, and the other to be brought
to the United States for analysis. At each location we administered a retrospective cohort survey
inquiring about water consumption and general health, as well as recorded coordinates using GPS. By
correlating concentration data with sampling location we were able to identify a region of high arsenicload tubewells in Shariatpur district. Wells surveyed in other regions yielded inorganic arsenic
concentrations below 50 ppb. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends arsenic to be a
maximum of 10 ppb to be considered safe for consumption, while the Bangladeshi government
amended this to 50 ppb for practical reasons. Our intervention to reduce arsenic exposure was building
'Kanchan' filters using iron oxide chelation and depth filtration to remove the arsenic. We provided
filters to families owning wells with the seven highest arsenic concentrations detected. We will be
traveling back to Bangladesh in Winter 2014-2015 to further characterize spatial trends of arsenic
concentrations in tubewells, and provide additional filters to families in need.
22
Thursday, November 20
Session 7: 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
Asia, Australia, and the Middle East
Tyler Algozzino
Undergraduate – Journalism
“Evolution of Water Management in Shanxi Province in China”
Currently farmers in the Shanxi Province in China are facing a serious drought that has devastated the
province, but this isn’t the first time a drought has devastated the local farming community. In the past
the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911AD) faced similar water shortages, causing a smaller supply for
water management. They eventually formed local self-government systems for the water resources.
Local water management systems and organizations were established. Can similar approaches to
address past water shortages be used today in China? By examining the evolution of water management
in the Shanxi Province, this presentation will discuss whether some of these past approaches can help
current farmers.
23
Friday, November 21
Session 8: 8:00 am – 9:00am
Asia and the Middle East II
Jordan Fugate
Undergraduate – General Studies
“Grey Water Use in Jordan”
Water is a finite source that is being consumed at rapid rates due to population growth. Since water is
essential to all forms of life, meeting increasing demands is extremely important for human health as
well as our surrounding environment. Conservation measures may not be adequate enough to maintain
a supply for a community, but water treatment can augment existing water supplies through
remediation and reuse. Grey water is wastewater that can be recycled through treatment and then
reused onsite. Grey water is one of many approaches to augmenting water supplies and can be
incorporated on different scales, from treating industrial plant wastewaters to recycling water used in
individual homes. In this presentation, I will describe a case study in Jordan that illustrates the costs and
benefits of utilizing grey water.
Cody Zacharia
Undergraduate – Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Water and War: A Case Study of the Mesopotamian Marshes”
Water is a necessity for life to occur, but it can also be used to take life away. Throughout history man
has sought water to establish society, and in times of war man has used it as a strategic turning point.
Not only are infrastructures like dams, treatment plants, and, more recently, desalination plants a
vulnerable target, so is the water itself. It would take just one man to contaminate the water supply of
his enemy. Alternatively one man could drain the water supply, as was the case with the Mesopotamian
marshes of Iraq, otherwise known as the Garden of Eden. What was once the largest wetland ecosystem
in the Middle East and Western Eurasia had shrunk to a tenth of its size, a meager 2 km2. Many wars
and an effort by Saddam Hussein to drain the wetlands have left the ecosystem in shambles. The
addition of water in 2003, after Saddam’s regime ended, has breathed life back into these marshes and
they are slowly returning to their former glory. However, current conflict in the region, along with
drought, threatens to result in the permanent drying up of the Mesopotamian marshes. In this
presentation, I will describe how the rivers supplying these marshes have been subjected to damming in
Syria, Turkey and Iraq, as well as how the marshes themselves have been drained in Iraq in the past
three decades, and how the current conflict in Iraq and Syria may affect the rehabilitation.
24
Friday, November 21
Session 8: 8:00 am – 9:00am
Asia and the Middle East II
Jillian Ebrahimi
Undergraduate – Political Science
“The Islamic State and Water as an Instrument of War”
Water scarcity is a crisis facing every population alike. As climate change increases global temperatures,
we are seeing an increase in the duration and intensity of droughts and a decrease in the availability of
clean drinking water as well as water for agriculture and energy. The realities of water scarcity are no
longer a threat of the future and have become a mechanism by which states and non-state actors use to
wage war. The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has identified this threat and is using it against the
already vulnerable populations throughout Iraq and Syria. ISIS has begun to target rivers, canals, and
desalination plants in their military attacks. Additionally, the group has also taken over several key
dams in the region including the Mosul Dam, the largest Dam in Iraq. This dam and its reservoir
provides hydropower for thousands of homes and also has the ability to completely flood Baghdad
within three days’ time which would potentially collapse the entire state. ISIS also diverted the water
flow from the Mosul Dam away from Shiite populations who are now facing desperate water shortages.
ISIS was also able to take control of the Nuaimiyah Dam and used it to flood the downstream villages
and displace more than 12,000 families. Experts in the region say that whoever controls the water
controls the region and right now the Islamic State is aggressively establishing this control.
Jake Dick
Undergraduate – Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Use of Grey Water in Urban Environments in Israel and India”
As population and development continues to expand, needs for water increase. Urban environments can
be excessive and wasteful with water. An option that has potential to make better use of water
resources is grey water. Grey water use involves is reusing water with little to no treatment that would
otherwise be considered wastewater. This presentation will discuss the issue of grey water in different
countries with a focus on urban environments in Israel and India. Because water quality has separate
standards throughout the world, these two countries have different views on what is considered grey
water and how it should be used. In these urban environments, grey water falls into two different
categories. The first is a larger system connected to what would be considered public utilities which
includes a type of municipal sanitation plant. This water might be used to irrigate a public landscape and
might be treated with a dye to signify its source. The second system is one that is customized to an
individual home. The grey water in this setting can have a range of quality unique to the individual
home. The uses of this water is also more variable than the public system because it might be used to
water a garden or flush a toilet. The use of grey water is dependent on the situation and the need. Each
country has its own regulations and water quality standards so grey water like tap water will change
from country to country.
25
Friday, November 21
Session 9: 9:15 am – 10:15am
North and South America II
Benjamin Trustman
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Nutrient and Mercury Dynamics within the Lake Tahoe Basin Snowpack”
The Lake Tahoe Basin receives approximately seventy percent of annual precipitation as snow.
Atmospheric deposition is an important pathway for nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)
and pollutants such as mercury (Hg) to enter terrestrial and aquatic systems. Through atmospheric
deposition, pollutants can accumulate and be stored in the snowpack. Previous studies have shown that
these chemicals can transform while stored in the snowpack, affecting the chemical load in melt and
runoff. This study examines the changes in N, P and Hg concentrations through the Lake Tahoe Basin
snowpack.
Bi-weekly wet deposition monitoring and monthly snow pit samples were taken at four locations along
two elevation gradients in the Lake Tahoe Basin during the winter of 2013-14. Snow pit samples were
taken at 10cm increments throughout the snowpack and analyzed for changes vertical in chemical
content. Snowpack concentrations were compared to the wet deposition storm concentrations.
Concentration changes from inorganic N to organic N occurred in deep snowpack. Wet deposition
concentrations indicate it as a contributing source of N input. Very low levels of P found in wet
deposition samples point to dry deposition as a main source of P input. There was vertical translocation
with depth of P in all profiles. Significant sample concentrations indicate wet deposition is a large
source of Hg. Losses in shallower samples are due to photochemical reemission and translocation with
depth is possibly due to Hg solubility with melt water.
Rebecca Hutchison
Undergraduate – Natural Resources and Environmental Science
“Accumulation of Perfluorinated Compounds in Surface Waters and Biota in
Southeastern Brazil and India”
Studies in the United States, Canada, China, and Australia on the effects of perfluorinated compounds
(PFCs) have focused attention on effects of these environmental toxins. This presentation examines the
results from two studies done in rapidly industrialized countries, India and Brazil, where few detailed
studies have been done. PFCs are a diverse class of chemicals that may contaminate surface waters and
when concentrations in surface water are high enough, some can harm or kill biota. The studies
assessed concentrations of PFCs in reaches of the Ganges River in India and the Paraiba do Sul River,
finding the concentrations to be in excess of 23.1 ng L−1 These studies also assessed PFCs in drinking
water supplies and untreated sewage as well as concentrations in the liver, kidney, and muscles of
freshwater river dolphins, in which they found an average bioaccumulation of PFCs above standard
levels of toxicity. The focus on these studies was the PFCs, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOs) and
perfluorooctanoate (PFOAs).
26
Friday, November 21
Session 9: 9:15 am – 10:15am
North and South America II
Robert Barnes
Undergraduate – Wildlife Ecology
“The Effects of Local Water Quality on Cyanobacterial Blooms at Lake Atitlan”
In 2009, a large cyanobacteria bloom occurred in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala and received global
recognition as a potential problem for the local populations that use the lake as a primary source for
water. Cyanobacteria in large enough blooms can present serious health risks not only to organisms in
the ecosystem, but also to the humans that use the resource. The photosynthetic process of the bacteria
will cause a high oxygen demand in the water that is harmful to aquatic organisms that are oxygen
sensitive, and the waste from the bacteria produces toxins that are harmful to humans and other
organisms that utilize the resource. This presentation will describe the causes of major blooms, how
they present health risks and some water management actions that may prevent large blooms in Lake
Atitlan.
Allison Flickinger
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Impact of Climate Change on Mercury Transport along the Carson RiverLahontan Reservoir System”
Historic mining practices have left the Carson River and Lahontan Reservoir (CRLR) system
contaminated with high levels of mercury (Hg). Hg levels in Lahontan Reservoir planktivorous and
predatory fish exceed federal consumption limits. Inputs of Hg to the system are mainly a result of
erosion during high flow and diffusion from sediment during low flow, and the relationships between
streamflow and both mercury transport and bioaccumulation are non-linear. The United States Bureau
of Reclamation has produced future streamflow estimates for 2000-2099 using 112 CMIP3 climate
projections and the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. VIC results suggest that the hydrology of
the system is likely to experience increased frequency of both high and low extreme flows. Also, monthly
averages of future flows are expected to be higher in the winter and lower in the summer compared to
observed flows. VIC daily streamflow estimates are biased-corrected using an empirical cumulative
distribution function to match observed data over the historic period of 1950-1999. Future reservoir
stage and outflows are modeled assuming reservoir operations are a function of river/canal inflows,
previous reservoir stage and downstream agricultural demands. VIC and reservoir flows drive the CRLR
Hg transport model (RIVMOD, WASP5, and MERC4). Daily output for both total and dissolved inorganic
Hg and methylmercury (MeHg) are averaged at the decadal timescale to assess changes and uncertainty
in predicted spatial and temporal Hg species water column concentrations as a function of altered
hydrology with respect to changing climate.
27
Friday, November 21
Session 10: 10:30 am – 11:15am
North America and Africa
Susie Rybarski
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Numerical Simulation of Potential Groundwater Contaminant Pathways from
Hydraulically Fractured Oil Shale in the Nevada Basin and Range Province”
In recent years, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has become an increasingly popular method for
extraction of oil and natural gas from tight formations. Concerns have been raised over a number of
environmental risks associated with fracking, including contamination of groundwater by fracking
fluids, upwelling of deep subsurface brines, and methane migration. Given the potentially long time
scale for contaminant transport associated with hydraulic fracturing, numerical modeling remains the
best practice for risk assessment. Oil shale in the Humboldt basin of northeastern Nevada has now
become a target for hydraulic fracturing operations. Analysis of regional and shallow groundwater flow
is used to assess several potential migration pathways specific to the geology and hydrogeology of this
basin, and the framework for a series of models describing these pathways is developed. The model
domain in all future simulations will be defined by the geologic structure of the basin as determined by
deep oil and gas well bores and formation outcrops. Vertical transport of gaseous methane along a
density gradient will be simulated in TOUGH2, while fluid transport along faults and/or hydraulic
fractures and lateral flow through more permeable units adjacent to the targeted shale will be modeled
in FEFLOW. Sensitivity analyses will consider basin, fault, and hydraulic fracturing parameters, and
results will highlight key processes that control fracking fluid and methane migration and time scales
under which it might occur.
Theresa Benedetti
Undergraduate – Ecohydrology
“Beyond the Grave: Cemeteries as Potential Sources of Groundwater Pollution”
Burial, the ritual act of placing the dead into the ground, is to date the most common practice for
disposal of human remains. Human burial grounds have historically been located in or adjacent to
communities primarily due to religious and/or cultural traditions. In the developing world especially,
burial grounds continue to be located with little regulation and little to no consideration of
environmental contamination from the organic and inorganic substances associated with human burial.
Contaminants including the products of human decomposition, pathogens/microbes, the products of
medical treatment or therapy, and embalming fluid chemicals can disperse into the soil and become
cemetery leachate, which can then contaminate groundwater. Untreated groundwater is often relied
upon as a source of drinking water in communities in the developing world. Thus, the need exists to
consider the contamination potential of human burial grounds on groundwater resources. This potential
varies from site to site as each site has unique geophysical and cultural parameters. This presentation
discusses these factors and presents a case study from rural north-central Nigeria that demonstrates the
need for more site-specific research and monitoring and emphasizes the importance of communitybased education about public health risks associated with long-standing burial traditions.
28
Friday, November 21
Session 10: 10:30 am – 11:15am
North America and Africa
Gwen Davies
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Mapping Acid Mine Drainage with Hyperspectral Imagery”
The exposure of pyrite to the atmosphere in mine waste environments is known to generate acidity and
the accumulation of secondary Fe minerals, which may contaminate surface and groundwater. Sulfates
and secondary Fe minerals associated with acid mine drainage (AMD) exhibit diverse spectral
properties in the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The use
of airborne hyperspectral imagery for identification of mineralogy relating to AMD has been well
studied. Fewer studies have explored the impacts of hydrologic variations on mapping AMD, specifically
the mapping of seasonally induced ephemeral features of these minerals. Sulfates will dissolve and reprecipitate with varying hydrologic inputs. A better understanding of the spectral properties of
mineralogical variation related to climate fluctuations and the spectral signatures of mine waters will
assist in the monitoring of mine waste environments. This study will examine the ability of remotely
sensed hyperspectral data to identify geochemical evolution of substances and contaminant patterns by
1) identifying temporal changes in mineralogy at the Leviathan Superfund site 2) exploring the value in
identifying spectral signatures of mine waters, and 3) linking water spectra to known metal
concentrations of mine water for quantitative mapping. Hyperspectral data from NASA’s AVIRIS
instrument will be collected in the spring, summer, and fall seasons for two consecutive years at the
Leviathan Mine Superfund site, an inactive open-pit sulfur mine located 24 miles southeast of Lake
Tahoe. Ground-based surveying using the ASD FieldSpec Pro spectrometer and laboratory spectral and
chemical analysis will complement the remote sensing data.
29
Friday, November 21
Session 11: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
North America and Greenland
Nicholas Paasche
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“How Permeability Affects Geothermal Heat Flow in the Vadose Zone”
With an increase in the price of nonrenewable energy resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and
coal, there has been an anticipated increase in the use of renewable energy resources. Among the top
renewable energy sources is geothermal. A key factor holding back the growth of geothermal energy
production is the cost of exploration. Rapid shallow temperature measurement (2m) is a relatively
inexpensive exploration method used to identify possible areas of blind geothermal systems. However,
the relationship between shallow 2-meter temperature and deeper (>100m) temperature is largely
unknown. We hypothesize that spatial variability of permeability is a major factor that drives the
shallow-deep temperature relationship.
In this study, TOUGH2 is used to numerically simulate heat, water and air transport through a two
dimensional porous medium. A 100 by 100 meter grid was created with a water table at the lower
boundary held constant at 95°C and the average surface temperature at the upper boundary held
constant at 20°C. Permeability of the porous medium is altered in different heterogeneous and
anisotropic patterns to see the effects of permeability on the heat flow in the vadose zone of a
geothermal system. The size and orientation of the heterogeneous patterns of permeability have a
strong effect on heat flow and temperature at 2 meters depth generally increases with a decrease in
permeability.
Dylan Kendrick
Undergraduate – Journalism
“Adaptive Water Management in Mexico”
This presentation examines how Mexico is responding adaptively to climate change to ensure sufficient
water supplies in the country’s northern arid region. Multiple water projects are being initiated in
Northern Mexico and these are connected to emerging adaptive management strategies across the
border between Northern Mexico and the US. Lack of government funding to support the building of
infrastructure is an issue as well. Attention will also be drawn to economic factors associated with
recurring drought conditions and the effects of water management on people in Northern Mexico as well
as the evolution of water law as water scarcity increases. This presentation also examines water
management issues specifically associated with urban water supplies and water for agriculture. The
objective is to provide information about different techniques and processes that show potential and to
examine the challenges associated with water management in areas of Northern Mexico that are
expected to experience more arid conditions as a result of climate change. At such a vulnerable time for
this region, past, present, and future adaptive management associated with water projects and
development will be addressed as well as how these projects could influence a push towards a more
reliable and sufficient water supply in years to come.
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Friday, November 21
Session 11: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
North America and Greenland
Joseph Abittan
Undergraduate – Foreign Language and Literatures
“Groundwater Fights: The All American Canal”
Finished in 1944 after the United States-Mexico Water Treaty, the All American Canal located in
Southern California diverts water from the Colorado River for irrigation purposes across the Imperial
Valley. For 60 years, water seeped from the unlined canal into groundwater sources that replenished
aquifers lying beneath the United States-Mexico border, provided irrigation water for farming
communities in Mexico, and fed springs and marshlands for endangered species living in Mexico. In
1988 congress authorized a project to line portions of the canal where water seepage occurred. Funds
from California water agencies were to be used to pave the canal, and in 2006 construction began.
During the 18 years between the authorization of the project and its implementation the lining project
was tied up in litigation in the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court. The United States city of Calexico, two non-profit
environmental and resource based groups, and an urban and economic development corporation all
sued the government over concerns with the project. In 2006 Congress passed Section 395 of the Tax
Relief Act which provided for the completion of the lining project, overruling all previous legal decisions
concerning the canal. This allowed the United States to finish lining the canal without consulting
Mexican authorities about the impacts of the project, in effect allowing the United States to implement
policy that affected binational groundwater sources without support or input from Mexico. This
presentation aims to review the legal decisions of the United States Congress and Ninth Circuit Court
pertaining to the lining project.
Nathan Chellman
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Ancient Ice: Ice Core Insights into Paleoclimate”
Ice cores contain well-preserved, high-resolution records of chemicals and gases that extend back
thousands of years. The process of collecting an ice core, usually from either Greenland or Antarctica, is
a complicated and technical endeavor, but the data obtained from the ice is extremely valuable.
Information contained in ice cores can be used to reconstruct past climate and temperature, and provide
insight as to how humans are affecting global climate today. Human pollution is evident in ice cores,
especially ice from the Arctic, as concentrations of chemicals such as lead, sulfur, nitrogen, and black
carbon have increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution. These tracers, along with water
isotopes, gases trapped in ice core bubbles, and other chemical proxies provide a wide array of data to
interpret past climate variation and inform us about natural phenomenon such as volcanic eruptions,
forest fires, and sea ice cover. This talk will give an overview of ice core research and its greater
significance, as well as trace the life of an ice core from its collection in the field to laboratory analysis at
the Desert Research Institute.
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Friday, November 21
Session 12: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
North and South America III
Jennifer Callahan
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“The Ecohydrology of Hydroelectric Dam Removal: The Renewable Debate”
Hydroelectricity has long been considered a renewable resource. Recent research pertaining to the
overall sustainability of hydroelectricity has begun a debate on whether or not this resource is actually
renewable. This information has challenged the idea of damming rivers for the sake of agriculture,
recreation, fishing, and power because of the long term effects that a dam has on a river’s ecosystem and
surrounding areas. Often rivers with dams are subject to changes in biodiversity, increased introduction
of invasive species, and threats to cultural heritage via loss of historical artifacts and land use to
indigenous peoples. In addition, reservoirs created by dams can trap sediments, be subject to
eutrophication, and increase evaporation due to larger surface area. Although research has shown that
in some cases dam removal is valid, the process of removing a dam is tricky, as it isn’t as simple as
blowing up a large concrete wall. Behind a dam is sediment build up and the saturated old surface area
that used to surround the river that was dammed. For each area and ecosystem the information that is
needed to properly remove a dam is different, and more monitoring and dam research is required to
better understand the impact dam removal may have on an ecosystem.
Luke Pickman
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Characterization of Fracture Network at Western Pahute Mesa and
Investigation of Transport Behavior Using a Continuous Time Random Walk
Approach”
Non-local contaminant transport methods have been extensively studied as an alternative for the
classical Advection Dispersion Equation (ADE) to model particle migration in heterogeneous media and
in regions with geologic patterns that shape secondary porosity. The challenges encountered in
fractured media are usually more complex than un-fractured porous media because of the irregular
connectivity patterns between individual fractures, large number of parameters, and wide distribution
of parameter space. The Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW) methodology provides a framework
for modeling non-Fickian transport through fracture networks by employing probabilistic distributions
to generate particle jump lengths and residence time spanning over orders of magnitude. We apply
CTRW framework to model features of particle transport in fractured rocks and apply the methodology
to study the transport behavior of migrating plumes in the fractured volcanic tuff of Western Pahute
Mesa located at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). By analyzing borehole data recorded at the
NNSS, characteristics of the fracture network at Western Pahute Mesa are determined in terms of
statistical attributes of various fracture properties. Three dimensional representation of fractured tuff is
stochastically created using the derived statistical properties, while mapping the fractures onto two
dimensional horizontal transects allows for generation of discrete fracture network (DFN) realizations.
Through convolution of both particle travel time and fracture length distribution, transport is modeled
on a continuum of spatial scales via the CTRW technique and the predictions are compared against DFN
results to ascertain the efficacy of upscaling.
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Friday, November 21
Session 12: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
North and South America III
David Culverson
Undergraduate – Environmental Science
“Public and Private Water Partnerships: Case Studies from Bolivia and Chile”
The failures in the privatization of the municipal water supply in Cochabamba, Bolivia, which led to the
re-nationalization of the water sector, have been well documented. Many scholars and practitioners
have also analyzed Chile’s successful introduction of a free market system in water governance.
Although both instances of privatization represent differing scales and each took a different approach,
comparing and contrasting both case studies could aid in future decision-making about private and
public roles in extending water supply management so as to make potable water more widely available
in South America. Analyzing existing economic, political, infrastructure, and stakeholder research for the
two case studies reveals several key points in which the success was made possible or alternately, the
possibility of failure increased. Identification and evaluation of these key points may facilitate the
development of flexible frameworks that can be used in a variety of social, economic, and political
conditions.
Jamie Myers
Graduate – Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences
“Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Increased Nitrate Concentrations in
Northwestern Nevada Groundwater”
Nitrate concentrations are increasing in groundwater wells in northern Nevada. Nitrate (as nitrogen), is
considered a contaminant at 10 mg/L or greater by the EPA because it is linked to methemoglobinemia,
a lack of oxygen in the blood, which is harmful and can lead to death in infants. Studies in Spanish
Springs Valley and Douglas County, Nevada have found high nitrate concentrations in groundwater are
caused from septic tank leachate in populated areas. State and county wide management plans are
underway to deal with increased nitrate in drinking water determined by these studies. However,
management plans are specific to these areas and do not address the regional nitrate contamination.
Sources of nitrate can be anthropogenic, such as septic tank leachate and nitrogen fertilizers, or from
natural atmospheric deposition in arid soils. The objective of this study is to compile groundwater well
data across northern Nevada to understand the sources of nitrate and how groundwater concentrations
vary spatially and temporally. I will identify the sources of increased nitrate concentrations by land use
type (agricultural land, domestic properties, and unpopulated areas). Statistical and GIS analyses will be
used to evaluate the relationship between nitrate concentrations and land use. Nitrogen (δ15N) and
oxygen (δ18O) isotopes can provide useful information on the origin of nitrate. Samples of δ 15N and δ18O
from Churchill, Washoe, and Douglas County will be used as a tool to fingerprint nitrate sources.
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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,
the departments of Geography and Natural Resources and Environmental Science
for funding, donations and administrative assistance.
Thank you to our professional evaluators and students who have dedicated their
time and effort toward the success of the SWWF 2014.
Thank you to our student presenters, as this conference would not exist without them.
.
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Thank you!
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SWWF 2014
Student World Water Forum
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/swwf/
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