Article
Business
Oliver R. Browne, Xinde James
Summary: This paper measures the economic value created by clarifying property rights for water in Idaho through a novel reform. The Snake River Basin adjudication led to a 140% increase in water right trades and transfers, moving water to more suitable land for irrigated agriculture. Despite the changes, water-use intensity remained unchanged, and irrigators shifted to higher-value land uses. The benefits of these changes outweighed the one-time fixed cost of the adjudication, with a present value of at least $402.7 million.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Tiffany A. Rivera, Craig M. White, Mark D. Schmitz, Brian R. Jicha
Summary: The study of Pleistocene basalts in the Western Snake River Plain reveals a complex petrogenesis involving multiple magma sources and interactions with ancient crustal rocks, shedding light on the nature of the lithosphere at depth in the Earth. Different types of basalts interact with ascending magmas and old crustal rocks, delineating the evolutionary history of different parts of the North American lithosphere.
JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Eli Asarian, Crystal Robinson, Laurel Genzoli
Summary: Low streamflows can increase vulnerability to warming, impacting coldwater fish. Water managers need tools to quantify these impacts and predict future water temperatures. Contrary to most statistical models' assumptions, many seasonally changing factors (e.g., water sources and solar radiation) cause relationships between flow and water temperature to vary throughout the year.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geology
Paul K. Link, Chris W. Welcker, Kurt E. Sundell
Summary: Detrital zircons in the Snake River drainage in Idaho effectively represent the geochronology of Idaho magmatic rocks from both Laurentia and the accreted terranes west of the Salmon River. Large-scale analysis and modeling of the detrital zircon ages reveal that the upper Snake River contributes 30% while the rest comes from the southern Idaho batholith. The study suggests that the trapping of sediment above the dams has reduced the detrital zircon supply in the Hells Canyon from the Snake River. Peak flow volume and zircon fertility of source rocks are major factors influencing the detrital zircon percentages in individual drainages.
SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geology
David R. Gaylord, Tammy M. Rittenour, Paul K. Link, Brent D. Turrin, Mel A. Kuntz
Summary: Research on ghost-dune hollows on the eastern Snake River Plain in Idaho, USA, reveals insights into the late Pleistocene to Holocene environmental and climate history. Changes in sand-dune supply routes following effusive volcanism highlight the potential impacts on sand-dune histories and landscapes. This study supports the potential role of ancient ghost-dune hollows as refugia for early life on both Earth and Mars.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Timothy Copeland, Demitra Blythe, Windy Schoby, Eli Felts, Patrick Murphy
Summary: The restoration efforts in the Pahsimeroi River, including barrier removal, instream flow enhancements, and fish screen installations, have expanded the distribution of spawning salmon and rearing juvenile fish. The removal of the largest barrier in 2009 led to an immediate increase in reds in the river, accounting for 42% of all reds in the watershed from 2009-2015. Snorkel surveys also showed increased juvenile rearing in newly accessible habitat.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
J. C. White, K. Khamis, S. Dugdale, F. L. Jackson, I. A. Malcolm, S. Krause, D. M. Hannah
Summary: High river water temperature extremes during drought conditions have significant implications for freshwater ecosystem health and river management practices. The mechanisms and factors controlling water temperature dynamics during droughts are still poorly understood. This study reviews these mechanisms using the United Kingdom as a case study and highlights critical future research questions that need to be addressed.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Ellie Hudson-Heck, Robert H. Byrne
Summary: This work presents a new method for comprehensively characterizing the inorganic carbon system in aqueous solutions. The method utilizes simple spectrophotometric measurements and is applicable to both open-ocean seawater and freshwater samples. It is the first method to spectrophotometrically measure A(C), allowing for a complete characterization of the carbon system using only spectrophotometric measurements. The method also provides a quantitative correction for potential artifacts arising from sample preparation.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Robert G. Griswold, Andre E. Kohler, Kurt A. Tardy, Kitty E. Griswold, Doug Taki
Summary: The study found evidence of density dependence in the nursery lakes of Snake River Sockeye Salmon, where high salmon density leads to reduced zooplankton biomass and size, and negatively affects salmon growth and survival. Differences among lakes were primarily determined by the relative proportion of spawning and rearing habitat. Understanding the unique lake habitats and ecological interactions is crucial for the management of Snake River Sockeye Salmon populations.
NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Statistics & Probability
Seoncheol Park, Hee-Seok Oh
Summary: This paper introduces a new multiscale method for analysing water pollutant data in river networks. By adapting the conventional lifting scheme, the method successfully performs multiscale analysis of streamflow data.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY SERIES C-APPLIED STATISTICS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Yuheng Yang, Baisha Weng, Denghua Yan, Xiaoyan Gong, Yanyu Dai, Yongzhen Niu
Summary: This study proposed the concept of middle-aged water in the Nagqu River Watershed to address the limitations in current stream water age calculations. The spatial change in stream water age is significantly influenced by various factors, and the average change in old water storage values from 2016 to 2019 was negative.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Steven N. N. Bacon, Thomas F. F. Bullard, Vaughn Kimball, Christina M. M. Neudorf, Shane A. A. Baker
Summary: The fluvial geomorphology and stratigraphy at Bancroft Springs in Idaho indicate multiple episodes of aggradation and incision of the Snake River since the Bonneville Flood. The presence of seven terraces and their ages suggest variations in sediment supply and hydroclimate changes. The fluvial record and dating techniques provide insights into the sensitivity of large river systems to hydroclimate variability and contribute to understanding paleoenvironmental conditions.
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kelsey F. Wetzel, Jessica R. Stanley
Summary: The western Snake River Plain in southwest Idaho has unique topography and style compared to other Cordilleran extensional structures. By using apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry, researchers were able to determine the exhumation history of the region's granitoid bedrock. The results suggest that the uplift of the area occurred during the Eocene period and was influenced by later volcanic eruptions.
Article
Fisheries
Jim S. Gregory, Bart L. Gamett, Caselle L. Wood, Robert W. Van Kirk
Summary: The removal of large wood in streams disrupts the establishment of fish habitat, so habitat improvement activities often involve adding large wood to rivers. This study demonstrates that adding large wood to the Yankee Fork, simulating natural wood recruitment processes, can maintain the abundance of large wood and create natural fish habitat. Tracking research shows that even in the face of high flow and wood transport, the abundance of added large wood can be maintained at levels observed in reference areas.
NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Martin Richardson, Mikhail Soloviev
Summary: Human activities have been impacting rivers and natural systems for thousands of years, with changes over the past few centuries leading to a global decline in coastal and estuarine regions. Urban rivers are part of larger ecosystems, but modeling them accurately is challenging due to complex interactions at different scales. This paper discusses the urban river syndrome, highlighting challenges in river restoration projects and focusing on the River Thames as a typical urban river facing anthropogenic effects and ecological issues. It emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to urban river restoration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Brahney, M. L. Bothwell, L. Capito, C. A. Gray, S. E. Null, B. Menounos, P. J. Curtis
Summary: Glaciers provide essential runoff for mountain streams, maintaining unique habitats and supporting diverse flora and fauna. As glaciers retreat, significant changes are observed in mountain ecosystems, impacting stream conditions and diatom communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Betsy Morgan, Kaitlyn Spangler, Jacob Stuivenvolt Allen, Christina N. Morrisett, Mark W. Brunson, Shih-Yu Simon Wang, Nancy Huntly
Summary: The availability of water for irrigated crops, particularly in the newly regulated cannabis industry, is influenced by a complex interplay between climate, water policy, public discourse, and grower perspectives. Growers' access to water resources is affected by factors such as climate variability, water policy regulations, and public opinions, highlighting the need for policies that better represent growers' voices and address stakeholder controversies. Public debate over irrigation water use by growers often overlooks climate and weather factors, which presents challenges in improving legal water access for growers, especially in the face of climate change influences.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sarah E. Null, Ali Farshid, Gregory Goodrum, Curtis A. Gray, Sapana Lohani, Christina N. Morrisett, Liana Prudencio, Ratha Sor
Summary: The paper discusses the impacts of hydropower development on the environment in the Mekong riparian countries, especially in the 3S Basin, and the potential ecological and biodiversity losses from future dam construction. It highlights the importance of considering environmental objectives in tradeoff analyses to quantify the environmental costs of dam development and maintain the biodiversity of the Lower Mekong Basin's extraordinary freshwater fishery.
Article
Forestry
Curtis A. Gray, Chelsea Toone, Michael J. Jenkins, Sarah E. Null, Larissa L. Yocom
Summary: Mountain pine beetle outbreaks cause significant changes in fine surface fuels and foliar fuel moisture in whitebark pine trees, leading to differences in fuel depth and moisture content among trees with different crown conditions. The hazard of fuel availability varies across the landscape following beetle attacks.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Savoeurn Soum, Peng Bun Ngor, Thomas E. Dilts, Sapana Lohani, Suzanne Kelson, Sarah E. Null, Flavia Tromboni, Zeb S. Hogan, Bunyeth Chan, Sudeep Chandra
Summary: The study investigated the long-term dynamics of water quality in the Tonle Sap lake-river floodplain ecosystem over 22 years, revealing variations in most water quality parameters, with pH and nitrate remaining constant. Changes in the chemical nutrient ratio indicated that nitrogen may be the primary limiting nutrient. Water quality was found to be strongly influenced by watershed development, climate, and changes in water level.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavia Tromboni, Thomas E. Dilts, Sarah E. Null, Sapana Lohani, Peng Bun Ngor, Savoeurn Soum, Zeb Hogan, Sudeep Chandra
Summary: This study examined the impacts of land use on water quality constituents in the Lower Mekong Basin, finding that agriculture, urbanization, and population density were linked to decreasing water quality health. Thailand and Laos had higher nitrogen and ammonium concentrations compared to reference conditions, while Cambodia exhibited higher phosphorus values, indicating water quality degradation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ratha Sor, Peng Bun Ngor, Savoeurn Soum, Sudeep Chandra, Zeb S. Hogan, Sarah E. Null
Summary: Research has shown that water quality in the Mekong River Basin was unpolluted in the 2000s, but has degraded in the last decade, particularly in specific locations. Water quality degradation is likely linked to rapid hydropower development, deforestation, intensive agriculture, plastic pollution, and urbanization.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Darren L. Ficklin, Sarah E. Null, John T. Abatzoglou, Kimberly A. Novick, Daniel T. Myers
Summary: Global warming intensifies the hydrological cycle, resulting in more extreme precipitation events and longer dry spells. Previous studies have focused on precipitation without considering changes in evaporative demand and plant responses. Using state-of-the-art climate models, we examine projected changes in hydrological intensification and its impact on water resources management. Our findings show that surplus events will become larger and more frequent, with the greatest changes expected in the northern latitudes. These extreme events will stress existing water management infrastructure in major river basins, particularly those with large reservoir capacity.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Masoud Parsinejad, David E. Rosenberg, Yusuf Alizade Govarchin Ghale, Bahram Khazaei, Sarah E. Null, Omid Raja, Ammar Safaie, Somayeh Sima, Armin Sorooshian, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh
Summary: Public concern about environmental issues is high, but restoring ecosystem requires integration across multiple fields. A study on the desiccation and recovery of Lake Urmia in Iran found that agricultural expansion, dam construction, and mismanagement had a greater impact on the lake than temperature changes. Steps such as improving livelihoods for farmers, managing lake levels, and engaging the public are crucial for lake recovery.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gregory C. Goodrum, Sarah E. Null
Summary: This study estimated aquatic habitat suitability for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout and Bluehead Sucker in Utah using publicly available geospatial datasets. The researchers evaluated 15 habitat suitability models and found that simple models outperformed those that used only streamflow. These models are useful for conservation planning and water resources decision-making.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kimsan Chann, Ty Sok, Romduol Khoeun, Vuthy Men, Supattra Visessri, Chantha Oeurng, Ratha Sor, Sarah E. Null
Summary: This study characterized drought events in the Sesan and Srepok Basins and found frequent, severe, and prolonged drought occurrences. The results can be used as a baseline for assessing potential future droughts and designing drought management plans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ratha Sor, Peng Bun Ngor, Sovan Lek, Kimsan Chann, Romduol Khoeun, Sudeep Chandra, Zeb S. Hogan, E. E. Sarah
Summary: Hydropower dams, although a source of renewable energy, have negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, and food security. This study analyzes the effects of dam development on fish biodiversity in the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok Basins from 2007 to 2014. It shows that dam construction reduces fish biodiversity in the Sesan and Srepok Basins, while the Sekong Basin experiences an increase. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving free-flowing rivers, like the Sekong, Cambodian Mekong, and Tonle Sap Rivers, for migratory and threatened fish species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Peng Bun Ngor, Sophorn Uy, Ratha Sor, Bunyeth Chan, Joseph Holway, Sarah E. Null, Nam So, Gael Grenouillet, Sudeep Chandra, Zeb S. Hogan, Sovan Lek
Summary: Predictive models are widely used to investigate relationships between fish diversity, abundance, and the environment. In this study, six single statistical models were evaluated for predicting fish richness and abundance in the Mekong River Basin. The Random Forest model consistently out-performed other models, while the Generalized Linear Model performed the worst. Water level, distance from the sea, and alkalinity were identified as important predictors of variation in both richness and abundance.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christina N. Morrisett, Robert W. Van Kirk, Sarah E. Null
Summary: Reservoirs in the Henrys Fork Snake River in Idaho, USA, are managed to meet irrigation demand and maintain aquatic habitat. A flow target in a management reach has been used since 1978 and has undergone four assignments. Recently, changes to irrigation-season management prompted investigation into the flow target assignment. A streamflow-habitat model was created to assess habitat availability under different management regimes. The study found that adjustments to the flow target and considering local irrigation diversions can contribute to more consistent fish habitat.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)